As a level five dimension, the mostmon beasts among the lot were Emperor-tier, with the boss having the potential to reach Legendary rank or even higher.


    Nox had already learned about this beforehand some years back, hence the reason for his rtively calm expression. His eyes shed with a fierce light. Stay connected via empire


    Without even turning around, Nox said in amanding voice, "You both should stay bac—"


    "On it!"


    Even before Nox couldplete his words, the two couples behind him shouted simultaneously, and thest thing he heard was the sound of scurrying footsteps. He nced behind and discovered that his two supposed party members had disappeared into the tunnel, staying a bit closer to the exit gate, which was known for being the most secure area in a dimensional rift.


    Nox smiled wryly. Though he knew he was the one who instructed them to stay behind, there was just something amusing about seeing them leave like this.


    "Well, this is good." Nox shook the unimportant thought from his head and proceeded to call out.


    "zy,e out!"


    The air hummed and twisted as a bluish portal, which cast shadows on the walls of the tunnel, appeared out of thin air. Nox stared at the portal with an expectant glint.


    Some secondster, which seemed to stretch endlessly, the Emberhawk emerged from the portal and stared at the mushroom-like creature. Its fiery eyes were filled with intrigue—a stark contrast to thepetitive and maniacal look in Fluffington, Thirteen, and Solora''s eyes.


    From its expression alone, Nox could tell zy was genuinely curious about the mushroom-like monster, as it was seeing it for the first time. The same could be said for Nox; this was the first time he was encountering such a monster.


    Nox sighed in his heart, grateful that zy wasn''t a battle freak like his other pets. He was certain that if it had been any one of them—especially Thirteen—they might have rushed head-on to engage the beast in a fight.


    However, zy was much more observant, a trait that Nox wholeheartedly appreciated.


    Meanwhile, the hulking beast in front of Nox growled menacingly, its glowing red eyes ring as if to warn him of the impending danger. The creature''s mushroom-like body pulsed, and its multiple limbs twitched, ready for battle.


    "zy, deal with it," Nox said in a t yetmanding tone. "Show this pitiful creature what true power looks like."


    The Infernal Emberhawk, zy, pped its fiery wings and let out a screech that echoed through the tunnel. Its intense mes lit up the dim space, casting flickering shadows along the walls. zy''s body radiated pure heat, and the air around it shimmered from the scorching temperature.


    The Emperor-tier beast roared and charged forward, its limbs smashing against the mossy ground, sending vibrations through the tunnel.


    zy didn''t waste a moment. With a beat of its wings, it soared into the air, mes trailing behind it like aet. The beast tried to swipe at zy with one of its thick limbs, but the Emberhawk was far too agile.


    "zing Dive," Nox said softly, not bothering to raise his voice.


    zy''s body glowed brighter as it angled downward and dove at incredible speed, mes erupting in its wake. When it collided with the beast, a massive shockwave of fire exploded outward, scorching the ground and walls.


    Kree!


    The mushroom creature let out a guttural scream as the mes enveloped its entire body.


    However, from his vantage point, Nox could clearly see the health bar of the mushroom monster and could tell it was still plenty powerful. As if to confirm his thoughts, a momentter, the beast stumbled to its feet.


    With an enraged roar, it unleashed a flurry of attacks, its limbsshing out like whips.


    zy evaded all the mushroom beast''s long limbs effortlessly. Naturally, as an elemental beast and a Level Six Emperor-tier, the mushroom creature was no match for zy.


    At that moment, zy''s eyes glinted as it opened its beak, gathering fiery energy. The heat intensified, and the tunnel felt like it was about to melt.


    Inferno Tempest!@@novelbin@@


    zy unleashed its ultimate skill. A massive fiery whirlwind spun around the beast, growing bigger and hotter with each second. The Emperor-tier creature was caught right in the middle, its screams lost in the deafening roar of the mes. The fire kept growing, swallowing everything in its path, turning the ground into ash.


    When the mes finally died down, there was nothing left of the beast, just a pile of ashes with a glowing beast core lying there.


    [Ding! You have received experience points!] The system chimed in Nox''s mind as he gave a small nod of approval to zy.


    A momentter, after picking up the beast core, the two continued deeper into the tunnel.


    On their way, they encountered several more mushroom creatures. But Nox didn''t even need to lift a hand as zy dealt with them. The Emberhawk was like a me god, literally. Its mes lit up the tunnel like a zing torch, and every mushroom creature that came into sight was turned to ash before it could even blink. It was like watching a wildfire spread, unstoppable and relentless. Nox couldn''t help but smile, a little impressed.


    Because of the rtively high level of the dimension, even his level was steadily climbing. However, until now, Nox was yet toe across a powerful beast he could tame or copy skills from.


    "I still have about two days before I report back to the guild. Let''s do this." Nox''s eyes glinted with determination as he strode deeper into the tunnel.


    Meanwhile, at the back of the academy, Hendrix and Cooke Hendrix stood in the courtyard, their gaze fixed on the sprawling royal capital—specifically, the castle itself. In Hendrix''s arm was an object, a fist-sized red crystal pulsing with an ominous aura.


    After several seconds, he said in an excited voice, "The first phase of the n begins."


    At the same time, in the king''s chamber, a meeting was being held, and all high-ranking members of the Vermilion Kingdom, including the Big Four, were invited.


    King Aldrich Vermilion sat on his throne with an anxious expression as he thought back to the meeting he had in the temple behind the castle and shuddered.


    "This... this meeting will change the entirendscape of the Vermilion Kingdom. Is this the only way?" Aldrich sighed as he locked eyes with the high-ranking individuals present.