Chapter 137: News of the Beast God Sect.

“What is happening? Why are the beasts targeting us?”

“I don’t know! All I want right now is to leave this forsaken place.”

“This abyss is getting more dangerous with each passing day.”

“You’re right… If this continues, it’s only a matter of time before….”

The speaker did not finish the sentence.

He did not need to.

The group of awakeners fled frantically through the rocky terrain, constantly glancing over their shoulders.

Their faces were etched with dread and panic, their breathing ragged from exhaustion.

The strongest among them was a Level 13 Berserker. The weakest was a Level 11 Hunter.

Ordinarily, such a group would command respect among most awakeners on the first floor. Their combined strength was more than sufficient to hunt mid-tier beasts.

Yet now, they were fleeing as though death itself pursued them.

After running for what felt like an eternity, they finally slowed to a halt behind a ridge of jagged stone.

Several collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

Others bent forward with their hands on their knees, trying to steady their pounding hearts.

“Do you think the beasts will attack the town?” a young woman asked in a trembling voice.

She was a Level 12 Assassin. Her usual composure and sharp confidence were nowhere to be seen.

For a moment, no one responded.

Each of them was lost in memory.

They could still see it.

The wave of beasts.

The chaos.

The impossible sight that had shattered everything they believed about the abyss.

“I—I hope not,” the Berserker finally replied, though uncertainty laced every word.

The group fell silent again.

Everyone understood the grim truth; the direction of the beast tide had aligned almost perfectly with the town’s location.

The likelihood of an attack on the human settlement was disturbingly high.

Fear pressed down on them like a physical weight. Each of them clung desperately to the fragile thread of hope in their hearts.

The last Dark Tide had already claimed nearly half of the human awakeners stationed on the first floor.

If another beast tide struck the town now.

None of them dared imagine the consequences.

The Berserker turned and glanced over his shoulder again. Deep, unsettling fear burned in his eyes.

But his fear was different.

It was not merely fear of powerful beasts.

It was fear of something far worse.

Impending doom.

Unlike the others, who believed they had simply been ambushed by enraged beasts, he had seen something they had not.

In the chaos of retreat, just before they escaped the edge of the assault, he had glimpsed silhouettes beyond the charging beasts.

Humans.

Awakeners.

He was certain of it.

The memory chilled him.

Why would fellow awakeners attack them?

They all shared the same mission; eliminate the beasts on the first floor and transform it into a territory controlled by human federation.

For years, this had been their mission.

Yet now…

Is it possible the rumors are true? he wondered, his heart skipping a beat.

Quiet rumors had circulated among the leaders of various groups operating in the uncharted territory.

But what if it wasn’t?

“Let’s go,” the Berserker said abruptly, his tone sharp with urgency. “We need to return to town as soon as possible.”

The others lifted their heads in surprise. Their leader was already moving, his strides long and hurried, nearly breaking into a jog.

They quickly scrambled to follow.

I have to warn them, he thought grimly.

They need to know.

—

Inside the town, news of the beast attack had already begun to spread.

For many, the reports were unbelievable.

For over a decade, humans had always been the aggressors. They hunted beasts relentlessly, clearing territory and expanding their foothold.

Never had the beasts organized and launched an offensive against them.

Not until now.

In a tavern, the atmosphere was heavy and subdued. The usual laughter and clamor were absent. Instead, low murmurs filled the air.

Those who had escaped the beast onslaught were recounting their experiences in hushed, shaken voices.

The more they spoke, the more disbelief gave way to unease.

“This is getting serious,” a young man with a deep scar running across his face said, his voice low with worry.

“More serious than you can imagine,” a young woman replied, shaking her head.

Her tone was calm, but her eyes were sharp.

“Do you know who was behind the beast attack?” she asked suddenly.

Her question drew immediate attention. Conversations halted. Several heads turned toward her table.

“Who?” another woman asked curiously.

“…Awakeners,” she replied evenly, dropping the word like a stone into still water.

Silence swallowed the tavern.

Even the bartender paused mid-wipe, staring at her as if she had lost her mind.

Why would any sane awakener openly attack fellow humans?

Yes, conflicts between awakeners existed.

Rivalries. Assassinations carried out in secret.

Power struggles hidden beneath polite smiles.

But no one dared to wage open war against humanity as a whole.

Even the infamous Grim Reaper had never slaughtered indiscriminately. He targeted only those who offended him.

“Impossible,” someone muttered. “You must be mistaken.”

“That’s right.”

“There’s no way.”

“Are you trying to scare us?”

The objections came quickly, almost desperately.

The young woman did not argue. She simply lifted her mug and took another slow drink.

Gradually, the denials softened.

Because deep down, everyone knew something.

In the abyss, nothing was truly impossible.

After a moment, one of the quieter listener leaned forward and asked, “Why do you say they were awakeners?”

All eyes turned back to her.

She set her mug down carefully, folded her arms across her chest, and leaned back in her chair.

“Have you ever heard of the Beast God Sect?” she asked.

Confusion rippled through the room.

Beast God Sect?

Most of them were hearing the name for the first time.

“I’ve heard of it,” the bartender said cautiously, breaking the silence. “But I thought it was just a rumor. They’re not listed among any of the major guilds.”

“They’re real,” the woman replied firmly. “And they’re behind this.”

A chill crept through the tavern.

“Their goal,” she continued, “is to turn the first floor into the domain of beasts. They believe humanity does not belong here. Anyone who refuses to join them is marked as an enemy.”

A few awakeners shifted uneasily.

“That’s insane,” someone muttered.

“Think about it,” she pressed on. “Why have you never seen a Beast Tamer among us?”

Her question hung in the air.

Several people frowned.

It was true.

There were Warriors, Berserkers, Mages, Assassins, Hunters, Paladins.

But Beast Tamers?

None.

“I’ve never seen one,” a man near the door admitted slowly. “Not since I arrived in the abyss.”

Others nodded.

The realization spread like fire.

“That’s your answer,” the woman said quietly. “The Beast God Sect exclusively recruits Beast Tamers. They operate deep within the uncharted territory. They’ve been building their strength for years.”

A heavy silence settled over the tavern.

She rose from her seat, pulled a few copper coins from her pouch, and placed them on the table.

“War is coming,” she said calmly. “I hope you’re prepared.”

With that, she turned and walked toward the exit.

Everyone inside the tavern lost interest in their drink. Their minds were filled with what they just learned.

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