The golden light illuminated half the sky.
Standing atop the mountain outside the Sea God Temple, Lin Chen stared toward the distant horizon of the Ancient Abyss Beast's shell.
The light was unlike anything he had seen before.
Even the Diamond Treasure Chest couldn't compare.
This was a Mythic Treasure Chest.
The highest treasure grade discovered since humanity entered the Island Survival Game.
And it was right here.
On the back of a continent-sized Ancient Beast.
A slow smile appeared on Lin Chen's face.
After everything he had experienced, he finally felt genuine excitement.
The Sea God Temple.
The inheritance fragments.
The mysterious Rank Two survivor.
The awakening of the Ancient Abyss Beast.
Everything seemed connected.
And the Mythic Chest was likely at the center of it all.
Without hesitation, Lin Chen left the mountain.
The Ocean Emperor's Trident appeared in his hand.
Blue lightning crackled around him.
His figure transformed into a streak of light as he moved across the vast forests.
The journey itself was dangerous.
Monsters roamed everywhere.
Ancient creatures wandered freely across the Ancient Beast's shell.
Some possessed levels exceeding seventy.
Others possessed strange abilities.
Yet none managed to stop him.
Hours passed.
The golden light grew brighter.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Then Abyss Sight suddenly activated.
Lin Chen stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
Another powerful energy signature.
Ahead.
Moving toward the same destination.
A communication request appeared.
Lin Chen accepted immediately.
[Unknown Survivor] : You're fast.
[Lin Chen] : You're slower than I expected.
Several seconds passed.
Then a reply arrived.
[Unknown Survivor] : Funny.
Lin Chen laughed.
The mysterious Rank Two survivor.
They were finally meeting again.
Not directly.
But close enough.
[Lin Chen] : Going after the chest?
[Unknown Survivor] : Obviously.
[Lin Chen] : Thought so.
Several moments passed.
Neither player seemed eager to reveal information.
Then another message appeared.
[Unknown Survivor] : Want some advice?
[Lin Chen] : Depends.
[Unknown Survivor] : Don't die.
Lin Chen blinked.
[Lin Chen] : Helpful.
[Unknown Survivor] : You're welcome.
The communication ended.
A moment later, the signal accelerated.
Whatever movement method Rank Two possessed was extraordinary.
Even Lin Chen felt impressed.
For the first time, he genuinely wanted to know who this mysterious player was.
...
Several hours later, the destination finally appeared.
The forest suddenly ended.
An enormous valley stretched before him.
Ancient cliffs surrounded the area.
Golden mist floated through the air.
At the center stood a giant stone platform.
And above it...
The Mythic Treasure Chest.
Lin Chen stopped moving.
For several seconds, he simply stared.
The chest was beautiful.
Golden crystal covered its surface.
Ancient runes floated around it.
Divine energy radiated in every direction.
Just standing nearby granted immense pressure.
Yet something immediately felt wrong.
The chest was unguarded.
No monsters.
No traps.
Nothing.
A Mythic Treasure Chest should never be this easy.
Lin Chen activated Abyss Sight.
Immediately, his expression changed.
A gigantic energy source rested beneath the platform.
Hidden.
Sleeping.
Waiting.
The guardian.
Of course.
The guardian was underground.
The moment Lin Chen stepped forward, the valley shook violently.
Cracks spread across the platform.
Golden mist exploded outward.
Then the earth split apart.
BOOOOOOM!!
A massive claw emerged.
Then another.
Then an enormous body.
The creature resembled a dragon.
Yet unlike the Black Sea Dragon, this one possessed golden scales.
Ancient runes covered its body.
Its wings blocked the sky.
Its eyes glowed like miniature suns.
A notification appeared.
Golden Heaven Dragon
Level: ???
Rank: Ancient Guardian
Guardian of the Mythic Treasure Chest
Lin Chen's pupils contracted.
Question marks.
Again.
The system couldn't identify its level.
Just like the Ancient Abyss Beast.
That meant only one thing.
The dragon belonged to the Ancient Rank.
The pressure was overwhelming.
The surrounding valley trembled.
Even the air became heavy.
The dragon slowly opened its eyes.
Its gaze landed directly on Lin Chen.
Then—
Another energy signature entered the valley.
A second player.
Lin Chen turned.
For the first time, he finally saw Rank Two.
A tall figure wearing black armor.
A silver spear rested in their hand.
Their face remained hidden beneath a mask.
The atmosphere became strange.
Two top-ranked survivors.
One Mythic Treasure Chest.
One Ancient Guardian.
Neither side spoke.
Neither side attacked.
The dragon looked between them.
Then a notification appeared before both players.
Special Event Triggered
Mythic Treasure Chest Challenge
Requirements:
Defeat the Guardian
Only one player may claim the treasure
The atmosphere immediately changed.
One player.
One chest.
That meant competition.
The masked survivor looked toward Lin Chen.
A communication request appeared.
Lin Chen accepted.
[Unknown Survivor] : Well.
[Lin Chen] : Well.
[Unknown Survivor] : This is awkward.
Lin Chen laughed.
[Lin Chen] : A little.
Several seconds passed.
Then the stranger continued.
[Unknown Survivor] : Temporary alliance?
Lin Chen considered the proposal.
The dragon was powerful.
Ancient Rank.
Fighting alone would be difficult.
Yet the reward could only belong to one player.
Still...
Surviving came first.
[Lin Chen] : Until the guardian dies.
[Unknown Survivor] : Agreed.
The communication ended.
A temporary alliance had formed.
For now.
...
The Golden Heaven Dragon moved.
The valley exploded.
Its wings unleashed storms.
Golden fire descended from the sky.
The battle began.
Lin Chen immediately attacked.
The Ocean Emperor's Trident erupted with power.
Massive waves rose from nowhere.
Lightning illuminated the valley.
At the same time, Rank Two moved.
The silver spear flashed.
Space itself seemed to distort.
The attack pierced directly into the dragon's side.
The guardian roared.
Its body surged forward.
Golden flames covered the battlefield.
The battle instantly reached an unimaginable level.
Mountains collapsed.
Forests disappeared.
Shockwaves spread across the Ancient Beast's shell.
For the first time since entering the game, Lin Chen fought alongside someone capable of matching his strength.
The coordination wasn't perfect.
Yet it worked surprisingly well.
Whenever the dragon targeted one player, the other attacked.
Whenever the dragon attempted to fly, both launched long-range attacks.
The battle continued for hours.
The valley became a wasteland.
Then—
The sky darkened.
A world announcement appeared.
World Announcement
Monster Tide Final Day Has Begun.
Final Bosses Are Awakening.
Survive if you can.
Silence followed.
Even the Golden Heaven Dragon paused briefly.
The final day.
The last stage of the Monster Tide.
And somehow, Lin Chen knew.
Everything was about to become much worse.
Much, much worse.
The Mythic Treasure Chest.
The Ancient Guardian.
The Final Day.
The Ancient Abyss Beast.
All the major events of the world were beginning to overlap.
The real climax had arrived.
Lin Chen tightened his grip on the Ocean Emperor's Trident.
Across from him, Rank Two lowered their silver spear.
Above them, the Golden Heaven Dragon roared.
The greatest battle since humanity entered the game had only just begun.