Dzeth looked at his team and smiled. "We did it! Come on, everyone, we've completed all the stages in Level 1. Let's move on to Level 2!"
Hwang raised his hand and sighed, "Let's rest first. I'm exhausted."
"Same, me too," added Akanza, leaning against the stone wall.
Dzeth nodded. "Hmm, alright then. You guys rest up. I'll go clear Level 2 along with your stages."
Syiro, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke with a slightly shy tone. "Can I join?"
Dzeth smiled. "Sure."
Without wasting time, the two of them stepped into the Level 2 portal. In front of them, four portals led to each stage.
"Let's start with the first stage," Dzeth suggested.
-
Level 2 - Stage 1
Dzeth and Syiro stood in a vast battlefield. Hundreds of armored Cursed Beings stood before them, their eyes glowing red with hatred.
Dzeth smirked. "Is this it? Rise... Void Paladin, absorb them into the Black Hole."
Within two seconds, the hundreds of Cursed Beings disappeared, sucked into an endless darkness.
"Let's move on to Stage 2," said Dzeth, completely unfazed.
Syiro swallowed hard. "That was… fast."
-
Level 2 - Stage 2
As soon as they arrived at the second battlefield, Dzeth prepared to summon Divine Summon, but something blocked his power. Before he could react, a Cursed Being lunged at him with incredible speed, ramming Dzeth so hard that he was sent flying.
"Dzeth!" Syiro screamed, his eyes wide with fear.
The Cursed Being stood proudly. "Weak!"
Syiro clenched his fists tightly. "Purgatory Hunter Technique…!"
He unleashed a fiery explosion that engulfed the entire battlefield up to the farthest walls. The Cursed Being's armor began to melt, but it remained standing strong.
"It worked..." Syiro whispered.
Suddenly, the Cursed Being raised its hand. "Worked? BloodBane Drain Arts!"
In an instant, its body regenerated. But before it could react
Crackkk!
Two daggers pierced through its back. Dzeth's Dimensional Dagger and Blood-Void Dagger stabbed straight into its core. The Cursed Being collapsed without a word.
"Let's get out of here," Dzeth said, pulling back his weapons.
-
Level 2 - Stage 3
When they arrived, they saw an intense battle between Hwang and a group of armored Cursed Beings.
Hwang wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I had to upgrade from Beast to… Entity Hunter Technique!"
He raised his hands toward the sky. "Entity Summon… Fenrir! Feel the power of this colossal wolf!"
The Cursed Beings trembled in fear. (This aura… it's not human, not a Cursed Being… Then what is it?)
Fenrir charged toward the Cursed Beings and pounced, shattering their armor to dust. Their blood soaked the ground before Fenrir devoured them entirely.
Suddenly, Fenrir turned its gaze toward Dzeth and Syiro. Its eyes glowed menacingly.
Syiro teared up. "We're going to die too…"
Dzeth placed a hand on Syiro's shoulder. "No need to be afraid. I have millions of Divine Soldiers."
But something unexpected happened. Fenrir rolled on the ground like a playful pet.
Dzeth and Syiro froze. "WHAT?!"
Hwang chuckled. "Oi Dzeth, Syiro, why are you so shocked?"
Fenrir looked more like a cat than a terrifying wolf. Hwang ordered it back to the Entity Realm, and Fenrir disappeared into his shadow.
"I'm heading to Stage 4," Dzeth said.
-
Level 2 - Stage 4
As soon as Dzeth stepped in, his eyes widened at the sight of a burning world. But the flames… they didn't belong to Akanza.
"Where did this fire come from?"
He walked forward and spotted a lone figure standing tall within the crimson glow.
"C-CRIMSON PALADIN?!" Dzeth was stunned. "How is he here?! He's a Grade S Cursed Being…"
Dzeth took a deep breath and resurrected Crimson Paladin from the dead. "Tell me, what awaits in Level 3?"
Crimson Paladin spoke weakly. "Master… what awaits you is… Hydro Paladin…"
Dzeth's eyes twitched. "Hydro? That's the one I fought before…"
-
Dzeth exited the portal and saw that Akanza had already completed Stage 4. Akanza looked exhausted.
"Are you okay?" Hwang asked.
"I'm fine..." Akanza replied, though his injuries were obvious.
Syiro placed his hand on Akanza. "Let me heal you with Purgatory Heal."
In an instant, Akanza's wounds vanished.
Dzeth took a deep breath. "Level 3 will be even more dangerous… Let's rest for now."
To be Continued…