More Preparations, Diary and Bone Abominations

Hendrix headed towards his residence and, once he arrived, followed through with his plans.

'Guide, have I eaten with stimulating or narcotic properties?' Hendrix asked as he felt the difficulty of his current plan could decrease if so.

[Yes, there is, though if you ate them, you'd die. You haven't eaten any that are harmless, with this property]

'Well, I can go without them. May I know who or what the Monarch and their council are?'

[I don't have access to that information]

Hendrix nodded as he sighed a little. Before he made a slingshot, just in case, he needed to use it. Before walking out of his residence, and made many items, including many more spare armors and thousands of needles. He also changed his armor and covered his straps so he could roll with it without causing damage.

Once he finished this, he returned to the Citadel, peddling there. Once he arrived, he entered inside and headed towards the tower in the middle. Once he came, he smiled.

'Please use the save here, Guide.' Hendrix asked as he looked at the excellent fuchsia tower.

[Noted]

The tower was made of Fuchsia stone and connected to the top of the Citadel ceiling. Though Hendrix ignored these sights as he pushed onto the tower door, it opened slowly.

Once the door completely opened, Hendrix entered quickly. And saw many hallways heading in different directions, along with a spiral staircase in the distance that went up and down.

Hendrix decided to search all of the hallways and possible rooms before going to fight the Monarch and its council. He spent a few weeks exploring all the hallways and rooms, finding only bones.

After he finished his search, he went downwards on the stairs. As he walked there, he wondered what could be down there. However, after he spent three minutes walking down, he found out.

A door warped beyond recognition lay at the bottom of the stairs. And Hendrix walked through it.

'Why is there a library here?!' Hendrix thought as he decided to read everything here. Perhaps he could learn something about the Monarch or the Council.

Hendrix walked into the library. He saw everything covered in dust. He first walked to the closest bookshelf and pulled out an Aquamarine-colored book. It was a diary of the Monarch.

Hendrix began to read, and what he learned shocked him.

(Day 1: I've been given self-awareness and corrupted by Malador. It ordered me to manage this Citadel and spread its miasma. Though I'm curious what its purpose is.

Day 2: Why must I have a council?! Aren't I enough to spread its influence? Why is the Citadel army based on me?! If my troops look the same, they will taint my looks.

Day 7: I have been continuously strengthened by Malador, though I'm now getting suspicious. Why am I getting all these good things? Its seemingly simple command is questionable.

Day 35: Agh! It stopped giving me strength! It is so frustrating. Why can't I be given even more power? Hehehe, just because it stopped giving me power doesn't mean I can't find out how to get more on my own.

Day 242: I have learned a rudimentary method to get stronger. By modifying my body, I have gained instant healing and the ability to manipulate bones. Oh, I love this! Though I don't know how long this method will work.

Day 629: Oooh, my experiment is a success! I'm more powerful. All I need to do is merge my species' flesh and bones with my own for my strength to soar!

Day 4500: I'm soon going to transcend my limit. However, I have to sacrifice my council for this to work. It'll be worth it, hahaha! I mean, it's ultimate power!

Day 15000: Agh! Stop into an abomination! Malador, spare me for trying to earn more power! S-pare Me!)

'He seems insane, willing to do anything for power.' Hendrix thought, as he never planned on using sacrificial means to get what he desired. He then closed the book and started searching.

Hendrix then spent an entire year inside the library, reading everything. However, most of it was useless to him. As soon as he finished, he left the library.

Hendrix then walked up the stairs, but he didn't stop until he reached the top of the tower. And once he did, he found a door similar to the one at the bottom of the stairs.

But instead of looking warped like the last one, it was completely intact. Hendrix opened it quickly, due to it having no lock, and entered inside.

When he got inside, he saw a group of strange bone varmints. Hendrix sighed and began to run at one of them. As he did, their shape became more visible.

Their heads and bodies were all covered in boney plates, with three long bony tendrils on where their face should be, which seemed malleable and flexible. There also were bony tendrils where its limbs should be, though it was standing upright somehow. All the tendrils had meaty parts at the joints. However, bony plates shielded them most of the time.

'These varmints look very strange.' Hendrix thought as he cautiously pulled a wooden pole from his scabbard. As he did, one of the varmints twitched and approached him.

Hendrix got into a defensive stance as he wanted to see how the new varmint attacked.

He slowed his breathing and tried to stay alert.

The new varmint continued to approach, and once it reached Hendrix, it swung its bony face tendrils at him. These moved at superhuman speeds as they tried to harm Hendrix.

'Crap, these varmints are going to be troublesome to fight.' Hendrix thought as he blocked the first bony tendril, but another pierced through his lungs, and he began to suffocate while being lifted off the ground.

Hendrix used all his remaining strength to hit a bony tendril. But alas, his attempts only made death take him swiftly as he bled out and died in seconds.

'These varmints in the Tribulation are so strong. Guide, are Tribulation varmints the strongest type for their level?' Hendrix asked as he ignored his surroundings.

[Yes, they are, though, due to the nature of the first Tribulation. Their powers are enhanced exponentially above what they usually would have. In the following Tribulations, varmint's strength will be much more reasonable for their levels.]

[All living things in this Tribulation are level zero. Yet their power is far above an average human. However, they should be much higher in level and stage usually, though due to the Tribulation. Their levels are forced back to zero.]

'Alright, thanks for the information.' Hendrix nodded in gratitude.

[Acknowledged]

Hendrix then planned what he should do to defeat the third varmint type.