Entering Apocalypse in Easy-Mode

The group emerged from the portal in the central square of Sivagadh Fortress.

The familiar light of the portal faded behind them, leaving the six of them standing in silence.

Their expressions were solemn.

Samuel looked the worst among them. Robert’s body was still draped over his shoulder, his lifeless form wrapped in the remains of his ruined clothing.

Samuel’s face remained composed, but anyone watching him closely could see how hard he was trying to suppress his emotions.

Nobody spoke. People passing through the square noticed them immediately.

Some of them stared at Robert’s corpse with surprise and others recognized the equipment and realized that Samuel’s team had just returned from a mission. A few whispered among themselves, but nobody approached them.

The group just walked through the fortress.

They eventually entered the Council building and reported their findings at the mission counter.

Samuel explained everything that had happened inside the Ruin, including the missing team, the serpent guarding the castle, Robert’s corruption, and his eventual death.

The report took some time.

When everything was recorded, there was nothing else for them to do, so the team separated.

Samuel left first, carrying Robert’s body with him. He did not say much before walking away.

Leyan, Maira, Don, and Arven also seemed to have little interest in talking. The mission had left all of them exhausted and troubled, so they simply exchanged brief farewells before heading toward their respective quarters.

Clyde watched them disappear one by one before turning in another direction.

He eventually reached his own living quarters.

When he was inside, he closed the door behind him and walked toward his bed. He sat down and remained silent for several moments.

Then Clyde closed his eyes and focused into his mind. He tried to find the fragment of the Ancient One’s power that had entered his body when he touched the ring.

For some time, nothing happened. Clyde concentrated harder. Eventually, he felt a faint presence deep into his soul. There was a tiny fragment of that ancient darkness resting somewhere deep within his soul. It was so faint that he almost wondered whether he had imagined it.

Clyde tried to probe deeper, but he didn’t find anything too significant. He tried again, but still nothing.

The connection seemed to have severed, leaving only that tiny fragment of power behind.

Clyde slowly opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling and sighed, realizing that it’s still going to take a while.

The Ancient One was truly there. He had felt its presence. But reaching it again would not be easy. For now, all Clyde could do was wait and grow stronger until he found another way to establish contact.

Or maybe he needed to find more of the fragments around the Ruins.

—

Clyde continued going on missions with Samuel’s team for several more days.

Samuel seemed to function normally despite having killed his own friend. He continued leading the team just as he always had. Perhaps he had simply become skilled at hiding his emotions. Whatever the truth was, nobody talked about Robert anymore.

Their routine remained almost unchanged.

They received missions, entered Ruins, completed their objectives, and returned to Sivagadh Fortress. Then they rested before repeating the same cycle again.

Clyde gradually became more accustomed to fighting alongside them. He learned the habits of the new members while carefully maintaining the image of Jack, the talented newcomer who had recently joined their party.

—

Clyde had just returned from another exhausting mission.

He entered his living quarters, closed the door behind him, and dropped himself into a chair.

His entire body felt tired. He leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment, simply enjoying the silence.

Then something caught his attention when he opened his eyes again.

A sword made of bone was lying on his bed. He stared at it. For a few seconds, he simply sat there.

He had been too exhausted when he entered to notice it. Then recognition hit him.

Clyde’s expression changed. He knew that sword. It was the Demon Sword he had obtained during the Selection Stage. How had it gotten here?

The last time Clyde had seen it, he had left it inside the infirmary. He had deliberately chosen not to retrieve it afterward. Carrying a Demon Sword around the Fortress would only attract unnecessary attention and earn disapproval from the others.

But now it was lying inside his room. Someone had brought it here.

Clyde slowly stood from his chair and approached the bed.

His eyes narrowed as he examined the bone blade.

There was only one person who immediately came to his mind.

Is it Mina? Has she finally awakened?

Clyde reached for the Demon Sword without hesitation. His fingers wrapped around the bone hilt, and the familiar sensation immediately spread through his hand.

He had expected the usual pressure, like the whispering presence he heard before. But nothing happened.

Clyde frowned. The Demon Sword was silent.

He lifted it from the bed and examined the blade carefully. The pale bone surface still carried the same unnatural texture he remembered from the Selection Stage, but the sword felt weaker.

The spirit inside it who had spoken to him now was gone.

Clyde closed his eyes and extended his perception into the sword. He could feel the spirit. It was still there. But its presence had become faint, like a dying flame.

"What happened to you?"

There was no answer. Clyde waited for several seconds but there was still nothing.

He was not particularly concerned. He had already dealt with the Demon Sword before and had eventually forced its spirit to submit to him. The sword had already recognized him as its master.

Clyde’s expression gradually became thoughtful. If the sword spirit was too weak to speak, then there was no reason to waste time communicating with it.

He tightened his grip. His intent spread through the Demon Sword. The power contained within the bone blade immediately began responding to him.

Clyde felt a dark current flowing from the sword and into his body.

The Demon Sword’s remaining power began flowing into him piece by piece. Dark energy traveled through his arm before spreading throughout his body, merging with his existing strength.

The process was surprisingly smooth. The sword simply surrendered its power.

Clyde opened his eyes and put the sword under his bed.

—

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!