Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas instinctively stepped back, gulping as his heart raced when he saw the newcomer, several man-sized monkeys with black fur and glowing malice-filled red eyes. This new creature put him on edge as he scanned it.

[Chaos Apes]

[Rank: C - 500 Exp]

[Make sure to use Void Veil on them, boy!]

They were circling him while letting out creepy laughs and hungry growls. Atlas looked around and tried to summon some of his monsters, but nothing happened, causing him to think in frustration, 'Why can't I use my skills? Is chaos blocking me from using them?'

A few minutes later, he was trapped by the Chaos Apes, but Atlas smiled before casting Void Veil, which drowned their surroundings in a dark blue color. The monsters went wild when they realized he had vanished.

He laughed before thinking, 'They cannot see me; now its time to take advantage of it.'

Shortly after, Atlas lunged out of the dark and cut down two creatures before casting Void Lance at another. The surviving monsters tried to attack him, but he vanished thanks to Void Veil.

Atlas unleashed a Void Barrage, obliterating the remaining creatures and leaving him alone on the nightmarish jungle's outskirts. With no other choice, he stepped inside, the oppressive heat immediately clinging to his skin.

'This is a horrible place,' he internally complained while glancing at the trees above. 'Hopefully, there aren't any big monster spiders wandering around.'

Giant insects buzzed overhead, their size enough to shiver down his spine. Determined to find a way out, Atlas pressed forward, eyes darting around for any sign of an escape, just as he heard a rustle to his right.

Suddenly, something lunged from a nearby bush, startling him. Instinct kicked in as he threw a Void Punch, his fist crashing into the skull of a Stegosaurus-like creature, sending it reeling, but that's when more of the monsters rushed out.

They protectively circled the creature he punched as Atlas scanned them to find their rank and names, which caught his interest.

[Scalebreaker]

[Rank: A - 1000]

[Don't bother with these things; they are generally harmless]

Atlas sized up the massive Scalebreaker as it squared off against him. He raised his hand. "Your friend attacked me first," he said, his voice steady. "I could have killed it, but I chose not to. If you want to fight, I'm ready. But if you'd rather go our separate ways, I'm fine with that too."

The monster looked at him before huffing before it returned to the injured Scalebreaker. When Atlas saw this, he thought in confusion, 'I assumed all monsters down here would be hostile.'

After that, he continued walking through the jungle, fighting only more Chaos Apes that tried to ambush him from the surrounding foliage. Atlas blocked most attacks, but a few slipped past his defense.

The ape's fist slammed into Atlas, shattering ribs and denting his helmet. He coughed up blood, pain radiating through his body. Gritting his teeth, he lunged forward and stabbed the monster through its skull, watching as it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

'Finally! It's dead,' he thought while standing there catching his breath.

Once the battle ended, Atlas removed his helmet and stored it away before taking a deep breath. The armor made him sweat, causing him to compromise, and he left the rest off as his azure eyes scanned his surroundings.

'There has to be something in this damned jungle,' he thought as he heard more rustling coming from behind him.

Atlas spun around and readied to cast Void Wave but instantly stopped when he saw the group of Scalebreakers. He watched as the herd leader stepped forward and nudged his body with its giant head.

Continue your journey on empire

When the monster did this, Atlas smiled before stroking the dinosaur before a smaller one approached and let out a low noise, causing the leader to lower its body to let him on top of it, which confused him.

''Is it asking me to ride it?'' he muttered.

Then Atlas climbed onto the Scalebreaker's back and sat between its sails as an old woman's voice sounded in his mind, 'Stay there young one. The Chaos Army won't find you, as we've been here since the last Voidwalker died.'

A notification popped up when he heard the monster's words, making his eyes widen in shock.

[Skill: Voidbound - Reclaim your predecessor's monsters that were lost over history - They have to agree to it and accept you as their new Master]

[Otherworld: Allows you to house the Voidbound Monsters. It's a separate space that will allow them to grow stronger. You must send five hundred mana into it once daily, and your army will thrive.'

'What are these, and why have I unlocked them now? Maybe these Scalebreakers are the first monsters?' Atlas thought before looking at the herd leader and questioning, 'Is there any more Void Monsters in this hellish place?'

The massive creature halted, letting out a bellow that echoed through the jungle. In response, the surrounding beasts began feeding while others took defensive positions, guarding the herd.

Atlas quickly realized there were hundreds of them scattered all around, 'Where did all these monsters come from?' he thought.

Shortly after, the Scalebreaker leader replied, 'There is one more, but he is angry. He thinks the old master abandoned us.'

'I understand, but I'm not the old Voidwalker,' Atlas commented as he offered his new friend something. 'Do you want to return to the Otherworld once we finish the journey?'

The monster turned to him and nodded, ''Yes, Master. I haven't heard that name in many years.''

When Atlas heard this, he grew confused and asked, ''How long have you been down here, and why haven't you died of old age, as the old Voidwalker has been gone for countless years?''

The Scalebreaker quickly answered before she started eating, 'Thanks to the Old Master's mana and the chaos energy all around us, it has prolonged our lives. We only return to the Great Beyond once slain.'

"What if I use Voidbound?" Atlas mused aloud, his voice laced with curiosity. "Will you become like the other void monster?"

She nodded while explaining, 'Yes, but only if we accept that you will be our new Master.'

''Okay. Where are we going now? At this point, you've been walking for ages,'' Atlas said while looking at the jungle around them.

'There is something deep that you need to see, and it may help you escape the Netherrealm,' she replied as the herd chowed down on the grass and brushes.

Atlas watched the creatures eat, the eerie calm settling over the jungle. But soon, a deep rumble shook the ground beneath, instantly putting him on edge. He leaped down from his vantage point, quickly readying his spells.

The Scalebreaker, noticing his unease, tilted her head. "What's wrong, Voidwalker?"

Atlas shot her a tense glance, his eyes narrowing. "Something's coming," he muttered. "And it's big."

Seconds later, a Tyrannosaurus appeared and let out a roar when seeing the Scalebreakers. Atlas quickly scanned it before attacking using his strongest spell.

[Grimjaw Rex]

[Rank: A+ 1500 Exp]

[You can't fight this monster]

Atlas shook his head as he turned to the Scalebreaker leader as the other monsters hid behind her. "I'll distract it. You wait for the right moment to strike. I'm not strong enough to take it down without your help."

She nodded in agreement, and Atlas smiled grimly. Without wasting another second, he cast Void Bomb at the approaching Grimjaw Rex. The spell shot through the air and collided with the beast's head, exploding on impact.

The force sent the massive creature stumbling back as a boom rang out, which Atlas took advantage of before rushing forward and casting Void Infusion on his sword. He tried to slice through its ankle, but it bounced through the creature's thick hide.

Atlas was concerned before peppering its giant body with Void Arrows and Lances. Even those couldn't pierce it. He was growing concerned as he ducked under a tail swipe and used Void Step to avoid getting swallowed whole by its massive jaws.

Just as he dodged the last attack, the Scalebreakers joined the fray and used their deadly tail to stab the Grimjaw Rex in its flank, causing the monster to roar in agony before more tails hit it.

He scrambled back as the herd of friendly monsters tore the bigger one apart. Atlas was amazed at the scene, but soon the Scalebreaker Leader approached. Her tail swung side to side as she spoke, 'Let's keep moving before more come Master.'

Atlas climbed onto the monster's back, settling in as the herd continued its trek through the dense, nightmarish jungle. The howls and roars of other creatures echoed through the vast underground world, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking all around.

Hours slipped as the jungle grew thicker, forcing the Scalebreakers to smash through the dense brush with brute strength. Finally, after an eternity, they emerged into a clearing. Before them stood a massive building, ancient and overgrown with vines and foliage, its structure barely visible beneath the layers of nature.

[Drop some powerstones, comments, and gifts to help the novel grow; I appreciate all the support you can give]