Is this really a Game?!

Right now, they all actually had about 60% of their powers back, which was an increase of about 30% after they got in the tunnel leading to the lower layer.

With that, they had all regained the power of a Tier IV being, but there was still a big divide between them and a Tier V.

As they stepped foot into the lower layer, they all stared at the cave in front of them. 

There was no lush forest, there was no soil, it was just a cave made out of rocks with one large crystal on the ceiling that gave light.

The cave was as big as a football stadium, and inside, they could see five monsters sitting and sleeping.

They were still sleeping even when Reign and the others arrived and were showing no signs of waking up.

Each of the monsters was the same. 

They were sitting down, and yet their height was still 2.6 meters. They were covered with dark gray fur that was incredibly dense and tough, and their heads were those of wolves.

"Werewolves?" Laura asked as she glanced at the five monsters.

"They certainly look like werewolves." Reign commented as he glanced back at the others.

"They look similar to the Ashraks that are present in the region behind mine, but they are much larger compared to them, not to mention they have denser fur and seem to be quite aggressive."

The Ashraks were a type of hybrid monster found on the planet and they looked like a combination of a human and wolf. There were all kinds of them in the region behind the Lumon region, there were those that were muscular, those that were slim and fast, fat ones, taller ones…

But they were all a bit more humanoid than the ones in front of them, and they were quite intelligent and easy to get along with. In fact, the Ashraks were one of the very first monsters that humanity had allied themselves with in the past, and they had fought side-by-side many times and could be considered to be friends.

  Reign nodded at Basred before staring at the monsters with some vigilance. He could sense the danger emanating from them, and it was obvious that the five were simply waiting for them to get close before they attacked.

Reign suddenly summoned five soul blades that were larger compared to the ones he previously used.

'This much should be more than enough to kill them, I can make adjustments later and use less soul power after confirming how strong their souls are.'

Reign sent the blades forward, and just as they were about to hit the werewolves, they all opened their eyes simultaneously before suddenly howling.

Their howls synched up, and to Reign's horror, their howls had soul power imbued in them, which allowed them to block the blades and destroy them, albeit with a price as Reign was able to sense their own souls wavering as they had weakened because of what they had just done.

"Get ready, they used soul power to block my attack!" Reign said before he created 20 thin spears made out of souls that he launched at the werewolves.

The spears zoomed forward as the werewolves jumped to the side, some running at Reign and the others, some grabbing the wall and running on it, some even grabbing the ceiling.

"Sir Siggurd, the one at the very front!" Reign shouted as Siggurd nodded and used his ability.

Reign created another blade of soul while the spears he had previously launched all stopped before zooming back, attacking the werewolves from the back.

Siggurd's ability attacked the one that was charging at Reign and the others, causing gravity to increase and the werewolf to slow down considerably. Because of that, the monster was unable to dodge the attack, causing its soul to be pierced by the blade and the spears. 

It died right away, but it was not yet time to celebrate as the other monsters had gotten close. They were moving quickly and dodging the soul attacks that Reign had launched at them. Their speed was incredible and one would easily be fooled by their huge bodies at first.

They were fast, and they were very flexible and maneuverable, which allowed them to dodge most of the attacks that were launched at them. It was mostly Basred who was able to deal damage to the werewolves and stop them for a bit with his sonic waves as they were still sonic waves in the end, which made them very fast.

'Dammit, we have to hurry, or they will reach us fast!' 

Reign quickly created several more soul spears that he launched forward before launching himself to one of the werewolves. After he had stepped into this current layer, all of his powers were back, he was not suppressed by the mana suppression in the slightest.

With his current power and the fact the werewolves were unable to use their full power, he was certain that he could, at the very least, fight one and win.

His body suddenly became enveloped by lightning as he zoomed forward at one werewolf while Aethion controlled the blades and spears, aiming them at the other three werewolves.

Siggurd was ready to take on one, Basred another, and the rest would fight against the last one, which should be enough to make sure no casualties would occur.

'There are still more layers left, I don't know how many, maybe 2, maybe 3 or more, we can't afford to lose people here!' Reign thought as light and darkness covered his swords.

He slashed forward, but the werewolf dodged the attack before using its sharp claws to slash at Reign from the side, which he dodged by kicking the wall of the cave and bringing himself a bit higher before slashing at the werewolf from above.

The werewolf quickly used its claw to try and defend against the sword, causing it to get cut, but it then used the other claw to attack Reign, which the latter blocked with his sword but was sent flying to the side.

Reign quickly used his sword to stab through the walls of the cave, which were easy to cut with darkness, before he stopped and charged forward at the werewolf with a grin on his face.

'These guys, their souls are a bit different, stronger, and they're more intelligent compared to the ones we fought against before.' Reign thought as he tried to sense the soul of the werewolf he was fighting against a bit deeper.

'Still, a combination, a fusion of souls, but fewer souls than the ones before, and each piece is larger and more powerful.'

'The artifact made them like this so that they can truly test those that enter without being as powerful as normal Tier V monsters, the same went for the ones in the upper layers, but why make it like this if you will suppress mana for everybody?'

'Unless…'

'Mana was not supposed to be suppressed like this before, it might have only happened later, once the spirit got corrupted, leading to it separating itself, which made this entire space different from what it should have been.'

Reign's eyes widened at the possible revelation he had received before quickly jumping to the side as the werewolf lunged at him with its mouth wide open. The razor-sharp teeth of the werewolf passed next to him as the latter hit the wall with its head, causing it to fall down before shaking its head and charging at Reign again.

'Tier V monsters possess high intellect, these five werewolves do not, they're just mindless beasts.'

'The artifact probably did it like this to make it easier on those that come here to take the so-called trial.'

'The question is still why?'

'Did the artifact not want the one that has its former master's soul fragments to gain control of it, or did it no longer feel that they are entitled to control it?'

'Maybe it made this if multiple people with the soul fragments come?'

'It doesn't matter, it's all for naught now as the artifact and the spirit got corrupted, we just need to kill all of these monsters and get to the artifact, that's all that matters.' Reign thought as he quickly dodged another attempt of the werewolf to bite him before he pointed his finger and arrived near the werewolf's head.

[ Lightning Beam ]

A ray of lightning came out of his finger and struck the werewolf straight on the head, causing it to feel immense pain as its fur blackened and a part of its scalp was actually penetrated. It quickly moved and attacked Reign who had already jumped back with a smile on his face.