Daniel sneered inwardly.
He knew all too well that Malkar wasn’t offering his help out of goodwill. Rather than calling it an act of aid toward the humans, it was more accurate to say it was a test—a probe.
If the human race wasn’t as powerful as Daniel claid, then the intelligent beings of the abyss would certainly reconsider their plans to launch a full-scale offensive on the surface world. On the other hand, if the humans truly were as strong as Daniel asserted, they wouldn’t be struggling to handle a few deranged abyssal monsters.
This "offer of assistance" from Malkar, then, was nothing more than a symbolic gesture—an attempt to appear amicable and distance himself from those frenzied abyssal creatures, clearly drawing the lines of allegiance and responsibility.
Daniel didn’t even pause to weigh the suggestion. He simply shook his head and declined it outright.
"A trivial matter," he said flatly. "We don’t need the abyss’s assistance."
"This is sothing the human race can take care of on its own."
He then added, almost as an afterthought, "Though... I recall that one of the abyssal warlords had expressed interest in traveling to the surface. If he still wishes to go, I have no objections personally."
Daniel was referring to one particular abyssal warlord—a muscle-bound, brainless brute with a fanatical obsession for war and carnage. A mindless war freak. Since he loved fighting so much, Daniel thought, why not let him go enjoy himself on the surface?
As soon as Daniel spoke, laughter rang out from beyond Malkar’s palace—loud, hearty, and utterly unrestrained.
"Hah! Your Majesty Malkar, since King Daniel himself has spoken, let be the one to go!"
"I want to see for myself whether the humans are truly as powerful as they claim—or if the abyss still reigns supre. Even if it costs my life, I have no regrets!"
Daniel glanced at the speaker with a calm and distant look in his eyes. The towering figure who strode into the palace was none other than the [Warlord of Destruction].
He bowed slightly toward Malkar, a gesture of respect that barely concealed his underlying excitent.
In truth, the Warlord of Destruction had already been here once before.
Earlier, he had co to Malkar with a proposal—to take advantage of the ongoing situation and storm the surface himself. Malkar, of course, had refused without hesitation. There was no way he would allow such reckless behavior, especially when the situation between the abyss and the surface world was so delicate.
Frustrated and rejected, the warlord had sulked off, preparing to wait for a better opportunity.
He had barely taken a few steps away when—coincidentally or not—Daniel arrived.
Of course, this was no coincidence. Daniel had planned the timing precisely, orchestrating the scene so that the Warlord of Destruction would return just in ti to receive a favorable verdict.
Seeing the warlord barge in again, Malkar was fuming. The vines on his body trembled in agitation.
"This imbecile," he muttered inwardly. "Doesn’t even realize he’s walking straight into a trap."
This wasn’t a war mission—it was a suicide mission!
But what could Malkar do? He couldn’t stop him. Not officially, at least.
He sighed heavily, his countless vines drooping in resignation.
"So be it," he said. "Go."
...
Elsewhere, a massive swarm of abyssal creatures surged toward the surface world, driven by so unknown force—or perhaps by the collective will of the abyss itself.
[Abyssal Myriapod]
[Abyssal Centipede]
[Abyssal Vampire]
...
Countless creatures. Hundreds of trillions. A monstrous tide of corruption and destruction.
Even Daniel couldn’t calculate the full extent of the oncoming force. It was impossible to quantify. But then again, there was no need.
No matter how many ca, the human race would face them.
They had to.
Without hesitation, Daniel teleported deep into the abyss, far below where even faint light could reach.
He arrived in a massive cavern system—a labyrinth of tunnels and vast empty chambers, connected from all directions like the arteries of so massive subterranean beast.
At this depth, no natural light existed. Only a suffocating, oppressive darkness.
But thanks to his [Eye of Insight], Daniel could perceive everything with perfect clarity—his position, the layout of the terrain, even subtle mana flows in the stone itself.
"This should be a good place," Daniel thought to himself.
He reached into his spatial inventory and retrieved a weapon—a weapon of imnse power.
The Primordial Core Weapon.
Its function was straightforward: it could destroy part of the [New Life]’s HP, fulfilling the requirents of his Star Upgrade Quest.
But it had another benefit: annihilating a swarm of abyssal monsters in one fell swoop.
The mont he brought it out, a tremor ran through the abyss.
Far away, Emperor Malkar felt an inexplicable sense of dread.
As the sole Emperor of the abyss, he possessed instincts far beyond what mortals could comprehend. His body, covered in thorny vines, trembled violently. He sensed sothing was wrong—terribly wrong.
Without delay, he grabbed his communicator and reached out to Daniel.
"My friend," he said with urgency, "what exactly are your people planning?"
"There is no blood feud between the abyss and humanity. We do not wish for war. Daniel, I assure you, those rampaging abyssal creatures have nothing to do with us!"
So he’s already sensing it...
Daniel smiled slightly. A faint, knowing smile.
"As expected of the abyss’s emperor," he thought. "He can feel the looming danger, even without seeing it."
Even though Malkar didn’t know what exactly was happening, his instincts warned him of an imminent calamity.
Daniel reappeared in Malkar’s palace in the blink of an eye.
Malkar fell silent, deep in thought, perhaps trying to piece everything together.
Daniel’s gaze, however, shifted to the Warlord of Destruction.
"You want to fight humans, right?" he asked.
"I want to challenge the strong," the warlord growled. "I want to see with my own eyes what humanity is made of! Are there any powerful beings among them besides you?"
His obsession with war bordered on madness.
If not for Malkar’s repeated commands, the Warlord of Destruction might have already tried to kill Daniel, just for the thrill of it.
"In that case," Daniel said slowly, "I can take you to the surface."
He tossed a binding scroll at the warlord’s feet.
"But I’ll need to restrain you temporarily. After all, taking soone like you through the barriers isn’t exactly easy. Do you agree?"
Daniel wasn’t about to let this reckless maniac throw away his life for nothing.
He had better plans for him.
The abyssals, after all, might still suspect the truth behind Daniel’s claims. Despite his misinformation and intimidation, doubts lingered.
So why not let them test it themselves?
Instead of letting the abyss send scouts or spies, Daniel would deliver one of their own kings—on a silver platter.
And let them watch.
After all, right now, humanity wasn’t truly a match for the abyss.
Daniel had confidence in his own strength, but he wasn’t arrogant enough to believe he could conquer the abyss single-handedly.
Unless...
Unless he used the Primordial Core Weapon.
Malkar remained silent, glancing with subtle anxiety toward the warlord.
The Warlord of Destruction, however, showed no fear. No hesitation. He was born to fight. Even if it ant death.
In a blink, Daniel stored him in his backpack space.
Then, in another flash of movent, he appeared at the edge of the abyss, where the light of the surface could faintly be seen.
With no second thoughts, Daniel released the warlord.
The mont he regained freedom, the Warlord of Destruction was overwheld by wonder.
"This is... the surface?"
The air, the light, the sky—everything was foreign and beautiful.
Compared to the filthy, corrupt abyss, this place was paradise.
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