The Dark Continent – Five Days Later
Slash!
Red blood splashed across the jungle floor as a giant green tiger—its teeth long enough to impale an ox—collapsed with a final, guttural growl. Its menacing yellow eyes dimmed, fading into lifelessness.
Eli grunted, pushing herself out from beneath its massive body. She had barely escaped death once again, but this time, she was ready. Her spear pierced straight through its heart just as it lunged at her, catching her off guard. Once upon a time, such an attack would have ended her. Now? It was almost routine.
"…God dammit!" she muttered under her breath, brushing chunks of gore off her armor. The metallic stench clung to her skin like a second layer, mixing with sweat and frustration.
She gazed down at the dead beast before her, its corpse sprawled in defeat. In the past, surprise attacks like this would've killed her instantly. But not now. Not after days of relentless survival in the Dark Continent. Each ambush awakened something new within her—a latent strength that grew sharper with every kill.
"...Our empire also needs a ring like that," she murmured bitterly, reminiscing the insignia ring. Atlas had given it to her for safety, and though she hated to admit it, he'd been right. Without it, she'd be worm food by now.
But surviving wasn't just about staying alive—it was about thriving. Every battle pushed her limits further, forcing her to adapt or perish. The air here buzzed with mana, thick and intoxicating, fueling her growth in ways unimaginable back home.
"…Atlas also said the oxygen level is higher here. Whatever that means…" Eli mused aloud, dragging the tiger's carcass by its tail. But for all her newfound strength, even she couldn't help but feel dwarfed by Atlas's growth. While she fought tooth-and-nail against monsters, he seemed to dance between them, leaving destruction in his wake, which was a vast difference than the day they arrived, almost chewed by a plant no less.
Her thoughts drifted momentarily to his homeland—the Berkimhum Kingdom. They spoke of only one genius there, the legendary Lara. Lies. All lies. There were two geniuses. And Atlas? He might just be the more monstrous of the pair.
"…Our empire lacks talent so severely, my eyes hurt," Eli complained, trudging toward the towering tree where they'd made camp. As she approached, she saw carcasses piled high—one on top of another, stacked like grotesque trophies. Dozens of beasts, each slain with brutal efficiency.
And there he was, perched atop the pile, yanking out the still-beating heart of a demon monkey. His muscles glistened with sweat, veins pulsing beneath taut skin. Blood dripped from his arms, painting him like some ancient warrior god. Eli smiled despite herself, enjoying the view far too much.
"Atlas!" she called out, raising her voice over the cacophony of insects buzzing around them. "Got another catch!"
He glanced down, his golden eyes flashing briefly with approval. With a single fluid motion, he leapt from the mound of bodies, landing beside her with a thud that shook the ground. "A Grizzly Tiger, huh? This was the last animal we needed! Great job, Eli!" he complimented, his tone genuine but laced with excitement.
She smirked, unable to hide her pride. But quickly, reality snapped back into focus, and she slapped his toned back with playful force. "Hey! Don't forget I'm the older one here. You, its you who did good." Her words trailed off as her hand lingered longer than necessary, feeling the hard ridges of muscle beneath his blood-soaked shirt.
'…She's getting way too comfortable around me,' Atlas thought, suppressing a grimace as he ripped the heart from the tiger's chest. He tossed both organs into a massive cauldron simmering nearby—a grotesque concoction of monster hearts bubbling ominously.
"So, what's the plan now?" Eli asked, crossing her arms. "You said we needed the monster from page 84—the overseeing serpent…Jörmunjodoungandr?"
"It's Jörmungandr," Atlas corrected, wiping blood-streaked hands on his trousers. "It's not a serpent if I say so. Normally, creatures like that evolve into dragons eventually. But Jörmungandr said 'fuck evolution' and decided to stay a celestial serpent with extra benefits."
"Then what are these categories you gave them?" Eli pressed, gesturing to the makeshift chart carved into a nearby tree trunk. "Human level, giant level, demon level, dragon level, and God level?"
Atlas grinned, pride swelling in his chest. "It's to determine their power levels. Easy to understand, right?"
Eli nodded, genuinely impressed for a moment before slapping his arse playfully. "Yeah, yeah, Mr. Genius. Don't let it go to your head."
Atlas froze mid-motion, his jaw tightening slightly. 'Definitely getting too comfortable.'
"Anyway," Eli continued, her tone turning serious, "this Jörmungandr is categorized between dragon level and God level…"
"Yeah," Atlas replied nonchalantly, dumping the remaining hearts into the pot.
Eli stared at him, wide-eyed. "What the fuck do you mean…yeah? Atlas, I get it—you're strong—but noooooo, no. This is suicide. I tell you."
Atlas didn't respond immediately. Instead, he poured the bloody mixture onto the roots of the giant tree they'd been camping near. The earth trembled faintly as the liquid seeped into the soil, feeding the ancient plant. One by one, its leaves turned crimson, transforming into a monstrous entity known as an Earl Tree.
"Who said we're fighting it?" Atlas finally answered, his voice calm but edged with mischief.
"…I read about it…" Eli murmured in awe, her voice barely audible over the cacophony of insects buzzing around them. Three days of relentless labor now bore fruit—a tree that existed only within the depths of the Dark Continent.
"…but how did you know how to do this? The medical implications from this are unimaginable. All the lives that can be saved…" she muttered, still processing what they had accomplished.
Atlas offered a small smile, his golden eyes scanning the Earl Tree with quiet anticipation. He could smell its transformation—the scent sharp and distinct, unlike anything else in the jungle.
.
.
'…any time now.'
HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!
A deafening roar shattered the night, reverberating through the jungle like thunder rolling across an endless plain. The ground trembled beneath their feet, sending smaller creatures scurrying for cover as terror rippled outward in waves. Even Atlas felt his stomach clench, though he masked it well.
Quickly, he grabbed Eli by the waist, pulling her away from the tree, as they ran far but keeping close enough to witness the spectacle. Scaling a nearby branch, he positioned them both safely hidden among the leaves of another giant tree nearby, shielding them from view while granting them a perfect vantage point.
Eli's breath hitched as she realized just how close they were—his arm wrapped firmly around her waist, his chest brushing against her back. Heat crept up her neck, coloring her cheeks red. She could hear his steady breathing near her ear, feel the rise and fall of his chest pressed lightly against her spine.
"Atlas…you're a bit too clos..," she whispered, trying to keep her tone teasing despite the pounding of her heart.
"Shhhh," he silenced her immediately, pressing a finger to her lips. His touch was firm yet gentle, leaving no room for argument.
She wanted to protest, to demand answers, but something stopped her. Trust. She trusted him completely—not because she understood everything he did, but because she knew he would never put her in unnecessary danger. For now, that was enough.
HAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
The sound grew louder, closer, visceral. Atlas's grip tightened slightly on Eli as sweat trickled down his temple. He didn't know exactly how this plan would play out. Hell, he was outright 'cheating' here, using knowledge no one else possessed. But desperate times called for desperate measures, and this was the only idea he'd managed to come up with.
Suddenly, the world darkened—an immense shadow looming over the landscape like an eclipse blotting out the stars. Both Atlas and Eli froze, their wide eyes locked onto the colossal figure descending upon them. It wasn't merely a beast—it was something greater, grander, incomprehensible. Something that defied logic itself.
"…Jörmungandr," Eli breathed, her voice trembling with awe-struck reverence.
Every monster in the vicinity cowered in fear, even those who couldn't see felt its presence—a force so overwhelming nature recoiled instinctively. Its scales gleamed crimson under the luminious light, each one larger than a grown man. Its massive body floated effortlessly without wings, an enormous serpent crowned with spikes and horns adorning its head. Three glowing eyes pierced through the darkness, radiating power and ancient wisdom.
Slowly, it spiraled downward toward the Earl Tree, its maw opening wide—three, maybe five times larger than the tree itself. With deliberate precision, it began devouring the blood-soaked plant whole, like it was something precious.
"It's time," Atlas whispered urgently, his voice shaking ever so slightly. "Don't scream at all costs…"
"What!? What are yo—"
Before she could finish, Atlas sprang into action. Ignoring the tremor in his legs, and the fear botteling up within, he activated every skill at his disposal:
"Leg Enhancement!
Silent Steps!
Warlord's Jump!"
With a burst of speed and strength, he leapt skyward, carrying Eli tightly secured against his back. They soared high above the jungle floor, past the gaping jaws of Jörmungandr as it continued consuming the Earl Tree below.
For a moment, they hung suspended in midair, utterly exposed. Every hidden predator watched in stunned silence, marveling at their audacity—or madness. Eli bit down hard on her lip, stifling a scream as adrenaline surged through her veins. Instead, she clung desperately to Atlas, her teeth grazing his skin in sheer desperation not to cry out.
Atlas focused intently, spotting one of Jörmungandr's massive scales protruding slightly. Summoning every ounce of strength left in his weary body, he lunged forward, fingers scraping along the rough surface until—
"GOT IT!!"
He held fast, anchoring them securely before signaling Eli to climb over. Trembling but determined, she obeyed, scrambling up alongside him until they reached a relatively stable position atop the serpent's gargantuan form.
"Grip tight," Atlas warned, his voice grim. "Lunchtime is over."
They clung to the scales with white-knuckled intensity, holding on for dear life as Jörmungandr released another earth-shaking roar. Slowly, majestically, it ascended higher and higher, breaking through the dense fog that shrouded the valley below. Half of its titanic body emerged into daylight, basking momentarily in the warmth of sunlight.
For the first time in what felt like eternity, Atlas and Eli saw the surface again. Sunlight kissed their faces, warming their chilled skin. Tears pricked at the corners of Eli's eyes—not from fear, but from longing. Longing for freedom, for escape, for home.
But the moment passed quickly. Without warning, Jörmungandr dove back into the abyss, plunging them once more into the shadowy embrace of the Dark Continent.
Eli buried her face against Atlas's shoulder, gripping him tighter than ever before. Her silent tears soaked into his shirt, speaking volumes of emotions words could never convey. Hope. Despair. Gratitude.
Atlas wrapped an arm around her reflexively, feeling the weight of her desperation sink into his bones. He understood perfectly. That grip meant more than trust—it spoke of yearning, of dreams deferred.
'Soon, Eli,' he promised silently, tightening his hold on her. 'Soon. I swear we'll get out of this mess together. I promise.'
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Monsters Guide
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CHAPTER 12: JÖRMUNGANDR
The World Serpent | Betrayer of Dragons | The Upcoming God That Defied Nature
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<<< CODEX ENTRY: CLASS ∞ THREAT >>>
<<< WARNING: THIS PAGE IS WRITTEN IN BLOOD >>>
Title: "The One Who Left It All Behind"
Epithets:
- The First and Last Betrayer
- The Unnatural Calamity
- He Who Swallowed the Sky
Domain: The Abyssal Maw (Deepest Layer of the Dark Continent)
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<<< WARNING >>>
"UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES APPROACH, PROVOKE, OR EVEN LOOK TOO LONG UPON THIS BEHEMOTH.
IT IS NOT A BEAST. IT IS NOT A GOD.
IT IS THE END OF ALL THINGS THAT GROW, BREATHE, OR DARE TO CALL THEMSELVES ALIVE."
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<<< RECORDED ATTRIBUTES >>>
Strength: Beyond mortal comprehension
- Shattered the spine of the First Demon Emperor with a flick of its tail.
- Its breath birthed the Black Ocean, where even light drowns.
Weakness: None confirmed
- Legends whisper of a "key" buried in its own flesh—but no blade has ever pierced its scales.
Feeding Habits:
- Preferred Prey: Demon Kings (consumed 17 in the last millennium), Dragon-Grade Monsters (extinct in its vicinity), Evolved Elder Trees (it eats entire forests for snacks).
- Last Witnessed Meal: The Twilight Kraken (a continent-sized entity) in three bites.
<< SURVIVOR'S NOTE (LAST WORDS OF SAINT LORIA) >>>
"Do not search for Jörmungandr.
It searches for you.
And when it finds you...
You will wish it had only killed you."
—Page 84
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ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!!
"Cover change!!! Which character would you like to see on the new cover?"
1: Lara the MC Vote: 1
2: Sansa the maid Vote: 1
3: Claire the Marquise
4: Isabella the queen.
5: Atlas.
Vote whoever you wish to see on the Cover. it will be concluded within Saturday and Starting of Sunday next week, new Cover will be released! COMMENT YOUR FAV!!!