"You've encountered the new Sovereign of the Ming Region?!" Yvun expressed surprise.
"Yes, My Lord. We're certain it was the new sovereign," Aorhen and Vabhron confirmed.
Yvun glanced at the three sovereigns beside him, then waved his hand, dismissing Aorhen and Vabhron.
After they left, Ohrno commented, "They survived even after encountering the new sovereign. It seems this new sovereign isn't bloodthirsty. As long as we don't provoke him, it appears he'll leave us alone."
"I wonder where such a powerful being came from. He appeared and replaced a sovereign seemingly out of nowhere. Could it be that he came from outside of Vanko?" Elio pondered aloud, looking at his comrades.
The land of Vanko was merely a small part of the Nightmare Realm, with countless lands and numerous powerful beings existing within it.
"It's possible. We didn't even know such a being existed until now," Mira nodded in agreement with Elio's assessment.
"If the new sovereign is from outside Vanko, then we need to pay him a visit and express our stance," Yvun suggested, looking at his comrades. "What do you think?"
"I'm on board," Elio agreed.
"If we could establish friendly relations with the new sovereign, it would benefit our race," Ohrno chimed in.
"I'll stay here to guard our land," Mira volunteered.
The lower-ranking sovereigns found themselves in a chaotic situation. The fall of the six sovereigns had sent shockwaves through various regions. Even those in the middle ranks were closely observing the situation in the lower ranks. Such occurrences were exceedingly rare, with six sovereigns falling simultaneously being unprecedented. Adding the incident in the Ming Region a month ago, a total of seven sovereigns had been replaced in a remarkably short span of time.
There were sixty-eight sovereigns in total, divided into three groups: the lower ranking, middle ranking, and top ranking. Those in the top ranking held ranks 1 to 20, while those in the middle ranking were ranked 21 to 40. Sovereigns above rank 40 were categorized as lower ranking.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})In the Crane Zone's Red Sea Region, Souta surveyed the magnificent landscape before him. Dozens of floating islands hovered above, surrounded by cascading lava that flowed like a waterfall. On the ground, volcanoes erupted, spewing forth vast quantities of magma.
"Red Sea Region. Truly a spectacle," he remarked with a smile.
"So, are you planning to attack this place?" Saya inquired.
"It all depends on their response," Souta replied.
As the Rank 60 Sovereign, he felt it was the opportune moment to advance in rank. Seeking resources to augment his Dream Power was his primary goal, but if push came to shove, he was prepared to challenge the sovereign of this territory.
The Sovereign of the Red Sea Region held a position in the middle ranking, boasting considerable power. However, Souta had grown significantly stronger since his last encounter.
"Let's proceed," Souta declared, launching himself through the air until he landed on one of the floating islands. Scanning the area, he spotted a vibrant red lotus amidst the sea of molten rocks below.
The lotus emitted an unusual energy, creating a hazy atmosphere around it.
"It's here, albeit not fully ripe. Still, it's better than nothing. This could enhance the density of my Dream Power slightly," Souta mused, eyeing the lotus.
Carefully, he stepped across the molten rocks, approaching the lotus. As he reached out to pluck it, a sudden sound caught his attention from behind.
Turning around, Souta spotted a figure observing him intently.
Half of the creature's body was submerged in the molten rocks, its green scales gleaming under the fiery glow. With reptilian eyes, sharp fangs, and spikes adorning its back, it emanated a formidable presence. A glistening red gem adorned its forehead.
"It's awake," Souta noted, raising his eyebrows.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})With an angry roar, the creature caused ripples to spread through the otherwise peaceful lava.
Undeterred, Souta smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "I'm taking this."
With a decisive motion, he pressed his hand down, unleashing a powerful force that sent the monster crashing down to the bottom of the molten sea. Gravity constrained its movements until Souta departed the area, leaving the creature to regain control over its body once more.
A few hours passed, and across various lands, the same phenomenon unfolded. Souta seized everything he could find to aid in his improvement. The creatures inhabiting these realms were powerless against him; his strength far surpassed theirs. He didn't even need to exert himself; his mere presence as a Sovereign was enough to subdue them.
In a cave he had excavated using his [Burrow] ability, Souta sat in a lotus position surrounded by various plants and herbs he had collected.
"Nevertheless, this place is in considerable turmoil. Dream beasts are engaged in battles everywhere," he observed with a sigh.
Some of the items he had acquired came from the clutches of battling monsters, which he simply seized before their astonished eyes.
"Regardless, it's time for me to consume all of this," he declared with a smile, turning his attention to the gathered resources. For now, his focus would be on enhancing his Dream Power.
A day later, the ground began to tremble before erupting violently.
Boom!
Several boulders were hurled into the air, shrouding the area in dust and smoke, from which emerged a silhouette.
Ohm!
A wave of energy surged forth, dispersing the dust and revealing Souta as he stepped forward, basking in his newfound strength.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})"I've leveled up," he declared with a smile, slowly extending his hand as gray smoke began to emanate from his pores.
His Dream Power had also grown stronger. While leveling up was beneficial, his primary focus on this expedition was enhancing his Dream Power. Although still at [Dream Power I], it had significantly increased in potency. With this newfound strength, he could now potentially modify his territory—a feat previously beyond his capabilities due to his limited Dream Power.
"Oh?"
Souta's eyebrows lifted as he turned his head, sensing someone hurtling toward him at an incredible speed. It was likely the Sovereign of this region, alerted by the release of Souta's newfound energy upon leveling up.
"Hmm... Should I engage in combat, or...?" Souta pondered, stroking his chin. While this region held promise, his ambitions lay in claiming the position of a higher-ranking sovereign.
With a smile and a shake of his head, he decided, "I'll set my sights on the higher ranks."
Boom!
Souta shot off in the opposite direction, outpacing the incoming sovereign.
Swoosh!
He soared swiftly through the air, passing through several regions and alerting various sovereigns to his presence along the way.
In just moments, he found himself in a peculiar environment, surrounded by water. Above and below, the sea stretched out endlessly, teeming with creatures swimming through the suspended depths.
The Mare Region.
Souta descended into the water, his presence now fully exposed to the countless monsters inhabiting the area.
This should suffice.
Boom!
A tremendous surge of energy emanated from him, rippling through the watery expanse. With his energy now unmasked, it was inevitable that the sovereign of this region would take notice.
Before him appeared a figure, humanoid but adorned with elongated horns, gleaming green eyes, and hair composed of needle-like strands. Its body was covered in blueish scales, and a tail bristling with spikes trailed behind it.
It was the Sovereign of the Mare Region.
"I am Dargan, Sovereign of the Mare Region. And who might you be?" Dargan introduced himself as he confronted the intruder.
While he might have ignored a mere beast, Souta's unmistakable sovereign aura demanded attention. A sovereign's presence in another region was a serious matter.
"I am Souta, Sovereign of the Ming Region. I suspect you know why I am here," Souta replied with a smile.
"Ah," Dargan's smile broadened upon hearing Souta's words. "So you've come to challenge me for my position, have you?"
"Yes, I seek to claim the rank of the 11th Sovereign," Souta affirmed.
"It has been quite some time since anyone dared challenge me for my position. Very well, let us see what you are made of. May the land of Vanko bear witness to our battle! If you seek my position, you must be prepared to take it by force!" Dargan declared, his aura surging with intensity. "Come at me with all you've got!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way!" Souta's grin widened in anticipation.
The clash of their energies sent shockwaves through the sea, causing it to churn and boil. Nearby monsters fled in fear, sensing the immense power emanating from the two sovereigns.
Outside the Mare Region, the other sovereigns hovered in mid-air, drawn by the palpable tension. They had felt the disturbance caused by Souta's actions, especially the Sovereign of the Red Sea Region, whose resources had been plundered.
With bated breath, they waited for the inevitable showdown between the two mighty sovereigns, knowing that the outcome would have far-reaching consequences. The battle for the rank of the 11th Sovereign was about to commence.
