Emilie woke up in a cold sweat. She tapped her shirt revealing the rest of the group asleep aside from Serena and Cawthorn. She panted holding her chest. Her heard might have leapt from her chest had she not been holding it. “Nightmares?” Serena asked gently. Emilie couldn’t speak but frantically nodded. She scuttled over to Serena and sat down. Serena wrapped her arm around Emilie and rubbed her shoulders. “Everything will be alright.” Emilie continued holding her chest rocking back and forth in silence. She felt the nudge of Cawthorn on her cheek followed by gentle coos.

  After a few moments of comforting she managed to speak. “I’m sorry. I wish I wasn’t like this.”

  “I know what it’s like to feel small and helpless.” Serena rubbed her shoulder.

  “I bet you do.” Emilie nodded pulling her knees to her face.

  “The worst thing to ever happen to me was something an elf did to me. He just tortured me for fun. He wanted to see me kill myself. I saw 6 other slaves do it rather than suffer the whips and knives any longer. He was a cleric and always healed his slave after so they could taste the sting of his whip again. Every morning I woke up I was afraid to open my eyes, and afraid to keep them closed. Every moment of my life was spent on edge.” Serena looked out into the seemingly infinite blackness.

  “How did you get out?” Emilie asked.

  “The only reason he sold me is that I stopped fearing him. One day I started to appear bored as he whipped me and he brutalized me one last time before selling me off, calling me broken. He was right. He had broken me. I’d refused to die and refused to give him what he wanted.” Serena traced a whip scar around her waist.

  “I can’t trick my mind into selling me off to escape my fear.” Emilie noted sadly.

  “You can simply decide to face your fear though. The worst that will happen is you die. The best, well what would that be?” Serena smiled.

  “If only it were so easy.” Emilie looked down.

  The two sat in silence as wyvern calls outside the cave echoed down. Victor woke up with a timer running in front of him. He projected his skill and thought ‘All of us need to escape hell to somewhere safe.’ The text popped up in front of him and he activated Luzuzal’s Promise. A single sentence popped up on his HUD.

  No matter what, don’t stop .

  “Don’t stop? What an odd piece of advice.” Victor muttered. The group awoke slowly over the next few moments. “Breakfast first.” Victor pulled out more bananas. “This is going to be a theme with the pack isn’t it.”

  Serena noted. “We probably should have checked them first.”

  “Eat up everyone. There is one rule today. No matter what, don’t stop. I’m actually feeling pretty invincible.” Victor could feel himself being called to the edge. He walked to the far right side and dropped off landing on a small platform in the dark.

  “VICTOR!” Serena called out before Jenora and Emilie lit up the platform. A set of stone platforms jutted out from the wall on the way down. “Don’t do that without telling us why!”

  “I had no idea what was here.” Victor pulled out the Frigid Foil and formed a solid pole for them to slide down. They made their way down platform after platform until they were halfway down and noticed a few hellfire bats fluttering in the distance with fire illuminating their wings. They ignored them and didn’t stop. Had they gone to the left they’d have encountered them. They reached the bottom with a long ray of light extending from a cave and Victor fearlessly stepped forward refusing to stop.

  In the distance to the right Cawthorn pointed. “THAT RED TOWER RIGHT THERE MY MAGE!”

  To the left massive fireballs and a tornado covered what appeared to be a battlefield. Devils could be seen leaving the tower flying toward the battle. Victor smirked and fearlessly strode forward as everyone followed behind. Gargrim looked up to him. “Lad if we don’t die today I’ll treat you to a drink some day.”

  “I thought you hated me.” He looked to Gargrim.

  “Nay lad, I hate the other two because they are dangerous. You’ll be one of the greatest heroes to ever live. I just don’t want to see you led astray.” He cracked his hands pulling out his axe.

  “Buffs on me Emilie.” Victor nodded.

  The group started to approach the tower in the distance weapons drawn. “Strength boost. That’s all I can do here for you Victor.”

  “Don’t hold anything back. Gargrim if Serena uses double dash she needs to be grabbed and given to Jenora. Emilie be ready to use your instant pure heal we’ll definitely need it. Jenora if you have to transform just do it. Brice I get the sense you’re going to need to be very liberal with your spells.” Victor cracked his neck back and forth forming a longsword with his weapon. “Stars of Verdan, time to break out of hell.”

  The group began to pick up speed as they approached the tower across barren lands. In the distance a battle between devils and elves could be seen with elves pushing devils back. A hoard of imps small diminutive devils with sharp claws that could be mistaken for goblins if they were green charged at the. “Fireball!” A massive explosion shook the battlefield in front of them ripping through the imps and blasting away the few survivors.

  Imp 10: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 9: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 10: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 11: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 9: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 9: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 11: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 9: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 9: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 10: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Imp 9: Experience Increase 0.1%

  …

  Imp 9: Experience Increase 0.1%

  Current Exp to level 17 13.6%

  “THAT’S MORE LIKE IT!” Brice shouted as they group charged forward.

  The group reached the entrance before more reinforcements could arrive. Before them two devils with long red tails, sharp teeth, and long horns hunched in front of them with steel pitchforks up. Gargrim threw his axe at full force and Serena let fly a pair of throwing daggers. Gargrims axe embedded into the wooden door and Serena’s blades went through the creatures eyes out the back of its head. Gargrim smirked. “DON’T STOP FOR FUCKING DOORS!” He crashed foot first right next to his axe blasting down the door and sliding into the foyer containing a spiral staircase at the center of it.

  Spiked Devil 12: Experience Increase 0.5%

  Spiked Devil 12: Experience Increase 0.6%

  Current Exp to level 17 14.6%

  In the room three taller devils with long horns stood about Jenora’s height with spiked whips in hand. “Oh it’s you.” One of them smirked.

  Jenora charged toward them with righteous fury. “Barrier shield! SHIELD CHARGE!” She accelerated forward with anger behind her eyes toward the one that spoke. Victor effortlessly connected with one of the devils avoiding its whip strike and slicing its legs. It collapsed letting Serena easily rip its head off. Gargrim dealt with the third one almost disappointed that it was all this tower could muster. Jenora sliced off the devils head despite getting hit and bleeding she healed immediately as her blood gushed over her wound. “MAKE SURE TO FINISH THEM!” She bashed the brains of the creature and made her way to the center of the room with the group.

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  Torture Devil 15: Experience Increase 2.4%

  Torture Devil 15: Experience Increase 3.1%

  Torture Devil 15: Experience Increase 3.2%

  Current Exp to level 17 23.3%

  The group charged up the staircase. On the next floor they emerged to a room with more spiked devils bows in hand. Arrows flew toward the group from all directions. “Barrier shield!” Emilie put up her barrier and the arrows all bounced off it.

  The surgical methodical takedowns of the group as both Emilie and Brice stood in the center caused Brice to literally be left slack jawed at just how good especially Serena was at gliding between opponents. Not a single arrow reached a single member of the Stars of Verdan. The spiked devils fell in a flurry of blood and guts with each member crushing the heads of each devil. At the far end of the room another staircase upward now stood unguarded. The group ran up it with Gargrim crashing through the wooden door. The door slammed into the wall at the far end crushing a creature against the wall splattering it across the wall.

  By the windows 5 remaining devils in robes stood confused with fire bolts in their hand. “Barrier Wall!” Brice put up his barrier just in time as fire bolts crashed into it. Serena took off first reaching one of the devils nearby before the others could reach theirs. Victor changed the Frigid Foil into a spear and threw it straight through the skull of a mage. He immediately cast “Magic Hands!” Victor pulled his spear back. Gargrim crashed down on top of another one decimating it.

  Jenora charged forward crashing through another “Fire bolt!” knocking it out the window.

  The last devil immediately threw up her hands. “I surrender! Please!”

  Devil Mage 14: Experience Increase 6.1%

  Devil Mage 14: Experience Increase 2.1%

  Devil Mage 14: Experience Increase 1.9%

  Devil Mage 14: Experience Increase 2.8%

  Current Exp to level 17 36.2%

  Gargrim walked up to her. Victor started moving to the steps. “No time for it Gargrim let’s go!” Victor started moving. The devil didn’t cast any further spells behind them. This time the stairs lead to a nicer door to the 4 th floor.

  Gargrim coming up from behind practically flew feet first into the door screaming. “FUCKING DOORS!”

  A fiend stood before them with a long blood red lance and two massive horns pointed toward them. “Well A group of slaves lead by an elf. I suppose it is an honor to be graced by such a grand warrior.”

  “Yeah we’re not here for any of the shit outside.” Victor threw thumb over his shoulder. “That isn’t us. We’re here for the circle. You can let us through or, and I can’t stress this enough something hilariously terrible will happen to you especially seeing as how you don’t have any wings.”

  “Uh Victor we can’t beat him.” Jenora cautioned.

  Victor strode forward with almost unending confidence so much so that the aura of his confidence extended to his group and with each step that he took they could not help but follow. “Everyone thinks that about someone until they actually beat them.” Victor tilted his head but didn’t even slow down his stride.

  “My name is Moras Valtun and you’ve dared enter the throne room of Razloc master of portals. Surrender and join our fight against the elves and not only will I overlook your impudence I will permit you to use the portal when you’ve completed the task.” Moras smiled with one tooth overtaking his lips.

  Gargrim followed with a bright smile in his wake, the speed of his steps and the confidence which he approached Moras with communicated exactly what he was going to do with no confusion or delay. Victor took a swing easily blocked by the massive demonic spear wielded in one hand. “Jolt!” His blade easily absorbed the blow as he began to block attack after attack from Serena, Jenora, and Gargrim.

  He smirked. “For a moment your confidence concerned me, but you’re nothing other than overconfident tras-” A fireball hit the side of the tower shooting rocks across the room. His spear flew out of the room and his arm dangled mangled and torn while not a single member of the Stars of Verdan was wounded by the rubble thanks to Emilies Barrier. He looked to his arm and snapped it back into place regenerating it. He scoffed. “Such a stroke of luck cannot happen twice.”

  “Last chance to get the hell out of our way.” Victor took a step forward.

  “Although I would ask you to keep standing in it, more fun that way.” Gargrim let out a hearty laugh looking forward to slaughtering some arrogant devil.

  “Impudence!” He angrily lunged toward them with his long claws blocked by Gargrim. Serena already reached his back and stabbed out his left eye.

  Jenora crashed into him. “SHIELD CHARGE!” Trying to push him off the ledge. He slid stopping near the edge.

  “You pathetic rabble.” His eye regenerated. “You dare to enter the throne room of an archdevil, fight his most loyal attendant, and you mock me? None of you will be granted a good death in this battle.” His eyes began glowing red and his muscles budged. “I’m the last thing some of you will see, and those how live to see more will wish they’d gone first.” He looked to Emilie. “You’ll die first.”

  His form dashed claws outstretched toward Emilie. Gargrim embedded his axe in the creature but his speed made him miss and only hit a leg. Serena managed to slice one eye and carve up his back to little avail in light of the overwhelming regenerative power of his blood. If not for a swift uppercut from Cawthorn in the gut Emilie wouldn’t have had time to duck prone causing him to crash into the wall. Emilie backed away terrified. Brice said. “To HELL with you! FIREBALL!”

  The fireball hit the wall destroying it and shaking the entire tower. He disappeared as quickly as the hole in the tower appeared. The group turned toward the last staircase up as the scraping of claws behind them and the dull laugh crept up over the ledge. “Hah… hahah. Like arrogant children. That priest won’t survive another lunge. Say goodbye. A spellcaster of your level won’t be able to save her.”

  Victor formed a greatsword with his Frigid Foil. “BRING IT ON!” Moras leapt toward Victor standing in front of Emilie. He swung his greatsword with extreme force noticing the daggers sticking out of his neck from Serena and Gargrim trying to hack off his legs. It was only then Victor realized how truly overmatched they were. The Frigid Foil shattered and his claws passed through Victor’s chest.

  -1123 health

  Bleeding: 431 health per minute of movement.

  Bleeding Profusely: 32 damage per second.

  235/1390 health remaining

  Moras twisted spinning around knocking all of them away. Victor crashed into the wall coughing up blood.

  -36 health

  167/1390 health remaining

  He stood up and spit out his blood fearlessly taking a step forward. “ INSTANT PURE HEAL !” Emilie called out with all her might.

  Victor reformed his blade as a cutlass and approached him calmly as Moras laughed. “You used your trump card on this weakling?”

  “You missed.” Victor took up his stance holding his blade with both hands.

  “I missed?” Moras cackled as Victor approached him throwing his head back fully healed as they all approached him. “Are all of you mentally impaired? Are you being mind controlled? No one could possibly be this stupid.”

  “Let’s try this again Stars. Time to shine.” Victor started charging at him though he was mainly focused on Gargrim.

  His claws rose up in the air to strike both of them as the words. “Double Dash” resulted in his immediate loss of vision. His legs gave out as she cut his tendons and stabbed his spine before backing away to Brice unable to move further.

  The blows from Gargrim and Victor landed dismembering Moras hands. “YOU ARROGANT MORTALS I WILL REGENERATE AND KILL ALL OF YOU!”

  His eyes did regenerate even as blades landed in his body. He shoved away Victor and Gargrim knocking them down. Victor stood up and started confidently striding toward him. “What’s wrong? None of us are dead yet. I’m waiting.”

  “I’ve nearly killed all of you multiple times and you’ve not even exhausted my regeneration. What are you doing?” Moras asked as his hand stumps stopped bleeding.

  “Distracting you red head.” Victor smirked.

  “What?” He looked up to the massive red jaws and red hair. Jenora began spinning with him half in her mouth and half out so fast that she started creating a forceful wind releasing him out the open hole in the wall. He screamed enraged and confused. “I WILL REMEMBER ALL OF YOU! I will hunt you…” His voice faded as he landed in the middle of the battlefield.

  Emilie immediately backed away falling down. Serena couldn’t move as Jenora approached sniffing her. She flopped her tongue out and licked her knocking her over. “Little help Victor.”

  Emilie stumbled to her feet. “She didn’t eat you?”

  Jenora perked up hearing her voice. Gargrim stepped back toward Emilie axe up. Victor grabbed Serena and repeated. “Don’t stop!” They grabbed her chest plate as they ran past.

  The group started moving and Jenora followed as a hellhound with her tongue out. The ascended the last set of stairs with Gargrim once again charging forward ahead of Jenora crashing through the door. “FUCKING DOORS!” He crashed through the door to an empty room with the green portal in the center of the room. “GET TO THE PORTAL!”

  Everyone rushed to the portal. Emilie edged away from Jenora only for Jenora to look at her and brazenly slobber all over her face as they disappeared from Hell.