Chapter 102: The Desolate Empire [1]

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Louis examined the two relics he had obtained: the Salt Cup and the White Salt Mask. Both radiated the essence and power of the Hollow Queen. He still had no clear idea what consuming her soul had granted him. His Soul felt noticeably larger and stronger, yet the change barely showed in his stats. Still, a new power stirred within him—one he would need time, effort, and dedication to fully develop and understand.

Unfortunately, the Hollow Queen dropped no relic of her own. In the game, bosses always carried a chance to yield a Layer-exclusive Relic, but this time she left nothing behind. Louis still needed at least two more relics for the Descent Ritual—ideally five to ensure success. At the very least, the Hollow Queen had provided three massive Fantasium Cores, which Louis stored carefully for emergencies. They would also supply enough food for the next few days.

As they ascended the Dimensional Staircase toward the Second Layer, Zorba glanced at Louis with concern. “Lord Louis, are you sure we should enter the Second Layer so soon?”

Louis nodded firmly. “There’s nothing to fear. If we work together, taking down the two Area Bosses on our own shouldn’t be impossible. Aside from that sudden mind attack… which was mostly my mistake for trying to consume her soul… the Hollow Queen was no real challenge.”

Zorba remained worried, but seeing his seven knight golems—now evolved through the souls of the Entities they had hunted—and Hecatoncheires grown even larger, he found a measure of confidence. “Well, I shall trust you. But let’s make sure to use the golems to draw damage and protect ourselves.”

Louis agreed. They continued up the shining staircase, which briefly revealed flashes of the Dimensional Labyrinth’s true nature: countless images and colors. His eyes widened as he glimpsed an endless spiral stretching across a sea of stars and ruined worlds, fragments of ancient civilizations drifting through the void. An invisible barrier kept them from falling, though Louis wasn’t certain how indestructible it truly was.

According to VPI data, this space between layers was called the “Dimensional Limbo”—a place where countless parallel worlds and their shattered remnants overlapped in an endless flow of space and time. The VPI had also determined that the Dimensional Labyrinth was clearly shaped by a rumored “Architect.” It operated under strict rules that imposed order amid the chaos.

Layers existed independently. Entities and Bosses respawned regularly even after death. Even massive damage—removing soil, drilling, destroying ruins or flora—restored itself within days or weeks depending on the scale. After any great battle, the entire layer would eventually reset to its original state no matter how severely it had been disturbed. Area Bosses were powerful Grievances in their own right. They understood their immortality and eternal bondage to the layer. Many had found ways to influence the outside world, spreading their Corrupted Authorities through Fantasy Fields. Yet unlike rogue Grievances that could roam freely, they could be controlled by regular slaying.

“We’re here.”

After completing the ascent, Louis and Zorba were suddenly teleported elsewhere. The staircase behind them remained, gleaming mysteriously as though crafted from fragile glass. The world around them shifted in an instant. Dark, cloudy skies loomed overhead. An arid wasteland stretched out, blanketed in gray ash. Black, withered trees stood like skeletal sentinels. Ruins of vast buildings and entire cities dominated the landscape.

Zorba looked around curiously from atop the shoulder of one of his golems. “This is the Desolate Empire? There’s no empire at all, huh?”

Louis gazed into the distance, slowly hovering toward the ruins of a large castle while keeping his distance. “No. It’s simply called that because it once was… and because the Grievances ruling this Layer still act as though the Empire endures.”

Zorba and Louis began making their way toward the Area Bosses. Unlike the First Layer, the Second was at least three times larger. If placed on Earth, it would cover all of Texas. It was an immense expanse of land, often taking agents or Espers several days to traverse on foot when they dared explore the perilous Dimensional Labyrinth.

In the game, the Labyrinth had felt like a classic dungeon crawler—first-person step-by-step advancement while slowly mapping each Layer. Now, in reality, it felt vastly more open and immense. Despite the layer’s bleak, lugubrious atmosphere, Louis couldn’t help but smile faintly as the cold wind swept across his face.

“Despair is strong here.”

He could feel it: particles of despair gathering around him, reacting to the power of his Spiral. He began absorbing these energies while contemplating ways to harness them beyond merely fueling his Ashen Frost. For some time now, Louis had considered this: if he could already conceptualize two Cultivation Methods, what prevented him from creating more?

He simply needed to devise a formula—refining a portion of his existence through specific practice and energy. Repetitive application of those energies and movements would gradually imprint the formula, birthing a new Cultivation Method.

But it was far from simple. The process was as delicate and demanding as constructing a massive magic circle, placing each rune in perfect balance. One misplaced rune could cause catastrophic backlash. He had to proceed with utmost care.

For now, he merely contemplated what sort of formula might work before attempting anything. He refused to risk crippling himself further.

“The only thing I see here are ruins everywhere, my lord,” Zorba sighed after an hour of wandering, growing visibly bored. “How exactly is this place structured?”

“It is a vast wasteland,” Louis explained. “However, from the information I gathered, there are three Ruined Fortresses before reaching the Ruined Capital, where the two Area Bosses reside: the Desolate Lord and the Ruinous Empress. Right now, we’re heading toward the First Fortress City, the Crimson Shield. Then come the Sapphire Shield and the Emerald Shield. They are named that way because the soldiers wear shield-shaped insignias in red, blue, and green. Their power also increases the deeper you go.”

“So there are no roaming Entities?” Zorba asked.

“Hm, there are,” Louis replied. “Ah, you asked too soon. Look.”

Louis gazed into the distance and spotted something massive approaching. The wasteland trembled and cracked open, revealing a giant worm-like creature covered in hard stone plates. Its wide, spiraling mouth brimmed with sharp teeth.

“GROOOHHHH!”

The creature unleashed a monstrous roar as it drew nearer, its movements sending tremors through the ground.

Zorba panicked and quickly ordered the knights forward. Hecatoncheires stayed behind to watch over them while the knights prepared to engage. Those wielding shields planted them firmly in the ground, reinforcing their durability with Ghostly Auras.

RUMBLE!

The giant worm slammed into them with tremendous force, throwing the golems off balance. But Galahad, the shielder of the group, held firm. His Ghostly Aura dramatically increased his weight, anchoring him in place.

The Level 2 Ruin Eater roared ferociously and began smashing Galahad with its head. The other knights charged in, swinging their weapons. Giant swords and spears pierced the creature’s body as it writhed in agony, black miasmic blood pouring everywhere.

“Hoh, they’re quite good,” Louis admitted, rubbing his chin. “They can handle small fry.”

“T-That’s small fry?” Zorba’s eyes widened at his master’s words. “Ah, yes… of course, small fry, my lord.”

Louis watched with an interested smile as the knights slaughtered the worm-like Entity and retrieved its two Fantasium Cores along with fragments of its body. It had no flesh inside; the Ruin Eater consisted of stone and contained blood-like miasma. When its belly was torn open, a cascade of destroyed buildings spilled out, blanketing the area in dust.

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