In the deepest pit of the underworld erupted an eternal volcano, providing heat and energy for the entire hellish land. Rocks on the surface melted into lava, streaming from the mountain’s foot to a hundred kilometers range.

  Nothing survived within the reach of the lava streams. Even the hell king himself avoided this place, unless an emergency occurred.

  Despite the lethal heat, a figure was nearing the volcano. It was a human, more or less.

  He dressed in a grey overcoat, hood concealing his head. A black belt wrapped around his waist, and two straps crossing his chest. He’d got silvery pauldrons protecting his shoulders and a pair of black leather gloves shielding his hands up to the elbow. His head, arms, and legs were pit black. There were no feet but pointy ends instead. He didn’t have a proper face either, only a pair of soulless eyes.

  Behind his back hung a sword horizontally with the grip on his right side. The pommel was round and small. The guard was a shiny ring twice his palm. The scabbard only covered a part of the two-edged blade, which was as broad as the guard. The sword had got a flat tip, however, useless to stab anything.

  Eventually, the warrior arrived at the erupting volcano. He didn’t sweat, impossible for a dead one. He didn’t shiver, for he had nothing to lose.

  Once he laid his step on the mountain foot, its top exploded and revealed a colossal creature. It walked on four massive legs, wagged a spiky tail, and breathed fire from its dragonoid head. Magma cascaded down from its back but caused no damage to its scaly body. The volcano trembled under its thunderous roar, causing more seas of lava.

  According to the Grand Library, the wyrm was Elborsa, the gatekeeper at the entrance to between two worlds. Its sole task was eradicating any souls who dared to attempt crossing the gate.

  The warrior drew his sword and flashed to Elborsa in a blink of an eye. The wyrm raised its enormous claws and slapped him with all its might, ripping a huge boulder off the mountain and blasting molten rocks around.

  The beast, however, missed its target as he leaped backward and returned a strong upward slash. His blade glowed once the blade touched flesh, slicing a finger off Elborsa’s hand. Magma gushed from the wound like blood, melting the stony ground.

  A painful roar shook the earth. Elborsa charged at the insolent human with rage, eyes reddening and mouth spilling streams of flame. It launched its mountainous body at the small target, intending to crush him into dust.

  With an amazing reflex, he threw himself into the air and avoided the unstoppable force. Its move didn’t surprise him at all. The warrior had expected a certain level of intelligence from the gatekeeper. It must have realized his unusual agility and chosen a wide range attack, allowing him to position behind it.

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  Seeing an opportunity, he tightened his grip and whirled in eddies of sword. The blade storm cut into Elborsa’s flesh. The wounds were short, but they were deep. Streams of blood coursed down its back, further weakening the wyrm.

  “[Omnislash].” An unrealistic mouth moved, rasping.

  His blade glowed a luminous white. He leaped forward onto his target and slashed it at an increased attack rate from all angles. Elborsa failed to detect his position to counterattack. It raised both hands to protect its vital parts.

  Once his skill ceased inflicting damage, the wyrm rampaged with everything it’d got. Multiple slaps and scratches overwhelmed the humanoid soul, leaving him no space to catch a breath.

  However, his previous attacks had wounded Elborsa so badly that it couldn’t maintain its fury for a long time. Its agility declined by minutes as the warrior kept dodging earthshaking slaps, parrying horizontal swipes.

  The moment the assault stopped was his turn to return the favor. “[Omnislash].”

  A hurricane of sword engulfed the mighty wyrm. Cascades of burning blood drenched the floor, overwhelming the lava streams beneath its feet.

  Suddenly, Elborsa jumped back and made a few spins before landing on the volcano with its four limbs. Its eyes turned from furious to calm.

  “You’re skillful, mortal.” A rough voice came from its dragon mouth.

  “You could speak?!”

  “I can. You’re the first to wound me this badly. What is your name, mortal?”

  “Does it matter for something is about to die?”

  “I can’t be dead, you fool. Even if you slay me, I shall be reborn before you can cross the Hell Gate.”

  “The underworld has bored me. There is nothing to do here.”

  “And you think you’ll just leave as you please? His Majesty won’t let you go unpunished—”

  “He’s dead.”

  Elborsa’s eyes widened and its mouth gaped in shock. The news was unbelievable.

  “IMPOSSIBLE!” its thunderous roar staggered him for a second.

  It almost blasted him away with its pure rage.

  “He is like you, reborn after a good minute.” The warrior sighed. “No one stays dead in hell, seriously.”

  His words froze the wyrm for seconds. It squinted, observing him with both doubt and hope.

  “You might be the one in the prophet, mortal. Tell me your name!”

  “The truth is… I don’t remember my name.” He sheathed his blade. “The last memory I have is that I’m a king. But which kingdom do I reign over? I don’t know.”

  “You seem to be here for too long.” Elborsa rubbed its chin with clawed fingers. “How about me giving you a name?”

  “And let me pass?” he tilted his head in confusion.

  Just a moment ago, they were fighting to death. Now they were discussing his name and his egress.

  “You keep what you kill, mortal. By battling you, I’ve figured that you’ve absorbed your victims’ essence. His Majesty’s fall is a solid proof.”

  “You’re scared of me, wyrm. Just cut your speech and admit.”

  His words choked Elborsa. The wyrm made an unbearable noise and curved its fingers, raising its claws toward him.

  “Don’t push your luck, mortal.”

  He grabbed the sword handle, drawing the blade halfway, and flicking his head at Elborsa. “Let’s see whose luck I’m pushing.”

  The wyrm bared its fangs, but then grinned. “There is not much on the other side for you, you know? The world has changed a lot.”

  “I’d see it by myself.”

  “Very well. I shall let you pass.” Elborsa knocked on the volcano.

  It trembled with a crack in the middle, exposing a dazzling, endless path.

  With a hand still on the handle, he stepped into the erupting mountain with caution. A moment before the light engulfed him, he heard, “Good luck, Viego.”

  Waving his hand and no turning back, Viego returned to the world of the mortal. What was awaiting him on the other side? He had no answer.