Spiral of Madness: Ascension of the Villainous Dragon Prince-Chapter 113: The Dimensional Labyrinth’s Third Layer [3] — Moving Back Home
Hecatoncheires flew rapidly across the skies, avoiding contact with flying colonies of bizarre, alien-like Entities high above. From Louis’s scans, the weakest were Level 4.
On the way back to the Frostbane Kingdom, Louis continued his Cultivation while sitting cross-legged. Hecatoncheires had an internal, hollow ribcage where Zorba had shaped a resting area.
Thus, while feeling the strong, refreshing winds, Louis slowly refined his Soul, Body, Mind, and Spirit using the Void Meridian Sutra Method. At the same time, he strengthened his Nirvana Flames with the Nirvana Soul Flame Furnace Method, gradually overcoming its "conceptual" stage.
As for the Ritual of Descent, he had decided to perform it in a safe place—his home. Doing it in Antarctica or elsewhere risked drawing Entities due to the intense Fantasium Aura that would emanate from him, or other dangers.
Louis refused to risk such an important moment.
♢♢♢♢
Five hours later, Hecatoncheires reached North America without major issues... or rather, they did encounter trouble, but the giant Undead solved it easily, striking anything that approached and sending it crashing downward.
The stronger Tier 4 and above Entities living in space had not approached, mostly because they were not yet fully in space. As the giant undead descended into the clouds below, however, Louis and Zorba were greeted by a moving mountain.
RUMBLE!
"Ohhh?! What is that thing?!" Zorba gasped, fascinated by the gigantic creature.
Upon closer inspection, it resembled a massive turtle. Its shell consisted entirely of stacked junk and forests; there was even a biome with other Entities and Anomalies living on it.
Each step made the world tremble. It moved slowly toward the seas. It seemed undisturbed by Hecatoncheires and paid no attention...
But other things did.
"CRYAAARR!"
Giant pterodactyl-like Monsters—likely Anomalies from Yggdrasil, Spiritias, or Zipangu—chased anything that came near the mountain-sized creature. They appeared to be opportunistic hunters.
Louis analyzed them and identified them as an already registered species of invasive "Wind Wyverns" from Yggdrasil. Their size rivaled airplanes, and they controlled Winds, shaping them into tornadoes that attacked Hecatoncheires. The giant groaned and fired ghostly fireballs in response.
"Looks like there’s a big swarm of them!" Zorba said. "My lord, I believe we need to take them down before Hecatoncheires falls apart."
"I know," Louis quickly transformed. He grew a pair of skeletal wings, scale armor, and turned his pale skin dark gray. His long white hair became pitch black as his irises blazed with red light. "I’ll go. You make sure they don’t break in."
Louis leaped off, feeling the strong winds around his body and maneuvering through the skies. The Wind Wyverns chased him, roaring and snapping with their giant, sharp beaks.
While airborne and keeping pace with Hecatoncheires, Louis swung his sword. Horizontal slashes cut apart the Wind Wyverns one after another. Gungnir soared into the higher skies, impaling dozens at once. Blood began raining from above.
But as he killed them, more kept coming from the giant monster. Dozens appeared, then a swarm of over forty. They attacked with sharp winds and small tornadoes, combining their magic into a massive storm in an attempt to overwhelm him.
"Not bad."
Louis acknowledged they were not weak, but he remained stronger. He forced his way out of the storm, emerging like a white blur. He reached the nearest wyvern, grabbed its head, tore it free, and hurled it toward another beast with immense force, piercing its body.
"But you’re still far from being a challenge to me."
"SHYAAAAH!"
The Wind Wyverns hissed furiously and attacked with even greater anger and magic power. But Louis overcame the powerful wind pressures with his body alone, encased in his Fantasium Aura. Gungnir continued massacring them, impaling one after another, while his sword cut them into pieces.
Eventually, with fewer than twenty left, they began flying away—finally realizing he was an enemy they could never defeat. Louis did not pursue. He flew back to Hecatoncheires and decided to rest.
"They should stop bothering us now," he said, sighing in relief.
"I hope so. They seemed quite stubborn," Zorba sighed, shaking his head. "How could they let so many die before realizing they stood no chance? How foolish."
"They’re still wild creatures—perhaps highly territorial," Louis replied. "Whatever the case, we’re in Central America, right? We’re not far from home."
Hecatoncheires hurried through the skies, piercing the sea of clouds and flying faster across the continent. Though it appeared random, they followed a specific route where Monsters roamed less frequently.
While waiting to arrive home, Louis focused on his cultivation—especially his mastery of the Second Step of Sword Breathing. He constantly swung his sword in various forms and styles, seeking the perfect way to wield sword aura.
Thus, three more hours passed.
...
"Your majesty!"
While in deep meditation, Louis snapped awake at Zorba’s alarmed voice. He clicked his tongue and glared at him, asking if they had arrived.
"What’s the matter, Zorba? Are we there yet?"
"Yes, but...! Please, look for yourself. Something is happening in your Kingdom."
"...?!"
Louis stood quickly and moved to the edge of the ribcage’s interior. He gazed down upon the Kingdom’s Capital.
His eyes widened. A chill ran down his spine.
"What...?!"
The west walls had been destroyed. A third of the capital burned. The roars of creatures and people echoed together.
The ice castle had been breached. A battle raged wildly between his soldiers and another faction of nobles—blood and bodies scattered across the streets.
Anomalies and Entities from the VPI breached everywhere, causing chaos in the noble district and slowly creeping toward habitable areas.
Sharp vines covered the Nameless Streets. A Fantasy Field began corrupting the space around the capital. An emerald moon gleamed above distorted skies, a red rose gazing down upon everything.
"What’s happening here?!"
Louis felt fury and disbelief. He gripped his fists tightly as he took in the horrifying scene.
Just because he had been absent for four—maybe five—days, all of this was happening?!
He clenched his teeth and bit his lip until it bled. His eyes turned bloodshot as he noticed armored men attacking his knights, Catrise desperately trying to stop them.
"Get your FILTHY hands off MY people!"
With a furious roar, Louis leaped from the skies. He fused with all three of his Incarnations and immediately transformed into an enormous Dragonoid form.
"Wha...?!"
"What’s that thing?!"
"Aaahhh!"
BOOOM!
The armored soldiers panicked as Louis descended. He crushed one beneath him on impact, splattering their body into the ground—blood, guts, and minced flesh scattering everywhere.
"I am absent for five days and this is what happens?! You filthy bastards... Whoever you are, I will make sure your deaths are as agonizing as possible!"
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