CHAPTER 28

The tower continued to quake, the aftermath of the Demon King's presence still reverberating through its colossal structure. Darius knew that the momentary reprieve was deceptive; the real battle was just beginning.

Grimly, he activated his sentient scythe, the dark energy emanating from it contrasting with the blood-stained surroundings. The tower, once a place of challenges and tests, had transformed into a battleground where the fate of worlds hung in the balance.

Darius took a deep breath, the weight of his responsibility heavy on his shoulders. "Survival," he muttered to himself, echoing the sentiment he had shared with the Demon King. But now, it carried a different weight, a weight that spoke of a looming war for existence itself.

The tower fell silent, a prelude to the storm that awaited outside its walls. The struggle for survival had taken a dark turn, and Darius knew that the battles ahead would demand everything from him and those who stood against the encroaching darkness.

Outside the tower, Prior to the demon kings release from the tower.

The returning high rankers emerged from the tower, stepping into a world that had changed in their absence. The air felt different, charged with an ominous energy that hinted at the events unfolding within the tower. They glanced at each other, sharing the unspoken understanding that the situation was more dire than they could have anticipated.

As they surveyed their surroundings, it became evident that time had moved differently for each of them during their challenges on various floors. Months or years might have passed in the outside world while they braved the trials within the tower. Despite their individual experiences, the urgency of the present situation united them in purpose.

Tristan, with a grave expression, addressed the group, "Our return wasn't expected, but it seems we're needed now more than ever. Raine's message was clear. We face a threat that transcends the challenges of the tower."

The high rankers exchanged determined looks, understanding the gravity of the impending conflict. The tower, once a realm of personal growth and trials, now harbored a menace that threatened not only its own existence but also the world beyond its walls.

With a collective sense of duty, the high rankers prepared for the battle that awaited them, their formidable powers converging to face an adversary that sought to plunge the world into chaos. The outside world, unaware of the supernatural battles within the tower, teetered on the brink of a conflict that would shape the destiny of both humans and demons.

"T-They are back!" A loud voice stammered in excitement as more onlookers began to gasp in awe and surprise,

"Are they?"

"They are really back..."

A number of voices and shouts erupted from the crowd gathered to welcome the High Rankers, The Supreme had returned. Walking in front was The Tyrant Kane, Smith the Faceless, and Demonness of Hail and Ice, Quinn. Following after them was The Crazed God of Crafts, Bara, and The Harbinger of War - Scar, Scarlette - Queen of Songs, as well as Zelda - Love of A Cursed Fate. The enigmatic Seer, Ezlynn Petrova, and her close aide.

The gathered crowd went wild with awe and reverence. Most of them were players, so they keenly felt the potent aura emanating from these powerful individuals. Ezlynn looked up into the sky, prompting everyone to follow her gaze. At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but then the air itself shifted. Levitating above the sky were Hendrick, The Lone Traveler, and Sirius, The Time Keeper. Unlike the others, they had not entered the tower, each having their own reasons for staying outside.

In that moment, two more figures emerged from the tower - Baka, The Treacherous One, and Mason, His Silent Aid. The reception they received was far from welcoming, but Baka paid no mind to it. Meanwhile, Mason continued to smoke on the stick between his lips, his facial features remaining obscured.

As they approached the still-standing supremes, Sirius and Hendrick descended to the ground to meet them all. Sirius carried with him an urgent message.

"We must hurry before it's too late," he declared, just as a pulse wave filled with an energy so malevolent that it resembled the fiends lurking below the tower.

Quinn's gaze fixed upon the tower, her intentions clear to the rest without a word spoken. One of them was absent. As she touched the bracelet on her wrist, she shattered the crystal embedded in the center. Turning back to the assembly, it was evident that there would be no respite from this point forward.

"What was—" The massive quake cut short Hendrick's words. The surrounding crowd erupted in shock as the tremors originated from the tower. Its sturdy structure vibrated visibly, the quakes intensifying and pulsating without respite. Individuals, both weak and strong, were thrown off balance. Those with the ability to fly ascended from the ground, including the Supremes.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" Scar bellowed in confusion and surprise as the unthinkable unfolded before his eyes.

The Tower, deemed impervious to the might of even the Supremes, now imploded from one of its uppermost floors. None among them could confidently claim to have reached that height in the tower. The aura emanating from there surpassed anything they had encountered so far. The term 'evil' seemed inadequate to describe what they sensed—this was evil personified. The breach in the tower's walls was a dark void, devoid even of the sunlight that should have illuminated it.

The quakes persisted, and amidst them, a secondary tremor emerged. It seemed as if two titanic forces were colliding, creating shockwaves that rippled through the tower and beyond. As the Supremes felt these intense vibrations, a realization dawned on them—the cause of this turmoil was none other than him.

They comprehended that a fierce confrontation was unfolding between him and another formidable being. What astonished them was not just the conflict itself but the sheer might and potency he wielded. Undoubtedly the most powerful among them, he possessed the capability to extinguish their lives before they could even raise a finger. The odds favored only a handful—Hendrick, Sirius, Zelda, and Mason—to emerge from such a clash unscathed, and even that outcome seemed uncertain.