Volcano World.
Everyone was dead.
A colossal shadow blotted out the sky as it descended, transforming into a man with a pair of horns growing from his head.
Brilliant, multicolored lights swirled around him, then fled his body. They materialized into countless screaming, tormented professionals, who darted away in every direction.
"Oh? So many souls know special ways to escape? And they still think they can get away from me? How arrogant, how presumptuous!"
The Abyss Magic Dragon's eyes glinted coldly.
He opened his mouth and inhaled, sucking every last light in the world into his belly.
Darkness returned to the world.
Boom—
A volcano erupted, revealing the world's true nature.
The dragon stood motionless.
Twelve beams of light descended from the sky and knelt on one knee before the Abyss Magic Dragon.
The divine being at their head reported, "Master, you summoned us?"
The dragon did not answer.
He closed his eyes, looking utterly content.
The twelve members of the God Race did not dare move.
Only after a long while did the dragon speak softly. "One million nine hundred sixty-seven thousand three hundred twenty-four souls. What a splendid feast."
Suddenly, his voice turned furious. A thunderous roar shot into the sky, shaking the very earth.
"Gu—Qing—Shan! Why weren't you there?!"
Elsewhere.
Coast World.
Hotel.
Hearing Xiao Miao's voice, Gu Qingshan immediately said, "It's me, Xiao Miao. I'm Gu Qingshan!"
He heard Xiao Miao speaking to someone on the other end, and faintly caught the words "Gu Qingshan."
After a while, Xiao Miao spoke again. "Thank goodness, it really is you. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Gu Qingshan said. "How about you?"
"A year ago, after your world finished fusing and stopped shaking, we regained contact with the outside world. But then we discovered the Contention Zone