Chapter 185: Into the Core Zone
While the entire world was looking forward to the Grand Summit Trials and entering the realm, two people were completely oblivious to all of it.
Inside the realm, in the inner zone.
Cael and Junior had been staying in the inner zone for nearly a month. It had been a grueling, exhausting journey.
Every day followed the same pattern: they would walk through the treacherous zone for ten to twelve hours, avoiding monsters and traps, constantly on edge.
Then, when exhaustion finally caught up to them, they would find a spot to rest, usually a cave, a crevice, or a hidden alcove, and then sleep for ten hours before starting the cycle again.
Yes, they could have reduced their rest time to move faster. But the inner zone was not forgiving. One mistake, one careless step, and they could die without even knowing how.
Unlike the outer zone, which had been relatively safe, the inner zone was the complete opposite.
Traps. Monsters. Uncomfortable terrain. Hidden dangers lurk in every shadow. The realm was testing them, pushing them to their limits.
But one thing puzzled Cael.
Why are all the monsters here... Gargoyles?
He had encountered countless stone golems over the past month.
Each one was different in size and strength, but they were all the same type of creature. And every single one of them used demonic energy.
Cael felt something was very wrong. But he had no answers. Only questions.
...
Finally, after weeks of navigating the inner zone, Cael and Junior arrived before a huge mountain.
Attached to the mountain’s face was a large gate, ancient and weathered, covered in strange markings that seemed to pulse faintly in the dim light.
Junior studied it for a long moment; his blind eyes fixed on something Cael could not see.
"It might be the entrance to the core zone," he said slowly.
Cael nodded. He gestured forward, and his Frostflame and Black Lightning Clones stepped ahead.
They had been used as cannon fodder for the past month, and this was no different. They had died many times, and each time, Cael had reformed them. And each time, they had cursed him for it.
The Frostflame Clone reached out, his hand hovering just above the gate’s surface. The moment his fingers touched the stone...
-BOOM.
The clone exploded. Fragments of ice and shadow scattered through the air.
The Black Lightning Clone met the same fate moments later.
Demonic energy leaked from the gate, thick and suffocating, as a portal opened before them.
Cael and Junior stared at the swirling darkness.
Cael knew the concept of demonic energy from Junior’s earlier explanations. It was another type of energy, like mana or miasma, that helped certain creatures grow stronger.
But demonic energy was not the unknown energy Cael had been searching for.
"Is this realm related to demonic energy alone?" Junior muttered.
The question lingered in both their minds. They had been thinking about it for the past month. A
fter all, they had not encountered any other creature besides the Gargoyle stone golems. And every single one of them used demonic energy.
Now, a portal had opened before them.
Just as they were wondering whether to enter, an intense wave of demonic energy poured out from the portal.
Under their watchful eyes, a Gargoyle walked out. But unlike any they had encountered before, this one was different.
It was a genuine Gargoyle. Part of its body was still stone, but patches of flesh and muscle were visible beneath the cracking surface.
Its demonic energy was fighting against the stone, resisting the transformation that had claimed so many others.
Cael and Junior immediately understood: this Gargoyle was turning into a stone golem, just like the others. But this one was powerful. Strong enough to resist.
The Gargoyle looked at them, its eyes glowing with ancient intelligence.
"Humans?" it muttered.
Its voice was hoarse and rough, the words foreign and unknown. But supernaturally, both Cael and Junior understood what it said.
Before Cael could think further, the Gargoyle’s demonic energy surged, wild and uncontrolled.
"How dare humans meddle in our great cause!"
Without another word, it charged at them.
Cael let out a soft sigh. He had already cut his finger the moment the portal opened.
Two drops of blood fell to the ground, and the Frostflame and Black Lightning Clones reformed instantly.
Meanwhile, Cael placed his hand on Junior’s shoulder, and the two of them vanished from the scene.
The clones stood alone against the Gargoyle.
The Frostflame and Black Lightning Clones moved as one, their movements sharp and perfectly coordinated.
They had died many times over the past month, torn apart by traps, crushed by stone golems, and obliterated by demonic energy surges.
Each death had only sharpened their skills, honing their instincts, and deepening their frustration. Now, they vented all of that pent-up anger on the Gargoyle before them.
The Frostflame Clone struck from the left, his ice-covered blade slicing through the air with surgical precision.
Frost trailed behind the blade, leaving a shimmering arc of frozen mist.
The Black Lightning Clone attacked from the right, his lightning-infused fists crackling with raw energy, each punch leaving a trail of sparks.
They worked together seamlessly, forcing the Gargoyle to split its attention between two equally deadly threats.
The Gargoyle roared, a guttural sound that echoed through the mountain pass. Its massive arms swung like battering rams, each strike powerful enough to kill them.
But the clones were too fast. They darted in and out, landing blows before retreating, their movements fluid and unpredictable.
The Frostflame Clone’s blade carved shallow grooves into the Gargoyle’s stone hide, while the Black Lightning Clone’s electrified fists sent jolts of pain through its ancient body.
The Gargoyle was powerful, undeniably so. Its demonic energy flared with each attack, dark and suffocating.
But it was fighting on two fronts. It was not just battling the clones—it was also fighting the stone transformation that had been slowly consuming its body.
Patches of rock had already spread across its limbs, weighing it down, slowing its movements. It was focusing a significant portion of its energy on resisting the encroaching stone, and that left it vulnerable.
The clones exploited that weakness relentlessly.
The Frostflame Clone feinted high, then dropped low, his blade slicing across the Gargoyle’s knee.
The creature stumbled, its stone-covered leg cracking under the impact.
The Black Lightning Clone followed up immediately, his fists driving into the Gargoyle’s chest.
The Gargoyle howled in fury. Its demonic energy exploded outward, a shockwave of dark power that sent the clones skidding backward.
But they recovered quickly, their eyes fixed on their target.
"Keep pressing!" the Frostflame Clone shouted.
The Black Lightning Clone grinned, lightning crackling around his fists. "You don’t have to tell me twice!"
They attacked again, faster and more aggressively than before.
The Frostflame Clone’s blade became a blur of silver and frost, each strike aimed at the Gargoyle’s joints and weak points.
The Black Lightning Clone moved like a storm, his fists crashing against the Gargoyle’s stone hide with relentless force.
The Gargoyle swung its massive arm, but the Frostflame Clone ducked under it, his blade carving a deep gash into the creature’s side.
The Black Lightning Clone seized the opening, slamming both fists into the Gargoyle’s jaw. The creature’s head snapped back, and it stumbled.
For thirty long minutes, the battle raged.
The Gargoyle’s roars echoed through the mountain pass, its demonic energy flaring with each desperate attack.
The ground shook under their feet. Rocks tumbled from the cliffs above. The air grew thick with dust and the smell of ozone.
But the clones did not let up. They pushed, pressed, and hammered away at the Gargoyle’s defenses.
Finally, the Gargoyle’s knees buckled. It let out a final, defiant roar, its demonic energy flaring one last time.
But the Frostflame Clone was already in motion. He leaped into the air, his blade raised high, and brought it down with all his strength.
The blade pierced the Gargoyle’s head, and the creature went still.
The Gargoyle fell. Its massive body hit the ground with a heavy thud, the impact sending tremors through the stone floor.
Slowly, its body began to turn to stone. The demonic energy faded, and the creature’s body hardened into lifeless rock.
The Frostflame Clone stood over the fallen Gargoyle, his chest heaving. The Black Lightning Clone walked up beside him, his fists still crackling with residual lightning.
They exchanged a glance, a silent acknowledgment of their victory.
Then the Frostflame Clone sent a message through the mind channel to the main body.
Soon, Cael and Junior appeared at the scene. They stared at the stone remains of the Gargoyle, then at the gate.
"How do we enter?" Junior asked.
Cael thought for a moment. He considered asking the clones to try touching the gate again. But with no other clue in hand, he gave the order.
The clones gave him a death glare before sighing. They had died enough times already. But they mentally prepared themselves and stepped forward.
They reached out and pushed the gate.
This time, unlike before, the gate swung open.
And what they saw next left them feeling dread.