The ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE SYSTEM
Chapter 92: BEAST KINGDOM AGAIN

Chapter 92: BEAST KINGDOM AGAIN

Chen Yu stood at the edge of the demonic teleportation array, Nyzelia silently at his side. He took a last look up at the swirling, storm-tossed sky of the Demon Kingdom—black clouds streaked with infernal crimson—before closing his eyes, channeling void energy into the runes at his feet. His thoughts drifted briefly to his companions still training inside the time barrier; they needed this time undisturbed. There was no point in returning to the mansion now.

He turned to Nyzelia, her eyes shining like polished obsidian under the hellish sky. "Ready?" he asked.

Nyzelia lifted a perfect brow, silver earrings glinting with each tilt of her head. "Ready for what, Master Chen Yu?" she asked coolly, her voice carrying the timeless cadence of someone who had watched empires rise and fall.

A small smirk tugged at the corners of Chen Yu’s lips. "To see something different."

He activated the teleportation rune, and in a heartbeat, they vanished from the Demon Kingdom, reappearing on the outskirts of the Beast Kingdom—Neo-Terra’s untamed cradle of life, where mountains clawed the clouds and forests sprawled like emerald seas over endless horizons.

The air here was thick with the mingled scents of earth, wildflowers, and the primal musk of great predators. Somewhere beyond the ridgelines, a roar rumbled like distant thunder. Here, the sky burned with a savage, golden light—alive with the raw pulse of a world newly reborn.

Nyzelia’s eyes widened as she inhaled deeply, savoring the scent of pure, untainted air. She stepped forward onto a sunlit cliff, the breeze lifting strands of her ink-dark hair. "This..." she whispered, voice hushed, "is magnificent."

Chen Yu nodded, feeling the wildness seep into his bones. "It’s beautiful—and dangerous. Keep your senses sharp." His gaze scanned the valleys below, but the tension in his shoulders eased as the living chorus of insects and birds surrounded them. He felt more alive here than he had in months.

They started down a narrow trail carved into the cliffside, their boots crunching on loose stone. Birds with plumage like polished gems watched them from tangled branches. Vines glowed faintly when kissed by sunlight, and a horned hare as large as a panther bolted across their path in a flash of white fur.

Nyzelia’s expression softened with childlike wonder. She reached out to touch a massive blossom that pulsed gently in time with her breath. "Is this... all natural?" she asked.

Chen Yu chuckled softly. "If you mean untouched by mana storms or the merging, yes. These beasts and plants evolved magic on their own, long before the worlds collided."

They walked deeper into the ancient forest, where trees towered like cathedral pillars, their silver-barked trunks spiraling with natural runes. Colorful drakes flitted among the branches, scales flashing like molten jewels in the shifting light. The two weaved between tangled roots and mossy stones, the wilderness pulsing with life around them.

"Master Chen Yu," Nyzelia asked quietly, "why bring me here? Why not go directly to the Beast King?"

Chen Yu didn’t look back. "Because if you’re going to ascend with us, you need to see what we’re fighting for—and what you’re fighting alongside."

Nyzelia fell silent, absorbing his words with a thoughtful frown. She understood better than most the difference between raw power and the will to wield it for something beyond oneself.

They spent the morning wandering clearings where ancient ruins slumbered beneath blankets of ivy. Chen Yu showed her towering trees older than empires, streams so clear they shone like liquid crystal, and flocks of spirit birds whose haunting songs bent light into swirling illusions.

They paused to watch two sabertooth panthers spar in a meadow of wild lilies. The giant cats lunged, claws flashing, then tumbled together in a flurry of fur and petals. Nyzelia’s lips parted slightly, the corners curling in awe. "I did not know such creatures existed," she admitted.

"They didn’t," Chen Yu replied. "Not in your world. Neo-Terra is a new world—a tapestry of three realms woven together."

As the sun climbed higher, they came to an ancient stone bridge arching across a gorge filled with swirling mist. Chen Yu leaned against the railing, eyes on the churning fog below. "Tell me, Nyzelia—why do you want strength?"

Nyzelia joined him, her gaze lost in the abyss. "I was born strong," she began, voice soft but carrying the weight of centuries. "But strength without freedom is a cage. I want power so no one can ever bind me again."

He watched her closely, seeing the old rage hidden beneath her calm, the embers of defiance unquenched even after decades in a cell. "Good," he said quietly. "Keep that fire. You’ll need it."

They ventured farther, afternoon light turning slanted and golden. In a valley of shimmering butterflies, they paused to rest in knee-high grass. Chen Yu retrieved a small bundle of dried meat and spirit fruits from his storage ring, handing it to Nyzelia. She hesitated, then took a cautious bite—her eyes widened instantly, the taste a sharp contrast to the bland rations of her long imprisonment.

She devoured the food with surprising speed. Chen Yu chuckled, tossing her another piece. "Easy," he teased, "don’t choke."

Nyzelia wiped her mouth with a practiced flick of her gloved hand, regal composure snapping back into place. "I am not some wild beast."

"Not yet," he joked, pointing at a massive stag with spiraled golden antlers watching from the treeline. "But here, it’s easy to feel like one."

They roamed until sunset painted the sky in molten oranges and violets, exploring caves where crystals hummed softly at their touch, and meadows of bioluminescent flowers that unfurled only in twilight. Nyzelia’s fascination never waned; Chen Yu noticed how she missed nothing—how every flicker of movement, every scent in the breeze, drew her eyes like a hunter born.

When night fell, they reached a cliff overlooking a moonlit lake so vast it seemed to swallow the stars. Nyzelia sank to her knees at the edge, staring at the mirrored heavens. "I have never... seen stars like this," she whispered. "For so long, the only sky I knew was stone."

Chen Yu lowered himself beside her, elbows resting on his knees. "That’s why I brought you here first. The upper realm will test us without mercy. But it also tests those who forget what they’re fighting to protect."

He reached into his storage ring, pulling two silver cups. Filling them with steaming tea brewed from spirit herbs, he handed one to Nyzelia. She took it hesitantly, lifting it to her lips as the moonlight caught the rising steam.

They drank in silence, the night alive with soft calls of nocturnal beasts and the hush of wind through ancient trees.

"Do you think," Nyzelia asked softly, almost to herself, "we will survive the upper realm?"

Chen Yu took a long sip, his eyes lost among the constellations. "I don’t know," he said honestly. "But I do know I won’t lose."

Nyzelia’s eyes gleamed in the starlight, and for the first time since her release, she let a true smile bloom—a small, quiet thing, but sincere.

They lay back together in the tall grass, watching the stars wheel overhead. Nyzelia spoke of her youth in the Demon Realm—of sprawling forests shrouded in perpetual dusk, of rival clans of dark elves, of bloodied duels for power. Chen Yu shared tales of the system’s first appearance, of life-or-death battles, of the friends he had lost and the enemies he had buried.

As dawn edged over the horizon, casting the mountains in pale gold, Chen Yu rose, offering his hand. Nyzelia took it firmly, standing with the grace of a predator reborn. They began the final trek toward the Beast King’s fortress—both changed by the night they had shared.

They passed armored rhinos with tusks like polished obsidian, flocks of spirit doves whose wings shimmered in rainbow arcs, and ancient golems slumbering half-buried in moss. Life teemed around them—untamed, vibrant, and indifferent to either’s presence.

At last, the sprawling citadel of the Beast King came into view, rising like a living mountain of stone and ironwood. Beastmen in dark armor stood vigilant at the gates; creatures of fur, fang, and claw peered from the walls. The scent of primal magic hung heavy in the morning air.

Nyzelia squared her shoulders, hand brushing the hilt of her dagger. Chen Yu glanced sidelong at her, smirking. "Nervous?"

She snorted softly, emerald eyes flashing. "Of course not."

"Good," he said, voice low. "Because it only gets harder from here."

And together, they stepped into the heart of the Beast Kingdom—where the next Chapter of their journey would begin.

In this Chapter, I wanted to take a different approach. Soon, I will be embarking on writing another novel, one that delves into the captivating world of Murim, featuring a protagonist who walks the path of a villain. I can already feel the excitement bubbling within me; it’s going to be an extraordinary journey. Our main character will face formidable challenges, grappling with his inner demons as he seeks revenge in a world filled with intrigue and conflict. I hope you all will join me on this thrilling adventure and lend your support to this new tale. Together, let’s explore the depths of his struggles and the darkness he must conquer!