《HELL OF MAN》


 Chapter 1 : a dream in hell

    We return to the present, where Arne finds himself shackled in the third hell. His "sins"?


    (Not harming any living creature throughout his life, practicing forgiveness, resisting greed, refraining from theft, upholding good morals, and countless other noble deeds.)


    If we look closely, we see Arne bound in chains, his face sullen, a tear trickling down his cheek. His emaciated frame speaks of his torment, surviving on a single meal each week and just one cup of water daily.


    Though trapped, Arne¡¯s gaze drifts to two hell-dragons battling fiercely, 100 meters away. Yet, the scene barely piques his interest; he¡¯s seen countless fights like this, many far more spectacular.


    As his mind wanders, Arne begins to count¡ªhis anchor to sanity amidst chaos:


    "Day 2478, week 354, year 7. Cups of water: 2478. Meals: 354. Dragons: 1278."


    Counting is his lifeline, his way to avoid succumbing to the madness that consumes others in this infernal realm.


    Suddenly, one of the dragons crashes violently to the ground, landing on Arne. The impact breaks three of his ribs and shatters his chains.


    Momentarily stunned, Arne gasps, his mind racing:


    "Day 2478, week 354, year 7. Cups of water: 2478. Meals: 354. Dragons: 1278."


    He opens his eyes, struggling to comprehend what just happened. Was this real? A dream? The pain in his chest suggests otherwise. He tears a strip from his tattered clothing, binds it around his ribs, and begins to run.


    A strange sound stops him in his tracks. Turning, he sees one of the dragons lying on the ground, its leg broken.


    Despite his pain, Arne approaches the beast. With a piece of fabric and part of the broken chains, he improvises a splint for the dragon¡¯s leg. Without a second glance, he takes off, ascending a massive staircase spiraling around a bottomless pit.


    "I¡¯ll keep running," he tells himself, "until I wake up from this dream. It¡¯s oddly exhilarating."


    Out of nowhere, an Alicanto¡ªa mythical bird that feeds on gold, known to miners¡ªappears in his path.


    "What¡¯s it doing here?" Arne wonders aloud. "Shouldn¡¯t it be in a mine?"


    Thanks to his extensive knowledge of mythical creatures, Arne identifies the bird quickly. He knows it¡¯s harmless but notes its vulnerable beak.


    As the Alicanto flies away, Arne faces a choice:


    1. Curse his wretched luck.


    2. Leap and try to land on the bird¡¯s back.


    "Damn my life," Arne mutters. "If this is a dream, I might as well make it interesting."Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    He jumps, grabbing the Alicanto¡¯s tail feathers. The bird wobbles, struggling to stay airborne. Arne climbs, enduring a scratch on his leg but managing to grab its beak and pull himself up.


    As pain shoots through his leg, Arne realizes this is no dream. It¡¯s real. If he falls, he will die. But fear doesn¡¯t deter him¡ªfreedom is worth any risk.


    The Alicanto suddenly crashes into a wall, sending Arne tumbling. He manages to land on a nearby ledge. Ahead, the staircase continues, but there¡¯s no help in sight.


    "Damn it," Arne grumbles. "If I¡¯d cursed that school bully, I¡¯d be in heaven by now. What rotten luck!"


    From below, a familiar sound rises. The blue dragon he helped earlier is flying toward him.


    The dragon, initially hostile, charges an electric attack. Desperate, Arne hurls his shirt at the dragon¡¯s snout. Sniffing it, the dragon pauses.


    "Oh, it¡¯s you!" the dragon exclaims. "Hahaha! Sorry, didn¡¯t recognize you."


    "Wait, dragons can talk?!" Arne stammers.


    "Hahaha! Foolish human," the dragon replies. "I¡¯m a Chinese dragon. Of course, I can talk!"


    Fascinated, Arne introduces himself. The dragon, calling himself Zeus, explains his name:


    "I thought giving myself a name was clever. Since I wield lightning, I chose Zeus, after the legendary god. I just hope he doesn¡¯t turn out to be real and accuse me of impersonation!"


    Arne smiles. "I¡¯m Arne, and I¡¯m trying to escape hell."


    Zeus¡¯s tone turns serious. "No one escapes hell. But you saved my life, so I¡¯m at your service."


    Zeus crouches low, and Arne climbs onto his back. With a mighty push, Zeus takes flight, ascending toward the gate of the second hell. As they near, they spot two Japanese dragons and three Amphisbaenas¡ªserpents with glowing eyes and two heads¡ªguarding the entrance.


    Zeus grins. "Let¡¯s make this quick."


    Before Arne can reply, Zeus unleashes a powerful electric blast, instantly frying one of the Amphisbaenas. The remaining two serpents slither toward him, their fangs bared. Zeus twists and turns, dodging their attacks with surprising agility. He chomps down on the second serpent, shattering one head, while slamming the other into the jagged walls of the gate.


    But the third Amphisbaena retaliates, piercing Zeus¡¯s side with one of its fangs.


    Seeing Zeus falter, Arne leaps off his back, grabs a discarded blade from the ground, and faces the serpent. Though dwarfed by its size, Arne¡¯s nimbleness keeps him one step ahead. He slashes at the creature¡¯s neck, finally pushing it off the ledge and into the abyss below.


    With the serpents defeated, only the two Japanese dragons remain. Zeus lunges, decapitating one with a single bite. The second retaliates, its fiery breath scorching Zeus¡¯s scales.


    Arne seizes the moment, climbing the massive dragon¡¯s back. As it thrashes, he drives his blade into its skull, silencing it.


    The path to the steel gate is now clear.


    Zeus, wounded but still defiant, charges his most powerful electric attack. Lightning arcs from his body and slams into the gate, but it holds firm.


    Arne paces, thinking. "Wait¡­ Chinese dragons can absorb powers from the creatures they consume, right?"


    Zeus narrows his eyes. "And why should I believe you? You didn¡¯t even know I could talk."


    "The books didn¡¯t mention that," Arne retorts. "But trust me. Eat the Japanese dragon¡¯s heart and see for yourself."


    Zeus hesitates, then shrugs. "Fine. What¡¯s the worst that could happen?"


    He rips into the fallen dragon, consuming its heart. A surge of heat courses through his body as flames erupt uncontrollably from his mouth. Zeus laughs. "Well, that was unexpected. Let¡¯s see what I can do now!"


    He switches between fire and electricity, marveling at his newfound abilities.


    Arne points to the gate. "Try melting it!"


    Zeus unleashes a torrent of fire, the gate glowing red before collapsing into molten slag. They step through, entering the second hell.


    ---


    The second hell greets them with a vast, barren wasteland. Thousands of souls, their eyes hollow and faces devoid of hope, turn toward them.


    Zeus chuckles nervously. "What a welcome party. Perfect for practicing my fire powers."


    He exhales flames, but the souls remain unharmed, their forms unfazed by his attacks. Zeus switches to electricity, unleashing a high-voltage blast. Still, the souls stand firm.


    "Damn it!" Zeus growls. "What now?"


    Arne scratches his head. "Maybe they¡¯re resistant to physical attacks. I read about machines that vacuum souls into oblivion¡­"


    Zeus rolls his eyes. "Machines? That¡¯s your plan?"


    Before Arne can reply, Zeus inhales deeply, attempting to draw the souls into his mouth.


    "No! Stop!" Arne screams.


    Zeus exhales, releasing a massive burst of fire. The souls disintegrate into ash.


    "See?" Zeus smirks. "Problem solved. And you doubted me."


    Arne sighs. "You¡¯re a genius, Zeus. A terrifying, reckless genius."


    The pair presses onward, their path lined with glowing stones and flickering shadows. The second hell feels less oppressive but no less dangerous.


    As they venture deeper, Arne notices symbols carved into the ground. "These markings¡­ they¡¯re traps. Step carefully, or we¡¯re toast."


    Zeus huffs. "I¡¯m flying, genius. You¡¯re the one with feet."


    Arne rolls his eyes and begins navigating the maze-like path. Zeus hovers above, scanning for threats. Suddenly, a metallic clang echoes. A massive, spiked gate descends, cutting off their path.


    "Another gate?" Zeus groans.


    This one is different¡ªengraved with ancient runes and glowing faintly. Arne studies it, piecing together its meaning.


    "It¡¯s a riddle," he says. "Solve it, and the gate opens."


    Zeus snorts. "Great. I hate riddles."


    Arne reads aloud:


    "I am not alive, but I can grow. I don¡¯t have lungs, but I need air. What am I?"


    Zeus scratches his chin. "A dragon?"


    Arne glares at him. "No. The answer is fire."


    As he speaks the word, the gate dissolves into embers, revealing the path ahead.


    "See?" Arne smirks. "Brains over brawn."


    Zeus grumbles. "Next time, let¡¯s smash it."


    The journey through the second hell continues, with new dangers and challenges awaiting th


    em. Together, Arne and Zeus form an unlikely duo¡ªone relying on wit, the other on raw power¡ªas they strive to escape the infernal depths.


    End of Chapter.

 Chapter 2 : The great city of circia

    Chapter 2: The Great City of Circia.


    We return to the story after Zeus has incinerated the souls and slain them.


    Arni ascended upon Zeus''s back, and together they soared forward through vast, open stretches of hell.


    After what seemed like a long time of flight, they saw a massive iron dome with a gate, guarded by two sentinels standing before it.


    Zeus sped toward the dome, unleashing a bolt of lightning upon the guards, burning them with a voltage so high that only their charred bones remained.


    He opened the gate and entered, only to find three more guards waiting. Without hesitation, he struck them down with lightning, unnoticed by the common folk nearby.


    Arni: "The city is vast, sprawling, with guards scattered in every corner. Must we enter?"


    Zeus: "The only way to cross through the second hell is to ascend the stairs leading to the first hell, and they lie within this city."


    Arni turned to face Zeus but found a stranger standing before him.


    Arni, hurriedly: "Excuse me, I¡¯m lost. Can you help me?"


    The man laughed: "Ha ha ha! Foolish coward, it is I¡ªZeus! Didn¡¯t you know that Eastern dragons can take human form? Ha ha ha!"


    Arni: "Never mind, let¡¯s disguise ourselves as guards and enter."


    Arni and Zeus donned the uniforms of the guards they had defeated and entered the city.


    As they walked through the streets, Arni saw a towering spire that reached the very apex of the dome, with a platform on one side that looked like it was meant for speeches.


    He stopped and inquired of Zeus about the tower.


    Zeus: "I don¡¯t know. This is my first time in this city."


    Arni stopped a passerby and asked him about the tower.


    Arni: "Good sir, could you tell me about that great tower over there?"


    The man fled, shouting: "Intruders! Intruders! Intruders!"


    Arni and Zeus fled swiftly, pursued by many guards.


    They dashed into a nearby tavern and sat waiting for the guards to arrive. When they did, they pretended to be part of the guard.


    The captain of the guard entered, and all the soldiers bowed to him, including Arni and Zeus, to avoid revealing their true identities.


    Captain Mira: "You two, where are your weapons?"Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Zeus: "They were broken in a skirmish with a man and a dragon at the city gate. We lost four soldiers there, but the man and dragon escaped."


    Captain Mira: "Fetch new weapons and take your positions immediately."


    Zeus and Arni: "At once, sir."


    They went to a guard camp to retrieve spears (the primary weapon in Circia).


    Arni and Zeus wandered the city, and to avoid suspicion, they walked alongside a battalion of guards.


    Along the way, the battalion encountered a group of thieves¡ªpoor bandits scattered throughout the city.


    The guards clashed with the thieves.


    Zeus: "Let¡¯s leave them. Let¡¯s go now."


    Arni: "I don¡¯t want to. I haven¡¯t trained in combat. How can I leave when I don¡¯t know how to fight?"


    Zeus: "I¡¯ll watch from the back."


    Arni engaged one of the thieves.


    Thief: "You don¡¯t seem to know how to wield that weapon. Are you new here?"


    Arni: "Silence and focus, or you¡¯ll lose."


    Arni slashed the thief across his chest.


    Thief: "You fool! How dare you?"


    The thief lost his composure and with all his might, struck at Arni¡¯s head.


    Arni swiftly dodged the blow and countered, driving his spear into the thief¡¯s chest, killing him.


    Arni: "Impulsiveness and haste are the greatest mistakes one can make in battle."


    Zeus: "Let¡¯s go, great one. We must escape quickly."


    Arni and Zeus disengaged from the skirmish and continued on their way.


    They passed a shop and overheard a conversation between two men:


    "I heard a man and a dragon arrived in the city, killed some guards, and fled. It doesn¡¯t make sense¡ªthey killed guards and ran. They must have sneaked in, especially since two of the guards were without their official uniforms. They must have taken the uniforms and entered. After all, some dragons can transform into human form."


    Zeus and Arni exchanged an uneasy glance and continued on their path.


    While walking, a little girl named Lina approached them.


    Lina: "Wow! You two are from outside the dome, right? How exciting! Can you tell me what lies beyond?"


    Arni, flustered: "That¡¯s not true, girl. Leave here quickly."


    Lina: "Liar! No guard wears their uniform like that. That¡¯s the wrong and forbidden way to wear it! And you, sir, are no human¡ªyou¡¯re a dragon."


    Zeus picked her up in his arms and ran to a quiet alley.


    Zeus: "Don¡¯t tell anyone you saw us, alright?"


    Lina: "Alright, alright! But tell me, what¡¯s out there?"


    Zeus: "Just empty spaces."


    Lina: "So the stories I read were fantasies. Damn!"


    Arni: "Girl, can you tell me what that great tower is?"


    Lina: "That¡¯s the dome¡¯s tower. The father gives speeches there, and it¡¯s said to house the stairs to the first hell. That¡¯s why it¡¯s forbidden to enter."


    Arni: "Thank you."


    Arni and Zeus hurried to the tower, where they found the gate unguarded and entered, assuming the guise of tower guards.


    They ascended to the first floor, where three large, armored men stood¡ªSolz warriors, seasoned swordsmen.


    Zeus considered returning to his dragon form and attacking them with fire, but the Solz easily evaded his strikes. He then decided to use lightning, as their armor was made of iron.


    Zeus unleashed a bolt of lightning on one of them, electrocuting him until his body was reduced to ash.


    From out of nowhere, blue swords struck Zeus from a distance, and he saw a Solz warrior using magic.


    Zeus rushed toward the magician, who was slow due to casting, and bit him in half.


    Only one Solz warrior remained. He drew a massive sword, hoping to cleave Zeus¡¯s head in one strike, but the blade was too heavy for swift movement. Zeus struck him with his tail, pinning him to the wall.


    Zeus, now in human form: "Arni, you must learn swordsmanship to protect yourself."


    They continued their ascent and entered a large room filled with circular artifacts, each bearing a name, but one stood apart, protected by stronger defenses than the rest.


    Arni asked Zeus to break the glass that protected it so he could take it, and Zeus complied, smashing the glass. Arni looked at the plaque beneath it, which read "Ashen Raven," and examined the other artifacts. He noticed one marked "Light Dragon, Caitlyn," the mightiest dragon in history, whose body had vanished.


    Zeus took the artifact, and they continued their journey, unaware of its true significance.


    As they walked, they saw a speaker¡¯s platform with a man saying strange things. He turned and attacked them.


    Zeus tried to unleash fire and lightning, but a hidden shield protected the man. They fled swiftly.


    The man on the platform shouted: "Follow them! I¡¯ll finish my speech."


    Arni and Zeus reached the gate to the first hell, and finding no guards, they quickly melted the gate and entered the first hell. Zeus breathed fire into the tower from above, incinerating


    everyone inside, and they continued their path into the first hell.


    End of Chapter.!

 Chapter 3 : old friend

    Chapter 3 : old friend


    At the Gate


    Zeus and Arni stepped into the First Hell, a place that resembled an enchanted fairy village more than the feared underworld.


    ¡°We¡¯re getting close to the exit,¡± Zeus said, his tone calm but firm.


    Arni interrupted, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.


    ¡°That means it¡¯s going to get harder. We need to stay vigilant.¡±


    They paused to take in the surreal beauty of the First Hell. It was nothing like the fiery inferno they had expected. Towering trees stretched into the heavens, their leaves casting shimmering shadows under a black sky glittering with stars. A grand castle, like something out of a fantasy tale, loomed in the distance. The air was filled with the intoxicating scent of rare roses.


    Suddenly, a sharp blow landed on the back of Arni''s head. He whirled around, dagger in hand, and struck the figure behind him with precision. To his astonishment, it was an elderly man.


    Panic flickered across Arni¡¯s face as he withdrew the blade. The old man laughed, seemingly unbothered by the wound.


    ¡°Well done! You¡¯ve struck me! Hahaha!¡±


    The man plucked the dagger from his neck with ease and handed it back to Arni. Before Arni¡¯s eyes, the wound closed as if it had never existed.


    ¡°Who are you, sorcerer?¡± Arni demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.


    The old man circled him, his gaze inquisitive.


    ¡°Where did you get this fruit? It feels¡­ stolen.¡±


    Arni¡¯s brow furrowed in confusion.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Leave me alone with your talk of sorcery. Let me pass.¡±


    With a smirk, the old man reached into Arni¡¯s pocket and pulled out the Rain Crow Orb.


    ¡°This is the fruit. Strange that you possess it but know nothing about it.¡±


    Before Arni could respond, a massive stone fell from above, crushing the man¡¯s leg. He collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain.


    ¡°Help me! Please, help me!¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Zeus and Arni exchanged a glance. Without a word, Arni took the orb and continued forward, leaving the old man behind.


    ---


    The pair pressed on toward the castle, which rested atop a colossal tree. In front of the tree was a weeping wooden door, its tears of blood gleaming faintly in the dim light. Guarding the door were two enormous crystal dogs, each with three heads.


    Zeus tried to burn the creatures, but their crystalline bodies were impervious to fire. Electricity coursed through them without effect. Frustrated, Zeus transformed into his dragon form.


    ¡°We¡¯ll fly up,¡± he said. ¡°Fighting them is a waste of time.¡±


    As they reached the top, they were met by an army of crystal warriors. Zeus hesitated, unsure of how to defeat them.


    ¡°Lie flat on my back,¡± he instructed Arni.


    ¡°What?¡± Arni asked, puzzled.


    ¡°Just do it,¡± Zeus replied.


    Reluctantly, Arni obeyed. Zeus took a deep breath and launched himself headfirst into the army. The impact shattered the crystal soldiers but left Zeus gravely wounded, with shards embedded in his body and a deep gash over his eye.


    Zeus reverted to his human form, collapsing from exhaustion. Arni quickly tended to his wounds with leaves from the massive tree.


    ---


    As they rested, the castle doors swung open, revealing seven hulking beasts. Though weakened, Zeus forced himself to transform again. He retreated slowly, unleashing a torrent of fire. The flames didn¡¯t burn the beasts but instead propelled shattered crystal shards from the ground into their thick scales, piercing and killing them.


    Zeus coughed, his voice tinged with sarcasm.


    ¡°Well, that was easier than the crystal army.¡±


    They pressed onward, entering the castle¡¯s opulent halls. Inside, they encountered a battalion of powerful fairies immune to fire, electricity, and physical attacks. After a brief rest, Zeus insisted they continue despite Arni¡¯s protests.


    While exploring, Arni accidentally wandered into the advisors¡¯ chamber. Realizing his mistake, he fled, stumbling into another room. There, he met a strikingly handsome man with auburn curls and a muscular build.


    ¡°Ah, visitors!¡± the man exclaimed, his voice warm. ¡°This is a rare delight. Where are you from?¡±


    Arni hesitated, fumbling for words.


    ¡°Uh¡­we came¡­from¡ª¡±


    The man interrupted with a knowing smile.


    ¡°Ah, messengers from Priest Baradok of Heaven. Welcome! I am Hades, the King of Hell.¡±


    Arni, thinking quickly, nodded.


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s us. Baradok sent us.¡±


    ¡°Excellent. Come, let me show you something,¡± Hades said, leading them into a room dominated by a massive device rising from a pit.


    ¡°This machine will change the world forever.¡±


    Before they could respond, another figure entered. Hades greeted him warmly.


    ¡°Ah, Priest Victory. What brings you here?¡±


    Victory pointed at Arni and Zeus.


    ¡°These two are impostors, my king. They came from the Second Hell seeking passage to Heaven.¡±


    Hades¡¯ smile faded. Without hesitation, he shoved Arni and Zeus into the pit.


    ---


    Zeus transformed mid-fall, attempting to save Arni, but failed. Arni struck the ground headfirst and died instantly.


    Grief-stricken, Zeus carried Arni¡¯s body far from the castle, burying him beneath a tree.


    In the void of death, Arni¡¯s consciousness stirred.


    ¡°I¡¯m really dead... What now? True Hell?¡±


    From the shadows, a voice spoke.


    ¡°So, this failure is my heir. How disappointing.¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Arni demanded, his voice trembling.


    ¡°I am Karubo, the Rain Crow, ruler of the Second World,¡± the figure replied. ¡°And you hold my fruit. I can grant you my power.¡±


    ¡°Does that mean I¡¯ll live again?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Karubo said with a smirk. ¡°But there¡¯s a price. I¡¯ll use your body for 20 minutes whenever I wish.¡±


    Desperate, Arni agreed.


    ---


    Revived, Arni allowed Karubo to take control. Transforming into a flock of crows, Karubo returned to Hades¡¯ castle.


    Sensing the approaching power, Hades prepared for battle. But upon seeing Karubo, he lowered his weapon.


    ¡°How could I forget your aura, Karubo?¡±


    The two conversed like old friends. When Karubo relinquished control, Arni explained his mission. Hades, amused, provided the location of Heaven¡¯s Stairway and gifted them weapons.


    Reunited with Zeus, Arni promised to explain everything. Together, they ascended, leaving behind an unlikely ally in the King of Hell.


    ---


    Meanwhile, in the Second Hell, Priest Danger discovered the theft of the Light Dragon¡¯s Fruit and the Rai


    n Crow¡¯s Fruit. Enraged, he vowed to hunt down Arni and Zeus, determined to reclaim the stolen treasures.


    To be continued¡­

 Chapter 4 : surprise under the table

    Chapter 4 : surprise under the table


    Arnie and Zeus stepped into the garden, exhaustion etched on their faces after enduring countless hardships. The unknown loomed before them, igniting a sense of unease. Though both were tense and afraid, they masked their fear, unwilling to appear cowardly in each other¡¯s eyes. Determined to press forward, their resolve was abruptly interrupted as two strangers emerged from the shadows, striking them from behind.


    Arnie succumbed instantly, collapsing unconscious, but Zeus, resilient and unyielding, retaliated. Sparks ignited around him as he unleashed a surge of electricity, burning their assailants to ash. As the smoke cleared, Zeus glanced down and was startled to find Arnie lying beneath him, lifeless.


    ¡°Come on, man, seriously?¡± Zeus muttered as he shook him. ¡°Wake up, damn it!¡±


    Arnie stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. He groggily met Zeus¡¯s gaze and smirked weakly. ¡°Why are you staring at me like that? Did I wet myself or something? Wait a second¡­ who were those guys? And did you seriously turn into a dragon to fry them? Damn it, we¡¯ve been exposed!¡±


    Zeus rolled his eyes. ¡°I didn¡¯t transform. Lightning is my essence¡ªit doesn¡¯t require a form. Fire, on the other hand, needs a vessel to manifest, hence the dragon form.¡±


    The pair trudged onward, arriving at a glimmering town nestled within the garden. Everything shimmered in white and gold, from the smallest building to the grandest tower. At the town¡¯s center stood a colossal palace, its spires reaching toward the heavens. Atop the palace was an enormous statue of the king, his figure dwarfed only by the mountain beside him, gazing imperiously down at his subjects.


    ¡°Now that¡¯s some eccentric taste,¡± Arnie quipped, his tone laced with sarcasm.


    ¡°What¡¯s taste?¡± Zeus asked, puzzled.


    Arnie chuckled. ¡°Something you¡¯ll never need to understand.¡±


    Their journey took them to a bustling restaurant, where Zeus declared, ¡°I¡¯m starving, and it¡¯s not my fault. Let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Inside, they ordered food and settled into idle conversation. Zeus leaned in. ¡°You never told me what happened when you died. It was surreal¡ªyou turned into a flock of ravens and were¡­ drinking tea with Hades?¡±


    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Arnie paused, setting down his fork. ¡°Do you remember the fruits we stole from that strange room on Hell¡¯s second floor? The old man said they were powerful. When I died, I encountered someone who called himself the Rain Crow¡­ or something like that.¡±


    A deep, disembodied voice interrupted: ¡°I hear you. My name is the Rain Crow.¡±


    Arnie froze, his voice trembling. ¡°Y-yeah, I heard you, I heard you¡­¡±


    Zeus sighed, unimpressed. ¡°You¡¯ve officially lost it. Just finish your story.¡±


    Clearing his throat, Arnie continued. ¡°Right. So, the Rain Crow told me he could use my body whenever he wanted for twenty minutes at a time. In exchange, he brought me back to life. After that, he left to chat with Hades. Turns out, they¡¯re buddies. Crazy buddies. And that¡¯s how I¡¯m here.¡±


    Zeus chuckled. ¡°That¡¯ll make a fantastic bedtime story for kids.¡±


    After finishing their meal, they slipped out unnoticed and resumed their search for the priest Baradoc. The streets were lined with shops, merchants bustling to secure their goods.


    In one dimly lit room, a man cursed under his breath, ¡°Damn you, Hades, for sending us these two fools!¡±


    Another man addressed him, ¡°Priest Baradoc, what should we do with them?¡±


    The speaker, revealed as Priest Danger, dismissed the question with a wave. Rising from his chair, he called out, ¡°Cobra! Cobra! Get over here!¡±


    Cobra, leaning casually against a wall, replied with a smirk, ¡°What is it now, Baradoc? Your shouting is giving me a headache.¡±


    Baradoc gestured toward Zeus and Arnie. ¡°Take these idiots to the exit gate. Get them out of my sight.¡±


    Without a word, Cobra motioned for them to follow. As they walked, Arnie and Zeus noticed the peculiar metallic fang protruding from Cobra¡¯s wrist. When they asked about it, Cobra merely cast them a disdainful glance and lit a cigarette.


    The journey led them to the palace, an architectural marvel with open ceilings revealing the sky. Cobra explained the plan: they would sneak in through the back. His metallic fang extended into a chain, ending in a neutron-steel scythe, which he used to break a rear window. Inside, Cobra quickly dispatched three kitchen servants with swift, lethal precision.


    Arnie stared in horror at the scene, but Cobra barked, ¡°Strip them. Wear their clothes. We need to blend in.¡±


    Disguised as servants, they carried trays of food into the king¡¯s chamber. The king, Amun the Great, sat in a throne of unparalleled splendor. His thin frame, long white beard, and downcast gaze projected an aura of otherworldly arrogance. Cobra whispered, ¡°He believes nothing is above him. To look up would mean acknowledging superiority, which he refuses to do.¡±


    Their next challenge was the councilors¡¯ chamber, a critical passage to the exit gate. The councilors were deep in discussion, plotting to destroy Baradoc¡¯s hidden sanctuary. Alarmed, Cobra grabbed Zeus and Arnie, fleeing through the open ceiling. Zeus transformed into a dragon, carrying them to Baradoc¡¯s hideout, only to find it obliterated.


    The scene was devastating¡ªdust, blood, and the screams of the dying filled the air. Cobra knelt beside Baradoc¡¯s severed head, tears streaking his face as he removed the priest¡¯s necklace and donned it. With a heavy heart, he burned the remains of his comrades.


    Turning to Zeus, Cobra growled, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to escape? Let¡¯s go. Transform again and burn that wretched palace to the ground.¡±


    Zeus complied, raining fire down upon the palace as they soared above. The flames consumed everything, and in his final moments, the king looked up¡ªhis last sight was Zeus in dragon form.


    They arrived at the gate, where Cobra used the necklace to unlock it. Arnie asked, ¡°How did you open it now when we didn¡¯t have it earlier?¡±


    Zeus smirked. ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern. This isn¡¯t about you. I¡¯m done being a slave.¡±


    As they stepped through, a voice echoed: ¡°Well done. You¡¯ve passed the First Hell.¡±


    Meanwhile, back in Hell, Priest Danger effortlessly annihilated Hades¡¯ forces. Hades descended from the heavens, his voice resonating with fury. ¡°So, it¡¯s you. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d show, but now we settle this once and for all.¡±


    Danger smirked, cracking his knuckles. ¡°Bring it on.¡±


    End of Chapter.

 Chapter 5 : a meal near the forest

    Chapter Five: A Meal Near the Forest


    The door creaked open, resisting their push as though it, too, feared the world beyond. A dense plume of dust erupted, engulfing Arni, Zeus, and Cobra in a suffocating haze. Cobra shielded his face with his arm, while Arni quickly pulled the royal guard¡¯s scarf tighter around his mouth and nose. Zeus, unbothered, released a powerful exhale of heated air, scattering the dust with a draconic blast.


    What lay beyond the door wasn¡¯t salvation. It was ruin.


    A desolate town sprawled before them, its skeletal remains blanketed by thick ash. Dust hung in the air, and the sun was a dim, pale orb hidden behind layers of filth. The stench was overpowering¡ªa revolting medley of decaying flesh, stagnant water, and something eerily chemical. Arni instinctively coughed, the acrid air biting at his lungs.


    ¡°This... this is what the outside world looks like?¡± Zeus muttered, his voice heavy with disappointment. His golden eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the shattered remnants of life. ¡°Honestly, Arni, if this is what freedom looks like, I¡¯m not sure it was worth it.¡±


    Arni¡¯s gaze lingered on the ruins. ¡°This isn¡¯t right,¡± he said, his voice resolute. ¡°The world isn¡¯t supposed to look like this.¡± He turned to Cobra. ¡°Do you know what could¡¯ve happened here?¡±


    Cobra shook his head, his expression grim. ¡°No idea. But I suggest we move. Staying here won¡¯t do us any good.¡±


    They ventured into the town, their boots crunching against the cracked and dusty ground. The further they walked, the more surreal their surroundings became. Broken homes stood like gravestones, their windows shattered. Schools and shops lay abandoned, their interiors stripped of life. Every step brought a new wave of despair, as though the town itself mourned its demise.


    As they passed a decrepit caf¨¦, Arni faltered.


    Zeus noticed and raised an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost. Do you know this place?¡±


    Arni shook his head, offering a faint, melancholic smile. ¡°No. It¡¯s just... before all this, I always wanted to visit a caf¨¦. Sit down with someone, order a bitter coffee, and just... forget the world for a while.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Zeus snorted. ¡°Romantic nonsense. Dragons don¡¯t waste time on trivialities like that.¡± He glanced at Cobra. ¡°What do you think? Is the dust getting to him?¡±


    Cobra smirked, lighting a cigarette. ¡°Must be. All this ash in the air is probably messing with his head.¡±


    Unbeknownst to them, a shadow moved in the distance. Watching. Listening. Caribou, unseen and silent, observed the trio with a predator¡¯s patience, his sharp eyes gleaming in the dim light.


    As they pressed deeper into the ruins, Arni began noticing something odd. Dead animals¡ªrabbits, birds, even stray dogs¡ªlittered the area. Their bodies showed signs of swelling, and their eyes were glazed over as if death had been slow and cruel.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± Arni said, crouching by a dead hare. He pointed to its matted fur and swollen belly. ¡°This isn¡¯t natural. Look at the lesions on its skin.¡±


    Cobra frowned, lowering his cigarette. ¡°Infections. Maybe tularemia. This place isn¡¯t just dead¡ªit¡¯s diseased.¡±


    Zeus wrinkled his nose, sniffing the air. ¡°The smell¡¯s getting worse. Rot. Decay. And something... metallic.¡±


    Arni stood, his face pale. ¡°We need to be careful. If there¡¯s an outbreak here, it could be dangerous.¡±


    The trio moved cautiously now, their eyes scanning every shadow. When they came upon a burned-out house, Zeus stiffened. ¡°Do you smell that?¡±


    Arni sniffed the air and nodded. ¡°Smoke. Fresh.¡±


    Zeus transformed into his dragon form without warning. ¡°Hold on!¡± he roared, and with a powerful leap, he launched them into the air.


    The burning house came into view, its remaining structure collapsing under the flames. Zeus landed with a gust of wind, extinguishing the fire with a single beat of his wings. The air was thick with ash and embers as the three approached the smoldering ruins.


    Cobra bent down, picking up a tarnished locket from the dirt. Opening it, he found a photograph of a father and daughter. His jaw tightened. Without a word, he removed the photo and tossed it aside.


    ¡°I¡¯ll check the perimeter,¡± he muttered, disappearing behind the house.


    There, away from the others, he pulled out his own chain, transforming it into a scythe. From his pocket, he retrieved a lighter, a pack of cigarettes, and an old photograph of himself with his mother. The picture showed a younger Cobra, his face free of scars, his smile untainted by pain. Carefully, he cut the photo to fit into the locket, snapping it shut before slipping it around his neck.


    Back at the ruins, Arni crouched by a pile of debris. ¡°Zeus,¡± he called, ¡°look at this.¡±


    Zeus approached, his brow furrowed. ¡°What now?¡±


    Arni held up a plate of food. ¡°It¡¯s still warm.¡±


    Zeus rolled his eyes. ¡°Of course it¡¯s warm. The house just burned down.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Arni said, his voice steady. ¡°This wasn¡¯t burned. It¡¯s fresh. Someone cooked this.¡±


    Cobra rejoined them, his cigarette glowing faintly in the dim light. ¡°So what? Do we sit down and eat? Or do we figure out who¡¯s been here?¡±


    Arni stood, his eyes fixed on the forest beyond the village. ¡°If there¡¯s a reason for all of this¡ªthe fire, the disease¡ªit¡¯s in there.¡±


    Without another word, they turned toward the forest, the trees looming like silent sentinels, guarding the secrets within.


    End of Chapter.

 Chapter 6 : The raven with the fire scar

    Chapter 6: The Raven with the Fire Scar


    After noticing the hot food and the house burning, and investigating the matter, Arni, Zeus, and Cobra concluded that the source of the fire was coming from near the forest beside them. The incident happened less than half an hour ago, due to the hot food.


    The trio decided to enter the forest, trying to discover the cause of what was happening in the area.


    With cautious steps, the trio walked between the branches. The birds'' calls were loud, the trees were tall and damp, unlike the ground, which was a hard, dry swamp. Ash surrounded them, covering the forest like fog, obscuring their vision.


    Arni: "Come closer to me. We don''t want to lose anyone. We don''t know what''s here or if it''s dangerous."


    They continued walking until they encountered something black and thin on the ground.


    Cobra noticed it and said: "Arni, Zeus, what is that thing over there?"


    Arni advised them not to touch it, as they didn¡¯t know what this place was or what was inside it.


    Zeus scoffed at Arni''s words, arrogantly relying on his strength.


    Zeus approached the shape and picked it up.


    He was surprised by what he saw, then carried it back to the trio, handing it to Arni, who was speechless at the sight.


    What he saw was the burnt and charred body of a child. There were no features to identify it, only its outward shape.


    Arni appeared shocked by what he saw: "It seems that what¡¯s here is no trivial matter. Burning a wooden house, any fool could do that with a match, but turning a child to ash... what did this, carries a flame like no other."


    Cobra responded: "Did you forget that we burned and destroyed an entire palace in Heaven just a few hours ago? This is nothing compared to that. Zeus would be much stronger than this."


    Arni was convinced by Cobra''s words and regained his focus to continue their journey, exploring the forest around them. The bird calls had disappeared, the trees were no longer damp, some had withered. The ash in the air now carried a hot breeze, and the atmosphere grew tense, the climate around them changing.


    As they walked, Arni stepped on something on the ground and broke it. He looked down to see what he had stepped on, and it was a charred man.


    They continued walking, finding more ashes, birds, animals, and even people, all charred on the ground.


    Melted metal pieces barely held any of their old features.


    There were tools like picks, sickles, and primitive wooden weapons scattered around the charred bodies, along with straw hats.


    Arni understood what had happened: "These are the villagers. They gathered here with their weapons, trying to stop whatever was here, but in the end, they were all burned. They were prepared."


    Cobra and Zeus focused their attention as Arni closed his eyes, attempting to communicate with Karobo.


    Arni: "Hey, Raven of Rain, are you there? Can you hear me? I¡¯m talking to you, don¡¯t ignore me."


    Karobo¡¯s voice echoed loudly in response: "What¡¯s happening around you? What do you want?"


    Arni: "Can you see what¡¯s around us now?"


    Karobo: "Yes, I always see."


    Arni: "We might need you later. Do you still want to leave?"


    Karobo: "I decide when I leave. Don¡¯t try to use me."


    Arni: "I don¡¯t know what¡¯s out there, but if it¡¯s really strong, you¡¯re the one who can defeat it, no doubt about it."Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Karobo appeared from the darkness, meeting Arni face to face to speak with him: "Are you this weak, little one?"


    Arni: "I¡¯ve never fought a real battle before. I don¡¯t have any powers like the others around us."


    Karobo vanished in the blink of an eye.


    Arni opened his eyes to find Karobo right in front of him. He felt something in his stomach, a sharp pain and dampness, something leaking from him and something else inside.


    He looked down to see his stomach, pierced by a massive sword that entered his belly and exited through his back. Karobo laughed, holding the sword high with Arni hanging from it, moving him swiftly and throwing Arni away.


    Arni was struggling to breathe and felt like he was about to die. His vision began to fade when Karobo appeared before him again, picking him up and placing him back on his feet. Suddenly, Arni felt better, his breathing returning, and he looked down at his stomach to find it unscathed.


    Arni, terrified, asked: "How did you do that?"


    Karobo: "You¡¯re in my world now. Everything is under my control. I am the god here, and when I leave, I am a god as well. I do as I please."


    Then Karobo changed his tone to seriousness and said to Arni: "Outside, there are strong people. You¡¯re too weak to stand with them. Even your friends, all of you are weak. You won¡¯t last much longer out here. But don¡¯t worry, I can help you a little since this place is a bit boring. Come train with me from time to time."


    Arni opened his eyes to find himself back in the forest at the exact moment, as if nothing had happened and no time had passed. He looked at Cobra and Zeus, who exchanged puzzled glances with him.


    Arni looked around, thinking about what Karobo had said about the danger of this place, and said: "I think we should pull back. I¡¯m not feeling reassured."


    Cobra glanced at Arni dismissively: "What¡¯s wrong with you? You look like a rock hit your head. You¡¯re acting really strange. Calm down, coward. I¡¯ll check on you."


    Zeus laughed, and they continued on their way, forcing Arni to follow them.


    The farther they went, the hotter the air became. The ash in the air turned into a gray smoke, more than just ash. The atmosphere was scorching, and the corpses continued to scatter. Everyone in the village had been killed here. There was no sound of wind, no life, no scent. Even the air had lost its color. Everything around them was black and white. The trees were no longer trees, and the ground was no longer earth. All that surrounded them was scattered ash.


    As they walked further, the features of the forest began to fade. The trees had completely disappeared, and the place was barren, empty. All that lay before them was a mound of sand and scattered ash, surrounded by a heat aura.


    The trio understood that what they were searching for was there.


    They decided to climb the mound, walking on the hot, scattered dirt. Just being in the place was enough to make them sweat and feel exhausted by the heat.


    Zeus couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, as his human form exhausted him greatly. He decided to revert to his dragon form to gain resistance to the heat and fly to the top of the mound faster.


    Arni and Cobra climbed onto Zeus, both tense, flying toward the mound¡¯s peak. With every approach, the heat intensified, and even Zeus wasn¡¯t used to this kind of heat.


    The features at the top of the mound began to appear. The view was very strange. The top of the mound was entirely empty, except for one thing: a glowing blue point in the center.


    Zeus tried to fly above it, but with the high heat and the steam rising, Zeus was pushed further upwards, throwing him off course, landing far from the blue point.


    Zeus, Arni, and Cobra got up, and Cobra spoke nervously to Zeus and Arni: "I think coming here was a mistake, but there¡¯s no turning back now. I¡¯ll get closer to see what this is."


    Arni and Zeus also approached Cobra, and just as they did, they heard a loud, coarse voice, crying in pain, screaming: "Please, please, leave me alone!"


    As Cobra got closer, he pulled out his chain, turning it into a sickle. The blue flame stopped crying when it heard the sound, and then it screamed at the top of its lungs, terror running through the trio¡¯s bodies. The blue flame turned around, revealing a flaming body with no features, no limbs¡ªjust a floating skull in the heart of a blazing blue fire.


    Zeus froze in shock and transformed back into his dragon form, trying to extinguish the fire with his wings. Meanwhile, Cobra ran, holding his sickle, trying to strike.


    Zeus¡¯s flapping didn¡¯t help at all with the fire. Every time it scattered, it reignited like an eternal flame.


    The burning figure launched a fiery wave from its body, knocking Cobra away several meters, while it shot fiery rays that brought Zeus to the ground.


    Throughout all this, Arni stood frozen, unable to move. He had never seen anything like this before. He didn¡¯t know what to do since he had nothing to defend himself with.


    Zeus and Cobra got back up, trying to do something to stop this creature. Zeus flew up, charging a lightning strike, hoping to damage the fire man. He released it with all his might, and the force of his strike created enough waves to push Cobra and Arni back several meters. As the dust cleared, Zeus landed again, facing the fire man, who was still standing. Cobra, coming from behind at high speed, grabbed him, tying him with one chain while turning the other into a sickle and driving it into the skull, putting a crack in it.


    Zeus returned to his human form but kept his scales intact, striking the fire man around him, while the fire man screamed, launching more waves of fire that sent them flying. Arni was left alone in the battlefield as the fire man shot beams of fire at him, throwing him away with Zeus and Cobra, causing a burn on Arni¡¯s right hand, making him scream and wail in pain.


    In the midst of the darkness, Karobo laughed mockingly: "Seems like you¡¯re all done for. You look pathetic."


    Arni screamed and whimpered: "Please, Raven of Rain, please come out."


    Zeus and Cobra got up again, exhausted and unable to stand firmly, trying to continue the fight as the fire man approached them.


    They heard the sound of laughter from behind and turned around, surprised, seeing that Arni was nowhere in sight. Instead, there was a strange man standing with a raven on his shoulder. Zeus recognized him as the friend of Hades who appeared after Arni¡¯s death in the third hell.


    The Raven of Rain walked between Cobra and Zeus, instilling a sense of dread around them. He approached the fire man without any regard for the heat.


    In the blink of an eye, Karobo grabbed the fire man¡¯s skull and crushed it with his hand, throwing him away.


    The fire man screamed loudly, unable to control his power, exploding with all his fiery energy, creating a burning aura, transforming into a fire tornado coming toward them, engulfing everything around them in ash.


    Unfazed, Karobo snapped his fingers, making the sky rain heavily, causing the ash on the mound to melt into a large patch of mud and ash, extinguishing the great fire tornado.


    Leaving Zeus and Cobra dumbfounded.


    Karobo, feeling bored, walked toward Zeus. As he approached, both Zeus and Cobra collapsed to the ground from the aura around Karobo.


    Zeus asked: "What¡¯s happening? Why can¡¯t I stand?"


    Cobra, speaking rudely, said: "Who are you, bastard? What do you want?"


    Karobo smiled and said to Zeus: "Come on, turn into a dragon. Take me on a tour."


    Zeus looked at him in disbelief and said: "I¡¯m not your servant, bastard."


    Karobo raised an eyebrow, looking down at Zeus with disdain: "Yes, you are. Transform now."


    Zeus lost control of his human form due to the pressure and was forced to revert to his dragon form. Karobo climbed onto Zeus and laughed.


    Karobo: "Come on, fly faster, show me what you''ve got."


    Zeus flew as fast as he could, rising into the sky, soaring over the forest and passing the village, flying far away.


    Then Karobo said: "Enough already, you''re too slow. Land me."


    Karobo stomped on Zeus¡¯s head, knocking him and Cobra to the ground.


    Karobo turned back to speak to Arni, who was still writhing in pain from his burned hand. "Your pet amused me. Here¡¯s a token of thanks."


    Karobo grabbed Arni¡¯s burned hand, healing the wound and pain, then disappeared again. Arni woke up between


    Cobra and Zeus, who were looking at him with pity.


    Arni raised his right hand to find a burn scar covering the entirety of his right hand.


    End of chapter.

 Chapter seven: The monk and the gods Arni wakes up after his conversation with the Crow of Rain, co

    Chapter seven: the monk and the gods


    Arni wakes up after his conversation with the Crow of Rain, confused by what he saw, feeling a cold, high breeze on his body, with raindrops still gently falling on his face. He looks around, unaware of his location, feeling as if his body has no structure. He sees Zeus and Cobra standing above him, questioning what just happened, waiting for Arni to calm down and fully wake up.


    Then, Arni fully wakes up and tries to sit up, relaxed in his spot, as sweat pours from him, while his body is overcome with a biting cold. In his burned clothes and long, frizzy hair, he tries to steady his breath and think clearly. He raises his hand, attempting to sit, but as soon as he sees his hand, it takes his breath away, and he begins to spiral into hysteria in his mind. The smell of burning becomes sharper, and the raindrops falling on his hand burn as if they were drops from a poison tree. He rubs his eyes to make sure of what he¡¯s seeing, yet nothing changes. The scar is still there, covering his entire right arm, darkened with a deep brown color, leaving behind a horrible mark on his skin. Seeing this, Arni is left wondering about the source of the scar; it¡¯s not from Karubo, as he cannot reconcile this with his mind. It was from the fire that had struck him before. But he thinks and mutters to himself again: "The strike was less than ten minutes ago, how could the wound have healed, how could the new burn have disappeared, and how could it have turned into a scar so quickly?" At that moment, Arni begins to understand Karubo¡¯s power and realizes that it should not be underestimated at all, for he has brought what was in the realm of imagination into reality.


    All of this thinking in Arni¡¯s mind took only a few moments. Meanwhile, Cobra and Zeus stand before Arni, feeling mixed emotions, a blend of anger and confusion over what happened, unsure who to blame. Is it Arni, or his friend with the crows? Then, Cobra starts speaking, angrily addressing Arni, speaking in a condescending tone.


    Cobra: ¡°What¡¯s going on with you? Are you aware of what just happened? All this time you¡¯ve been useless, and suddenly you disappear, and a terrifying man appears, killing that fire creature with a single strike, then humiliating both me and Zeus. Are you going to explain what¡¯s going on?¡±


    Zeus, angered by Arni, speaks with hatred in his voice: ¡°Can you hear me? That strange one just came out and stepped on my head. Don¡¯t pretend to be stupid now. I¡¯ve seen him talking to Hades before. You¡¯ve been hiding something since then, or maybe from the very beginning.¡±


    Arni takes a breath, regaining his composure, speaking calmly: ¡°I, for my part, don¡¯t know. Since I died in the third hell the last time, I¡¯ve been seeing strange dreams in my mind about someone claiming to be the strongest.¡±


    Arni says these words, knowing they are not just dreams. He can feel every moment with Karubo in his world, every breeze that touched him, the sound of Karubo¡¯s voice echoing loudly as he screamed in pain, and the smell of the place, tainted with the stench of his blood flowing.


    Cobra loses hope in arguing with this fool, lights his cigarette, picks himself up, and begins walking to see where Karubo had taken them after Zeus had flown with them earlier.


    The smell of dirt and rain fills Cobra¡¯s nostrils as raindrops fall on his head while he smokes, and dirt covers his eyes, creating a mixture of scents. As his feet move, he feels the mud and stones beneath them, and all he can see in the distance is the vast, open expanse of mud on the ground. There is no sign of animal or plant life, no trace of any soul stirring in the place. It is a barren desert, transformed into open lands of mud and clay, where the sun is hidden behind thick layers of rainy clouds, and this mud will not dry anytime soon.


    Kobra approaches Zeus, asking him: "Can you get us out of here? I don''t see any point in us being here."


    Zeus replies, looking upset: "I don''t think I can do that. I was hit a little while ago, have you forgotten? I don''t think I''ll be able to fly with focus and stability for a while."


    With a tone of pity, Kobra tells Arni to get up: "There¡¯s no time for your strange daydreams. We need to get out of here as soon as possible."


    Leaning on his right hand, Arni tries to get up using it to check if it can withstand some pressure. He manages to get up, but the hand causes a slight burning sensation, which he didn¡¯t really pay much attention to, as it¡¯s just a minor pain compared to the damage it sustained.


    The three of them stand there, contemplating the empty space. There is no sound except for the strong wind, the raindrops tapping on their heads, and the scent of mud and dust around them, while the dust blurs their vision, not knowing where they are headed.


    Arni looks around and then says: "Here it is, we¡¯ll go north."


    Kobra is surprised by Arni¡¯s choice of north specifically and asks him why.


    Arni simply tells Kobra that this is the right way to get out of this place. Kobra doesn¡¯t question the details and decides to walk, as anything is better than staying here, while Zeus walks with his hand on his head.


    As they walk through the oppressive stillness, each of them has something different on their mind. Kobra walks carefully, step by step, while Zeus holds his head in pain and seems still bothered by what happened earlier. Arni thinks about what¡¯s happening in the area and the outside world, and about the identity of the Crow of Rain and what it told him. Then, Arni notices that Zeus is still holding his head, so he timidly approaches him and says: "Hey, Zeus, I¡¯m sorry for what happened earlier. I¡¯ll try to handle this better in the future." Arni says, his face showing signs of sadness as he apologizes to Zeus.


    Zeus raises an eyebrow and smiles: "Man, stop that. It¡¯s not your fault, it¡¯s fine, but that arrogant one is really annoying. I¡¯ve never felt such an insult before."This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Zeus tries to reassure him: "Don¡¯t worry too much about it. I¡¯ve talked with this thing before, he¡¯ll try to stop doing these foolish things."


    "No, I won¡¯t. Don¡¯t make up lies, you fool. I¡¯ve never said anything like that before." - Karubo says to Arni in his head, showing clear annoyance.


    Arni shivers as soon as Karubo starts talking to him and stops speaking. He prefers to remain silent rather than respond. As Arni walks, speaking with Zeus, Kobra notices something is wrong. The ground isn¡¯t solid where they are walking. Yes, it¡¯s mud, but what¡¯s beneath the mud isn¡¯t solid ground.


    Kobra quickly shouts: "Hey Arni, stop right there!" Kobra says in a frightened tone.


    At that moment, Arni, distracted by Karubo and his words, continues walking normally until his foot sinks deeper into the mud, as if he¡¯s fallen. Both Kobra and Zeus notice this and rush toward him.


    Without being careful, Kobra and Zeus both leap toward Arni. The ground beneath them loses its stability, and without warning, the three of them begin to feel as if they are falling due to gravity. The dirt had been covering a large opening, like a cave, and with their movement, the dirt lost its stability, throwing them under the rubble into the cave.


    Silence fills the place for a few minutes after their fall. Nothing has changed at all. There is no sign of nearby life, no sound around them. Then Kobra starts to regain consciousness and feel again. His eyes are closed, seeing only the deep blackness, and he feels the sand moving on his body and the hot air. He opens his eyes and finds himself deep inside the cave. The only source of light around him is coming from above. He lifts his head to look, and there is an opening in the cave¡¯s ceiling, but he quickly realizes that getting out of here requires flying. As soon as he thinks about flying, he fully regains his senses and remembers: Zeus, Arni, where are they? It¡¯s not the right time to disappear. Then he sees Arni¡¯s burned hand emerging from under the sand. He quickly moves to pull it out from under the sand. Arni coughs a lot and gasps for breath, trying to speak with his throat full of sand.


    "What just happened?" he says, barely able to speak.


    "This is no time for this nonsense. Look for Zeus, he¡¯s buried under the sand!" Kobra says, agitated.


    Then Kobra begins digging around with his hands, searching for Zeus. Arni quickly realizes what¡¯s happened around him and decides to enter and help with the search.


    During this time, in the third hell, Hades and Danger meet, and it seems this is not their first encounter. A terrifying aura fills the place, and the cold air chills the atmosphere. Hades looks at Danger face to face while Danger stands in the middle of a pool of blood after having slaughtered one of Hades'' men, named Slayer. Slayer looks at Hades with a gaze full of hatred and malice, while Hades stands arrogantly, annoyed by Danger''s arrival.


    "It''s you, I didn''t expect you to come," Hades says to Danger.


    Danger appears serious, silent, his stance calm and composed. He is a tall monk, dressed entirely in black with a long scarf draped over his forehead, a red tattoo of two intersecting lines representing the Roman numeral ten, cut by a vertical line. His long white hair and black hat adorned with a silk feather complete his appearance. He places his hand on his waist, pushing the scarf aside to reveal a red fighting dagger, pulling it from its sheath. The dagger then transforms into a battle sword from the Crusader factions, with a golden handle shaped like a Christian cross.


    In a steady voice, showing no fear before the King of the Third Hell, Danger begins to pray to Hades.


    "Father, forgive the soul of this poor one. Mother, take care of this child. Father, of his companion."


    Hades becomes enraged by Danger''s arrogance. He rushes forward quickly, scattering the dirt around him, grabbing Danger''s head and pulling him along, throwing him against a massive rock, splitting the rock in two. Hades then quickly approaches again and punches Danger in the face, shattering the remaining rock, sending Danger tumbling to the ground, crashing into a tree. In the blink of an eye, Danger finds Hades in front of him, delivering a kick to his midsection, causing Danger to cough up blood. In a moment of Hades'' arrogance, surprised by Danger grabbing his foot, Danger quickly throws him to the ground with force. At that moment, he leaps again with his sword, attempting to stab Hades in the torso. Hades tries to evade, but the strike grazes him on the side, leaving a deep wound.


    Before Hades can escape fully, Danger releases his sword and grabs Hades by his clothes with one hand, pulling him toward him. He draws his sword again, returning it to its dagger form, and stabs it into Hades'' left thigh, leaving the dagger in place. Hades screams in pain and punches Danger in the face, sending him flying several meters while the dagger remains in his side. Hades charges at Danger again, and this time his hand glows blue, filled with destructive energy. Danger quickly avoids the strike, which hits the ground, causing a massive explosion that sends Danger flying again. However, this time, he grabs a distant tree and stands on it, watching as Hades repeats the same action.


    In a moment, Danger snaps his fingers, and the dagger transforms into a large, heavy sword while still embedded in Hades'' thigh. Hades feels something piercing his foot, sending a shock of pain throughout his body, and the sword cuts off his left foot completely.


    Hades screams loudly, his unbalanced energy shaking the entire Third Hell, and the sound echoes even in the Second Hell and Heaven, sending a wave of terror into the souls of all who are present.


    Danger does not stop there. He approaches Hades, heading straight toward him, grabbing his other leg in an attempt to drag and throw him. But before he can do anything, he is thrown to the ground quickly, creating a massive hole in the earth. Hades unleashes a blue force of explosive energy, heading directly toward Danger at incredible speed, destroying everything in its path. Danger quickly rushes out of the hole, trying to escape. In the blink of an eye, he finds Hades in front of him again, striking him in the face with a hammer, causing a massive explosion that destroys the surrounding trees and rocks. Danger is sent flying far away. Meanwhile, Hades regenerates his foot with blue energy and slowly walks toward Danger.


    Danger charges at him quickly, holding the sword in its cross-shaped form, attempting to stab Hades. Danger gets very close, but before the blade reaches Hades'' body, he is struck in the head with the hammer again, sending him crashing to the ground.!


    "You are no match for me, don''t try to compete. This leg I just lost will not change the outcome of the fight, it only makes it fairer, but not enough to make you win against me," says Hades to Danger in a harsh voice.


    Danger raises his hand to the sky and shouts loudly and angrily: "O blacksmith, sharpen me and grant me steadfastness. O warrior, teach me and give me your wisdom. O holy Lord, grant me your strength."


    At that moment, Danger''s body begins to radiate with a golden aura strong enough to erase everything around him with just his presence.


    "Standing against me is standing against all the gods. Standing against the gods is a certain loss," says Danger, anger burning in his red eyes.


    Drawing his sword again, bathed in golden light and charged with divine energy, both Danger and Hades rush toward each other, face to face. Holding his sword, Danger strikes Hades with a swift sideways blow. Hades blocks it with his right hand, but the momentum sends him flying rapidly through the air. With incredible speed, Danger moves to be directly above Hades, stepping on him while in mid-air, slamming him into the ground.


    Hades opens his eyes to discover that his right hand has just petrified, and it begins to crumble piece by piece. He becomes enraged at the loss of his hand and, in an instant, replaces it with a new one made of destructive blue energy, heading toward Danger again to strike him beneath the jaw, throwing him into the air. He charges toward him while flying, attempting to kick him once more. Danger charges both his hands with divine energy, grabbing the alternate blue energy leg and striking his own right leg, causing him to lose his other right leg as well. Then, he lets go of his legs and clenches his fists, delivering a powerful blow with his left hand, sending Hades flying far away.


    Danger attempts to strip Hades of his limbs, making it easier for him to kill him.


    On the other side, Hades flies through the air, crashing into the gates of Heaven, entering the Heaven and landing on the ground there without his four limbs. He gasps for breath and sighs as he speaks.


    Danger enters Heaven behind Hades to finish him off, entering with all his might and anger in his eyes, searching for Hades. But he is shocked to find that Hades is no longer around him. He realizes that Hades has escaped his grasp, returns his sword to its place, and then raises his hand.


    "I thank you, blacksmith, for sharpening me. Thank you, arrior, for giving me your wisdom. Thank you, Lord, for granting me your strength," says Danger in revere


    The golden aura around Danger fades, and he stands once more on his feet.


    End of the chapter