Ch. 511..520

Chapter 511

As Moranti reappeared within their strategy room, he waved his arm to open a rift. To the surprise of the gods present, Sterfen calmly walked through the rift, completely drenched. And behind Sterfen was the lifeless husk of the former Molten God.

They already knew that Sterfen wouldn’t have tagged along with Moranti without good reason, but such a fast outcome was more than startling. Witnessing the deep cut across Sterfen’s chest only made them more curious as Sterfen had returned soaked from head to toe, not helping such a serious injury.

Adding the corpse to the surprise was beyond jarring. Not only was that once the second strongest holy god and the fourth-strongest overall, but Naparn’s body was riddled with cuts, gashes, torn flesh, broken joints, and more.

While Lunara immediately threw her arms around Sterfen, Dragas and Guuro both started to use holy magic to heal the gaping wound.

Trying to find the right words, Jin was taken aback. "Sterfen... How did..."

"I caught him off guard," replied Sterfen, not avoiding an explanation. "Moranti clashed with Halmut and created the perfect distraction. During one of their clashes of vibrant energies, I used a spell scroll to carry Naparn away. It allowed me to cripple him early on and the rest of the fight was his struggle to survive. Also... I wasn’t about to let the man get off so easily for all the trouble he caused my family."

Everyone’s hearts felt a bit more at ease but it didn’t change the fact that Sterfen had killed the man currently regarded as the third strongest in the world, only behind Halmut and Moranti. It only added to the mystery that was Sterfen’s strength.

"You’re as reckless as ever..." Lunara mumbled, rubbing her hand across Sterfen’s newly-healed chest.

Chuckling, Sterfen leaned in to steal a quick kiss. "For you, this is the least I could do."

"Save the pillow talk for later," Jin laughed. "Sterfen, you’ve got to tell me more! How did you do it? And why are you soaked?"

"We fought over the remains of Kustram so I felt it would be best for us to fight underwater. That way his strength was greatly depleted," answered Sterfen.

"So you caught him with a surprise attack and forced him into his most unfavorable environment. Very calculated... Befitting of the man once regarded as the Assassin God," stated Eedaj, praising Sterfen with a smile.

Choron added, "As expected of my rival!"

Sterfen sighed and waved everyone’s comments away. "It’s only logical that I won. For now, let me rest. It’s not like I escaped unscathed, you know."

"Then allow me..." Lunara let her husband lean into her as they walked off.

"I’ve already looted him of his storage, wings, tail, and claws. Can you dispose of the rest, Moranti?"

Sterfen’s parting comment sent shivers down everyone’s spine. It went to show just how calculating and meticulous Sterfen could get both in and out of battle.

Moranti chuckled. While the others were in awe of Sterfen’s feat, Moranti covered the husk in a thick layer of spatial energy. He sensed something strange about the corpse, something that he hadn’t expected. The God of Space said nothing about his discovery to those present but hurried to eviscerate and decimate Naparn’s broken corpse until there was nothing left. Quite a simple task, given the corpse’s condition.

"I’ll take my leave next. There’s something I need to do. If you need me, you know how to reach me," Moranti stated, stepping out of the room with a casual wave.

Everyone else was still rattled. They had just discovered that the holy gods made their public appearance and were curious as to what would happen next. But when Moranti and Sterfen both agreed to crash the party, the others didn’t know what to think apart from letting them go. Since Moranti and Sterfen had both proven themselves to be the most capable of the neutral gods, how could the object?

"Eedaj, do you think it happened just as Sterfen said?" Jin asked, hoping the Mind God had the chance to sense otherwise.

Shrugging, Eedaj replied, "I have no clue. But it would make sense. That scenario sounds to be a perfect assassination attempt, which is Sterfen’s specialty. Given that Sterfen never leaves things to chance, it’s hard to imagine that his battle with Naparn happened any other way."

Unsatisfied with that answer, Jin leaned forward from his seat. Propping his head up with his arm, Jin shared a question with everyone, "How strong do you think Sterfen really is?"

"I have no clue. Not do I need to know, exactly," stated Eedaj. "Maybe a time will come that we’ll come to learn the truth but for now that information is unnecessary for us."

Dragas nodded, agreeing with Eedaj but still pondering Jin’s question at heart.

Guuro chimed in, asking, "And what about Halmut? He wouldn’t let us get away with that so easily, would he?"

Eedaj shook his head. "I doubt that. He may come here to collect the corpse or attempt some sort of revenge in the near future. But I highly doubt he will allow us to kill his strongest subordinate without facing any repercussions. However, it was a good move on Sterfen’s part to take Naparn out. Moranti is a decent deterrent against Halmut at the moment so dealing with Naparn now was a great move.

"What I wonder is how the corpse was so easily destroyed..." Eedaj added his final thought, catching the others off guard.

"What do you mean?" Jin asked.

Guuro answered, "You mean the remnant energy in Naparn’s body, right?"

Nodding, Eedaj replied, "We already know that after a god is killed there’s a vast amount of remnant energy left behind, so much that it takes a week for it to fade. Damaging a corpse is one thing but to destroy that energy as well is something incredibly difficult. Yet Moranti did it with ease moments ago."

Shifting their awe from Sterfen to Moranti, the other gods began to wonder just how powerful the lv. 97 dragon could be.

 

Chapter 512

Walking through the halls, Moranti couldn’t hide the small smile on his face. No matter how he imagined the scenario, Moranti struggled to figure out what truly took place.

Exiting that building and leaving for a different one within the restricted area, Moranti casually walked. He didn’t bother with teleportation, enjoying the stroll. Finally, Moranti reached his destination and knocked on the door.

’Come in.’

Hearing the telepathic greeting, Moranti moved to open the door. But it was locked. Sighing, Moranti teleported to the other side.

"Would you like some tea or anything to eat?" Lunara asked, welcoming their guest with a smile.

"I love a good meal after a good fight," Moranti replied with a smile.

The Water Goddess stood up and walked toward the kitchen. "Tonight, I’ll make my specialty. We need to celebrate!"

Seeing Lunara so energetic and lively, Moranti turned to Sterfen who was casually lounging on a sofa. But before Moranti could say a word, Sterfen spoke telepathically, ’Mind keeping this conversation between us?’

’Sure.’

’Let me guess, you want to know more about what happened with Naparn?’

Nodding, Moranti replied, ’And how you sapped his corpse of any energy.’

’Fair enough...’ Sterfen sighed. ’Where do you want me to start?’

’Mind telling me more about yourself?’

’There’s not much to say. I grew up poor and without anything remarkable. Once I was fifteen my dad told me to leave and get stronger. He did give me a few items and teach me a lot though, so it’s not like he wanted me gone. In hindsight, I’m grateful to how my father raised me,’ stated Sterfen. ’After that, it was just a matter of time to gather EXP and level up.’

’What country are you from?’ asked Moranti.

’I’m not sure... We were always moving around, never staying in one place.’

’Hmm... So, how strong are you, exactly? You didn’t mention to the others that Naparn was already in his hybrid form when you teleported him away. To take him down while he’s on guard, wouldn’t that mean you’re legitimately stronger than him?’ Moranti reasoned.

’Before I answer that, mind if I ask why you’re so curious?’

Moranti sighed, ’Well... If you could be him in such a one-sided fight, wouldn’t that mean you could fight me?’

’I don’t know about that..." Sterfen laughed, taking a moment to stop and smile. ’I still created a favorable situation by fighting him underwater. I may be stronger than most give me credit but that doesn’t mean I can beat Naparn so easily or take you on, Moranti.’

’Then explain to me how you left Naparn’s corpse in such a state. Please.’

’You mean his energy? I simply took it.’

Confused, Moranti smiled and eyed Sterfen. ’Took it? How’d you do that?’

’That’s not something I like to explain, but since it’s you I’ll make an exception,’ stated Sterfen. ’The easiest way to put it is this. I’m lucky enough to have found a particular item which allows me to steal latent immortal energy.’

’Such an item exists?’ Wide-eyed, Moranti struggled to believe such a thing.

Sterfen continued, ’I won’t show you the item or explain how it came into my possession. But yes, such an item exists. It’s very useful in speeding up the growth process during our time as gods.’

’Can that energy work like EXP?’

’Mhmm. For immortals, it works like that. But if a mortal tried it, they’d die due to the overload of energy.

Moranti nodded. ’That makes sense. But does that mean you gained a lot of EXP from killing Naparn?’

’Half of the EXP still went to Jack via our pact, but the pact can’t split immortal energy. So yeah, I got plenty of energy, enough to level up again.’

Curious, Moranti asked, ’Then what level are you now?’

’Sorry, that much I won’t say. Anyone with mind magic could figure that out from you if they were given the chance,’ replied Sterfen.

’You’ve always liked to play things close to your chest, haven’t you?’

Smiling, Sterfen nodded. ’I wouldn’t have them any other way.’

’Then mind answering one last question?’

’Depends on the question.’

’Who’s your father?’ questioned Moranti.

’Who knows?’ Sterfen shrugged, still smiling. ’All I know is that he was quite caring regardless of his struggle to show it. I only made it this far because I was raised well.’

"I hope you’re both hungry. There’s more than enough for everyone." Lunara reentered the central area carrying a few large pots and platters. Lina walked in behind her mother, also carrying two dishes.

"Well, how can I say no to that?" Moranti shouted in laughter.

"And there’s still more in the kitchen so don’t be shy," added Lunara.

Following her mother’s example, Lina set her dishes down and sat on the other side of Sterfen. She proudly looked up to her father, happy to know with certainty that her father was very strong, even among the gods.

Sterfen rubbed Lina’s head and asked, "So, how close are you to your next evolution?"

"I’m almost there! I’m lv. 56 now!"

"That’s amazing! You’re leveling up much faster than I did," admitted Sterfen, making sure to praise his daughter extensively.

"Really?!"

"Really... You’re leveling up quicker than both your father and me. But I guess your brother has something to do with that," added Lunara, using her tail to rub Lina’s back.

"Yup! Oh, is Big Bro back yet?" Lina asked.

Moranti spoke up this time, answering, "Not yet, Lina. He’s still traveling through the dungeon. But I’m sure he’ll be back sooner than expected."

"Well, considering all of the EXP we’ve given him, he may come back as a god," Sterfen chuckled.

"No kidding!" Moranti laughed as well, taking a moment to fill his plate with a variety of meaty dishes. "Kori and Lorwynn said Jack vanished without a problem. As for what he’s done in the lower levels, that’s something we can only ask about when he returns. I have no clue what he’ll try while in there."

"Whatever it is, I’m sure Jack found a way to rush the dungeon in record time. He isn’t called ’The Legend’ for nothing."

Chapter 513

"It should be around here somewhere..."

Jack mumbled to himself as he burrowed through the ground, a strategy that had doubled his speed. Currently, Jack was between floors fifty-nine and sixty. He was eagerly looking forward to finding the mini-boss on the sixtieth floor. Its poison was too valuable to pass up.

After collecting many poisons thus far, Jack was most proud of his sample of the Skulker Tarantula but that wouldn’t be for long given his next extraction subject.

Finally, Jack breached floor sixty. The hero poked his head out to examine and assess the situation.

The sixtieth floor seemed to be a jungle of sorts. It was swampy but filled with trees and a variety of dull colors. Occasionally, Jack would see hints of vibrant red or bright yellow. Those were the perfect warnings for Jack to steer clear of that area.

Like most floors, Jack tried to keep to the ceiling whenever possible to avoid any direct contact with the floor’s usual inhabitants. This helped make things go more smoothly when he wanted to seek out his target.

Though he was high up, Jack could find moving plants every now and then. On the sixtieth floor, it was the plant life that ruled, not the typical wildlife.

Lucky for Jack, his target was easy to find. Unlucky for Jack, the target was massive and extremely lively. He kept a close on it while making sure that there weren’t too many wild plants around to aid the mini-boss.

The Living Nightshade was constantly moving, albeit slowly. Apart from the bright yellow petals of its flowers, the shiny black berries those petals housed were tempting to the eye. Hidden within the large flat leaves of the hulking plant were more green bulbs that acted as mouths to swallow prey whole.

Jack watched the Living Nightshade tempt and coax a Giant Boar. The beast was chomping down on a different, less-significant plant when it found the behemoth plant showing off its berries.

A few moments passed as the boar took its time to decide whether it was worth trying. In the end, the Giant Boar couldn’t help itself.

The beast sauntered up to the nearest bulb of yellow petals and tore the large, black berry from its nook. A moment of satisfaction and bliss washed over the boar as it savored the berry’s robust flavor. It guzzled down the berry and rushed to the next one. But that feeling of bliss faded before the boar could reach the next berry. The boar dropped to the jungle floor, spasming for a moment before growing still.

As soon as the boar became motionless, the nearest pair of green, bulbous mouths crept toward the beast. Both mouths opened wide, latching onto one of the boars many limbs. Then, they twisted and tore the boar in half, guzzling the beast down its green gullet.

The sight wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t satisfying to watch. Jack took some deep breaths in order to keep his mind clear and his heart calm.

Now that the Living Nightshade was distracted, Jack took action.

For a single moment, Jack activated Bowzer’s and Phoro’s bloodlines to race around the Living Nightshade and create a wall of terrifying flames. Now, no other plants could interfere and the Living Nightshade couldn’t escape so easily.

Then, Jack kept only Phoro’s bloodline active so that he could fly invisibly.

Frantic, the Living Nightshade hissed as the encirclement of fire kept it on edge. It could sense that danger was only moments away.

Jack took advantage of the plant’s frantic movements. He plucked and stored a few of those large, blackberries, each as large as his head. Also, Jack sliced and stored a few of the leaves.

However, Jack didn’t dare get near those bulbous mouths. All Jack wanted were samples carrying the plant’s toxins, not to face the threatening plant.

Once he felt he had enough, Jack rocketed away. Being invisible combined with that transformation’s raw speed and the ring of fire around the Living Nightshade, Jack rushed out of harm’s way and returned to his tunnel strategy to clear the floor.

While the plant life above was trying its best to deal with the black and white flames, Jack was glancing at his system and his owns stats. Now, for some unknown reason, Jack was much faster than he had been before entering the sixtieth floor. Though Jack had waited for some time for the best moment to act, that had nothing to do with the sudden increase in speed and strength.

When Jack opened the system while burrowing, Jack was astounded to find the cause. He had again experienced a sudden jump in levels. It was unexpected but appreciated to the highest degree. Jack was eager to ask about everything that he had missed while he traversed Earthen Keep because, clearly, Jack had missed out on some battles that could only be labeled as godly. Nothing else could offer Jack such boosts of EXP.

Now at the peak of lv. 88, Jack was more excited than ever to find his tomb and clear the world’s largest dungeon.

That led to Jack remembering the boss of the dungeon, the only true hundred-man boss in all "A Hero’s Tale". And here he was trying to clear it alone, without the ability to rely on attack patterns to whittle the boss down. To top it all off, the boss would now be lv. 89.

Just imagining such an encounter made Jack question how it could be possible. The hero didn’t doubt Daruun’s promise but it was completely clueless as to how such a promise would play out. The only thing that could likely face such a powerful, renowned foe would be a god. Some people across the many servers would even argue that facing Crypt Lord Duorda was more difficult than some of the battles against gods.

Killing the crypt lord wasn’t the reason for that. It was keeping the crypt lord down for the count that was difficult, as the crypt lord would slowly regenerate his health from all the damage he dealt to his challengers. That was the terrifying ability that made Crypt Lord Duorda the only hundred-man boss and the strongest boss in-game, alongside the gods themselves.

 

Chapter 514

"I appreciate the hearty meal, but I should get going."

"You don’t want dessert?" Lunara asked. "I’d offer it now but we had to remake the cakes after Lina overcooked the first batch."

Moranti put his hands up with a smile. "No thanks, I’ve got one last thing to do before I hit the hay. And thanks for the chat, Sterfen."

"Anytime."

Sterfen, Lunara, and Lina walked Moranti to the courtyard door. They waved goodnight before Lunara closed the door and dragged her very willing husband to their bedroom, casting silence before even locking the door. Lina cleaned up after the meal, finishing the few remains and making sure to not burn the cakes her mother helped her bake.

While they were making themselves busy, Moranti strolled through the night. He took his time enjoying the sight of the moon standing within the clear night sky. Moranti finally let out a sigh and placed his hand over his shoulder.

Even after hiding it under his cloak, Moranti couldn’t ignore his injuries forever. How he envied Halmut and the Sun Dragons, at the very least for their natural regenerative abilities.

After taking a moment to ponder and think, Moranti changed his course and gave in. The God of Space then teleported away, not wanting anyone to see where he was headed next.

In a blink of spatial energy, Moranti reappeared within a secluded courtyard. It was exactly like his own or Sterfen’s but with different decorations. Plantlife was everywhere. Different shades of green, yellow, red, and every color of the rainbow could be found in that single space. But Moranti didn’t find who he was looking for. At least not yet.

As Moranti explored and examined the many types of fauna and flora about the courtyard, it took only a few minutes for the master of the house to appear with a towel over her head.

"Moranti?"

"Dragas... Sorry to catch you at a bad time..." Moranti chuckled, turning away slightly from the bare beauty.

"Oh? Don’t tell me you’ve never seen anything like this before?" Dragas joked, fixing the towel on her head while stepping further into the courtyard.

Still chuckling, Moranti glanced back at Dragas with a smile. "Just trying to consider your feelings. Since you don’t mind, I’ll get to the point."

Moranti reached for his outer robe and stored it away. Then, he took a moment to untie the sash between his shirt and pants that worked as a belt.

"Just because I’m not hiding anything doesn’t mean I’m that easy..." Dragas eyed the God of Space, trying to figure out what was going on. But her tone changed as Moranti’s shirt was removed, leaving his pants on. "That... Is that from Halmut?"

"Yeah... I’d rather not worry anyone. Sorry for teleporting in uninvited."

"Lay down..." Dragas pointed to her usual lounging area, letting Moranti make himself comfortable. "This will stay between us, but you’ll owe me."

"Thanks! I’m in your care." Smiling softly, Moranti laid across the strange plant turned recliner. Oddly enough, it truly felt like sitting on a soft, warm cloud.

Dragas retrieved a bathrobe and covered herself before standing over her surprise guest. Her eyes were in shock at the unique burns and scars across Moranti’s shoulders. "What kind of attacks were you two using to cause this?"

"Halmut would be in even worse shape if he wasn’t a Sun Dragon. It’s so unfair when I deal more damage but he just heals himself after every attack," complained Moranti, showing some of his more childish side instead of mimicking Dragas’s serious tone.

"Well, I need to know if you want me to heal it properly..."

"It’s a combo of Halmut’s five elements. He’ll mix them into his breath attack and his weapon."

"Five elements in one... That’s crazy!" Dragas shouted, casting silence.

"What’s that for?" Moranti asked.

Dragas showed an awkward smile. "So no one else will hear your screams..."

Her hand reached down to feel the strange charr that existed along the edge of each cut. Even the tiniest of scratches were covered in that pained scar tissue.

"I’m not-- Aaaah..."

Dragas shook her head. "There’s no need to act tough right now. Your wounds are the worst I’ve ever seen and can’t be healed easily. Something like this will take time and daily treatment, even for me."

"Then... Does that mean I’m welcome back tomorrow?"

"Yeah, of course."

His smile returned as Moranti asked, "And do you always bathe at this time of night?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Just trying to figure out the best time to arrive. That way my body can get healed along with my heart."

Dragas burst into laughter. "Sounds to me like you just want to see me naked."

"Would you believe me if I said otherwise?"

"No, I wouldn’t. Then, I’ll expect you at the same time every night. And don’t miss a day or your body will regret it," Dragas answered.

"If it’s like this every night, then so will my heart-- AAAAaahhh..."

"Shhh... I need to massage holy and nature deep into your wounds. No need to talk."

"Still, You’re quite-- AAAAAAAHHH!"

"Shhh..." Dragas smiled, enjoying herself and the company of her now-frequent guest.

*****

"Come in," Vixus stated, glancing up from paperwork to see a few figures enter the room. "Oh! Forgive me, I didn’t know it was--"

"No need for that, Vixus. We need to discuss the upcoming conference with Churstin," Choron stated.

"Yes, let’s. I assume you’ve got a date prepared now?"

"In four days The king of Churstin will meet us at the border outside of Churstin Canyon. They’re already building us a makeshift meeting hall, one open to the sky and public seats," stated Choron.

"So they want to keep things public at all costs? This would keep us from taking advantage of them should we want to protect our public image," Eedaj deduced. "Also, it means they don’t mind our conference to be a spectacle. Do you know why that is?"

"I’m unsure but I have a lead that shared a theory. They may have contacted someone from Federal City to invite the other gods."

"Then they don’t mind looking into other options... This will be much more difficult than..." Vixus sighed.

"Halmut will come, but Rikko help too!"

Eedaj chuckled, "Rikko, you’re not one for public speaking, so I’m not sure how you’ll--"

"Rikko ready to act and steal. If Rikko get something good, Rikko trade back to keep Halmut away," stated the Goblin God, sure of himself. "Rikko lv. 92 now, so Rikko faster."

"Just don’t do anything without our okay first. Promise me that, Rikko."

Looking to Eedaj, Rikko replied with a frown, "Fiiine... Rikko promise."

 

Chapter 515

While Federal City was experiencing its greatest festival in centuries to celebrate the return of their gods, those gods had returned to Olympic Chateau. There, they sat around their viewing table while Halmut sat at the head. He kept shouting into a contact crystal but never received an answer.

"Then... there’s only one thing to assume... Naparn has been killed."

Halmut’s cold tone pierced the hearts of those around him. He continued, "Curse you, Naparn! How dare you be so weak as to die to that assassin while in your hybrid form!"

"Your excellency... Might I say something?"

Nodding slowly, Halmut replied, "Of course... you may speak, Lyrun."

"Thank you." Lyrun stood up from his seat and gathered everyone’s attention. "I don’t think Naparn’s death is so much about Naparn’s failure to defend himself. I think this is at least partially due to Sterfen’s mysteriousness. We know too little about him. Without any proper knowledge of his level, abilities, or origin it’s incredibly difficult to plan against him or his possible attacks."

"Then what do you suggest we do?" asked Halmut.

"Should we get the chance, we need to learn about Sterfen, that’s should be one of our top priorities. Now that Oosam has joined us, we should be able to learn something if we can capture one of them."

Putting his hand up, Oosam stated, "I may have some abilities with mind magic but that doesn’t mean I’m as talented as Eedaj. Extracting thoughts from an unwilling god would be tiresome and time-consuming for me."

Turning to face Oosam, Halmut questioned, "But it would be possible under those two conditions, correct?"

Before Oosam replied he held his breath and chose his words carefully. "It wouldn’t be impossible. But I can’t guarantee any results, especially not immediately."

"So we need to capture one of them again, that’s doable," added Halmut, nodding.

Lyrun continued, "Aside from that, what comes next is a land grab. Churstin will be meeting with the Leisure Guild in four days to discuss their possible submission to Trodar. But after their intel learned our reappearance, they reached out to their connections here in Federal City. We should accept their invitation and join the conference."

"I’ll go alone."

"Your excellency, I think--"

"I don’t like the thought of anyone else being subject to Moranti’s or Sterfen’s madness. Not yet at least," Halmut stated. "You’ll all remain here for the time being. The only exception will be Kylon, who will return to the depths."

"Your excellency, can I know the reason for my leave of Olympic Chateau?" asked Kylon. "Wouldn’t this be the safest place?"

"This place is the easiest for me to enter instantly, so, in a sense, it’s the safest place. However, should Moranti enter this place along with Sterfen, they could probably manage to kill one of you during my arrival. I’ll be sure to resurrect any who fall for such a ploy but that wouldn’t stop them from stealing the key," Halmut explained. "That’s why you’ll make an immediate return to Kustram.

"As for the others, I need you all to select the finest warriors we have. Torian, Grixor, you two have my permission to aid in ascension. However, should you attempt to raise your levels beyond lv. 98, then I’ll be forced to activate your contracts."

"Your excellency, isn’t that quite a radical tactic to use?" Lyrun asked, surprised like the rest of the gods.

"I’m sure that Kori has already ascended once again. Though he’ll be lv. 90, that’s still another god to their side. And we can forget the high-leveled traitors that should also be gods by now. If we don’t increase our numbers now, we won’t have time to rethink our strategy or make such preparations," Halmut reasoned, again surprising the gods around him. "Lyrun, you’ll also be permitted to aid in ascendance. I want you at lv. 97, is that clear?"

"Yes... your excellency." The Elf God bowed, accepting the order.

The Sun God looked around at some of the disappointed faces, mentioning, "There are some of you that I would like to be stronger but I don’t yet trust you enough for such a thing. Prove to me how you handle your territories and deal with Trodar’s influence there. If you prove successful, then we’ll discuss your future growth."

"Then what about me?"

"Kylon... I want you to select up to two warriors. At lv. 96 you’ll be able to defend the key properly while you’re deep below the water. Moranti would be restricted underwater, as would Sterfen. Only Lunara can compete with you down there but your magic already surpasses her, and at lv. 96 she wouldn’t compare with you."

"Very well... Thank you, your excellency."

"May I?"

Looking to the side, Halmut smiled, expecting nothing less. "Go ahead, Tralbok."

Lyrun sat down as Tralbok stood up, asking, "What am I lacking in order to prove my allegiance?"

"Hmm... A good question..." Leaning back in his chair, Halmut took a moment to think.

Tralbok continued, "I’ve already led my fellow chaotic gods to gather under your banner, your excellency. Also, I’ve proven to be an undeniable asset in healing and countering Sterfen’s abilities. Without me, any of his targets would be unrevivable, even for your excellency. I’ve even killed your traitorous former champion in the past. What is it that I must do now to prove worthy of your trust?"

"A good question indeed... I’ll allow you to aid a single person in ascendance. Will that suffice? That should prove that even you former chaotic gods will have the opportunity after demonstrating loyalty to me."

"Thank you very much, your excellency!"

As Tralbok bowed, the other chaotic gods felt a bit better. Oosam was the only former chaotic god that rolled his eyes, not being a fan of Tralbok’s constant butt-kissing.

"Then it’s settled," Halmut continued, "Lyrun will be placed in charge of constructing my temples, leaving you to handle your own temples within your territories and the shrine for Federal City. We’ll remember Naparn’s fall as something foolish he brought on himself for constantly meddling where he shouldn’t have.

"Remember that. I don’t mind you having animosity toward our enemy but you should never act in a way that brings the temptation of doom. Naparn was lucky to not be reprimanded for his handling of Kori’s execution, let alone for not chasing after Sterfen and Lunara during the war. He created a grudge but didn’t act while he had the opportunity to kill off the threat. That’s a lesson to be learned."

"Yes, your excellency!" all the gods shouted in unison.

"Then, allow me to rest awhile. Should you need me, make sure it’s urgent. If not, ask Lyrun for his opinion," Halmut added, casually yawning and reverting to his bestial form as he exited the conference room.

 

Chapter 516

The following three days passed by easily. Too easily for the likes of the now-termed "Leisure Gods".

On the second day, they met briefly to discuss why Halmut had yet to act out in regards to Naparn’s death. It didn’t last for long but they all agreed that Halmut was up to something. At the very least, they knew that Halmut would be more cautious than ever after the loss of his strongest subordinate.

Everything else was simply routine for them. They each handled their own business while the Leisure Guild began constructing several temples across Gilga. But they weren’t the only ones.

All of Kartonia had heard rumors of Halmut’s return with the former holy gods, accepting their new name as the new "Legendary Gods". Along with those rumors were hints of temples beginning construction within Federal City.

With such news, many nations went out of their way to rebuild or fix the former temples and shrines that once existed to honor those returning gods. Though most of the respective gods hadn’t appeared in their territories yet, each nation was eager to receive their former protectors with great glory.

Churstin was one of the few that hadn’t fixed their former temple. They understood that doing so would prove allegiance to the leisure gods and outcast them from the more globally-respected legendary gods.

On the fourth day, the giant, open-aired amphitheater had already been finished. Anyone and everyone that was able to attend locally had either found a seat or were in line to get one.

The vast stage in the center had a few rows of tables and luxurious chairs. Three distinct sides were noticeable and one was noticeably less luxurious than the other two. Oddly enough, it was Churstin’s table that was the least luxurious as they didn’t wish to offend a god on either of the other sides.

As the sun rose through the sky, noon soon passed. Now, each seat was taken and the remaining people in line took out blankets or chairs to gather outside the amphitheater.

But no one came out just yet. Only after the noonday sun began its descent did a loud gong sound out.

All eyes fell to the stage below. Finally, they witnessed a handful of people step out. That group was dress well yet comfortably. They took their time to reach their table, draped in the green and gold Churstin Flag.

Everyone began searching for the next group to come out but found no one. Then, some began to shout while pointing to the sky.

There was a small blip in the distance. However, only seconds after the blip was spotted, it became a fifty-meter purple dragon that took everyone’s breath away. The wind caused by Moranti’s sudden halt almost pushed the crowd out of their seats. His simple entrance was awe-inspiring and heart rattling, especially for the king of Churstin below.

Moranti then assumed his human form and the three men on Moranti’s back floated down to the ground along with Moranti.

As the four men assumed their seats, the king of Churstin stood with a friendly smile. "Thank you for coming. We’re excited to meet with so many deities. Your presence is a blessing to have here in Churstin."

They all nodded and smiled. Moranti, Eedaj, and Choron said nothing, allowing Vixus to take the lead. Each of them found their seats easily, looking over the new Trodan flag. The design was simple, as if it was created on the spot without much thought. Faint purple with silver trim, the flag had the Leisure Guild’s insignia at the center, a silver helmet with an array of diverse weapons spread out in a circle around the helmet. It wasn’t the most eye-catching emblem but it had a great history and was recognizable across the continent.

No one said anything more. The king and his fellow representatives of Churstin resumed their seats while they all waited for the arrival of the third and final party.

Almost an hour later, Moranti finally looked up to the sky and rolled his eyes, as did Eedaj.

A few seconds later, a giant pillar of light fell upon the amphitheater. The entire audience basked in its light while embracing its unconditional warmth wholeheartedly.

"Sorry I’m late..." Halmut’s voice echoed as the clouds parted further to reveal his unfathomably large draconic form.

The king of Churstin wanted to graciously accept Halmut’s tardiness but Mornati shouted, "Hurry down you show off! If this was about who’s ego is the largest, I wouldn’t have dared to show up!"

Halmut didn’t respond to the God of Space, ignoring the comment while assuming his human form and descending to greet the mortal king wearing an awkward expression. "Thank you for inviting me and considering our protection over what they have to offer. I’ll be representing all of my fellow legendary gods today."

"What? They won’t fit in the amphitheater next to your big head?"

Turning to Moranti, Halmut shook his head and smiled. "Though I’m late, at least I’m not wasting my breath spewing nonsense. Will you let us begin this discussion or are you more childish than I assumed?"

"Don’t doubt my childishness! If a man can’t laugh at himself then he’s not a man at all. He’s just a big-headed egomaniac on the verge of self-destruction," Mornati added with a smile. "But I don’t have to tell you that. You’re the prime example, after all."

"P-please, let’s get down to business!" the king spoke up, not wanting either side to break out in a fight. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. I’m Brobit Kramul and I have the privilege of being the current king of Churstin. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet with you all here today. First, please allow me to apologize to the Leisure Guild for inviting another party into our discussion. I--"

"If I were in your shoes then I would’ve done the same thing. It only proves that you want what’s best for your kingdom and are looking into both viable options clearly," Vixus stated, wearing a warm smile. "That’s an ideology that I can appreciate, so know that we hold no grudge over the matter."

"Thank you, Master Vixus!" King Brobit bowed his head, grateful to know that. "Second, allow me to apologize to you, Halmut. How do you wish that I address your excellency?"

"That greeting will do fine," Halmut smiled as well, waving the king’s discomfort away.

"Just call me Moranti! This is Eedaj and that’s Choron. No need for honorifics with us. Got it, Brobit?"

"Y-yes, your-- Yes, Moranti." The king was humbled to be on a first-name basis with deities, especially one of Moranti’s caliber.

 

Chapter 517

"Then, allow me to begin the discussion," stated King Brobit. "First, I feel we should discuss the benefits of alignment with either party. Would you agree?"

Nodding, Moranti replied, "Mhm, sounds logical to me."

"I also find the topic fitting," added Halmut.

The king nodded and motioned toward Moranti. "As the party to first inquire about our possible allegiance, would you mind going first?"

Vixus stood up and spoke with a casual smile, "Of course. Allow me.

"I’ll be honest. I think both sides will offer great benefits that would allow for Churstin to prosper, for the most part. What truly matters, in my opinion, is how comfortable you would feel working with either us or Halmut. It the small things that will make you either appreciate your in time or lead to causing you great regret," reasoned Vixus, letting his eyes wander from the king to the crowd.

Vixus continued, "If nothing else, I’m confident that you would be most comfortable with joining our cause rather than Halmut’s. We don’t ask for much. What we ask is that Churstin keeps its name and simply falls under the greater banner that is Trodar, a united front currently made up of four territories and independent states. Should a need arise to unite militarily then we’ll ask for your participation in defending your homeland, alongside our added forces.

"Also, keep in mind that we have a trading pact with the elves. Allying with us would mean receiving elven goods," added Vixus, getting looks of surprise from the crowd. "We would pay for the construction of a Leisure Guild compound, or a few should you desire them. Through those compounds, you’ll receive elven goods made by either the elves of Korten or the elves living within Gilga. And with those compounds comes the protection of the guild."

Brobit nodded, asking, "And how would our government’s structure change if we joined Trodar?"

"Hardly at all. Having a king is fine, but we ask that the king be the head of an elected council where his vote reigns supreme while also can be outvoted should the majority of the other representatives find a policy or plan inappropriate," Vixus answered.

While the crowd was pleased to hear such a thing, the king smiled.

Seeing the king’s smile, Vixus mentioned, "By having such a structure in place will allow you and your family to remain in power, for the most part keeping the structure of Churstin intact. But it will also alleviate you of some of the unnecessary stresses of being the sole ruler. Some of your worries will be divided up for others to bear as well."

"And... What about the many gods within Trodar? Would they..."

"They prefer to reside--"

"We don’t mind visiting or staying outside of Gilga for a time, but we like to stick together within the guild’s main property," stated Moranti, answering in Vixus’s place. "I can teleport us anywhere within the continent, so we can arrive anywhere in Trodar before you can blink. If you get invaded while we’re away, just say the word and we’d be there in a flash."

The king was about to say more but Moranti was no longer lounging behind the table. At the same time, a hand landed on the king’s shoulder, getting him to turn in awe.

"Would you trust the God of Space to transport us gods wherever we’re needed?"

Speechless, Brobit sighed and chuckled at the same time. After a second of hesitation, Brobit nodded.

Moranti nodded as well while teleporting back to his seat. "Besides, I doubt that arrogant fool would agree to house his subordinate gods anywhere far from him. Or am I wrong, Halmut?"

"You’re wrong, but not by much. I’ll admit that," stated Halmut. "I’m not saying that stationing a god in Churstin is impossible, but it wouldn’t be available immediately. But our divine forces are superior to those of the leisure gods anyway. In terms of level, Moranti is the only high-leveled god they have. Sterfen would be second after him but after that, they’re all low-leveled and focus on things outside of battle. They can’t compare to the strength we wield."

"If that’s the case, why not roll over Trodar? What’s stopping you?" Moranti asked.

"I wouldn’t want to drag down the lives of so many innocents."

"True, true... After the last godly war you already killed enough innocents to drag you to hell in the afterlife, even as a god..." Moranti added, not letting the past be forgotten.

King Brobit nodded slightly. As the king of Churstin, he was well versed in the nation’s history. Brobit knew that Churstin was originally a part of Trodar but immediately rose after the Godly War after the land was ravaged by the holy and chaotic armies. There wasn’t even a nation leftover at the time. Brobit’s ancestors had to start everything from scratch to create a new country without help.

Some in the crowd knew the truth as well. But hearing Halmut’s words directly while feeling the charismatic aura around the Sun God made it difficult for any mortal to disagree with him.

"The past is behind us and Skaryn is no more, so such a farce won’t happen again. A time will come when we war again, but it will be between the leisure gods and us legendary gods. And even without a god stationed here. I can offer better mortal defenses. I’m sure everyone present knows of the many dragons under my command..."

The king stammered, "You... Your excellency, are you saying--"

"Yes. I’ll station numerous dragons within Churstin so that your borders will be secure. Also, such strength could allow you to invade Trodar while keeping an advantage when the time comes," Halmut stated. "Would you rather be protected by us dragons or targeted by us dragons? That’s one of the things that should be taken into account while you’re deciding. War won’t happen immediately but it will come eventually."

King Brobit and the other Churstin representatives beside him were left without anything to say. They didn’t want war at all, let alone participate in another godly war.

 

Chapter 518

"That sounds more like a threat than an argument." Moranti squinted and shook his head. "Are you that desperate already?"

Halmut didn’t respond to the God of Space. Instead, Halmut continued speaking to the king, "I’d rather we not become enemies, Brobit. I wish that we can ally together and eventually free the world of the scourge that is the Leisure Gods. During the war of the past, did they do anything to protect Trodar or their followers? No. They abandoned everyone and hid themselves from history until now.

"If you want to mention track records, I’ve proven myself capable of winning a war among gods. All you have to your name are failing gods that hid among the cowards which refused to save their own people," Halmut reasoned. "Tell me how you’re more qualified to protect them? Go on, I’d love to hear it."

Vixus kept his calm smile showing, despite his rush to gather an argument. Eedaj scanned over Halmut, searching for the best counterargument. Choron was silent but kept his sharp gaze fixated on the Sun God. And Moranti sighed while shaking his head.

Everyone else present was too curious. They were on the edge of their seats in anticipation to hear the response of the leisure gods.

*****

Sitting in pitch-black darkness, Jack sat cross-legged. He had already spent ten minutes in thought but struggled to come up with something.

His dungeoning speed was too fast. Jack’s digging tactic proved too successful. At first, Jack was able to pass five floors a day with his minokawa form. But by utilizing his centipede form and minokawa form together he had doubled that, passing ten floors a day.

This was incredibly useful, allowing Jack to reach the ninety-eighth floor in a time that would leave speedrunners in a heart attack. However, there was a single downside to that. That gave Jack less time to ponder his strategy for the ninety-ninth floor.

The ninety-ninth floor’s design wasn’t anything special but it was still the most intimidating. It was the smallest of all the floors with only a single monster living there. Also, there was a vast staircase carved into the ground of floor ninety-eight yet no mobs of that floor dared to go near it.

Jack was currently sitting on the steps leading to the ninety-ninth floor. All that remained was descending and getting past Duorda.

But doing that wouldn’t be so simple. To find the tomb regularly, Jack would need to use the chant and ritual to let his poorly crafted ring guide him. Such a tactic would get Jack caught by the crypt lord. Sneaking down while invisible was an option as well, but there was no telling how Jack would find the tomb otherwise or allow its entrance to appear.

The thought of whittling down the crypt lord no longer made sense to Jack. Now that they would be fighting in real life, there was no telling what Duorda would do or if Jack could kill him on the first try. Such a strategy relied on the ability to respawn and try again, something that Jack no longer had.

Nothing he thought of made sense. Jack couldn’t come up with a logical plan to guarantee his success on a single attempt. But the promise Daruun made was clear in his mind.

"... I can guarantee you that there is a way and it will make itself known, given who you are..."

With that phrase replaying over and over in his head, Jack heaved one last sigh before beginning his descent down the seemingly endless stairs.

The hero didn’t rush, moving as quickly as possible while remaining silent in his human form. He didn’t dare to underestimate the greatest boss’s ability to sense an incoming foe.

After a few minutes of hurrying down the steps, Jack finally saw the bottom. In total, Jack spent almost fifteen minutes running down the stairs to reach the ninety-ninth floor. And when Jack arrived, he was left with a slack jaw and eyes wide open. He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Items, weapons, scrolls, and more littered the outskirts of the giant open space. Jack could faintly see the other end of the round chamber, proving that it was much smaller than the other dungeon floors. However, such a space for a single monster said a lot about the boss and how monstrous he was.

Looking further, Jack discovered something strange. Crypt Lord Duorda was nowhere to be found.

After a moment of wonder, Jack remembered how the encounter would usually go. The crypt lord would appear after an enemy makes itself known and immediately attack. It both comforted Jack and left him unsettled. This left Jack safe for the moment but with little anticipation for what might happen if he was caught.

Trying to come up with a plan, Jack kept his eyes wandering about the chamber. He still was in awe of how many items and treasures were strewn about.

Jack then noticed that no item present shared an owner. Each and every item originated from a different ancient hero, proving to be the motherload of treasures and loot as well as the ultimate graveyard for adventurers.

He searched and walked about the room. Sadly, he found nothing along the walls or on any surface hinting at an ancient tomb. Apart from the fairly flat ground and the round walls, there was only a single change in the architecture of the floor.

Opposite the entryway, there were a few steps that led down to two closed doors. That small area was crafted entirely from roxite, making it impenetrable.

Still struggling with his mind, Jack failed to think of anything new in terms of strategy.

With only one option left, Jack decided that he might as well take some treasures while he was left unguarded. Almost everything was lv. 85 with the weakest items at lv. 75, which were a rare find among the other treasures. Jack even spotted some legend-tier weapons. How could Jack leave such a thing behind? It would be too much of a waste to consider.

 

Chapter 519

Taking his time, Jack spotted the items he was most interested in, narrowing his options of what to grab first.

There was a hand-crafted, legendary bow made entirely with legendary materials. According to his system, the bow boosted agility, attack, magic attack, and even the speed of a mount. It’s most outstanding effect was the versatility of magic type. It allowed you to cast spells into the arrows it shot, launching the spells on impact.

Apart from that, there was a katana with a black blade and a blood-red hilt. It only boosted attack and agility but to the absolute extreme. It carried two magic affinities, dark and fire. Also, it would amplify any dark and fire type mana used in attacks. Like the bow, it was also hand-crafted and made custom by an ancient hero with legendary materials.

Other legendary items could be found but those two, in particular, were the most eye-catching to Jack. He had just reached lv. 88 and would be able to wield them immediately.

Taking that into consideration, Jack pondered a strategy, finally. He wondered if this is what Daruun meant about a path showing itself. Jack was now lv.88 and would be able to wield all of the legendary weapons laying around the ninety-ninth floor. With so many legendary items, Jack would feel more confident taking on the lv. 89 boss.

It still wasn’t a guaranteed win but it was better than anything else he thought up.

Keeping Duorda’s appearance in mind, Jack stood beside the bow. The hero then looked to the not-so-distant katana, followed by another legendary item, and another legendary item. Jack spent the next minute or so locating each legendary item in accordance to his current location.

Taking a final, calming breath, Jack assumed his minokawa transformation. Following the path he had just created on the spot, Jack rocketed through the air after snatching the bow from the ground.

The speeding hero grabbed the katana next. One by one Jack rushed by the legendary items and stored them away.

But as Jack picked up the third legendary item, a voice echoed through the chamber, "Will you show yourself, or shall I find you?"

Glancing to the side, Jack noticed murky, black energy gather atop the black steps. Out of that darkness a single, human-sized being stepped out. It wore a white robe that appeared to be worn out from wind and storm. There were no eye-catching rings, no spectacular items, and no luxurious accessories. The being was an undead skeleton that looked to come from a human. At first glance, the undead monster appeared to be a common skeleton mage, only utterly insignificant with a uniquely colored robe.

However, there were two defining features of the undead. Within the empty eye sockets, a bead of blood-red light glowed. The color of the skeleton’s bones was dark grey and nearly black, heavily contrasting the tattered, pure white robe.

"Will you show yourself, or shall I find you?" the skeleton repeated. "This is the last time I’ll ask."

Thanks to his incredible speed, Jack managed to snatch the legendary items as Crypt Lord Duorda waited for a reply. While still invisible, Jack asked, "If I show myself, can we talk before fighting? I’m sure you’ve been rather lonely down here, Duorda."

"I don’t mind chatting first," stated Duorda, catching Jack off guard. "Now show yourself."

Seeing that Duorda dissipated all of his gathered energy, Jack complied. The hero became visible as he stood only twenty meters from the dungeon boss. There wasn’t a single weapon in his hands nor was there a look of anger on his face.

Duorda spotted his challenger and asked, "Why come alone? You know of me yet you think I’m so easily defeated?"

"Mind if I call you Duorda? You can call me Jack if you like."

"Jack..." The crypt lord tilted his head back and forth while analyzing Jack. "Have we met before, by any chance?"

"You could say that, but not while I’m in this body. The last time I fought you was over one thousand years ago," Jack answered.

"One thousand years ago... But you haven’t fought me since before the wave?"

"The wave? What’s that?" asked Jack.

Duorda explained, "I’ve been in isolation for thousands of years. I know that gods have come to exist yet have never met them. All I know of the outside world are the few things that I learn from fallen opponents.

"In the past five hundred years, I’ve had had little to no opponents, something that I attribute to the wave that I mentioned. A wave of ethereal, invisible energy passed through my chambers at that time and since then challengers decreased until they stopped appearing altogether. I’m unsure if others knew of this wave’s existence though, as the challengers at the time seemed to be unaware of it."

"If it was invisible, then how could you see it?" asked Jack.

"I answered your question, so now you answer one of mine," Duorda nonchalantly insisted. "You claimed to have faced me one thousand years ago, or five centuries before the wave. If that’s true, then explain how such a thing is possible. I’m intrigued."

Smiling, Jack shrugged and put together a fitting answer, "That’s only possible because my soul was summoned to this time in a new body."

"Your soul was summoned? Who has such power to summon souls into a newly created body? Was it one of those gods?"

"I answered you already, so I’ll--"

"Give me a complete answer or we fight now."

Hearing Duroda’s casual but cold tone, Jack nodded and continued, "My soul was summoned by Daruun, who also created this new body of mine. Do you know who Daruun is?"

"Daruun... You say Daruun was the one to summon your soul?" Duorda asked rhetorically, looking down to the ground. "Daruun..."

"I take you at least know who Daruun is, right? In that case, how could you see that invisible wave?" asked Jack.

"Daruun..." Duorda mumbled once more to himself, ignoring Jack’s question.

Suddenly, black, murky energy flooded the entire ninety-ninth floor in an instant. Jack could feel it oozing over his skin it was so dense. The hero shouted, "You said we could--"

"Daruun summoned you?!" Duorda shouted, letting the energy condense even more as the red glow in his eye sockets grew furious.

 

Chapter 520

"Daruun summoned you?!"

While the miasma in the air was thick, Jack still felt no effect from it. Apart from the uncomfortable feeling against Jack’s skin, the hero felt no threat from the murky energy.

Then, Duorda burst into laughter. His skeletal mouth opened wide as guttural guffaws filled the chamber. "If Daruun summoned you, then I don’t need to hold back!" Duorda grabbed the chainless shackle around his wrist and ripped it off, doing the same to his other arm after the first.

Jack was startled to see what was happening. Thanks to the scenario and his preconception, Jack had always assumed that Duorda was already lv. 89. Only after seeing Duorda reach for those shackles did Jack notice that Crypt Lord Duorda’s level was still only lv. 85, at least until those shackles were removed. Now at lv. 89, Duorda’s excitement-filled laughter left Jack feeling tense.

"Duorda, why would you were level restricting equipment?" Jack asked, trying to keep the conversation going as long as possible.

"Survive and I’ll tell you anything!"

Without another word, Duorda absorbed the surrounding dark energy in a fraction of a second, returning the chamber to its usual, dimly lit setting. But Jack was on edge knowing that Duorda was ready to unleash all hell. And he was right to feel such a way as the crypt lord extended his bony digits to cast his first spell.

"Permadeath!" shouted Duorda, unleashing a dark, ethereal wave of energy to fill the entire room. It was completely unavoidable for anyone within the chamber, invisible or not, but dealt no damage whatsoever.

Having never heard of such a spell, Jack was left guessing about its effects.

While still chuckling, Duorda loudly announced, "Now, even if you could return to life like heroes of the past, should you die by my hand now then you’ll forever lay here to rot and become my summon. To take one of Daruun’s chosen few as a summon would be the greatest of treasures!"

Understanding the stakes, Jack swallowed some saliva along with any fear. The hero didn’t want to let any thoughts of hesitation keep him from fighting at his best. Jack understood that he would get only one chance now and would have to survive, as Duorda had put it.

"Then how would I survive?" questioned Jack, retrieving his new bow. "You were hailed as the strongest of all monsters to us heroes, and that was with dozens of heroes fighting together."

"But my draining ability is also most effective against multiple opponents. The more opponents I face, the more life I can drain. Pay attention. Though you couldn’t feel it, notice now that your health was already being drained by the miasma I generate," stated Duorda, giving Jack a moment to confirm the crypt lord’s words.

"That... That’s just broken..." Jack sighed, unhappy but unable to alter the situation.

Duorda continued, "Against you alone, my draining can only heal me so much. You’ll just have to deal more damage than I can heal. But you’ll have to do that before you exhaust your health as well. Do you feel confident in your abilities to do so?"

"Nope." Shaking his head, Jack answered, "I don’t know what’s going to happen now, but I won’t die here. I can say that much."

"Then prove it!"

A ray of the same black energy shot out of Duorda’s fingertips. It rushed after Jack, who sidestepped and evaded the blast.

"Not bad, but we’re still warming up!" Duorda shouted, doing his best to smile without any skin or facial muscles.

Jack dodged again and again, backing up to create more space. At the same time, Jack retrieved an arrow and nocked his bow. The first shot went as a common bow would act, without any magic added.

True to Jack’s aim, the arrow pierced the air with undeniable speed to ricochet off of Duroda’s skull. Not a single scratch was left behind but Jack was satisfied with the bow’s pin-point accuracy. With that in mind, Jack released a second arrow covered in fire.

Duorda wasn’t careless that time. The crypt lord reached out and snatched the arrow from the air like it was child’s play. He chuckled, "That can’t be your only trick, right? Show me more!"

Not letting up, Jack shot another arrow. It seemed to be ordinary but Duorda still reached to pluck it from the air. But as the skeletal hand wrapped its fingers around the arrow, it vanished in a blink of spatial energy. The arrow reappeared on the opposite side of Duorda to bounce off his face a second time. However, a cut in the bone was left behind.

"Oh... Show me more!" Duorda shot more blasts of black energy.

Jack was forced to move around while he shot, making use of his newly elevated bow skill and the legendary bow’s added bonuses. He skillfully evaded the many blasts while hurling more and more arrows at Duorda.

This went on for a few minutes as Jack successfully avoided having his health drained. But Jack was annoyed to see how little damage he was doing.

If Jack didn’t strengthen the arrows with spatial energy to teleport them and change their trajectory, then Duorda would constantly grab the arrows or destroy them in midair. But if Jack tried to use more spatial energy, then the arrow would break either in midair or upon releasing the bowstring. Jack had to find a balance but that balance wouldn’t deal enough damage to kill Crypt Lord Duorda. The hero was certain that Duorda wasn’t getting serious yet and the tables could turn in an instant given Duorda’s life-draining abilities.

Unsatisfied with how he faired with the bow, Jack tried a new method of attack. Jack rushed Duorda while launching more arrows to keep the crypt lord busy. Once Jack was almost fifty meters away, he switched the bow for the legendary katana and activated Sudden Death. Thanks to his newly upgraded speed skill, Jack could use Sudden Death within sixty meters and he wanted to use it to the fullest.