SSS-Ranked Evolution: Worlds Unbound-Chapter 97: don’t buy
Twisted creatures slithered and skulked in the shadows, their eyes glowing with an unholy light. Some feasted on the remains of long-dead bodies, their gnarled, sinewy limbs tearing into flesh with sickening wet sounds. The corpses—human, tiger, and beast alike—lay scattered, half-consumed, their faces frozen in eternal agony. The creatures that fed on them seemed to grow stronger with each bite, their grotesque forms bulging and shifting unnaturally as they absorbed the death that surrounded them.
The floor was slick with unidentifiable filth, a mix of blood, bile, and black ichor that seeped from both the corpses and the palace itself. Puddles of the vile substance glistened in the dim light, reflecting the grotesque forms of the monsters as they moved about. The sound of dripping echoed in the vast emptiness, a haunting rhythm that seemed to sync with the pulsing rot in the walls.
At the heart of it all stood the throne, an abomination of power and despair. Its once-polished surface was now coated in a thick layer of grime and filth, the intricate carvings of tigers barely visible beneath the decay. Broken chains hung from its arms, rusted and corroded, their purpose lost to time but ominous nonetheless. Corpses, both fresh and skeletal, were piled around its base in a macabre offering. Some were impaled on jagged spikes that jutted out from the throne’s base, their lifeless eyes staring into the void.
A black aura radiated from the throne, visible even to the naked eye. It swirled like smoke, tendrils of shadow curling and twisting through the air. The energy it exuded was suffocating, pressing down on them with an oppressive weight. It whispered to them, a low, malevolent hum that crawled into their minds and threatened to consume their will.
"This is it. This is the heart of darkness." her eyes shook softly, clouded with tears to see something that was so beautiful, now in ruins. Von had just jumped over a puddle of bile and was doing his best not to puke, they both looked at Ren who summoned a fist of pure energy.
"Time for some deep cleaning." The moment Ren stepped closer to the corrupted throne, a deep rumble echoed through the chamber. The eerie blue light dimmed as countless skeletal hands clawed their way out of the ground. Their fingers were jagged, their nails like blackened hooks tearing through the stone floor. One lunged at Von, its bony claws piercing his arm. He let out a sharp cry of pain, blood dripping down as the hand twisted and refused to let go.
Suddenly, a grotesque horde began to emerge. The creatures were like distorted reflections of humanity, their bodies twisted and bent unnaturally, resembling the figure from nightmares. Their heads dangled upside down, mouths filled with rows of jagged, shark-like teeth, gnashing hungrily. Their limbs were elongated, clawed hands and feet skittering across the floor in jerky, spider-like movements. Their ragged skin was pale and bruised, veins pulsating with an otherworldly, sickly green glow. The monsters’ forms made them unpredictable as they twisted and spun in the air, launching themselves at the trio with movements that defied logic.
"Scatter!!" Ren shouted, stepping away from Dalia and Von in a desperate jump. But the creatures didn’t give them a moment to regroup after they had pulled apart.
One lunged at Ren, its claws slashing downward. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack, and retaliated with a burst of energy that blasted the creature backward. Dalia drew her natural weapons, her claws, their edges gleaming with a faint magical glow, and charged into the fray. She was a blur of movement, slashing through the grotesque forms with surgical precision. Despite her skill, the creatures’ sheer numbers overwhelmed her. One managed to grab her ankle, and she swiftly spun, severing its limb in a single stroke. Yet, more poured in.
Von, despite his injury, gritted his teeth and fought valiantly. He used his kunai with deadly efficiency, but his movements grew sluggish as blood loss took its toll. A monster leapt at him, jaws wide open, but Dalia intercepted it mid-air, driving both claws into its chest. "Stay behind me!!" she yelled, spinning to slice through another approaching creature.
The monsters’ relentless assault pushed the trio back. They came from every direction, their gnashing teeth and clawed limbs a constant threat. Ren summoned another wave of energy, slamming it into the horde. The force disintegrated several of the creatures, but more emerged, crawling through cracks in the walls and ceiling.
Dalia’s movements became more desperate. She fought like a whirlwind, spinning and dodging, her blades singing through the air. But a swipe from one of the creatures caught her shoulder, tearing through her skin and drawing blood. She staggered but held her ground, "We can’t hold them off forever!" her eyes darted all around before settling on Von who was struggling after piling up multiple bodies of the creatures.
Von fell to one knee, clutching his injured arm. A creature lunged for him, but Dalia was faster. Her eyes caught sight of an abandoned sword and hurled it, impaling it in the chest. She dashed to his side, retrieving forgetting the weapon in the monster as she helped him to his feet. "You’re badly wounded..." what looked like tears pooled in her eyes, her hands shaking slightly. She hesitated before she tore off some part of the shirt he had given her and used it to patch the exposed skin that oozes blood. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
Ren’s heart pounded as he saw his friends faltering. The monsters were endless, their numbers overwhelming. With a roar, he summoned every ounce of energy he had left, releasing a massive wave that swept through the chamber. The creatures screeched as they were obliterated, but the effort left Ren staggering, his breath ragged.
He turned to check on Von who was trying to stand on his feet, wanting to help him up, but before he could speak, a sharp pain exploded in his chest. Ren gasped, looking down to see Von’s kunai buried just above his breast. He stumbled backward, growling in pain, and looked into Von’s eyes. What he saw wasn’t his friend—it was something hollow, controlled, filled with darkness.
"What the hell was that for?!" Dalia screamed at Von whose eyes had now darkened with an aura that was strange yet familiar.
"Friend..." Ren whispered, clutching his wound. His vision blurred as he realized the true extent of the battle. His friend wasn’t just a casualty—he was now another threat.
"Submit to the corruption, or face destruction."
Ren barely had time to catch his breath before Von lunged at him, the kunai gleaming in his corrupted hands. His grin was twisted, a sinister mask of the friend Ren once knew. The red glow in Von’s eyes was unrecognizable, devoid of life.
Ren sidestepped the first strike, but his movements were sluggish from the stab wound in his chest. Blood soaked through his shirt as he clutched it briefly, wincing. "Von! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Ren shouted, desperation in his voice.
Von didn’t answer. He spun on his heel, striking again with deadly precision. Ren barely managed to deflect the attack with his blade, the clash of metal ringing in the air. Before Von could press the advantage, a sharp, spinning kick from Dalia sent him staggering back.
"He has been corrupted! If we do not save him in time, he will become like the monsters we slay! Time is of the essence, or you will lose your friend!" Dalia growled, taking a defensive stance beside him.
Ren gritted his teeth and steadied himself. He didn’t want to fight Von, but there was no choice. "I will save you," he murmured, mostly to himself. "And end this corruption once and for all."
The three of them faced off, the tension palpable. Dalia lunged first, her claws slashing through the air with deadly intent. Ren followed a heartbeat later, his sword aimed low to catch Von off guard. But Von moved like a phantom, dodging and weaving through their strikes with unnerving ease. He parried Dalia’s attack, twisted away from Ren’s blade, and with a powerful leap, created space between them.
From the shadows, the monsters surged forward again, drawn by the commotion. Their twisted forms screeched as they closed in. Ren, despite the pain gnawing at his wound, swung his blade in a wide arc, slicing through several of them. Each movement sent sharp pain radiating through his chest, but he refused to stop.
Dalia grabbed a stray sword from the ground and charged into the fray, her strikes precise and brutal. She fought like a whirlwind, cutting through the grotesque creatures with raw ferocity. But their reprieve was short-lived.
Von hurled a barrage of kunai at them, each one whistling through the air with deadly accuracy. "Scatter!" Ren shouted, diving to the side while Dalia evaded with aerial cartwheels. The blades embedded themselves in the ground, barely missing him and Dalia.
The separation allowed more monsters to gravitate toward Ren. Their clawed hands swarmed him, pulling at his legs and arms. He
