The ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE SYSTEM
Chapter 82: UNEXPECTED MEETING

Chapter 82: UNEXPECTED MEETING

Chen Yu’s eyes shot open.

His breath came in sharp, shallow bursts as he sat upright on the bed, his muscles tense and soaked with sweat. The remnants of the dream still lingered—burning skies, the Beast Kingdom at war, and that masked monster standing above them all. A dream, yes, but not just a dream. It had felt far too real. The kind of dream that bore the weight of fate.

He turned to glance at the digital clock on the wall.

10:03 PM.

Outside, the night was still and silent, but Chen Yu felt the world was already shifting beneath them.

He stood, walked over to the window, and stared into the starless sky. The air felt heavier than usual. That dream was a warning. There was no more time for gradual plans or cautious infiltrations.

He turned sharply and moved through the mansion with purposeful steps.

Room by room, he knocked doors open and woke each member of his team.

Ruxue stirred, rubbing her eyes. Roman blinked as holy energy shimmered faintly from his resting body. Meiyun was already half-awake—her senses, like his, always sharp. Hui gave him a curious, calculating gaze but rose wordlessly. Vornark, despite his beastly size, reacted with surprising calm, knowing Chen Yu wouldn’t wake them all like this unless something serious had happened.

Fifteen minutes later, they had all gathered in the spacious drawing room of the mansion, the low ambient lighting casting tall shadows on the walls. No one spoke. No one questioned. They simply stared at Chen Yu, waiting for his words.

He stood at the center, his arms folded behind his back, and finally broke the silence.

"We’re going. Right now. Prepare yourselves."

The room fell into momentary silence again, but this time, it was heavy with unspoken understanding.

Chen Yu never rushed. Never acted recklessly. If he was moving the timetable forward, something had happened.

Ruxue narrowed her eyes but didn’t speak. Meiyun bit her lip, looking at him with quiet concern. Roman simply nodded. Hui watched him with silent curiosity. Vornark clenched his fists, veins bulging.

Whatever it was, they wouldn’t pry. Not now.

Ten minutes passed, and everyone returned fully equipped—armor fastened, weapons strapped, powers humming. The aura in the room had shifted completely. This wasn’t just a mission now—it was war.

Chen Yu stood at the heart of the drawing room, his eyes scanning each of them. He raised his hand and created a miniature projection of the Beast Kingdom’s central stronghold above his palm using pure condensed energy.

"Listen carefully," he began, his voice steely, calm, yet burning with intensity. "Originally, I had planned a slow rebellion. Infiltration, disruption, rebellion from within. But after what I saw tonight..." He paused, his gaze darkening for a second. "We don’t have time. Something’s coming. A force stronger than what we anticipated is supporting the Beast King—and if we wait, we’ll lose our window."

Everyone leaned forward. His presence had become heavier, more commanding.

"So we strike. Tonight. And we strike hard."

He pointed at the glowing structure in the projection.

"I’ll teleport all of you to different parts of the Beast King’s stronghold. I’ll confront the Beast King and his elite directly. Vornark, you’ll be with me. It’s time you stood face to face with the tyrant who took your parents."

Vornark growled lowly, his claws tightening. His eyes burned with righteous fury.

Chen Yu turned to Meiyun and Ruxue.

"You two will be teleported into the underground prison. Your mission is to find and rescue Vornark’s parents."

Meiyun nodded, expression firm. "But how will we recognize them?"

"They’ll be in the largest cell. Beast Kings are arrogant—they always keep their most ’valuable trophies’ separate. Once you find them, explain everything clearly. They may not trust you at first, but tell them I sent you."

Both women nodded.

He turned to Roman and Hui.

"Your job is equally important. Guard the mansion. Prevent anyone from entering until we return. This place may be targeted in our absence. If something happens, and someone comes who feels... off—don’t engage. That’s my battle. Understood?"

Roman straightened his back, eyes glowing faintly with divine light. "Understood."

Hui tilted her head slightly, a sly smile on her lips. "As long as it’s someone interesting, I’ll hold back."

Chen Yu gave a nod of acknowledgment. Then, he let out a slow breath.

"This is it. The real beginning. No more hiding. No more waiting."

The energy in the room surged.

His eyes became sharp as blades.

"From this moment on, we go all out. And remember—if any of you sense something out of the ordinary, don’t be a hero. Just hold on until I get there. I won’t let any of you fall."

Everyone’s gaze met his. Unified. Steeled. Prepared.

Chen Yu then raised his palm—and with a pulse of power, glowing runes formed beneath their feet. The teleportation matrix was ready.

The midnight assault had begun.

The quiet hum of spatial energy echoed for a brief second—and in the blink of an eye, the group was gone from Chen Yu’s mansion.

The world around them shifted violently, and when their vision stabilized, they found themselves scattered into different locations, just as planned.

Chen Yu, Vornark, Hui, and Roman were standing within the lavish yet intimidating bedroom of the Beast King—ornate stone-carved walls, crimson silk curtains swaying from a breeze, and a thick scent of incense lingering in the air.

But something was wrong.

Too quiet.

Chen Yu’s eyes sharpened. The very next moment—

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sudden sound of weapons being drawn from the corridor alerted them. Heavy footsteps echoed rapidly, getting closer... and before Chen Yu could utter a word, dozens of elite beast guards burst into the room from all directions, fully armored and with bloodlust in their eyes.

"INTRUDERS! PROTECT THE THRONE ROOM!"

Chen Yu cursed under his breath, his pupils narrowing. They were waiting. They knew I was coming.

Roman’s stance tensed as his holy aura flared up, sword unsheathed. Hui’s expression darkened as demonic energy slowly radiated from her, chilling the air. Even Vornark looked shocked.

"They knew we’d teleport here," Chen muttered grimly, glancing at the formation of guards surrounding them. "Someone set this up."

And worse... what about Meiyun and Ruxue?

Meanwhile – Underground Prison, Beast King’s Mansion (Level B2)

A flash of light tore through the cold, damp darkness of the underground prison as Meiyun and Ruxue materialized.

They stood at the entrance of Level B2, the second underground floor of the prison. The air was thick with moisture and iron. Faint torchlights flickered against the mossy walls, and the distant groans of prisoners echoed in the silence.

Strangely... the floor was almost empty. Only a handful of beast guards were stationed nearby, and they were lazily patrolling—unaware of the two intruders who just arrived.

Meiyun narrowed her eyes. "Too few guards," she whispered.

Ruxue nodded. "Almost like they were moved on purpose..."

No time to overthink.

With a flash, Meiyun disappeared, and before any of the beast guards could even react, she reappeared behind each of them one after the other—one clean strike to the neck, each falling unconscious before even registering the attack.

Ruxue followed closely, her fingers dancing with restrained flame. "Let’s keep this quiet. We don’t know how deep this prison goes."

"I agree," Meiyun said, exhaling slowly. "These were all small fry. We haven’t seen a single elite guard yet. That means..."

"They’re keeping the most important prisoners further below," Ruxue finished, determination flickering in her crimson eyes. "We go deeper."

The two women advanced carefully, stepping over unconscious bodies, heading toward the spiral staircase that descended to Level B3.

As they moved, Meiyun glanced over her shoulder. "Ruxue... do you think Chen is okay?"

Ruxue didn’t answer immediately.

But then she whispered, "He better be. I’m not letting him disappear on me again."

Back in the Beast King’s Bedroom

"Roman, cover the left flank. Hui—don’t let anyone past this room," Chen Yu ordered calmly, but his eyes glowed with a hint of killing intent.

Vornark stepped forward, baring his claws. "So, this is the welcome my homeland gives me..."

Dozens of guards, some even S-rank elites, growled and surrounded them, yet none dared to charge first. Chen Yu’s presence was suffocating. They could feel the pressure. He wasn’t the same as before.

Still, Chen couldn’t shake off the sinking feeling.

Someone leaked our plan. This ambush was no coincidence.

He clenched his fist and thought silently—Who is helping the beast king from the shadows?

And more importantly... how far has the enemy planned ahead?

As the beast guards tightened their encirclement, weapons drawn and tension crackling in the air like static, the heavy doors of the chamber creaked open.

A figure emerged from the shadowed corridor—a tall, imposing man clad in deep obsidian robes, embroidered with the golden crest of the Beast Kingdom. His steps were slow but deliberate, and every guard instinctively parted to let him through, bowing their heads in silent respect.

He stopped beside the grand throne where the Beast King Krow would usually sit, yet it was vacant. His presence alone, however, made the air feel heavier.

The man’s eyes locked onto Chen Yu.

"I was waiting for you," he said, voice low and eerily calm. "I knew you’d come."

Chen Yu’s gaze sharpened.

But before he could respond, the man added with a slight smirk, "Especially after that dream."

Chen’s expression froze. His mind reeled.

How...?

His thoughts flashed back to the nightmare—the beast kingdom in flames, a traitor aiding them from the shadows, and a figure even he couldn’t suppress no matter how hard he tried.

How does he know about that?

The man’s smirk deepened, as if reading his confusion.

Chen Yu’s fists clenched.

Something wasn’t right.