Onex followed the group. His black hair swaying in the wind and his red eyes glared at the group Infront of him. After being framed of treason against the Golden Empire, he was sentenced to help this group conquer the void.

  Currently, the group was walking through a mountain range. The mountains weren't high enough to have snow at their peaks, but it was still treacherous to climb. At least the temperature was just right and the sky was clear.

  It didn't take long for a tall gray tower to grow at a clearing. The tower was made of gray bricks and stood at the height of a 10-story building. Which didn't match the worlds architecture technology at all.

  The group soon reached the towers entrance; a thin mist extruded from the entrance. Just standing at the entrance sent chills up Onex spine. There were no light coming from the entrance, it was pitch black, like they were already at the void.

  The man who was their leader, who was named John Mercy, pulled out a lantern and lit it before walking in. The rest of the group followed behind him quickly. Onex reluctantly followed, the lantern illuminated the towers interior, stairs going up, and stairs going down. And the group walked down the stairs leading down.

  Darkness became thicker, the lantern's light became dimmer the further they walked down. The stairs felt like they were wrapping time, it felt like it's been days, when it's only been minutes. Some people even got nauseas from the travel down the stairs.

  Eventually they made it to the bottom. The tower has become smaller and closer the further they went down, and now right Infront of them was a single button. It extruded a mysterious and eerie air around it. But John did not hesitate to press it.

  As soon as the button was pressed, Onex heard a voice, a distorted and aged voice.

  Your leader has entered you and the rest of your group into the void. Your leader has become a Conquer.

  Onex wasn't sure what he heard. But he assumed that the other people in the group heard it. And he had no time to think about it, because a thick fog overed the entire bottom of the tower. Once it faded, they were no longer in the tower. But on an island.

  The island was floating in the void. It had no signs of life besides the group present. It had a few rocky natural towers and was lit by some distance objects that looked like shifting stars.

  After some time, some floating text appeared above the island. Onex assumed that it was there to give information on the new kingdom.

  [Mercy's Kingdom]

  [Land: 50 Miles]

  [Level: 1]

  [Population: 18]

  The people looked at the floating stats. John simply wrote them down on a piece of paper, as if he expected them. Onex didn't notice this before, but John was now wearing a crown.

  When did he get that?

  Onex wondered, he never saw John with a crown before now. Nor did he see John pull out a crown. So where did he get the crown?

  The only reasonable answer Onex could come up with is that John pulled the crown out when the fog covered the tower. Though, no other ideas came to mind.

  After everyone settled down, John instructed the people to use the tools they brought along to make shelters inside the rocky towers. The people nodded. Onex, didn't want to do it, but when he tried to refuse. The voice from earlier forced him to nod and grab a pickaxe and start carving out a shelter in one of the rocky towers.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  What's happening? Why can't I control my body?

  Onex wondered as his body was forcibly being moved to follow John's instructions.

  After what felt like days. Every more than 50% of the rocky tower had a shelter like place inside it. John praised the group for their hard work and told them that they have a long day tomorrow, because they were going to conquer person's land. Then he dismissed everyone, allowing them to enter one of the tower shelters for rest.

  Onex sat on a very uncomfortable rocky bed. Thinking to himself.

  I need to escape. But how? If John can control me because I am considered part of his "Kingdom". Then I need to leave his kingdom. But if he has control over me, how can I leave? Wait, maybe there's a range limit. If there's a range limit, then I should be able to escape. The text earlier said that he rules... 50 miles? So, I would have to leave the 50 miles of land he owns. But what if he expands, maybe if I conquer some land outside of his rule... Yeah, I'll try that.

  After thinking it over, Onex made a plan. He just needed to execute it.

  He waited until he was sure everyone was asleep, including John. Then he snuck out without waking any of the others in the rocky tower. He then began a light jog. 50 miles was a long way, and he had to travel that 50 miles before John could wake up. Since the average person slept for 8 hours, and at his current speed, it would take about 8 hours and 20 minutes.

  Because Onex could not control when people wake up, he had to hope that he could escape before John could wake up. It was a race against time.

  ...

  After what felt like forever. Onex made it to the edge of the island. His body sore, his breath uneven and rapid. He stared out into the abyss. John was going to wake up soon, or Onex assumed that he'd wake up soon. So, he takes a deep breath to calm his nerves and jumps into the void.

  As soon as he jumps into the void, it feels like he was being pulled by 20 elephants in 20 different directions. The darkness and silence didn't help either.

  He felt as if he was being torn apart, while a thousand people were laughing at him. It was absolutely madding. But it didn't last long once he crashed onto another island.

  Onex let out a sigh of relief, clutching his head. Vowing to never jump into the void again. Right as he stood up, he heard the void again.

  You have escaped Mercy's Kingdom.

  You have claimed unclaimed land.

  You have become a conquer.

  You have survived the "Fall of the Void" event.

  You have been gifted a crown for your feats.

  Onex listened to the voice list the details. He let out another sigh of relief once he realized his plan worked. Then he realized that it said something about a crown.

  So that's how John got that crown.

  Onex thought as something formed in his hand. It wasn't a crown, but a black mask with a red X carved on it. Text appeared next to it.

  [Mask of X]

  [Level: 0]

  [Key Abilities: Island Move, Conquer]

  [Unique Abilities: None}

  Onex looked at the mask and its stats for a few moments longer, than he put it on. He assumed with the two abilities the mask gave him were the ones to expand his nation. He looked up, expecting text to appear over the island like at John's island. But that did not happen.

  I see. I guess my "kingdom" is too small for it to have stats. I guess I'll have to conquer others.

  Onex thought as he looked back into the void. The stars were now dimmer than before, making the empty island he stood on even darker. He knew what he had to do, he had to travel through the void and conquer another more land and get more people.

  He let out a sigh as he sat down. He could still hear the imaginary laughter, but it was much quieter than the time he was falling through the void.

  Well, I guess I should get traveling.

  He thought while using the masks abilities to start moving the island.

  It wasn't very fast, Onex assumed that's because of the low level of the mask. But he wasn't concerned about the speed, his concern was about food and water. He hoped that whatever island he will conquer had the food and water.

  Onex slowly took off the mask to try to see better. But the silence and darkness became harder to withstand, and he was forced to put the mask back on.

  ...

  It didn't take a long time for another island to appear in the distance. In fact, Onex thought it would take longer. He smiled and looked towards the island; it was about the same size as John's island.

  He moved some hair away from the mask and spoke with a sigh.

  "Well then, this will be difficult doing this alone."