Chapter 20: Desolate Dimension: Woes Of The Search For Rapid Growth

After resting for approximately thirty minutes, the pills had lost their efficacy, and while they managed to heal most of his injuries, some minor wounds still required additional rest to recover fully.

However, his foremost concern was the mysterious, dark energy swirling around his chest. It seemed alive, wriggling towards his heart, and he sensed that if it penetrated his chest and infiltrated his heart, the consequences would be unfavorable.

Despite his critical condition and the lack of a clear solution, the universe refused to grant him respite. Initially resigned to continuing, he discovered that he had successfully cleared the dungeon. All the monsters had gathered at the entrance, making it easier for him to eliminate them all at once.

He suspected that the little wolf had played a role in this. Despite this revelation, he couldn't find any relief. The closure of the dungeon portal, which usually lasted for an hour after clearing the dungeon, had inexplicably occurred ten minutes ago, leaving him trapped with no means of escape.

He had barely recovered his stamina and mana, and even the strength he had gained after leveling up was of no use in his present condition. The dark aura hovering over his chest seemed to nullify the effects he had received after leveling up, even after checking the messages.

Without warning, the entire dungeon convulsed violently, and every brick and stone that composed the structure rapidly deteriorated into nothingness. Even the corpses of the wolves that littered the dungeon floor crumbled into dust.

The destruction began at the dungeon entrance and spread gradually toward where Dante lay on the wolf.

Dante's heart pounded as the ground shook beneath him, threatening to swallow him whole. The dark energy swirling around his chest intensified as if reacting to the chaos surrounding him. He fought to stay conscious as the world crumbled and dissolved into nothingness around him.

In a sudden burst of clarity, Dante became aware that he was not alone in the dungeon. A potent and malevolent force was present with him, driving the destruction around him. He sensed its presence in the darkness, a sinister entity that seemed to be causing the chaos.

With a surge of willpower, Dante forced himself to his feet, disregarding the pain and weakness that still beset him. He knew he had to escape the dungeon before it was too late. Using his katana as a crutch, he stumbled towards the exit, his footing unsteady on the crumbling ground.

As he approached the entrance, Dante saw that the portal had vanished, leaving only a gaping hole in its place. Through the hole, he could see the outside world, bright and sunny, but it seemed impossibly distant. Taking a deep breath, he gathered his strength and leaped through the hole, feeling a rush of air as he fell.

For a moment, he was weightless, suspended in mid-air, before he crashed hard into the grassy earth. Pain coursed through his body, but he ignored it, struggling to his feet once again.

He turned to look at the dungeon, now reduced to rubble and dust. The dark energy that had been swirling around his chest had dissipated, and a wave of relief washed over him.

But even as he took in the destruction around him, Dante knew that his troubles were far from over. He had managed to escape the dungeon, but he had no idea where he was or what lay ahead of him.

Dante took a moment to assess his surroundings, but there was nothing to indicate where he was or which direction he should head.

Struggling to stand, Dante, surveyed his surroundings. The once sunny and grassy view had given way to a barren wasteland devoid of vegetation, and the sun that had illuminated the area had vanished, replaced by two moons and a vast expanse of stars that cast an eerie glow over the desolate world.

Though the cosmic bodies provided a glimmer of comfort in the endless darkness, the malevolent intent of the world lingered in the clouds.

Bizarre creatures flew above with little regard for Dante. Left with no other options, Dante began to walk, exploring the boundless plain.

Though it reminded him of the Abyss Dimension, the malevolent energy present in the atmosphere deterred him from entertaining such thoughts. He also sensed that dying here would mean the end.

In the deepest depths of darkness, no sound could be heard save for the crunch of Dante's footsteps on the dry ground and the occasional gust of eerie wind that kicked up a swirl of dust.

As he walked, Dante detected a low humming sound that seemed to emanate from all around him. It was faint at first, but it grew louder and more persistent with each step he took.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as he realized that the sound was approaching and accompanied by a faint vibration in the ground beneath his feet.

He began to walk, moving cautiously across the barren landscape, his senses alert for any signs of danger. As he walked, he saw something in the distance, a dark shape moving towards him.

For a moment, he froze, unsure of what to do. But then he steeled himself, drawing his sword and readying himself for whatever lay ahead. As the shape drew closer, he saw that it was a creature, unlike any he had ever seen before.

It was humanoid in shape, but its skin was a sickly shade of gray, and its eyes glowed with an otherworldly light. It carried a long, jagged blade in its hand, and it moved with an unnatural grace.

Dante raised his sword, ready to fight, but before he could even make a move, the creature lunged at him, its blade flashing in the darkness. He managed to dodge the blow, but he could feel the heat of the blade as it sliced through the air beside him.

Dante spun around, bringing his sword down in a swift strike. The creature parried the blow with ease, its movements fluid and graceful. Dante could feel the creature's strength and skill, and he knew that this would not be an easy fight.

He lunged forward, attacking with a series of quick strikes, but the creature countered each blow with ease, its blade whistling through the air.

For several tense moments, Dante and the creature circled each other, each waiting for an opening. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, the creature lunged forward, its blade flashing in the darkness. Dante managed to block the blow, but he could feel the force of the impact reverberating through his body.

He staggered back, his sword arm feeling numb. Shaking his numb arm to circulate blood flow he burst forward once again into the deadly clash. The battle raged on, each blow striking with deadly accuracy, and Dante could feel his strength slowly beginning to wane.

His movements became sluggish, and his vision started to blur, but he refused to back down. He knew that he had to win this fight or die trying. But he couldn't die. At least not until he had completed his dream of becoming the best under the heavens. The king with the sword.

''I can't die here..... I can't die here'' As Dante clutched the hilt of his katana, he silently recited this chant in his mind. Despite the occasional slip from his grip, he fought back with only Oppressive Control and his raw physical abilities, devoid of any flames or Abyssal Energy techniques.

He pushed himself to his limits, relying solely on his skills and strength to counterattack.

Despite his best efforts, Dante couldn't evade every attack, and some strikes landed squarely on his body, reopening wounds that had yet to fully heal. Even scars from previous injuries that had recently healed burst open under the force of the blows.

As he fought on, his breath came in ragged gasps, and his vision grew hazy as his consciousness began to slip away. Yet through it all, his eyes never betrayed him. The fierce determination to become the supreme swordsman under heaven burned bright in his cold, red gaze.

In his desperation, Dante abandoned his usual graceful style of fighting and resorted to a monotonous, repetitive pattern of attacks.

The battle raged on, each blow striking with deadly accuracy, and Dante could feel his strength slowly beginning to wane. His movements became sluggish, and his vision started to blur, but he refused to back down. He knew that he had to win this fight or die trying.

With fierce determination, Dante channeled all his remaining strength into one final strike. His sword glinted in the dim light as he swung it with all his might, the blade moved in a trajectory aiming to connect with the creature's neck with a sickening crunch.

However, just as the blade was about to connect, a black, icy slab materialized, blocking the strike and stopping the blade in its tracks.

Dante refused to give up and poured even more force into the strike, concentrating all his body weight and muscles on his right arm. But despite his efforts, the sword barely nicked the black, icy barrier.

Seeing an opportunity, the beast swiped its blade toward Dante's head, he quickly ducked and evaded the attack.

Seizing the opening provided by the monster's miss, Dante swiftly struck diagonally at the creature's neck, aiming for the spot where a human's vocal cords would have been located, right between its head and chest.

However, just like before, the black, icy barrier materialized once again, preventing Dante's sword from connecting with the flesh of the monster.

Undeterred, Dante quickly sprang back, putting some distance between himself and the creature. He took a moment to catch his breath, analyzing the situation and searching for a weakness in the beast's defenses.

With his keen senses, Dante noticed a slight pattern in the way the beast summoned its icy barrier. He waited patiently for the creature to make its next move, watching carefully for the right moment to strike.

As the beast swung its blade towards him once more, Dante waited until the last possible moment before unleashing a powerful, focused strike aimed at the barrier's weakest point.

With all his might, Dante focused his energy and concentration, gathering a thick coating of flames at the tip of his blade. With a fierce battle cry, he lunged toward the beast once more, bringing his sword down with incredible force.

The flames on the blade connected with the black, icy barrier, and for a moment, it seemed as though the two forces were evenly matched.

But Dante's flames were too powerful, and slowly but surely, they began to melt away the icy barrier, inch by inch. With a final burst of energy, Dante's blade pierced through the weakened barrier, striking the beast with incredible force.

With a loud crack, the icy barrier shattered, and Dante's sword struck true, connecting with the flesh of the monster. The flames engulfed the creature, burning away its flesh and reducing it to nothing more than a pile of ashes.

Dante stood there, panting heavily, his sword arm shaking from the effort of the fight. But he felt a surge of pride and satisfaction. He had survived his first battle in this strange new world, and he knew that he was strong enough to at least face whatever challenges lay ahead.

However his initial belief was shattered as the charred remains began to stir, fueled by a sinister force that brought the fragmented body parts together.

In that instant, the once-cold gusts in the realm transformed into a razor-sharp chill that gnawed at Dante's flesh. His previous expression of arrogance was quickly replaced by a look of terror as he gazed upon the horrifying scene.

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