Void Evolution System

The crack had to be widened somewhat with mana to allow entrance through it. There was a level of care that had to be taken, as if it was widened too much, the water on the other side would flood this cave system and create problems.

August had to do it himself, using the natural water supply to create pressure and cut the crack just slightly wider so that they could fit their bodies through it.

At most, the incoming water could create a tiny waterfall, but it wasn't enough to stop their group's progress.

Once again with August's help, the other geniuses were able to quickly adapt to the change in pressure as they squeezed through the opening and made it to the other side.

Everything relied on the young Azure Dragon now.

Other than August, the rest had no power in an environment like this. For people like Iridia or Valerie, it was worse than most as their elements didn't exist in the ocean.

The underwater ravine was several thousands of kilometers long. Most of it was engulfed in a darkness that would even impress a member of the Noct Clan, which made it impossible to search through ordinary means.

The group of geniuses could only survive in this environment by putting their lives in August's hands.

With his mana supporting them, they could breathe easily and maneuver without worry. It was comforting to know that they had this privilege, but things would have been different if it wasn't for the pact that August forced them to sign.

At first, it was insulting when he made that suggestion. Now, knowing that if it wasn't for the pact, August could kill them as he pleased, it had turned into the security that he wanted it to be when he suggested it.

Nevertheless, it was now a matter of searching for the underwater cavern that August sensed at the beginning, but this effort wasn't nearly as involved as the scramble to find the right cave system.

They were in the ocean. It was a part of the ocean separated from the majority, but this ravine was still part of the saltwater biome.

As such, August's strength was enhanced, and his strength became unparalleled.

His eyes cut through the darkness, seeing each and every edge and ridge of the ravine. He traveled through it with his group in tow, staying roughly centered as he sent his awareness ahead of him to scan.

Unlike the almost full day of effort required to find the right cave system, it took less than half an hour for August to relocate the cavern he saw beneath the sea floor.

They entered through a hole in the ravine wall through which water flowed freely. As they followed it through its twists and turns and used openings that seemed impossible to traverse as doorways into less submerged areas, they arrived in a place where the water level reached no more than their ankles.

That was when August finally let go of his protections.

They were in quite a massive cavern. It was almost a kilometer long and tall enough for August to stack several clones of himself on top of one another over a thousand times.

It was filled with rocky formations at different levels of elevation, and beautiful stalactite and stalagmite formations made of materials unheard of in any environment that was not this one.

And, unlike its neighboring ravine, this cavern contained life. Small creatures that were at most palm-sized scurried across the floor, cautiously avoiding their first visitors in an eternity.

Everything about the cavern was interesting, but none of it came near what existed at its center.

That area was at the lowest elevation out of any part of the cavern and was only around twenty feet wide. There, a pedestal with a shining white crown inhabited the cavern, radiating an aura more majestic than any Holy Dragon.

It was an entwined aura of fate, authority, and responsibility; an aura that was impossible to understand unless one had worn the crown.

That…

"That's our end goal."

August spoke, breaking the silence that had enveloped their group.

It instantly became awkward. Whoever moved first would break the pact between them and start a war. None of them wanted to be that person, as that person was most likely to lose.

Luckily or unluckily, none of them would have to.

After all, it wasn't much of a competition at this point, was it?

In fact, there were many forces following from behind and waiting for someone else to locate the crown. The instant August's party succeeded…

BOOM!

…they broke the balance.

In that moment, the wall broke open and many people flooded the cavern. Raphael, Wilhelmm, Eris, and the rest of the geniuses from the heir wars along with their reinforcements arrived as one.

August didn't have time to wonder how they possibly arrived here. The path wasn't one that others could traverse easily, so they shouldn't have arrived so rapidly.

Unfortunately, whatever logic August could come up with didn't matter, as they were here regardless.

It happened before he could consider anything. His body moved on its own, making a dash for the crown.

Everyone else reacted instantly.

August's group split up. Each of them went and challenged opponents they saw as soon as possible to keep them away from August, and those like Iridia or the Ether Clan twins waited at the back to see how the situation unfolded.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Sounds of battle filled the cavern, but August didn't pay them any mind. His eyes and mind were entirely focused on that white light in front of him, the white light moving closer and closer to him with every passing second.

Sadly, the enemies were too many. His people couldn't hold them all back.

August's vision was covered by the figure of a man who arrived in front of him before he could react.

His eyes widened as he tried to stop his momentum, using pure mana to create a wall around him.

BOOOOM!

His mana collided with the enemy, creating a huge blast. However, like an immovable wall, he remained motionless.

"Raphael!" August yelled, gritting his teeth.

"Words are unnecessary. Fight me, August Void."

Raphael's eyes were cold. It was clear that he didn't care about the crown in the slightest. He wasn't here to impede August either.

He was just reckless and brutish. He was a selfish man who didn't care to consider others when he acted.

After his defeat during the heir wars, he was extremely angry. He understood that it was entirely his fault, but that only made him angrier.

Raphael developed a sort of obsession with August. That boy came from nowhere and exceeded his potential in every possible way. Against this unknown threat, Raphael wouldn't feel content until they fought.

Whether he won or lost, the result didn't matter. He just needed to experience August's abilities for himself.

That was what made him choose this moment, the soonest possible chance he had to satisfy his desire.

August glanced around in less than a second to see what the rest of the battle situation looked like.

'The big players aren't moving yet. Everyone else is occupied.'

People like Wilhelm and Eris were still standing on the backlines as if they were waiting for something.

August had no choice but to keep a part of his attention on them, but he also had no choice but to fight here.

'Then, as soon as possible.'

He was going to take Raphael down without giving the other genius a chance to fight back, and he was going to claim that crown.

Nobody, not even the Holy Dragons themselves, could stop him.