Level 20

When Abel checked again, he found that the entire area had been completely emptied. Far too few items had survived here over the past ten thousand years.

He turned and walked toward the pool, which had become crystal clear. When he reached the circular section extending from the platform before the pool and had just stepped onto it, he triggered a mechanism. A stone bridge leading to the Teleportation Gate in the center rose from beneath the pool.

The Teleportation Gate in the middle of the pool activated as well. After accumulating energy for so long, its golden energy had become excessively abundant, constantly spilling radiance in all directions.

He knew this was the Teleportation Gate leading to the next region, where new challenges awaited him. He strode into the gate.

After entering the gate, the world appeared again amid alternating light and darkness. He saw a fortress. This was the Demon Fortress.

This was the smallest human settlement Abel had ever visited. He was standing in a modest square, and deep within it stood a solemn, towering building. It had once been where the Professionals of the Demon Fortress gathered and exchanged information.

On one side of the square stood the extinguished Teleportation Waypoint. The first thing he did was walk over and take out two perfect gems to rekindle it.

As the Teleportation Waypoint, unused for ten thousand years, began flashing with energy once more, its two energy nodes emitted white light. Through his mental power, Abel saw that all the Teleportation Waypoints he had previously activated had appeared among the available teleportation choices.

After leaving the Teleportation Waypoint, he began touring the fortress perched atop a mountain cliff. He first walked inward, passed a row of pillars carved with symbols representing the eternal existence of the sun