The Rise of the Winter Wolf - Book 6 - Chapters 69, 70, and 71

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Chapter 69

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The Conclusion to the Clash

Wolf

Without hesitation, I use over half a dozen consumable items. Every last one that I’ve saved up for this battle. Then I concentrate my entire Domain into a large sphere of ice around Beelzebub’s clone. Blocking him inside as the white light shines brighter and brighter all throughout his body.

I grit my teeth when the light suddenly shoots out in the form of a mist and begins smashing into my ice like a bunch of bullets of mist. But it doesn’t stop there as the bullets quickly begin to turn into small bugs, making cracks slowly appear in the ice everywhere they hit.

One crack appears after another, with me using up more of my Domain each time to repair the cracks.

Ten seconds pass. Then a minute.

Then ten minutes.

And right as the white mist is finally beginning to die down a little, making me believe that it’s finally reaching the end, everything inside of the sphere of ice suddenly stops moving. Only for all of the mist to suddenly converge into a single spike that shoots straight at me, piercing through my sphere in an instant and slamming into my body.

I let out a roar of pain as the spike of curse Domain pierces into my stomach, sending me flying even as my lunar winter beasts begin to rush through the opening of my ice and dogpile the Progenitor’s clone. But the pain coming from my stomach blocks everything else out.

Because I can feel the curse energy spreading through my body, fighting with the lunar ice energy making up my Domain.

What exactly the curse energy is trying to do, I’m not sure. But it’s definitely not good. And it hurts like hell.

When the pain grows severe enough, I begin to tear at my own stomach just to get the pain to go away. Which ironically enough actually works. After ripping out my entire stomach and then regenerating it with my Domain.

My relief doesn’t last long though as I soon feel pain in my hands that touched it, making me realize that whatever it is, it’s contagious by touch.

So I order some random lunar winter beasts near me to bite off my hands.

And after they do that, I finally feel relief once again. Because the pain of missing hands isn’t anywhere near as bad as the curse.

I let out a sigh before regrowing my hands again and focusing on the lunar winter beasts that are still dogpiling the clone of Beelzebub. Only to find them all being wiped out through nothing more than his physical strength. Without him using his Domain at all.

Fortunately for me, it’s obvious that he’s still on his last legs. Even if he’s managing to fight them off by literally tearing them to shreds with his bare claws.

It’s almost over…

I fly upwards while still making sure to keep my guard up. After all, the entire reason I got hit by that curse was because I let my guard down.

So I keep my eyes narrowed on Beelzebub’s clone while flying up into the air, flapping my wings in a slow and controlled manner as I watch the clone slaughter my lunar winter beast army. All the way down to just the last few lunar winter beasts, most of whom are a lot more careful than the others.

The people I recognize as Administrators of the System, such as Diane and Leo.

A faint smile stretches across my face at the sight of them.

I’m glad they’re still alive and well. Even if they’ll be revived afterward dying.

After all, whether they revive or not, I’d rather not order my allies to their deaths.

I turn my attention fully back to Beelzebub again as he turns his gaze to me. And what I see is not what I would ever expect to see of a progenitor.

Beelzebub’s clone is currently covered in blood of numerous colors. Green, pale blue, purple, black, and red. Both his own blood and the blood of my lunar winter beasts. Meanwhile he’s missing one arm and the hand on his other arm, along with his tail and an eye. And on top of all of that, he’s got cuts and other larger lacerations all across his body.

Yet despite all of that, and despite the fact that he clearly doesn’t have any energy left to heal himself with, he has a smile on his face. One full of pride, honor, glee, and contentment. All in one.

Several seconds pass in silence before he eventually says, “You have won. Congratulations, young progenitor.”

For some reason I feel a sense of pride rising in me at his words.

“But before you finish me off, I have a few things I need to say,” Beelzebub says, his face turning a bit more serious than before. “It’s about Grim. And the real reason behind my enmity with him.”

I blink at that.

Wait, so the reason behind why Beelzebub and Grim had a falling out?

That’s… actually interesting.

I nod my head without taking my eyes off of the progenitor clone. Mostly because I’m still not certain if he’s trying to buy time or trick me.

“Millions of years ago, the one known by your universe as ‘The Reaper’ and I were friends. We created our universes right next to each other and allied together against our enemies. But that all ended when he betrayed all of his allies,” Beelzebub declares. And for some reason I feel like he’s talking to more than just me. Like he’s trying to tell this to the entirety of Grim’s universe. “He broke our pact, forced one of our allies into a deep sleep, and stole our Reality Treasure. All in a single day.”

Yeah, none of that is all that surprising. Although I have no idea what a Reality Treasure is.

Probably some sort of powerful item if I had to guess, but he’ll probably explain it himself soon. And if he doesn’t, then I can just ask Fenrir about it.

“Then he used the Reality Treasure,” Beelzebub continues, his remaining eye narrowing a little, “as the core of the creation known as the System.”

I blink at that statement.

Huh.

Chapter 70

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Antagonizing the Progenitors

Wolf

“I have a couple questions if you don’t mind,” I state with a frown on my face, following which I see Beelzebub nod his head. So I continue, “For one, what’s a Reality Treasure? And for two, what Reality Treasure did Grim steal?”

The rest of it I can ask about later, after this. But those two things are important right now to understand what he’s saying.

Beelzebub’s clone continues dripping blood, but at a slower and slower pace as time goes on, proving that he’s gradually dying. Most likely.

Despite that, he answers clearly and without any strain, “To answer your first question, a Reality Treasure is the highest level of treasure in the multiverse. They were created at the dawn of time and cannot be reproduced or destroyed. Yet they have the power to destroy numerous universes or create numerous universes with ease, varying by the type of Reality Treasure.” He pauses while glancing down before coughing out a mouthful of blood. Then he looks up at me again and continues speaking as if nothing just happened, “And the Reality Treasure Grim stole was a treasure known as the-”

Right as he gets to the name of the treasure, the entire temple around us begins to tremble, including the air itself. Almost like something’s trying to stop him from speaking.

Now whether that’s the System or Grim, I’m not sure. Because I can see either of them trying to do that.

Grim in case the rest of the progenitors don’t know about the treasure, and the System because it’s what makes up the now-independent System’s core.

Actually, now that I think about it, if the System really is made with something that powerful as its core, it makes sense how it broke away from Grim’s control.

Regardless of what’s making the temple tremble, Beelzebub’s clone just looks me in the eyes and finishes his answer, “The Reality Treasure Grim stole was a treasure known as the Reality Chronicle. It is a special cube that stores immense energy that is constantly being created, along with the knowledge of any being and objects the user has seen. Then it is capable of recreating those beings and objects using the energy it has created.”

My jaw drops open at that.

A treasure that can create anything so long as it has the knowledge of it… and that generates the energy needed to do so…

This really does explain how the System is able to do everything it does. Because I honestly don’t know how it could’ve created all the monsters the System creates for these dungeons without something like this. Considering that the void element, which the System uses, doesn’t create monsters.

Honestly, this has been bothering me for a long time. So it’s nice to finally have an answer for it.

And if I had to guess, this is also going to paint a target on Grim’s back.

He’s the only one who knows where the System’s core is after all.

And while before I wasn’t absolutely certain that it was part of Beelzebub’s goal in telling me this, now I am. Because the grin on the clone’s face is far too evil and vindictive looking to be anything other than revenge driven.

Then there’s the still-trembling air around us, followed by what sounds like a roar of anger coming from a voice I recognize. That being The Reaper himself.

Wait a second…

“Do you know where the Reality Treasure is?” I ask while tilting my head.

The clone’s grin grows even wider as he answers, “Yes, I do.”

And without hesitation, the air around us begins to tremble even more, with more roars of anger coming from Grim. Which makes me think that the System doesn’t seem to care about this.

After all, if Grim was really upset about this – and he sounds like he is – then he would just force his way into the Beta Dungeon.

But he’s not. Which means the System must be blocking him somehow.

On that note, I have to wonder how it’s doing that. Considering that the Beta Dungeon should’ve been located inside of his Domain.

Unless it’s been moved since. Maybe before the System broke free from his control?

“Where is it?” I ask Beelzebub’s clone with my eyes narrowed a little bit as the air continues trembling.

Beelzebub’s clone laughs before answering amidst the trembling, “The Reality Chronicle is located-” His voice suddenly changes to echo in my head through private telepathy to continue. ‘-at the end of the Beta Administrator Dungeon’s 1000th floor as the reward for clearing the dungeon! Given by the System itself!’

My eyes widen in shock at that.

That’s… unexpected.

“I do not know,” Beelzebub’s clone suddenly states out loud, no longer using telepathy. Making me wonder if he’s doing it to trick the other progenitors or something.

Which I guess I can see happening. Considering that the other progenitors would probably bombard him with questions if they believe that he knows where the Reality Treasure is.

“If you have any further questions, ask them of my original, or of your father,” Beelzebub’s clone declares as his face returns to normal, without the vengeful note to it. “Fenrir may be able to answer some of them for you. For now, I ask you to finish this.”

I feel my eyebrow twitch slightly at his calling Fenrir my father, but I don’t say anything. After all, this clone was made just to fight me.

So it’s time I finish my end of this interaction.

I take a deep breath before letting it out. Then I fly up to him while still keeping my guard up.

But Beelzebub’s clone doesn’t look like he’s in any shape to actually try anything. Not with the fading light in his eyes, or the wounds that are barely even bleeding anymore they’ve bled so much.

I raise one hand before stabbing my claws straight into his eyes, and then his brain behind them.

Finishing off Beelzebub’s clone and getting the notifications I’m looking for.

Chapter 71

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

News Resounds

All Across the Universe

Whether it’s due to Beelzebub’s words or the sight of The Winter Wolf slaying a progenitor’s clone within the Beta Dungeon, cheers and confusion spread across every last inch of Grim’s universe. From people excited for The Winter Wolf’s success and survival and from people confused with Beelzebub’s declaration.

A declaration that Grim stole the thing he used to create the System.

The System that everyone in the universe has been using ever since they were born or Initialized into it.

Meanwhile the progenitors all across the multiverse begin chatting amongst themselves while focusing on Grim. The one being in the universe other than his creation, the System, that may know where the Reality Treasure is.

Because there are two ways to determine the stronger between two progenitors.

The size of their Domains, and the number of Reality Treasures they have.

And very few of them have any Reality Treasures at all.

Amongst the progenitors, the ones that do have one all vary in their reactions. Some of them immediately begin planning on attacking Grim to find the location of the Reality Treasure from him. Others decide to simply search Grim’s universe while he’s at war to find it on their own.

And others just stand by and watch, deciding that it doesn’t matter to them who gets it.

But every last progenitor that doesn’t have a Reality Treasure immediately turns their attention to the War of the Progenitors. With some of them joining Titania’s side of the war simply to get knowledge of the Reality Treasure from him, while others try to offer their services to Grim in exchange for the Reality Treasure.

And in the middle of all this, numerous progenitors also turn their attention to the Beta Dungeon as they decide to allow the System to clone themselves just for a chance to fight against The Winter Wolf. The one mortal who managed to become a progenitor, and even proved himself by defeating a progenitor’s clone.

Meanwhile The Reaper himself roars nonstop as he thrashes around attacking everything in his sight, slaughtering millions of void creatures in the process of his rage. But unlike what many think, Grim doesn’t even pay any attention to The Winter Wolf. Completely putting the new progenitor out of his mind as he focuses on the progenitors coming for his head.

Or rather, for a treasure that isn’t even his anymore.

What infuriates him the most though is his ‘old friend’ who betrayed him to the entire multiverse.

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Within the Special Dimension

Fenrir lets out a breath of relief after seeing his pup finally finish off Beelzebub’s clone. He doesn’t pay any attention to the chaos amongst the other progenitors who are all bombarding Beelzebub with questions about the Reality Treasure. Nor does he pay attention to the smug satisfaction clearly visible on Beelzebub’s face.

All Fenrir cares about is that his pup is safe. And now he is far stronger than before as well.

But he also has more powerful opponents than before.

He’ll have a tough time throughout the rest of the floors of the dungeon… For the Centurion Boss floors at least. Because I can’t see the System placing a progenitor’s clone as a boss of a regular floor, much less a mini boss.

Fenrir frowns while looking down at the floor, only to be interrupted when he hears the progenitors all raising a ruckus when Beelzebub leaves the special dimension. At which point he looks at the progenitors to judge all of their intentions.

It looks like a few of the ones that looked like they may try battling Wolf have been completely distracted by the news of a Reality Treasure. But not all of them. And even the ones who are distracted may remember and allow the System to place them as a Centurion Boss in the Beta Dungeon.

He watches them for a little longer before teleporting to his own main body. To his Domain. Then he walks up to his throne’s dais and lies down in the frozen cave.

Even more progenitors will try to enter the Beta Dungeon as Centurion Bosses when Wolf defeats more clones in there, so his only chance is to train enough in the use of his Domain to be able to last without aid from the progenitor he’s facing. Since very few progenitors will be like Beelzebub while fighting him. And he can’t rely on the System sending him an army to fight either.

Fenrir’s thoughts turn to the enormous number of lunar winter beasts that were released from the dungeon, along with the insectified mortals created from Beelzebub’s domain. Which Fenrir knows was no doubt another one of Beelzebub’s goals with this.

Since it gives him a strong foothold into Grim’s universe.

Fenrir wasn’t surprised in the least by the discovery of Grim’s Reality Treasure. After all, unlike many other progenitors, Fenrir has looked into and done thorough research on Grim’s System. So he’s known that something was sketchy about it. And more importantly, he’s even tried finding and breaking into the Beta Dungeon to free his pup from its clutches.

But the moment he tried, not only did the System manage to block his attacks, it also managed to teleport the dungeon away from him into a separate dimension. Clearly showing that it’ll just keep fleeing every time Fenrir tries to break into the dungeon.

And the only way for it to be able to do that is to have something as powerful as a Reality Treasure.

Despite knowing about the Reality Treasure though, he just doesn’t care about it.

Since Fenrir already has his own Reality Treasure.

Two of them in fact.

They’re part of the reason why he’s able to maintain his neutral stance as a judge in progenitor disputes. Because of the sheer power of his Reality Treasures.

One for defense, and one for offense.

Thanks to them he has never had any trouble dealing with the other progenitors, or maintaining his position.

Fenrir lets out a sigh before turning his attention back to the Beta Administrator Dungeon again, where he sees his pup looking up at a large and rather sinister looking chest made out of Beelzebub’s carapace. One that’s sitting atop a large raised dais.

Let’s see what he gets from this victory before anything else.