Gol D. Ace In Coiling Dragon

The mesmerized audience of experts watched in stunned silence as Ace, unwavering and resolute, entered the spatial passage that led to the Necropolis of the Gods. He didn't even spare a glance back at those behind him, nor did he give O'Brien, the self-proclaimed God of War, a chance to respond.

It wasn't until Ace had completely vanished into the passage that O'Brien's rage finally erupted. Overwhelmed by anger and frustration, he abandoned all semblance of reason. Ignoring the fact that this was the domain of Lord Beirut, he unleashed a devastating wave of killing intent accompanied by a furious roar. His uncontrollable fury knew no bounds as he unleashed his full might, and he directed it towards the entrance of the Necropolis of the Gods.

Catherine, recognizing the impending catastrophe, desperately wanted to stop O'Brien, but time seemed to slip through her fingers like grains of sand – by the time she was ready to react, it was already too late to intervene.

The fiery pillar of destruction hurtled toward the entrance, a relentless force that threatened to engulf it. However, it was at this critical moment that Aiden, the master of glaivesmanship, made his move.

His actions were executed with the fluidity of the wind itself. A glaive, previously at rest on his back, soared into his grasp as if guided by an invisible hand. Then, in a calm and calculated motion, he slashed through the incoming conflagration with such finesse that it shattered into scattered embers, harmlessly dissipating in the air.

Witnessing Aiden's effortless counter, the assembly of experts could only stand in dumbfounded awe. They had already heard rumours of Aiden's power – likened to that of a prime saint. But Aiden's display hinted at an incredible level of strength, one that infinitely approached the threshold of deities. Even though the attack wasn't aimed at him, Aiden's ability to effortlessly thwart it implied that his power was leagues beyond the ordinary.

As though he couldn't sense the shock of the nervous spectators, Aiden remained composed, his expression neither warm nor cold. Still, there was an underlying weight to his presence, a subtle chill that conveyed his meaning. His words were delivered lightly but carried immense gravity, "Consider this your final warning; any further acts of violence will be met with the appropriate response."

O'Brien, though still seething with anger, understood that his temper had nearly just cost him his life. With a resentful and slightly unwilling snort, he hastily retreated, distancing himself from death's door.

As the tension diffused, Yunaia, who had observed the entire spectacle from the back of her Divine Beast, contemplated the strength she had witnessed. It had shattered her belief in her own unrivalled power among mortals. Still, instead of allowing it to get her down, she couldn't help but feel a newfound vigour and curiosity about the challenges that lay ahead.

With a soft murmur, she directed her loyal companion, Oscar, the white-feathered crow, to carry her toward the entrance. Her eyes still trained on Aiden, who merely flashed her a calm smile as she passed him by, until she, too, disappeared into the spatial corridor, embarking on her journey into the Necropolis of the Gods.

As Yunaia stepped through the doorway, she couldn't help but notice the strange vibrations that coursed through her for a fleeting moment.

She had barely blinked, but upon opening her eyes, she found herself no longer in the Forest of Darkness. Instead, she stood on a vast and nearly empty grassland. Above her, instead of the usual skies, stretched the multicoloured expanse of chaotic space.

However, what truly captured her attention was the elemental essence saturating the surroundings.

Her homeland had been devoid of elemental essence, making cultivation for mortals nearly impossible.

Only those with influential family backgrounds or access to special treasures could hope to cultivate. Fortunately, her grandmother had provided her with such an opportunity. Yet, growing up in such a barren environment, the sheer density of elemental essence in the Necropolis of the Gods, which exceeded that of the Yulan Continent by at least fivefold, left her both shocked and excited.

The urge to sit down and meditate was almost overpowering, but before her enthusiasm could carry her away, a lazy and slightly impatient voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Will you hurry up, girl?" a devilishly handsome green-haired youth called out. "With you and that little bird of yours, there are finally ten of you who have entered."

Yunaia turned her gaze to the source of the voice and noted that Ace and his group of eight were already gathered, patiently waiting.

However, it was the mysterious youth who had called out to her that truly intrigued her. Although he made no overt displays of his aura, Yunaia could sense that he was a genuine expert, far surpassing individuals like O'Brien and Catherine in strength.

With a respectful bow and a silent command to her white-feathered crow – Oscar – Yunaia approached the green-haired youth.

"Finally, now that the first ten of you have arrived, I can begin the explanation," the enigmatic deity said slowly. "Given your obvious ages, none of you would have had the chance to enter the Necropolis of the Gods when the lower levels were last opened.

Nevertheless, even if you had, it wouldn't matter. Lord Beirut sought the assistance of the esteemed Sovereign who stands behind him to modify the Necropolis's layout after he apparently encountered an impressive group of young talents who could benefit from such an opportunity."

Hearing that, Ace's eyes flickered with an almost imperceptible light. Still, he didn't say anything, allowing for this mysterious deity to continue his explanation.

"I never would've guessed those 'brats' he mentioned were a bunch of mortals," The green-haired youth's gaze drifted over Ace and the other mortals in the group as he spoke. "Nevertheless, that's none of my concern.

Anyway, my name is Tarosse, and I will be the overseer for this opening of the Necropolis of the Gods. As such, allow me to explain the new structure.

This time, every three floors make up one layer. The first floor of each layer serves as a test of sorts, similar in nature to the trial the mortals among you faced outside.

In each of the ten tunnels behind me, there's a Deathgod Golem blocking the path to the higher levels. To access the higher floors, you don't necessarily need to defeat the Golem; you just have to find a way past it. Take that as you will," Tarosse shrugged casually before continuing with his explanation. "The first floor of each layer is an individual assessment, allowing only one person to enter at a time. Don't worry, though; if you find it impossible to advance, you can return to the resting point, where you can focus on improving your strength before attempting again.

Additionally, the power of each first-floor Golem increases significantly as you ascend. The Golem on the first floor of the first layer has the strength of a relatively powerful early-stage saint, while the one on the first floor of the second layer matches that of a top-quality middle-stage saint. The third layer's first-floor Golem is on par with a top-ranking peak saint, and the Golem on the fourth layer has the power of a formidable prime saint.

And just like the Golem's outside, although their power is limited, the materials they're made from make them indestructible to anyone who doesn't have the power of a High God.

Next, the second floor of each layer. Now, this is the floor that houses the real danger. Each one is swarming with tens or even hundreds of thousands of saint-level entities that attack outsiders on sight. Furthermore, these floors house several prime saints, each armed with formidable treasures to enhance their power."

At the mention of the overwhelming number of powerful enemies on the second floor, unease rippled through the gathered experts. Forget them; even individuals of Mathias and Lauriella's calibre would struggle when faced with such odds.

"To advance to the next level, you merely have to navigate your way to the central area where the staircase leading to the next floor is situated," Tarosse elucidated. "But here's the silver lining; the second floor of each stage boasts ample space.

While you are still likely to encounter groups of adversaries, rest assured, you won't face them all simultaneously. Furthermore, despite it being the various prime saints guarding the best treasures, numerous other hidden treasures await discovery on these floors. So, rushing to the next stage may not always be the optimal choice.

As for the third floor of each layer, it functions as a designated rest zone. Here, you won't encounter any trials placed by Beirut and the Sovereign, making it an ideal environment for meditation and deepening your understanding of the laws.

Still, although it was designed to serve as a refuge for those struggling to defeat the various Golems, you may still face threats from other explorers.

Additionally, keep in mind that elemental essence purity escalates significantly with each layer. For instance, the elemental essence on the third floor of the third layer is nearly a hundred times purer than what you sense here.

Ooh, and regarding the fourth stage, although technically speaking, it too features a third floor, should you be fortunate enough to reach that point, exercise caution and thoughtful consideration, for it marks the twelfth level of the Necropolis, also known as the first floor of the deity levels."

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