Outside the Seventh Hell, soldiers moved methodically among the corpses left behind by Callion's group. Armor scraped against stone. Blood soaked into the earth. Orders were given in low, tired voices
None of them noticed the black-clothed, masked woman standing atop a distant building, her figure blending into the shadows as she observed everything in silence
Her eyes never left the altar ' They entered another dimension… ' Her gaze sharpened under the mask ' This might be the opportunity we've been waiting for. If I can find a way to reopen it… '
" I knew you would show up eventually " Suddenly, a voice came directly behind her; it was cold, calm, and very close
Her eyes widened beneath the mask ' Impossible! ' She thought and turned around sharply—
Fannel floated a few steps behind her, arms crossed, suspended in the air. His eyes were fixed on her with absolute indifference. His tail swayed slowly behind him
The woman's body reacted before her mind could process what she was seeing. A tremor ran down her spine ' It can't be… ' Lady Zemin's warning echoed in her mind, a rare moment when even that proud woman had spoken his name with caution
Without another thought *SWOOSH* The woman vanished, her movement technique activating instantly. She dissolved into afterimages, her body becoming a blur that shot toward the distant forest at terrifying speed
She didn't look back to confirm that Fannel chased her; she was too scared to do so. Branches shattered as she tore through the trees, altering direction every few seconds, her aura suppressing itself completely
' It was him…! The one Lady Zemin warned us about! Why is he here—?! ' Her heartbeat grew louder and faster. The forest became a smear of green and shadow as she pushed her movement technique beyond its limits, veins bulging along her temples
' I need to escape!! FASTER!! OR I WILL DIE! ' The thought made her stomach twist
Suddenly *PAM* A violent impact exploded across the right side of her face
Her world flipped, and she was slammed into the ground with crushing force, the earth splitting beneath her. Half her mask shattered on impact, fragments scattering across the dirt
And it was revealed. Beneath the mask was a beautiful, mature woman with pink hair and piercing green eyes, now wide with shock
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Her cheek was already swelling grotesquely. Her vision swam violently
Fannel stood a few steps away, lowering his right hand calmly " I believe I have seen that movement technique before " he said, as if discussing something mildly interesting " Though I cannot recall where. It has been years since I last visited the Divine Realm " His tone was almost thoughtful. Almost bored
The woman tried to focus her vision. Her ears rang violently ' I couldn't even see him appear...He caught me… like I was standing still ' Her breathing grew shallow. Panic began to claw at her chest
' He hurt me this much… with a slap ' Her fingers dug into the dirt as dread began to replace adrenaline ' He's a monster. Just like Lady Zemin said '
Fannel began walking toward her. Each step is steady and measured like a reaper approaching a body that had not realized it was already dead
The woman forced herself up slightly when *GRAB* His hand closed around her throat
" Agh—! " He lifted her effortlessly, her feet dangling helplessly above the ground
" My orders were clear " Fannel said calmly, examining her face as if inspecting an insect " Kill roaches like you on sight. No questions asked "
His grip tightened slightly " However… I am curious. Which sect of the Divine Realm sent you? "
She clawed at his arm desperately, channeling spiritual energy into her fingers— but it felt like a baby trying to bend an iron rod
Her vision begins to blur, her lungs burn, and the worst part is that he wasn't even trying
The woman suddenly stopped struggling. Then she smiled — blood staining her teeth " Fuck you " From the spatial ring on her finger, a black dagger shot into her hand
Fannel watched the movement. He even tilted his head slightly, exposing his neck like an invitation
The blade struck and *CLANK* The dagger shattered on contact. The sound echoed in the silent forest, and her smile collapsed instantly
Fannel's eyes lowered toward her, colder now " At some point " he said quietly, " All your weapons become meaningless against us; you should have known that "
Then he increased the pressure on her neck slightly and *CRACK* Her neck snapped cleanly. Her body went limp instantly, life vanishing before fear had time to fully leave her eyes
Fannel released her without care, and as she fell, he extended his left palm toward the corpse and *ZOOM* *BOOM* A small, controlled blast of energy reduced her remains to ash. The wind scattered what little was left
No blood. No evidence. No trace that she had ever existed
Fannel stared at the empty space for a moment " That is one " he murmured. His gaze shifted toward the distant horizon " I wonder how many more of these insects are still hiding "
He placed two fingers against his forehead, and *SWOOSH* he vanished
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In a distant place, another masked woman ran into a courtyard, approaching a beautiful blond " Lady Zemin! " She said in disbelief, but was interrupted
" I know, Wuying is dead " Lady Zemin said with a frowning expression " He started to move " she said with anger
Zemin raises her right hand and begins to bite her thumbnail in frustartion ' I need to change tactics once more '
" Call everyone back " Zemin said as the masked woman bowed while saying " Yes, Lady Zemin "
As the masked woman ran away from the courtyard, Zemin's face showed pure hatred ' That fucking beast, why did he begin to move? '
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Callion, Elder Qiu, and the others appeared at the other side of the red Gate, and what they saw made it clear that this place is not just dangerous, but it is also hostile to their existence; their breathing was ragged like the air was lacking at none only that, it burned the place was as hot as a desert in the middle of the day
" What the hell is happening in this place? It's hard to breathe, and not only that, this heat is unbearable! " Shao Yimu said with annoyance. He removed his upper clothes and tossed them aside. While at his side, Guo Mei licks her lips, seeing him
" So this is the Seventh Hell " Callion said, looking at the place around him. The sky was not a sky they knew; it was a vast and suffocating vault of darkness, layers of black and bruised crimson clouds pressed so low as if they were collapsing onto the land
The land stretched endlessly outward, a sea of red and black earth, cracked and warped as if it had once been molten and never fully cooled. Jagged rock spires rose from the ground like the broken ribs of a dead god, some so massive they pierced the clouds above. Rivers of glowing magma snaked between them, their sluggish flow casting a permanent, ember-like glow across the terrain
In the far distance, shapes moved, Demons. Some were no larger than birds, winged silhouettes darting and circling in vast swarms, their cries faint yet sharp enough to prick the mind. Others were colossal, mountain-sized figures half-buried in the land itself, their slow movements mistaken at first for shifting terrain. One raised its head from beyond the horizon, and the ground subtly tilted toward it, as if the world acknowledged its presence
" Each of those small demons is as strong as a two stars Golden beast and the bigger ones are above them " Elder Qiu said with a serious expression " The only thing that stops them from attacking us is the altra the connection between this dimension and the Delan Continent, but once we climb down the altar we wont be able to activate it, I dont know how many time is going to take to do so, the information I gathered was limited "
Callion smirks with satisfaction " Then this is gonna be worthy "
Yun Hai was the most nervous in the group. He was the weakest one after all, and this place was a living nightmare. Even if he increased his cultivation level these few days, he was lacking the potential of Shao Yimu and Yin Su; even Guo Mei was far more talented than him, despite their age difference, yet it was too late to retreat now
" Elder Qiu, they won't be able to follow us here? " Yin Su asked with doubt
Elder Qiu shook his head " No, only the one who activated the altar will be able to open it again; they won't be able to do it even if the Emperor himself tries to do it "
" Lets go " said Callion, then walked down the altar, but the moment they got down the altar *BOOM* Their bodies slammed into solid ground as if they lost their balance at the same time. The stone below them cracked outward in jagged spiderwebs beneath their bodies
" What...what is going on?! My body feels... too heavy...! " Shao Yimu said as he stood slowly from the ground. The others rise slowly, just like him, even Elder Qiu seems to be affected by the pressure
" This place... is cursed... the stronger you are... the stronger the pressure... " Elder Qiu looks at Callion and thought ' I thought this place only affects Spiritual Energy, but even he is affected '
Callion stood rigid, teeth clenched, sweat instantly evaporating from his skin in ghostly wisps. The pressure pressed down on him relentlessly, like countless unseen hands trying to grind him into dust
Then *ROAR* A distant roar echoed across the horizon " Here they come! " Yin Su said, gritting his teeth
into the distance, countless silhouettes began to appear within the crimson haze. A group of Demons of different sizes and forms charged towards them
Callion raised his head, eyes cold and sharp despite the crushing force. "…So this is why the Imperial family used this place " Then *BOOM* A red aura appeared around him, a sign of his Kaio-ken being pushed 15 times, but the pressure in his body didn't ease; it kept the same force despite his increased power. Even so, Callion began to smile ' This is getting interesting '
Elder Qiu said with a low and grave voice as a transparent aura appeared around his body " This hell doesn't grant power easily " He stared into the horizon as the distant roars grew closer