NOVPUBThe distinction between a level 1 Evolver and a level 3 Evolver is essentially the measure of their power.
However, upon ascending to a level 4 Evolver, one undergoes a profound transformation, for they can now harness a new kind of force: The Domain.
A Domain can be understood as a dimensional space carved out by an Evolver using their abilities.
Within this Domain, the Evolver’s powers are magnified to their utmost potential, becoming impervious to external interferences.
Not even a barrage of thousands of missiles could breach the fortress-like boundaries of a Domain.
Thus, an Evolver who manifests their Domain becomes an almost invincible entity within its confines.
Brooks looked at Daniel with disbelief. "Are you saying there’s a creature here capable of manifesting a Domain?"
It’s impossible for any humans to be inside the pyramid, which means it could only be a creature.
And a creature capable of wielding a Domain is far more terrifying than any level 4 Evolver.
Seeing Daniel nod, the others instantly became alert, scanning their surroundings vigilantly.
"There’s nothing out of the ordinary, right?" "It’s just statues, nothing but statues." "Could you have been mistaken?"
Could the Prophet be wrong? No.
Of course, Daniel hadn’t identified the Domain through retrospection.
He merely sensed a presence far more menacing than the Clown.
Coupling this with the earlier sleepwalking behavior of Alex and the others, he deduced that they were already within the Domain of some creature.
Then, he made an even more chilling observation.
"I’m certain this is a Domain because all those statues have changed."
"Changed? How?" "They look the same as before to me."
The group quickly scanned their surroundings and their expressions subtly shifted.
Unbeknownst to them, the war chariots that were originally facing different directions had now uniformly aligned towards them.
The warhorses at the helm of these chariots appeared eerily lifelike, their eyes seemingly exuding a palpable thirst for blood.
Traces of splattered blood became evident on the chariots.
Immediately following that, hundreds upon hundreds of chariots began to move!
"Run!" Brooks cried out in alarm.
The rest quickly tried to evade.
However, to their horror, they found themselves completely immobilized!
Their feet felt as though they were bound by invisible shackles, rooted firmly to the ground, rendering escape impossible.
As they watched the menacing wave of chariots kick up clouds of dust and charge towards them, they chose to close their eyes.
It’s over. There’s no escaping this.
Then, in the next instant, the deafening tumult gave way to an eerie silence.
Daniel gazed bewilderingly at his surroundings.
He hadn’t closed his eyes just moments ago, yet darkness had inexplicably enveloped him.
The engulfing blackness persisted, with not a whisper to be heard.
Then, all at once, light flooded the space.
Daniel found himself within the cabin of a chariot, with Julia seated opposite him and the others all around.
"Where are we?"
"It appears we’re inside the chariot."
"Look at this! The chariot’s made of solid gold! Could it be that all the chariots inside the pyramid are made of pure gold?"
"Yet, doesn’t it feel like this chariot is moving?"
Indeed, as they all regained their senses, the sounds of the world returned.
The rumble of the speeding chariot echoed once more.
However, in stark contrast to their previous brush with danger, they were now seated within it.
A thought struck Daniel, reminding him of a post he had once read on the Evolver forum about the origins of the monsters.
The post had claimed that traces of monsters and Evolvers had been found over two centuries ago.
But with the advent of the industrial age, as humanity began to harness the destructive power of firearms en masse, the presence of these creatures and Evolvers dwindled.
For the next century, there were no reports of supernatural occurrences, leading people to forget about monsters and Evolvers entirely, creating a historical void that lasted a hundred years.
Yet, for some unknown reason, in recent decades, supernatural incidents became rampant.
Almost daily, there were sightings of monsters, and the number of Evolvers surged once more.
Beneath that post was a speculative comment.
Every century, a vast number of monsters and Evolvers would emerge, only to fade into obscurity after several decades of prominence.
The best evidence of this cyclical nature was the sudden fall of robust kingdoms every few decades or centuries.
Often, the sovereigns of these realms would either meet untimely deaths or, as if they were replaced entirely, would transition from wise rulers to inept tyrants.
Some even drew parallels between mythological tales and religious histories, concluding that since the dawn of Earth, monsters have always existed.
The deities depicted in these ancient stories were perhaps the elite Evolvers of their time.
But for reasons unknown, these gods and monsters vanished together, leading to the current cycle of periodic emergence and disappearance of monsters and Evolvers.
What had truly transpired during those periods?
And being trapped in this speeding chariot now, could this be the harbinger of the Evolvers’ next descent into obscurity?
Suddenly, Julia inquired, "Daniel, who do you think is driving this chariot?"
Rising from his seat, Daniel hunched and made his way to the front, attempting to pull aside the curtain and see who was guiding the vehicle.
However, outside was a void.
To put it more precisely, it was an encompassing darkness where nothing could be discerned.
The chariot jostled continuously, but peering through the window, there was no sight of any horses.
It was as if the compartment was suspended in an abyss of shadows.
He tried to assault the chariot’s frame, intending to break free, but even deploying all his strength, not a scratch was left on its exterior.
One by one, the others gave it their best shot, only to be met with futility.
Eventually, all of them, with despondent faces, settled back into their seats.
"It seems... we’re trapped here," Daniel remarked calmly, as if death bore no weight on him.
"Unless..."
Everyone turned their eyes to him instantly. "Unless what?"
A mysterious glint flickered in Daniel’s eyes. "Unless we reach the destination. If the sole purpose was to imprison us here, there’s no reason for this continuous dash. Hence, it must be heading towards a specific place. It’s just that its mode of travel is so bizarre that we can’t perceive it."
The group looked at Daniel, awe-stricken, and for a moment, a deep silence enveloped the chariot’s interior.
The chariot was already eerily peculiar; its destination could not possibly be a haven, at least not within the human realm.
After what felt like an eternity, Daniel’s voice pierced the lingering silence. "We’ve arrived at our destination."
Brooks regarded him with a puzzled expression. "How can you be so sure?"
"The chariot’s pace," Daniel replied, "is slowing down."
Mike swiftly rose from his seat and pulled back the curtain adorning the window.
Outside the obsidian void, a faint glimmer was visible, seemingly far in the distance.
As the chariot pressed on, the gap lessened, transforming the distant point of light into an expanding luminescent orb.
Drawing closer still, the group discerned the true nature of the glowing entity.
It was a solitary altar, constructed of timeworn wood, with roaring flames dancing upon it.
This fire was the source of the radiant glow, yet its brilliant luminance only illuminated a small perimeter, leaving the surrounding expanse engulfed in unrelenting darkness.
Amidst the void, the altar emanated an unsettling aura, heightening the group’s already heightened sense of alertness.
The chariot came to a halt before the altar.
Thud!
The carriage door, which had resisted the collective efforts of the group to open, suddenly swung ajar.
To disembark or not to disembark?
The group hesitated, their eyes unanimously turning to Daniel.
It wasn’t out of fear, but an anticipation of Daniel employing his unique abilities.
Fully aware of their expectation, yet uncertain of what lay ahead, Daniel decisively rose and took the first step out.
"Daniel, are you sure about this?" The flames from the altar cast a glow on his face, revealing his calm and resolute gaze.
"We’ve already reached our destination. What’s the point of lingering in the chariot?"
From the palm of his hand, the Enchanted Eye, unable to contain its curiosity, emerged and scanned the surroundings.
It detected no signs of monsters. 𝑛𝘰𝘷𝑝𝘶𝑏.𝑐𝘰𝘮
As the rest hesitated, a chilling aura of impending doom suddenly permeated from the chariot.
It felt as though a gun had materialized behind you, its trigger being slowly squeezed, with the firing pin moments away from igniting the cartridge.
"Get off the chariot, now!" Alex shouted.
Without hesitation, the others jumped down.
Only after disembarking did the sensation of looming death dissipate.
A hint of concern flickered in Daniel’s heart; he too had felt that intense and threatening aura of mortality.
The power of this chariot was terrifying, such that even he had felt the shadow of death.
Alex glanced at the altar, "It seems the only path we can take is this one."
Brooks, however, offered a different perspective, "Aside from the pervasive darkness, there doesn’t seem to be any immediate danger here. Maybe we could stay put or walk in the direction opposite to the altar."
Daniel promptly interjected, "We can’t move around carelessly."
Through his Enchanted Eye, he had discerned the peril concealed within the surrounding darkness.
Invisible to the naked eye were turbulent currents of space and time, which he was certain would shred any being that stepped into them in an instant.
The only area devoid of this chaotic flow was a straight path leading directly to the altar.
None of the others could see this.
"Why? I don’t sense any danger," someone protested.
With tranquility, Daniel replied, "I’ve foreseen the future."
With that singular statement, all doubts and objections from the group were instantly dispelled.
