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But no matter how much his spirit burned, his strength was fading. In the distance, Jiang Chen silently observed, his gaze unwavering. His expression darkened as he assessed the battlefield. The overwhelming power of the three-headed beast was evident. Even with Old Li's formidable strength, the gap between them was insurmountable.
"This isn't something they can handle..."
Jiang Chen's fingers curled into fists. He could no longer remain a mere spectator. The crimson gleam of divine energy flickered across his form, the might of a Saiyan God awakening within him. But even with that power, uncertainty lingered. Could he truly stand against such a monstrous force?
Yet, despite the looming threat, Jiang Chen's resolve remained unshaken. He stepped forward, ready to confront the beast that threatened to consume the world in darkness.
However, just as he was about to act, his movements suddenly halted.
His gaze turned skyward, a look of surprise crossing his face.
"Brother, they seem to be losing!"
As Jiang Chen looked up, Jiang Xi's anxious voice rang out.
At that moment, Jiang Xi also clearly sensed the impending crisis.
"Don't worry, it should be fine!" Jiang Chen reassured her.
"Fine?" Jiang Xi was somewhat taken aback.
And just as she spoke, a figure appeared in the sky above.
As the figure emerged, the seemingly frenzied three-headed beast suddenly sensed something and looked up.
At the very moment the three-headed monster raised its heads, a calm voice resonated from the sky.
"A serious punch."
In the next instant, the figure in the sky descended and struck downward with a single punch.
Just one punch.
"Boom!"
A terrifying shockwave of ki cascaded down from the heavens.
At that moment, it felt as if the entire world was about to be pierced through.
No, it wasn't just a feeling.
It truly was being pierced.
The sky split open at that moment.
Simultaneously, the dark miasma was instantly dispersed.
The powerful shockwave surged toward the three-headed beast.
In that instant, the once-violent monster displayed a hint of panic and terror in its pupils.
But it was too late for any further reaction.
As the cursed mist dissipated, its entire form was also torn apart.
"Rumble!"
The sound of a massive explosion echoed, and the ground was left with a deep crater over ten thousand meters in diameter.
The colossal three-headed beast was completely obliterated.
Perhaps its strength could have been greater, but in this unstable state of dimensional rift, it had no chance to unleash its full power.
"Buzz!"
A ripple spread out, and in the next moment, a flowing light entered the mind of the figure in the sky.
"Ding, congratulations on defeating the dimension-invading monster, earning twelve dimension traversal opportunities."
A mystical voice echoed in his mind, followed by visions of a brand-new world.
It was a dark and oppressive realm.
A terrifying aura permeated throughout.
"The Underworld!"
The figure in the sky murmured softly, his brow furrowing slightly.
…
High above the sky, the figure hovered, a cloud of confusion lingering around him. Just then, four battered figures stumbled closer, their injuries evident. Two of them were missing an arm, one barely remained on his feet, and the eldest, Old Li, bore a massive wound on his abdomen that nearly pierced through his entire torso.
"Old Li, are you holding on?" The newly arrived figure called out with concern flashing across his face.
"I'm fine. Not dead yet!" Old Li forced a smile, but his gaze swiftly turned to scrutinize the man before him.
"Old Zhang, did you manage it?"
"But wait, why is there no sign of anything?"
His voice carried a tinge of doubt.
"Yeah, Old Zhang, what happened?"
"Wasn't it supposed to be a success? Then why does it feel like there's no sign of the World's Subjugation?"
"Exactly, Old Zhang!"
The overlapping voices of the four men conveyed their collective confusion.
"Not entirely conquered. There's something still resisting." Zhang Tao shook his head, his tone low and uncertain.
"Not entirely?"
"And what about you?"
Old Li's eyes widened, his voice laced with disbelief.
The other three shared his disbelief. After all, the world they had just faced was supposed to be a mere Sixth Tier Peak Level world. With Zhang Tao's power having already broken into the Seventh Tier, victory should have been absolute.
But the outcome proved otherwise.
"Yes. It's not over."
"I'm not entirely sure why."
Zhang Tao replied.
Just as their discussion continued, Zhang Tao's expression shifted as though he had sensed something ominous.
"Retreat!" With a low shout, he seized Old Li with one hand and another injured figure with the other.
Without hesitation, Zhang Tao's body flickered, and he pulled them away at an alarming speed.
A dark mist, thick and vile, roiled in the air. Its sinister energy rapidly expanded, far faster than Zhang Tao's initial burst of movement.
The remaining two warriors, still reeling from their injuries, were caught in its path. Despite Zhang Tao's effort to shield them with a surge of energy, the ominous mist engulfed them before they could react.
His heart sank. The protective aura shattered in an instant. Zhang Tao's face darkened, but with no time to waste, he continued to retreat. He streaked through the air, covering a thousand meters in a flash, only then did the black mist cease its pursuit.
"Old Xie, Old Zhao!"
Old Li's desperate cry echoed as he tried to lunge forward, only to be firmly held back by Zhang Tao.
"They're not lost yet."
"This is a dimensional expansion, they may have been pulled into a dimensional realm."
Zhang Tao's words were steady, though his eyes were filled with concern.
Realization dawned on the other two. Dimensional invasions had two phases. The first was the breach, when the dimension began corroding the main world. The second phase, dimensional expansion, was far more dangerous.
Once an invasion reached a critical point, or if the invading dimension was powerful enough, it could expand within the primary world. Such expansions twisted the laws of the world, merging realities and pulling unfortunate souls into the chaotic depths of the dimensional realm.
If luck was on their side, they would merely find themselves temporarily trapped in an alternate space.
But if luck failed them, there would be no return.
"How could this happen? A dimensional expansion, this quickly?" Old Li's voice trembled as the seriousness of the situation settled upon him.
"I don't know. But one thing is certain, this world is far stronger than we anticipated." Zhang Tao's voice was low, his expression dark. An overwhelming sense of dread gnawed at his chest.
Even with his formidable strength, a wave of helplessness swept over him.
"Far stronger."
Old Li exchanged a grim glance with the others. Their hearts pounded as the air grew heavier.
In the distance, the black mist churned like a living nightmare, spreading without restraint. Even those who had intended to retreat earlier felt the ominous shift.
Among them, one figure stood still, his senses sharp.
Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed, a dark premonition creeping over him as the black mist continued its insidious advance.
"What is this?" Jiang Chen's brows furrowed, his gaze fixed on the ominous scene in the distance.
"Brother, why isn't it over yet?" Jiang Xi's eyes widened, concern clear in her voice.
"Dimensional expansion." Jiang Chen's voice was low, laced with a sense of foreboding.
For some reason, he sensed that this world was far from ordinary.
The previous three-headed hellhound was likely just a prelude.
(To Be Continued…)