"... What kind of hellish place is this?"
Dungeon Level 3, Volcano Map.
Vera looked around, her face full of confusion.
The scorching floor that should have been covered in lava was gone; now Vera stood on a pristine white desert wasteland.
Looking up, the night sky was empty, devoid of stars and moon.
Towering black tombstones stand here, like silent warriors.
"Hidden map?"
Vera could only guess at that.
Tranquil...
The cemetery was so quiet, with only the sound of footsteps rubbing against the gravel. In this environment, even Vera's anxiety subsided.
Unable to find anything to observe, Vera simply went to a tombstone.
The black monument has no inscriptions; only its slightly rough surface tells the story of its history.
She silently apologized, then, driven by curiosity, reached for the tombstone. Vera groaned, receiving the same treatment she had received in the Dead Soul Furnace once again.
Memory...
From different perspectives and at different times, they showed Vera the beginning and end of a civilization.
A leader born in the hunting era, who died in the era of unification, betrayed by his predecessor.
Vera released her grip, looked around at the surrounding tombstones, and tried to calm her rapid breathing.
If each tombstone represents a dead civilization, then isn't this a graveyard of civilizations?
And who buried these civilizations?
Wind...
Vera's hair swayed slightly as she raised her hand, feeling the direction of the wind.
Watched by the tombstones, Vera continued forward, finally stopping in front of the building.
The massive pyramid, built of white stone bricks that blend seamlessly with the barren landscape, stands abruptly in the wilderness.
Temple? Or mausoleum?
Vera walked toward the only entrance, already having some idea of what the meeting to come would be like.
After passing through the long, dark passage, a few candles flickered in the vast stone chamber, which resembled a plaza.
At the end of the light, on the stone seat.
Beneath the golden robe was a suit of golden armor with intricate patterns, and beneath the noble crown, a humanoid jackal held a golden scepter inlaid with rubies, slowly opening its crimson eyes.
"... Anubis."
Vera called out His name, and Anubis also noticed the newcomer below.
What do you seek?
"You can speak? No, you're conscious?"
[...]
Realizing she had misspoke, Vera immediately tried to salvage the situation.
"I apologize, Your Excellency Anubis, the God of Death. I am a traveler who has lost my way in another world. I have encountered too many monsters who have lost their way, hence my presumptuous words."
Unable to discern the expression on the jackal's head, Vera carefully said:
"Do you know where we came from? Or... could you let us go back?"
[Strangers from afar, your answers are meaningless; your very presence here proves your choice.]
What does "meaningless" mean?
Vera frowned. Was it that she couldn't say, or that she didn't know?
"Then let me ask you another question. If we collect all the Magic Stone, can we go back using the complete Magic Stone?"
[If you can do it.]
That's fine then.
Vera's long-standing doubts and worries were finally answered, and even though she only had one Magic Stone at the moment, she felt extremely relieved.
"Thank you for your answer. So... may I leave?"
[Through the trial, you will receive the rewards you deserve.]
Trials? That sounds like a lot of trouble...
"Sorry, I'm in a hurry to find someone. How about we come back another time?"
Anubis remained silent, placing his hand quietly on his chest.
The golden armor on his chest opened outwards in a spiral shape, from which orange-gold light emerged.
Vera's eyes widened as she called out the name of the treasure.
"Magic Stone!"
Yes, in the game, the Orange Magic Stone should have been obtained after defeating Anubis, so it's no wonder it's like this.
I have no choice but to participate now...
Vera took a deep breath and turned her gaze from the Magic Stone to the jackal's head, whose expression was unreadable.
"So, what are the contents of the trial?"
Anubis rose from his throne, his scepter lightly touching the ground, and an illusory hourglass appeared in mid-air before turning inverted.
As the timer began, four cross-shaped cones of light, radiating a dangerous aura, unfolded behind him.
"... Just like I expected, this kind of plot twist."
When the familiar battle began, Vera actually relaxed.
Buzz--!
A dangerous buzzing sound accompanied the attack. Vera wielded the Demon King's Oath, and her crescent-shaped dark blade annihilated all the light cones.
"Is this the beginning?"
Vera muttered to herself as she charged toward Anubis, her hand gripping the Hex Staff on her back.
A phantom purple clock unfolded, and a time-stopping field covered the entire area, enveloping Anubis within it.
That's it.
Vera stopped in her tracks, kicking up a cloud of dust.
At the same time, he raised the Demon King's Oath with both hands, and dangerous lightning flashed on the blade.
The liberation process took too long, so let's start with a low-power version.
As he pondered this, a dangerous beam of energy shot from the sword's blade, hurtling towards the target.
He shouldn't die right away, right?
Vera couldn't help but worry.
Under Vera's watchful gaze, a golden halo enveloped Anubis's body before the attack reached its target. He also raised his scepter, from which another beam of light, no less powerful, surged forth, blocking the attack.
Time stop has been broken!
Before Vera could react, the beam of light emanating from the scepter did not cease; instead, it grew even stronger after breaking through the attack.
[The Light of Divine Authority!]
With a sharp look in her eyes, Vera activated [Agility], her sudden increase in speed allowing her to dodge the attack.
Amidst a deafening roar, the beam of light continued its relentless charge, piercing through the temple and soaring into the outer sky.
Vera was astonished by the power of the attack; a single hit from such an attack would be fatal.
And just now, was that the effect of the Magic Stone?
Realizing that her time-stop tactic was largely useless, Vera sprinted along the wall, dodging the beams of light that kept coming from behind.
Confined spaces are not conducive to combat, so...
[Holy][Shield][Demon]
With the triple blessing complete, Vera raised her hand to the sky and pulled it down forcefully.
Is your temple sturdy enough?
Anubis raised his head, and as Vera asked the question, the temple trembled slightly.
No, it's the air that's vibrating.
The moment Anubis stopped his attack and raised his scepter, dozens of black tombstones rose from the ground, surrounding him.
At the same time, the top of the temple shattered into dust, and flames and shockwaves surged in.
Boom--!!!
[Calamity Stone], falling at full power!
Flames engulfed everything inside the temple, turning the magnificent building into ruins in an instant.
The two on the battlefield also began to move simultaneously.
[Nightmare Mark] activates, and the minor damage from the previous impact generates small demons around Anubis. Although they are crushed by the opponent in an instant, the second effect has been successfully achieved.
Defense weakened, judgment successful.
A dark, weakening aura rose from the golden armor, signaling the arrival of Anubis's offensive.
[King and Ministers Follow]
The scepter tapped the ground lightly, and as the protective tombstones shattered, a large number of mummies rose from beneath the yellow sand.
"If we're talking about numbers, my side won't lose."
Amidst the ruins of the temple, as the plague spread from the Calamity Stone, plague demons and skeleton soldiers crawled out of the ground.
The soldiers of both sides clashed, while the two commanders faced each other from a distance.
Even the plague toxins didn't work...
Vera looked at the plague miasma spreading beneath Anubis's feet and abandoned her idea of delaying any longer.
Then let's launch a full-scale attack!
The Demon King's Oath Sword shone brightly, and the towering phantom of the Carrion Eater vanished in a flash.
[The Great Rotter] Blessing.
In the midst of the battle, the mummy, who was fighting the enemy, suddenly went weak in the knees, its bandages came undone, and it was pierced directly by the skeleton's weapon.
The stench of decay mingled with the miasma, ravaging the little flesh remaining beneath the bandages.
Realizing this, Anubis waved his staff, and the yellow sand beneath the skeleton army's feet began to swirl, engulfing both sides completely.
Vera then activated the [Calamity Stone] once again.
The destructive Meteorite fell again, and Anubis did not choose to defend himself, but instead raised his scepter.
Buzz--!!!
The ruby at the top emitted a dazzling light, and the nine energy spheres grew longer in the wind, eventually coalescing into one.
[Divine Wrath Shakes Heaven]
The attack was launched and hit the target.
The massive meteorite cracked at the point of contact and instantly exploded into a cloud of dust.
The massive impact whipped up a cloud of yellow sand, Gale pounded against the tombstones standing everywhere in the wasteland, raising eerie howls.
Anubis looked towards the battlefield; Vera's figure had already disappeared into the yellow sand.
Is he trying to buy time by hiding?
Anubis sensed Vera's presence as her ruby-red eyes flickered slightly.
... at the back!
Anubis spun around violently, his spinning staff creating a burst of wind.
A beam of light shot out from the tip of the staff, and the target of the attack...
The little devil blinked and vanished into the beam of light.
At the same time, from beneath the yellow sand, Vera, who had been using [invisibility] to diminish her presence, burst forth.
The mixed-race ranger's figure flashed by, and azure flames of fury, distorting the air, coiled around the sword.
[Fire Shield] + [Berserk] + [Strength]
The azure flames surged to their maximum in an instant, turning the entire wasteland a deep blue.
In haste, Anubis had no choice but to raise his scepter horizontally for protection.
Boom--!!!
The blue flames rose like blooming lotus flowers, then contracted inward with terrifying heat.
A figure flew out from within, and Vera, her body emitting white smoke, landed gracefully.
"Phew... Is it resolved?"
The blue flames of fury still burned, their light casting flickering shadows on Vera's face.
If it weren't for the presence of the [Fire Shield], this attack would be a self-destructive burst of damage that would result in mutual destruction.
But the sensation I felt just now...
Snap--
Vera's pupils contracted slightly, and footsteps echoed from the center of the blue fire lotus.
No, judging from the temperature of the flames, the other party was probably walking in lava.
Sure enough, the sound grew louder and louder, and the badly injured Anubis emerged from it.
But... can that really be called damage?
The ancient robes and armor made of gold were all burned, and the noble crown on their heads melted and flowed down.
Liquid gold flowed between the muscles, making the obsidian-like skin appear even more profound.
His robust and perfect physique, with its bulging muscles flowing with dazzling divine blood, perfectly embodies the Istina of power.
Looking at this deity who, according to legend, governs funeral matters, Vera couldn't help but ask:
Are you skilled at handling disputes?
This is troublesome...
Vera sighed inwardly, but assumed a defensive stance.
The previous attacks didn't cause much damage. To inflict injuries that could affect the battle, at least half of the Demon King Council would need to be released.
But will they give her time to prepare?
Anubis loosely gripped his staff, as if adjusting its position, then crouched down, assuming a charging stance.
A primal warning from her intuition sent Vera leaning back rapidly, aided by her [Agility].
Not enough! An attack is coming!
In a moment of crisis, the Venom Armor activated its ability, and the shadow beneath Vera's feet swallowed her calf, making her body shrink by half again.
The next instant, the staff, which had been used as a longsword, grazed Vera's forehead.
A visible arc of air swept across the sky, flying into the distance and carving a visible cut into the towering tombstone.
Shouldn't you be a mage?!
Vera gritted her teeth, gripping her longsword as she thrust it toward Anubis's throat.
At the same time--
Venom tentacles extended from the Venom armor, grabbing Anubis's limbs and pulling Vera up, instantly casting a shadow over the spot where Anubis's right foot would land.
Anubis tried to break free instantly, but the power that could overturn mountains remained completely still at that moment.
The Venom Armor, having eaten its fill, bulged like liquid.
Bloodline Technology, Death!
The sword's edge drew ever closer to his throat; with no time to withdraw his right foot, which was shrouded in shadow, how could Anubis escape?
Clang--!
With an incredulous look in Vera's eyes, she tilted her head and firmly bit down on the Demon King's Oath!
The next moment, his freed right arm delivered a powerful punch that slammed into Vera's abdomen.
This time, however, the Venom Armor, which was almost immune to physical damage, couldn't withstand the attack.
After absorbing the first wave of impact, the contact surface quickly crumbled into fragments and fell off.
Anubis blasted Vera away.
Death God Power, kid!
Adjusting her position in mid-air, Vera plunged her weapon into the ground to mitigate the impact, then crouched down, feeling a sweet sensation in her throat.
Cough... This guy is on a completely different level from our previous opponents!
Vera touched her abdomen; due to that unknown force, the Venom Armor could only slowly fill the gap.
More domineering and closer to death than the stench of Carrion Eater!
If it weren't for the Venom Armor absorbing the damage, and instead the bullet hit me directly...
Vera took a deep breath and assumed a fighting stance, ready to fight, but Anubis, who should have continued his attack, remained where he was and raised his head.
Vera looked over and saw that the hourglass in mid-air had run out of time.
Time is up.
Seeing Anubis withdraw his attack, Vera finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"So, I've passed the trial?"
Anubis dispersed the hourglass, nodded, and then shook his head.
[Final testing required.]
Anubis raised his hand, conjuring a golden scale.
Recalling the related legends, Vera couldn't help but feel a little doubtful.
Legend has it that Anubis would weigh the heart and feathers of the deceased to determine their eligibility for entry into the Underworld.
But she's alive! Are we going to rip her heart out?
Vera watched the scales warily, while at the same time, a phantom of a heart appeared in Anubis's hand.
Vera instinctively clutched her chest, her face pale.
Honestly, it feels awful to have your heart gripped.
Without any regard for Vera's discomfort, Anubis placed his heart on the scales, and a pure white feather drifted down from the other side.
The scales swayed and swayed, eventually tilting towards the side with the feathers after several swings.
But just as the feather was about to touch the bottom, the scales began to tremble violently, as if someone was constantly adding weight to both sides, making them increasingly volatile.
As Vera looked on in surprise at this strange occurrence, Anubis looked up and stared intently at her.
You... have blasphemed death.
"What?"
Subconsciously, Vera thought of the Teekaz she had resurrected.
At the same time, the half of the scale belonging to the heart instantly hit the bottom, making a loud thud.
An eerie silence fell over the room. Anubis put away the scales and slowly raised the illusory heart.
"... May I ask what happened?"
[You have crossed the line; I will personally judge your case.]
Vera's face darkened; the other party's meaning was quite clear.
In what way?
[Break the order of death; you must cleanse your sins within time to regain your purity.]
After saying this, Anubis clenched his fist, only to find his hand empty.
[Sacred]
The illusory heart vanished, the discomfort in her body disappeared, and Vera looked at Anubis with a gloomy expression.
"Leaving aside whether the deaths in Terra are your responsibility, I have no intention of staying here indefinitely."
The sin of blaspheming death must be repaid.
After Anubis finished speaking, Vera sensed something was different.
Those tombstones... came to life!
On the wasteland, the enormous tombstones that were originally just bystanders began to close in.
Stop Him!
She didn't know what Anubis was planning, but the fact that she had to stop the enemy's actions was enough to spur Vera into action.
But Anubis clearly wouldn't let Vera have her way.
After demonstrating the warrior's fighting style, Anubis once again proved that He was truly a mage.
The complex barrage of bullets could be slashed away, but the enormous tombstones that kept emerging from the Void were impossible to deal with.
Faced with the overly hard tombstone, neither slashing nor flames could keep up with his production speed.
Using the Venom Armor, he moved through the shadows, but the places suppressed by the tombstones could no longer be entered even by the shadows.
Finally, Vera confronted him head-on for the first time.
The towering tombstone, despite its various protective features, still sent Vera's blood surging upon impact.
Using tombstones to fight is so despicable!
Vera slashed through the tombstones blocking her path once more; she was now powerless to stop the encirclement of the tombstones.
At that moment, Anubis, who had been motionless, raised his staff, but the red gem at the top of the staff had changed.
A golden-orange glow entered Vera's eyes; her body was still moving, but her consciousness had already stagnated.
Among the fragments of the Magic Stone, orange represents --
[Soul]
In just a moment of distraction, Anubis suddenly appeared before him.
As the scepter swung down, a strong aura of death seeped into his waist.
Like weathered stone shattering.
Vera's body was severed in two at the waist, with only the Venom Armor barely connecting the broken parts.
Above, a colossal tombstone, comparable in size to a temple, blocked all escape routes.
There's no escaping it!
Having confirmed the extent of the tombstone's coverage, Vera, bleeding profusely, gritted her teeth and swung her sword.
The hasty attack could only leave a few marks on the tombstone, while the black stone, with its suppressive effect, still fell mercilessly.
Anubis chanted obscure incantations.
[World-Burying Tribute]
The moment Vera pressed down under the tombstone, gray-white array patterns appeared around her, and the scepter flew out of Anubis's hand, hovering in the center of the magic circle.
Golden light spread, suppressing all the restlessness.
Beneath the tombstone, Vera felt as if the entire world was pressing down on her.
Magic... cannot be mobilized.
The body... sensory isolation.
Consciousness... gradually faded.
No... I haven't... haven't...
Ultimately, it wasn't some man surnamed Long. Vera slowly closed her eyes.
Damn it...
If you believe this is wrong, then don't sit high on your throne; come down and correct it.
What kind of order of death is this, saving one more life... what's wrong with that...?
It's unclear who she was complaining to, but Vera's consciousness gradually faded into darkness.
I've long been fed up with just watching...
[Group announcement: Vera is dead.]
At this moment, one of the four visitors to the Terra finally fell into eternal silence.
This defeat is not shameful; she was facing the true guardians of death and world order.
Vera was defeated by Death, but only by the Necromancer.
Vera, the Necromancer, fell, but--
The goodwill that the king showed to the world ultimately yielded good results.
In the wasteland, Anubis, who was walking towards the ruins of the temple, suddenly turned around.
Beneath that unlit tombstone, golden light shone from the Crown.
[Your Majesty, protect Your Majesty...]
It's so noisy...
[We still have strength...]
Can you please be quiet...?
[Our last hope, we absolutely cannot allow it...]
I said...
"It's so noisy!!!"
Before the King of All Souls' consciousness completely succumbed to darkness, Chen Ming, whom she had saved, escorted the Queen's soul back to the Hall of All Souls.
[You have awakened, Your Majesty.]
Vera, lying in the Void in her soul form, looked at the Teekaz surrounding her and suppressed her resentment at being woken up.
"Yes, although I can't move my body yet, your voices are so loud that I can't hear what you're saying..."
All Souls fell silent, and then the First Hunter spoke.
[We've come to help you, Wang.]
"Help... but I'm already dead, the battle is over."
Vera tried to sense her body, but found only emptiness.
No, your journey is not over yet.
Surrounded by demons, the Farstrider helped the demon king up.
In the primitive era before civilization, for most creatures, injury was tantamount to death.
Even the most powerful beasts, once they suffer a broken leg bone, will be eliminated by nature because they will be unable to hunt.
This is also true for wild beasts that live in herds.
This is a law of nature, and no species is exempt.
So, when was this ironclad rule broken?
When a fellow countryman collapses due to injury and can no longer move forward, he is not met with abandonment by his people.
They pulled up their compatriots, either by hugging or carrying them on their backs, continuing their journey despite this burden.
People say this--
[You still have us, we won't let you die.]
When a healed skeleton is unearthed from an ancient site, people truly realize that the true starting point of civilization is not the fire, but the hand extended to the wounded compatriots.
When those hands pulled their compatriots up from the ground...
Civilization began to sprout from this point.
Just like this moment--
Dry, grotesque, rough, thin...
One hand after another lifted Vera up, just as she had patiently led the All Souls out of their madness.
The Farstrider gripped that hand tightly:
[This time it's my turn to lift you up, my king.]
The demon kings said this:
[Please stand up, Demon King.]
The All Souls were filled with righteous indignation:
We... will help you fight back!
Boom--!!!
The Daichi is burning, and the flames are boiling.
The towering tombstones sank into the melting Daichi, and within this man-made furnace lay the love of an entire race for a king.
The Cyclops gave her the eye to see through illusion.
Wendigo gave her an indestructible body.
The Mind Flayer gave her a heart free from distracting thoughts.
The Dead Souls gave her an undisturbed spirit.
The Carrion Eater gave her a tail that took root in the Daichi.
The Gargoyle gave her wings to soar through the sky.
The Banshee gave her the power to command all things.
The Lich granted her the wisdom to interpret things.
The Vampire gave her blood to heal her wounds.
The Flame Demon granted her the power to incinerate everything.
With the blessings of All Souls, an eye that could foresee the future grew on the king's forehead, and wings that could soar through the sky sprouted from his back.
Her body was indestructible, and her soul was vast enough to encompass the Daichi.
The blessings of an entire race are transforming this body, but the suffering that once belonged to this race has not left.
Those were emotions that Vera had suppressed with her beautiful ideals.
At this moment, Anubis was not facing an individual, but the malice of an entire race that had suffered for millennia.
The tail of the Carrion Eater took root in the ground, and the heat, blessed by the Flame Demon, was transformed into energy, strengthening its ever-hardening body.
The Demon King slowly spread his wings.
Boom--!!!
A sea of fire raged, a massive void rose up, and Vera, transformed into a shimmering light, approached in an instant.
Holding the scepter horizontally with both hands, Anubis blocked the attack, and the yellow sand surged outwards in a tsunami-like pattern from the point of contact between the two.
"Who gave you permission to leave like this...?"
Amidst the scorching heat that can ignite the yellow sand with its mere existence, the god who controls death remains calm and composed, while the demon king who transcends death is filled with a ferocious expression.
If a century is considered a lifetime, then the Sarkaz's ten-thousand-year history is nothing more than a hundred cycles.
So, standing here at this moment is --
[Forged in the Crucible: Battle-hardened Demon King]
I said...
With a powerful pull of his arms, the Demon King forcefully buried the god deep into the earth.
Give me the Magic Stone!!!