Seated under a black tent, a young human lay on a brown rug made from beast skin.

Soft and pleasing to the eye.

A soft moan escaped from his throat as he bit into a fresh fruit that looked like an apple. The crisp flesh released sweet juice that instantly spread throughout his mouth.

He closed his eyes to enjoy the sweetness of the fruit. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to forget the endless schemes, battles, and responsibilities waiting for him.

A couple of feet from him was a small table filled with different fresh fruits.

Each exuding a pleasant fragrance. Their vibrant colors stood in sharp contrast to the endless sea of crimson sand surrounding the tent.

Behind him stood a figure covered in a black robe, holding a massive fan made from beast feathers.

Gently, the figure swung the fan up and down, creating a gentle breeze. Every movement was steady and unhurried, ensuring the cool air continuously drifted toward the young man.

The Crimson Dunes were a harsh and deadly desert for any living creature.

Yet, the human seemed to have turned the desert into his backyard, where he could relax as he pleased. Even the scorching heat outside the tent seemed unable to disturb his peaceful mood.

This alone proved this was no ordinary human.

His silver hair cascaded over his shoulders, and several strands fell naturally across his face, gently swaying with the cool breeze.

With his deep blue eyes, he looked both enchanting and manly. His handsome features carried a calm confidence that naturally drew attention.

If women were to see him right now, they wouldn’t hesitate to throw themselves at his feet.

Unfortunately, no woman had such an opportunity, as what lay as far as the eye could see was nothing but endless dunes shimmering beneath faint mirages.

Occasionally, waves of hot air distorted the horizon, creating the illusion of an endless sea.

Of course, he did not care whether he was seen by a woman. Right now, he was simply giving himself a pleasant treat.

And who could it be if not Thoren Starfall.

After defeating the Scorpion Army, he decided to relax for a couple of days before departing.

Although the battle seemed easy on the surface, the mental strain and deep concentration had still worn him out.

Finishing the fruit, he reached out and picked up a cup filled with bluish-looking wine. The liquid gently swirled inside the cup, releasing a rich fragrance that immediately filled the tent.

He took a sip of the wine and nodded with a pleased expression. The cool liquid slid down his throat, washing away the lingering dryness left behind by the desert heat.

"Huh..."

A deep breath escaped from his lips, filled with satisfaction. The refreshing taste lingered in his mouth, making him feel as though every muscle in his body had relaxed.

Returning the cup to the table, he rose to his feet and stretched his body.

Crack! Crack!

Various joints throughout his body produced crisp cracking sounds. The accumulated stiffness from the past several days instantly disappeared as his muscles gradually relaxed.

"This is better..." he whispered as he walked out of the tent, stepping barefoot onto the desert sand. The warm sand gently sank beneath his feet, while the cool desert breeze brushed against his face.

"If this place was not in the Abyss, it would have been a nice place for a vacation," he mumbled.

A faint smile appeared on his face as he admired the vast and tranquil landscape before him.

He stared at the three moons in the sky for a couple of minutes without blinking. Their crimson glow illuminated the endless dunes, giving the entire desert an otherworldly beauty.

It was as if he wanted to see through their secrets. The longer he stared, the more mysterious the three moons appeared, as though countless ancient mysteries were hidden within them.

Shaking his head, he returned beneath the tent.

He took his seat on the soft leather chair beside the rug and finally focused on the blinking notification at the corner of his retina.

For the past couple of days, he had muted the notifications to focus on his main objective. He did not want unnecessary distractions affecting his judgment during the war.

And now that he was free, he could finally see what all the notifications were about.

[Experience Gained: +1,200,000]

Looking at the massive amount of experience points did not come as a shock to him. If not for the Abyss halving his experience gain, it would have been twice this amount.

Still, he was pleased.

[Summoned Entities: Experience Gained +600,000]

[Level: 16 (1,248,130/109,000)]

[Level Up!]

[Unassigned Attribute Points +5]

[Level: 17 (1,139,130/129,000)]

[Unassigned Attribute Points +5]

[Level Up!]

[Level: 18 (1,010,130/154,000)]

[Unassigned Attribute Points +5]

[Level Up!]

[Level: 19 (856,130/200,000)]

[Unassigned Attribute Points +5]

[Level Up!]

[Level: 20 (656,130)]

[Congratulations! You’ve attained the maximum level. Please complete your trial mission to ascend to the next floor.]

[Spirit +50.38]

Looking at the series of level-up notifications, Thoren’s expression did not change.

However, when his eyes fell upon the huge increase in Spirit, a slow smile crept across his face.

Since ascending to the second floor, Spirit had been extremely difficult to gain.

Every fraction of a point required tremendous effort. Worse, spirit could only be earned when a beastman was killed, not from a mindless beast.

But from this war, he had earned a massive amount of Spirit.

The battlefield had not only strengthened his undead army but had also significantly accelerated his own growth.

He grinned for a couple of seconds.

"Now, I can focus on completing the trial..."

With the plan already in motion, he knew it was only a matter of time before he obtained what he needed. Everything had already been arranged, and the remaining pieces would naturally fall into place.

"I don’t need to keep the attribute points."

"I should assign them immediately."

He had long learned that unassigned attributes were meaningless if they remained unused. Only by converting them into strength could they truly become valuable.

"Where should I place them?"

He placed a finger on his chin.

[AN: This Chapter is sponsored by Scott_Berry_3382]