Road to Mastery: A LitRPG Apocalypse

Jack zoomed over the landscape. Lush jungles had given way to an endless blue ocean filled with all sorts of wondrous creatures. They’d caught glimpses. Mermaids, telepathic fish selling corals, snakes as thin as a finger and a mile long. Jack had even witnessed a monster as large as a mountain skip over the water like a carp. This was certainly not a low-level area.

But it wasn’t at Jack’s level, either. The three easily flew over the ocean, enjoying the breeze while occasionally fending off attacks.

“I wonder how a canal exists in the ocean,” Starhair said. “I thought they connected bodies of water across land.”

“I’m sure it will be something equally majestic and stupid,” Jack replied, calmly zooming over the water.

Their destination wasn’t hard to find. After Brock pointed it out, they’d developed a feel for the Space Monster World’s energy circulation. There was a faint current of energy coming from the core of this world—the Dark Canal. This current was strongest here, but it could be felt everywhere, even in the outer provinces and the inhospitable zone.

What could create such a phenomenon, Jack had no idea.

The more they followed the energy current to its source, the denser the ambient Dao became. By now, it was multiple times denser than when they first entered this world. Even some weaker B-Grades would have trouble flying here.

The monsters present were accordingly strong. Plenty were at the middle B-Grade, with the occasional late or peak B-Grade. They hadn’t run into an A-Grade monster yet, thankfully, but this explained why B-Grade cores had been so common at the auction. Maybe the strongest space monsters came to this area to hunt.

It also made Jack wonder. If the monsters here were so strong, what about the ones in the Dark Canal?

Finally, something appeared in the horizon. A flat and barren island, cracked by the years, standing proudly in the middle of the ocean. The sound of rushing water filled their ears from hundreds of miles away.

Suddenly, space split apart before them. An owl-headed humanoid monster stepped out, wearing only a skirt which left its muscular chest bare. It stared at them with unblinking eyes.

“Shit,” Jack said. This guy was at the middle A-Grade. What the hell was going on?

Instead of attacking them, however, the monster opened its mouth to speak. “You are not allowed here,” it said. “Return.”

“Uh… Hi,” Jack replied. “I’m Jack Monstrous. We were invited by Elder Puerto of the Great Silver faction to join the Canal Delve.”

The monster pieced him with its glare. “Wait,” it said.

A few moments passed. Jack nervously wondered whether he’d be allowed in. After all, Elder Puerto had told him to come to the faction a year before the delve—it was just that he was too busy cultivating.

“Nice head, bro,” Brock said, to no response.

It took one hour for the owl monster to speak again. “Follow me,” it said, then turned and stepped on the wind. Its speed was great. Starhair had to sprint to keep up.

“I’m Elder Owlhead of the Great Silver,” the monster introduced itself. “You’re lucky you ran into me. If you’d met the Fiend King’s patrolling Elder on the other side of the island, he might have killed you.”

“Was it really luck?” Jack shouted to be heard over the wind. “You guard the direction of your faction’s territory. Since we came from Empty Star City, we would have run into you no matter what!”

The owl monster smiled. “Perhaps.”

“I can’t believe we’re actually here,” a voice reached Jack’s mind. It was Venerable Saint Thousand Shell, speaking from inside his inner world.

“Is this place important to you?” he asked back.

“Of course! This is the holy place of the entire Space Monster World. Every monster would give up a limb to visit, but it’s not easy! The wild monsters around here are fierce. Only Autarchs can approach safely—even peak Barons might struggle.”

“What level are you, exactly?”

“I was a peak Autarch once, but that was a long time ago… My slumber in the Supreme Blood has diminished my powers. Now, I barely qualify as an early Autarch, maybe a peak Baron.”

“So why haven’t you come here before?”

“I only became an Autarch long after leaving the Space Monster World, and by that time, the entrance seal wouldn’t let me return.” The turtle’s voice took on a reminiscing tone, as if narrating the stories it’d heard as a child. “They say that the truth of the Space Monster World is hidden on the island of the Dark Canal. Who made us? Who made this world? Who enforced the entry seal?”

“Well, my friend, I look forward to finding out.”

As they approached the island, Jack could make out more of it. It rose a hundred miles above the water, its sides steep cliffs. It was also cut in half. Right in the middle of the island, a massive canal ran through, at least a thousand miles wide and dark like the night. The ocean water foamed as it rushed in, then was lost in darkness forever. Only the canal walls rose from the darkness, reaching up to the island’s ground level.

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Jack paused in mid-air.

A heavy sense of time covered this beyond ancient place. The real age of the Space Monster World was unknown, but it was certainly more than a billion years. It hid innumerable secrets, and this massive canal held the truth to them all, a hidden part of the history of the universe.

Even Jack was overwhelmed by awe.

“Oh wow, this place looks like shit,” another voice reached his mind—the Stone.

“Says the talking stone,” Jack replied.

“Hey, at least I’m whole!”

“What do you mean?”

“This place is a mess. All the statues are gone, there’s a huge crack in the middle, and the crown is nowhere to be seen. Pity, huh?”

“Wait. You’ve been here before!?”

“Oh! You’re right! I have! Shame I don’t remember anything.”

Jack paused in mid-air. “Don’t joke now. You mentioned statues. A crown. What the hell, Stone?”

“...Sorry, Jack. I’m trying, but I really can’t remember anything. Even the statues were only a flash of memory—I cannot recall what they looked like, only that there were three of them, each tall like the sky. Maybe I really am broken…”

Jack tried to reconcile his intense urge to know more and his desire to make the Stone feel better. At least the turtle hadn’t heard this message, or Jack would never get them to shut up again.

“It’s okay,” he finally said. “However, if you remember anything else, you must let me know immediately. Alright?”

“I promise,” the Stone replied.

Jack let the conversation drop as he sighed. He’d obtained the Stone so long ago, yet he still knew nothing about it. If it really was from this place, and it remembered things looking very different… Just how old was it? And how did it end up riding a random asteroid in the Milky Way galaxy? What was its true identity?

“Keep moving,” Elder Owlhead said, noticing how Jack had paused.

Soon after, they left the ocean and entered the island. They weren’t flying over the canal. Instead, they crossed barren rock to reach a small camp, perched right on the canal edge. Before they even approached, Jack was overwhelmed by its vast aura. It looked like something one would find in the outer provinces—but its occupants were the elites of the entire Space Monster World.

They landed by the edge of the camp, where another person was waiting.

“Jack Monstrous,” Elder Puerto said, her long red hair and wrinkles failing to hide the irritation in her face. “I thought I told you to come to the faction within three years.”

“I’m sorry, Elder,” Jack replied. “I was unable to. I rushed over as soon as I could.”

“Hmph. Do you understand how important this Canal Delve is? It only happens once every thousand years, and the earlier in their life one can enter it, the more benefits they reap. Our B-Grade disciples underwent a crazy tournament for the right to one of the very limited spots! Do you expect us to push away a disciple who already traveled here to make space for you?”

“Us space monsters value personal strength the most. That is true justice,” Jack replied. “Since the spots were decided by a tournament, I’ll be happy to face anyone Elder Puerto deems suitable. If I lose, I’ll have nothing to say. If I win, well, they can only blame their own weakness.”

Puerto’s face spasmed, but then she sighed. “Well said. That is the way of the world. Since you’re here, and since you intend to enter our faction”—she gave him a sharp glance, to which he nodded—“I’ll get you a spot.”

“Thank you, Elder! However, as greedy as I may seem, I have another thing to ask. Can you give my companions the opportunity to earn a spot as well?”

Her face instantly scrunched up. “Canal Delve spots are not candy, Jack. You don’t get to bring in your followers.”

“They are not my followers. They’re powerful monsters in their own right. I’m confident they can both earn their spot fair and square—as long as you give them the opportunity.”

She looked the two of them up and down. Brock calmly met her glare. Starhair began sweating.

“I can’t make this decision on my own,” she finally said. “Give me a moment.”

“Thank you, Elder Puerto.”

They waited. Three minutes later, after the Elder telepathically contacted someone, she finally sighed in irritation. “Fine,” she said. “The Grand Elder has accepted your request. You three will officially join our faction. Then, tomorrow, you will fight against the three weakest winners of the tournament. If you win, you may take their spots. If you lose, you will immediately head back to the faction and go through the proper initiation rites.”

Jack beamed up. “Thank you, Elder!” he said.

“Thank you very much, Elder,” Starhair added.

“Thanks, Grandma Bro.”

She whipped her head at Brock, who calmly met her stare again. “No problem…” she finally replied after a while. “Follow me. Thank you, Elder Owlhead.”

The other Elder, who hadn’t spoken at all during the conversation, nodded and flew away.

Elder Puerto led them into the camp. It wasn’t large. Nineteen comfortable-looking tents were spread out widely, giving everyone their personal space. While nobody was emitting their aura on purpose, all of them together created a heavy pressure. Jack could sense that the weakest people here were at the peak B-Grade, and there were several Elders present, a few of which sported auras above the middle A-Grade.

There was also a single cabin at the very edge of the camp closest to the Dark Canal. Jack glanced at it and didn’t dare look again. The aura emitted from inside it was absolutely terrifying. That was an Archon. Overlord Great Silver in the flesh.

“I didn’t know the esteemed overlords would participate as well,” he commented in a low voice.

“The Canal Delve concerns the entire faction.,” Elder Puerto replied. “While the disciples are here to secure inheritances for themselves, the Elders come to gather resources. There are many precious items which only appear here, nowhere else. Our success in this delve directly affects our faction’s wealth for the next thousand years.”

She paused at this point, as if uncertain whether she should say the next part or not. Finally, she decided to speak.

“Actually… The Overlords are not supposed to personally join the delve,” she whispered. “This is the first time it happens. I don’t know why.”

“Oh,” was Jack’s only response. He had a guess. With the Crusade going on outside, the Overlords wanted to strengthen their factions as much as possible. It made sense they’d join.

However, it seemed that while the Overlords were aware of the Second Crusade—they’d participated in the Immortal Summit, after all—they hadn’t let anyone else know. At least, not their low-level Elders.

Why? Jack wondered but had no answer. He wasn’t going to spill the beans anyway.

“Tomorrow, the Grand Elder will formally invite you to the faction, and then you’ll fight,” Elder Puerto said, motioning towards an empty patch of ground. “You may set up your tents here.”

“And if we don’t have tents?”

She gave them a smile, all teeth. “Then you sleep on the ground. Rest well—you’ll need it.”