At the moment everything happened, Nick felt as though he were being crushed beneath an invisible pressure. The darkness hadn’t even reached him yet, but the weight alone was already so overwhelming that he could barely breathe.

Fortunately, the countdown finally reached zero, and he was safely transported out. Every wound and every ache vanished completely.

Only Silvanus...

Silvanus wasn’t beside him.

His system introduced him to the Artists’ Residential District as well as the Information Plaza.

The artists’ residences were private spaces that were almost completely empty when first assigned. The quality of life there depended entirely on how each artist chose to furnish and develop them.

Nick had also received credits and rewards for successfully escaping the previous dungeon. He had undergone his first ability awakening as well, officially shedding his status as a newcomer.

Yet none of it brought him any joy.

Outside, the plaza bustled with people coming and going, but most of them were wrapped up so thoroughly that not even a glimpse of their faces could be seen.

At the center stood a towering spire that seemed to pierce the clouds themselves before disappearing beyond everyone’s sight.

According to the system’s explanation, that was the territory of the Guilds. It was where important meetings were held, but for short-term collaborations... only artists ranked within the Top 100 were permitted to enter freely.

Those ranked lower could only gain entry with the sponsorship of a Top 100 artist, or by belonging to a Guild.

At the center of the plaza stood not only the tower, but also an enormous display board that updated the rankings every day: the permanent Top 100, the Top 100 Newcomers, a Credits Ranking that measured the artists’ wealth, and even a Fan Ranking.

The colossal electronic display radiated a distinctly futuristic atmosphere. Names flashed continuously across the screen in an endless loop, each enlarged in turn. Beside every name was the artist’s identifying portrait, ensuring that everyone could clearly see who was being displayed despite the board’s immense height.

Those at the top of the Fan Ranking were usually long-time viewers who spent extravagant amounts on gifts.

Whenever newcomers spotted them, they would do everything they could to curry favor. A casual wave of generosity from one of those viewers could earn enough credits to buy a whole pile of valuable items.

Nick’s gaze swept across each of the rankings before finally stopping on the Top 100 Newcomers list.

This was the ranking reserved for artists who had cleared fewer than their first three dungeons.

He could see Silvanus’s name ranked within the Top 50, while he himself was in the Top 80. It was a promising start for both of them.

But Silvanus...

Where was he?

...

Within the endless darkness, something seemed to be taking shape. The darkness twisted and surged like an intricate network of roots, rising without end.

Silvanus felt as though he were dreaming.

A strange dream.

He was floating upon the surface of the sea, gently carried by the waves, drifting endlessly with no shore in sight.

He wanted to move, but his body refused to obey his thoughts.

Just then, a towering tsunami appeared out of nowhere, crashing down and swallowing him whole in an instant.

The suffocating sensation of water flooding into his lungs sent a sharp pain through his body.

"Loop!"

"Gasp... Hah... Hah..."

Silvanus jolted awake from the nightmare, sitting bolt upright. He could feel something viscous clinging to him, as though it were trying to drag him back beneath the water’s surface.

Darkness surrounded him, preventing him from seeing what he looked like.

His entire body was covered in a thick, blackish-purple slime.

As he stood, the slime slid off him, leaving wet footprints across the ground before they were quickly swallowed back into the darkness.

His entire body was pitch black.

Yet the moment he stepped into the light, everything returned to normal.

With nothing more than a thought, the surging darkness flowed toward him, weaving itself into a jet-black outfit that wrapped around his body. The tailored trousers made his already long legs appear even longer. He casually rolled up the sleeves of his shirt before slowly making his way toward his throne.

Silvanus couldn’t help but remark, "This looks surprisingly real. But if you think about it another way... it feels like I’m still naked. This is just an illusion, isn’t it?"

He wondered aloud.

[...]

Seeing the three blue dots appear before his eyes, Silvanus smiled faintly.

"Well? How did I do?"

[You performed exceptionally well. Thanks to your willingness to take risks, the name Erebus has spread far and wide and has already attracted the attention of the Guilds, especially the factions devoted to other Gods. More importantly, you have begun to gather followers of your own.]

"So we must’ve gained quite a bit of energy then, right?"

[Indeed. However, all of it has been used to restore both your energy and the God Realm.]

Silvanus: "..."

"You know about investment and return, don’t you? Everything we invest now is so we can reap even greater rewards later," Silvanus said with a composed expression.

[I understand, my lord. You are always right.]

...Why does that respectful tone sound strangely sarcastic?

"So, how much longer until the God Realm can manifest again?"

He hadn’t expected summoning the God Realm into reality to cause such an enormous disturbance. However, the system’s next words reminded him that nothing came without a price.

[I’m afraid I must issue a warning, my lord. Until you can fully master the God Realm, you should refrain from releasing its power so freely. Otherwise, next time you won’t simply be swallowed as you were today. If you are consumed more deeply, you may never find your way back out.]

Silvanus recalled the swamp he had just crawled out of and fell silent.

[Furthermore, I advise that you remain within the God Realm for the time being. The injuries you sustained have caused severe instability throughout the God Realm, and its energy is currently in a highly volatile state. Also... I hope that next time, you will cherish your own life a little more.]

Silvanus: "..."

...Why does this thing sound like someone’s mother?

"Thank you for your concern," Silvanus said softly, his mind already racing.

If what it said was true, then he and the God Realm were connected. His injuries directly affected the God Realm...

Then what if the God Realm itself lost control?

It would swallow him.

And then what?

Silvanus couldn’t help growing curious.

But before the thought could fully take shape, another warning appeared.

[It would be best if you refrained from conducting any such experiments. If you lose control, you have no idea what horrors may follow.]

Silvanus: "...Okay."