--


    The time flow within the virtual universe was adjusted 1:1 to whatever timezone the user was in. This meant that one day in the virtual universe is also one day in the tower; this also applies if he returns to Prime Earth.


    While Cedric already has a rough n on how he could increase his social status in the alliance, he wasn''t in a hurry to implement it. For one, the n hasn''t been developed properly; he needs to think more and add more details to it.


    Most importantly, he still had to pay attention to his trials at the tower because he only had 100 years toplete the 6th stage and 10 years had already passed since he started them.


    He knew that he''s going to have to multitask here. After all, the subsidy for amon citizen like him onlysts for 10 years in VU time, which will definitely be up before hepletes the 6th stage of the trials.


    In the meantime, Cedric checked the progress of the task he gave to Ac. And ording to her, everything went smoothly.


    The nineyered Heaven Ind has been integrated within Sris Prime and kept secured. It would take a whole year for it to finish adjusting to its new location before it begins affecting Sris Prime positively.


    Cedric also inquired about the status of his wives, and she said that they''re doing really well, which greatlyforted him.


    While it has been ten years for him, only a day passed for them, so he knows that he''s being dramatic. But he can''t really help it; the time difference makes him a little lonely.


    On another note, Ac told him that humanity''s progress inary colonization has been going steady still. The speed remains the same as previously and cannot be rushed, so steady does it.


    Aside from that, the leaders had been analyzing the clues he left about the existence of the alliance.


    At this point, they should already be suspecting his involvement with them. After all, he kept taking out things that''s impossible to appear in their civilization from out of nowhere. The only logical assumption was that he''s with them, and these clues he left behind should more or less confirm that.


    Sure, Cedric could''ve just sat them down and revealed everything, but he didn''t want to take anything away from the experience. After all, knowing that there are literally hordes of aliens out there that had far more advanced technology and an extremely long history was a unique experience that is important to strengthen their character.


    In the end, Cedric wants them to approach this one on their own. Should they show interest, he''d be happy to tell more; if not, then he''ll leave it at that.


    That said, there were many things he left behind that would keep his people upied for quite some time, so there''s no need to rush. Time was on their side now, especially since Cedric had be the governor of Sris Prime.


    He''s just hoping that the speed of his people''s progress continues at this pace because even though time was on their side, it also wouldn''t wait for them. Humans are already far behind; they can''t afford to slow down.


    While everybody''s upied, Cedric can pay attention to himself.


    Being exposed to the rich cultivation environment, Cedric was moving at a breakneck speed in his cultivation. His breakthrough was immenent, and that wille with a decent increase in his strength again, which will hopefully make his current trials a little easier.


    He had to focus though because things are about to get quite hectic for him.


    **


    [A few monthster...]


    "Good day, Lad. Where are you off to?"


    The steward at the V-hub asked this to Cedric after seeing hime up to the desk. The steward was arge and stubby feline with gray fur. He looks kind and approachable too.


    "Hello, I''d like a ticket to the Asura ne, please."


    The mention of the Asura ne caused the steward''s pupils to constrict and look at him in disbelief. He saw the old cat looking at him from head to toe, seemingly judging his entire existence as most cats do.


    "Ya sure, Lad? Yer fairly new ''round these parts. Have ya done yer homework about that ce?" The steward cat raised a brow while briefly interrogating him.


    "Yes, I did. I just want to try my luck. Don''t worry, I still have my sanity intact."


    "And let''s hope it remains that way." The old cat grumbled as he pawed on his system while softly shaking his head.


    Shortly after, Cedric''s ticket manifested and was handed over to him, but before he took it, he paid first, of course. The ticket costs 15 ACs, by the way. It''s really cheap since his destination was somewhat nearby and sketchy.


    "Remember, Lad. Jus because ya can''t die here; it doesn''t mean yer invincible or somethin''. The Asura ne is a bad ce for sane minds; don''t go batshit crazy on me, ya hear?"


    "Will do. Thanks for your reminder."


    After saying this, he walked past the counter and made his way towards the transmission portal. He ced his ticket on the receiver and waited until the portal homed-in to the coordinates of his destination.


    Cedric watched in fascination as the portal gradually exuded a bright sanguine glow with the thick aura of death and the stench of rotten blood. The corners of his lips twitched as he saw this. Well, this was promising. At the very least, this meant that the rumors about this ce were the same as the ones he read online.


    "Alright, here we go," Cedric muttered after taking a deep breath.


    He then stepped inside the portal and soon felt the strong and irresistable force pulling him somewhere.


    When his senses returned, the very first thing that greeted him was the sharp and foul stench of rot and blood assaulting his nose. Then he saw himself standing in the middle of a literal sea of blood. It had a viscuous consistency simr to mercury; it''s thick and clings to anything it could adhere to.


    It also felt like he was standing on a swamp because he got the feeling that it''s trying to swallow him whole.


    [Wee to the Virtual Asura ne, Dawnbringer.]


    The Asura ne is a nighmarish world for those of sanity and a paradise for the insane and bloodthirsty ones. The old cat''s reminder came from the goodness of his heart because this ce was truly horrible. Someone like Cedric who''s new to all of this isn''t supposed toe here...not this early, at least.


    [It''s detected that this is your first time here.]


    [Would you like to participate in the tutorial to familiarize yourself with how this ce works?]


    The mechanical and slightly upbeat voice of the AI greatly contradicts the theme of this ce, making it a little easier to remember that this was just a virtual world after all.


    "Yeah, sure. That would be nice, thank you," Cedric replied while shaking of the jitters.


    A blue light bloomed with him at the center. Then, he faintly sensed that the system isted a decent area around him for the sake of his learning.


    Cedric didn''te here just because he''s curious. If he wanted to sightsee, this world wouldn''t even make it to his list. Cedric came here with a purpose.


    The tutorial went on and pretty much confirmed the simplicity of how this ce worked. There''s only one thing that could be done in this ce, and that is to kill.


    Kill all that is breathing except yourself. Everyone you see here was your enemy. It doesn''t matter whether they''re bigger, smaller, stronger, or weaker than you. Your task is to kill them all.


    The more you kill, the more rewards you get. The more creative your kills were, the more points you received. If you die, you lose half of the points you umted so far, and you''d be ressurected after 15 minutes at a random ce in this bloody hell. Whether you''re lucky to pop-out at a rtively calm area or spawn at the center of the sh will be up to your fortune.


    If you get tired from all the killing and want to leave, just find the nearest exit point, activate it, and you''ll be sent out of this ce and appear to thest V-hub you used.


    That''s it. Quite simple, isn''t it?


    Of course there is a catch, but it''s all within the rules. First, mercy is nonexistent here. One shouldn''t even think about giving it. It''s to kill or be killed in this ce, nopromise or anything in between.


    The ughter is free for all. Whether you''re lucky to meet a stronger or weaker for the moment you spawn was up to your luck. This also applies to restraining.


    Also, since you can ''technically'' endlessly reconstruct in this ce, it also meant that you can''t leave by dying. Securing an exit point is a must if you want to leave. It''s very possible for somebody to be stuck here for days, weeks, or even months for not being able to secure an exit point.


    More importantly, it''s an all-out brawl for everybody. And since nobody dies permanently here, it meant that the number of enemies will always be high.


    Like a horde...


    Sounds familiar?