Twenty minutes later.
Sweat dried, breath steady, Arceus pushed himself up again. His grip on the sword hilt tightened as they continued to journey. The next set of paths was filled with nothing but long battles against Stronger Skeleton soldiers, which were all around level 14-18, tiring him out again and again, forcing Arceus to keep taking breaks every half an hour.
And just like that, roughly two and a half hours passed in battles.
Their boots ground to a halt before an enormous obsidian gate at last. Even from outside, they could feel the heat that radiated through the cracks.
"This is it," Alaric Von Seraph muttered, pointing at the door. "The final chamber."
As Arceus nodded, panting heavily, both tired physically and mentally, Veronika patted his shoulder with a cheerful smile. "Let's take a break." Arceus smiled back and nodded. Alaric Von Seraph didn't say anything either, agreeing to a longer rest.
Arceus collapsed right away and sat cross-legged. Alaric Von Seraph wordlessly tossed him a pouch heavy with crystals.
Over the next ten minutes, light surged into him again and again. By the time the pouch was empty, his reserve had swelled up quite a bit.
[Total Mana: 8,244 / 8,244]
Seeing it is empty and sensing hefty reserves inside Arceus's body, Alaric Von Seraph nodded in satisfaction. "It appeared that your reserves still haven't hit the limit," Alaric Von Seraph said before drawing a saber from his waist and placing it across Arceus's lap. "Take this. You will need this for the final battle."
Tossing away the rusty sword he had used for a while, Arceus blinked at the weapon, then instinctively activated his Inspect skill.
[Saber of Blazing Dawn]
Grade: Epic
Effect: +30% Physical Attack
Durability: 74/100
"Oh, Epic grade? That's the same grade the daggers the system was going to give me, if I ever defeated the Guardian."
Before Arceus came out of his stupor, Alaric Von Seraph added in a flat tone. "Don't get excited. I'll take it back once this is over."
Arceus nodded calmly, "I know." He continued to pant heavily, keeping his heart rate in check, although his gaze never left the giant obsidian door.
Thirty minutes later.
The gate rumbled open, and searing air washed over them like a wave. Inside, the chamber was a volcanic cavern. Pools of molten lava bubbled violently with platforms floating across the surface like stepping stones.
And hovering above the central pool was a majestic but terrifying figure, a winged horse but with a flaming mane. Its eyes burned red as it let out a shriek that shook the platforms beneath them.
Arceus froze, gripping the saber tightly as sweat trickled down his temple. "Level-39?" His thoughts went blank at the sheer sight of it.
Infernal Pegasus
Level: 39
Grade: Epic
Element: Fire
"Now what?" he whispered in a daze, turning stiffly toward the others. Veronika's expression also changed. "This… is surprising…" The white furred cat in her arms meowed in response, as if agreeing with her thoughts.
Alaric Von Seraph clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Well done so far, Arceus. Truly. But this…" His voice grew heavy with finality as he gazed at the monster ahead. "This is beyond your ability. I didn't anticipate the lava pool, and I certainly didn't expect the boss monster to be a half–Spirit King. Those mana crystals I fed you… Three hundred thousand credits wasted." He let out a sigh as if he regretted it before adding. "Anyway, hand the saber back. Vera, order Betty to finish the job."
Arceus froze with the saber trembling in his grip. He came this far, only to give up in the end?
But then he looked at the monster and then at the holographic screen with its details. Even if he had such a high-quality saber, he still would not be a match for it.
He couldn't help but sigh and raise his hand, deciding to hand over the saber back to its original owner, but just then…
*Ding! Emergency Quest Triggered!
A familiar chime rang in his head as a new window opened with details.
Objective: Defeat the Infernal Pegasus.
Reward: Infernal Pegasus Summon Token.
"Eh?" Arceus's eyes widened. His heart pounded as he tightened his grip on the saber instead. Glancing at the beast, then the quest and the saber, he turned to the middle-aged fellow and bowed. "Master Seraph… please let me be selfish again. Subdue it and let me have the kill. The spirit king's whisper demanding me to kill it."
Alaric Von Seraph studied him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Vera, back off."
Once they all stepped inside the place and the obsidian door closed with a loud thud on its own, the Infernal Pegasus neighed loudly with flames bursting from its body as it charged right away.
Alaric Von Seraph also reacted quickly, thrusting out both palms. His mana gushed out, forming into glowing ropes. They lashed out, binding the incoming beast mid-air before dragging it out of the lava pool.
*Neigh*
The Pegasus screamed and burned away the bindings, but Alaric Von Seraph re-wove them again and again, forcing it to remain exposed.
Taking the opportunity, Arceus rushed in, slashing with the saber. Sparks erupted with each cut. The Pegasus thrashed violently, snapping the ropes before trying to burn its attacker. Arceus had to move away in reflex while Alaric Von Seraph's energy threads bound it, holding it just long enough for Arceus to return and stab or slash it.
It was a rinse and repeat method, slow and frustrating, but Arceus put up with it. They continued this way to slowly injure the infernal pegasus, again… and again.
Minutes turned into half an hour. And Infernal Pegasus looked like it was on the brink of its death. Filled with cuts and heavy injuries, it couldn't even move.
"One more strike…" Arceus's breath came ragged as he leapt high and raised the saber above his head. "Die!"
The blade descended onto its head…
But before it landed, the Pegasus exploded in radiant light.
"Not good!" Alaric Von Seraph's eyes widened.
Gaah!
A shockwave hurled Arceus across the chamber, slamming him against the wall and bouncing back. "Arceus!" Alaric Von Seraph dashed forward, catching him before he hit the lava.
Meanwhile, a white cocoon made of condensed light enveloped the monster.
Arceus, whom Alaric Von Seraph saved, coughed out a mouthful of blood, feeling extreme pain in his abdomen as if his ribcage was fractured. "Arceus…" Veronika hurried to his side in worry.
"Fu*k…" He continued to press on his abdomen and curse aloud, his face reddened in pain.
"You alright?" Veronika grabbed him, her hands roamed over his upper body as she worriedly asked. "Where did it hurt? Can you move?"
Arceus nodded, wiping off the trail of blood from his mouth. He raised his head to look at the floating cocoon of energy.
"What about it? Any idea what's going on?" He asked.
Veronika also stared at the energy cocoon and shook her head. She glanced at Alaric Von Seraph, "Uncle?" The latter immediately replied. "Evolution."
"Evolution?" Arceus and Veronika exchanged glances.
And soon, the cocoon of energy unraveled, revealing the same Pegasus, but transformed. Its infernal flames had turned into shimmering blue fire.
Veronika's face drained of color. She whispered, horrified: "It evolved into a true spirit King?"
Hellfire Pegasus
Grade: Legendary
Level: 42
Element: Fire (variant)
"Legendary?" Arceus's eyes widened, looking at its new details.