"Well, this is an unexpected reunion," Dr. Malek said, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of Sero, surrounded by the crumbling concrete and his loyal dragons. "You've grown stronger, I see."

The sight of Dr. Malek brought a feeling of indescribable rage and determination to Sero. He had killed Casey, had killed his parents, and had brought about destruction and chaos by aligning with Culling to bring over Catastrophes. It took everything Sero had not to charge at the man blindly. Instead, he took a deep breath, letting his anger fuel his mana.

"Hey, Malek... I'm going to give you a chance to tell me everything there is about where the rest of the Culling Pillars are," Sero quietly offered, his eyes ablaze with a mix of anger and calculation. "Of course, even if you don't, I'll still get it from you either way."

"Champion... please do not do anything you will regret," Aphiel's voice pleaded in his mind. Despite what he had promised the goddess earlier, Sero wasn't entirely sure he would be able to make good on that promise.

The remaining minion slowly got to his feet, his eyes filled with a cold hatred that seemed to chill the air around them. He drew a wicked-looking knife from his side, the blade coated in a foul-smelling substance that made Sero's skin crawl.

"Sero," Dr. Malek sighed, "I believe you don't really have a grasp on the gravity of the situation." He waved his hand, and the second minion lunged forward, the knife aimed at Sero's heart.

Sero remained unflinching as Sting conjured herself, flying forward and blocking the strike with her rapier. The minion's knife clattered to the ground, useless. With a swift kick, Sero sent the stunned man flying into the wall, where he lay unconscious.

"You think I don't understand?" Sero snarled, his eyes never leaving Dr. Malek. "I've seen what you and your kind are capable of. The suffering you've brought upon the innocent. I know exactly what you are."

He suddenly felt a tugging on his body, then his mana being sapped away. Sero glanced at Dr. Malek, who had a sad, thin smile on his face.

"Is that so? Then you should've known that going into a place where the abilities of Ascendants like you are weakened was a foolish move," Dr. Malek mused, his eyes flickering with a malicious glee.

This time, it was Sero's turn to smile. He flexed his fingers as Sting and the dragon twins regrouped in front of him.

"First of all, I'm not alone. Second, the others will be coming soon, since I've informed them of this base. And finally," Sero's body crackled with a sinister green aura. He glared at Dr. Malek with an intense hatred and anger, the strongest instance of such emotions he'd ever felt.

"Who said I was limited to just Ascendant abilities?"

Dr. Malek's eyes widened in shock as the other Culling members broke into the chamber, immediately launching themselves at Sero. The dragon twins and Sting leapt into action, taking on several of the cultists as Sero himself indulged in the skills he copied from Apep.

A single Disarray wiped out the first wave of cultists, their bodies contorted in impossible angles as they crashed into the concrete floor. Sero felt a rush of power coursing through him, a heady mix of excitement and dread. He knew that using Apep's skills was dangerous, but he had no other choice. The Culling's corrupted energy was thick around him, and it seemed to resonate with the destructive force of the Catastrophic powers he'd copied.

Dr. Malek seemed to have recovered from his initial shock, though the sneer on his face remained as he watched Sero's unorthodox tactics. "You're playing with fire, boy," he hissed, his eyes narrowing. "Those skills will consume you."

"Like how you consumed the lives of my parents to further your goals? The life of Casey? All those other innocent people?" Sero quietly snarled back, his eyes flashing with anger. He could feel the energy of Apep's skills thrumming through his veins, a seductive whisper of power that seemed to feed off his fury. It wasn't just Apep's power either. The succubi abilities of Luna and Malice also called to him, eager to be unleashed. But he kept them in check, knowing that now was not the time to lose control.

Even as the Culling members regrouped and tried to swarm him, Sero simply conjured the 12 face card familiars, sending them to clash with the cultists alongside Sting and the dragon twins. If any Culling member managed to get past Sero's familiars and approach him, they were quickly vaporized by the stray mana bolts that crackled off his body.

He activated Undying Spirit, feeling his mana and strength recover from every hit the Culling members took as he stalked closer towards Dr. Malek. The Pillar didn't seem unfazed as Sero drew closer, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light. The room echoed with the cries of the dying and the roars of Sero's familiars as they tore through the enemy ranks.

"You know, this is hypocritical. What makes you different from us, Sero? You're doing the exact same as we are, albeit for different reasons," Dr. Malek called out, his voice echoing through the chaotic battlefield.

Sero's eyes never left the Pillar's as he approached, the man's words cutting through the cacophony. He knew Malek was trying to get into his head, but he had made his choice. He was going to stop this madness, no matter the cost. If it meant stooping down to the Culling's level, then so be it.

"I'm doing this to save lives," Sero shouted over the din of battle. "What you do is for power. That's the difference."

"Have you forgotten the explanation I gave you? I'm also doing this to save lives! Sacrificing a few for the sake of the rest of the world is simply the most efficient way!" Dr. Malek retorted. "As long as those who stood by while the corrupted ruled the world remain, we will never know true peace and harmony."

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"What kinda fucking bullshit is that?" Sero scowled, slashing through the cultists in his path with his Soul Blade. "Even I know that true peace and harmony isn't real. The best we can do is keep the world from going to hell, not sacrifice kids for some twisted ideology!"

"I really hoped that you'd come to understand our goals," Dr. Malek seemed to give up on convincing Sero as he opened a black-ringed portal. "I guess this is where we become true enemies, then. The next time I see you, I will not hold back."

The arrogant confidence from Dr. Malek almost blinded Sero to the fact that he had copied the doctor's strange portal-opening skill. With an equally strange and malicious glee, Sero snapped his fingers, closing the portal before Dr. Malek could escape through it.

"Wh-what?!" Dr. Malek's smug expression turned to one of panic as the portal snapped shut. He stumbled backward, staring at Sero in disbelief.

Sero took a step closer, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Looks like I've picked up a few new tricks of my own." He could feel the dark energy of Apep's skills pulsing through him, a stark contrast to the warmth of the Ascendant abilities he'd come to rely on. Aphiel's protests were ignored as he stalked closer to the Pillar.

There was a flash of black lightning, and Sero instinctively tilted his head to the side, dodging shards of what he soon registered as bone fragments. Regaining his bearings, Sero saw three people standing protectively in front of Dr. Malek, recognizing who they were.

"No matter. I still have my own cards to play as well," Dr. Malek seemed relieved to see the Graven Trio showing up composing himself quickly. "I trust that you three will safely cover my exit?"

"Triple our payment if we do," Kael gruffly responded, warily eyeing Sero. "We know first-hand that even the three of us can't hope to beat that guy."

Tendra and Brunn took their places beside Kael, crackling with dark mana. Sero simply smiled.

"Ah, the three people who captured me and my friends and forced us to watch a kid get sacrificed," Sero mused. "I've been looking forward to this."

"Hey, brat, it was just a job," Tendra sneered, flicking her hair out of her face. "Don't go getting all emotional on us."

"Yeah, don't take it personal," Brunn rumbled, crimson blood floating around him. "We've had our fair share of losses too."

As Dr. Malek quickly made his way towards one of the exits, the Graven Three leapt into action. Tendra acted as mid-range, lashing out with whips made of tendons as Brunn provided backline support, firing off shards of hardened blood. Sero easily avoided them as he clashed against Kael and his bone armor exoskeleton.

"I don't have time for this!" Sero roared, his eyes burning with rage. He summoned Lime and Moss to flank the distractions while he focused on Kael. His fists clenched, and he could feel his anger beginning to boil over. The source of his rage was going to escape once again, and if he did, Sero wasn't sure if he'd be able to catch him off-guard again. Or ever.

Kael remained silent, watching Sero closely. While he wasn't particularly powerful, Sero was aware of Kael's Full Potential passive, which was comparable to his Perfect Analysis in terms of reaction speed. He knew that the man would be the most dangerous of the three. So, he decided to end it before things got out of hand.

Once again ignoring the protests of Aphiel, Sero casted another Disarray, one powerful enough to inflict gashing wounds on each of the Vultures. The attack branched out, catching several weaker Culling members and vaporizing them in an instant. With the Graven Three momentarily stunned by the display of power, Sero didn't waste a second. He dashed after Dr. Malek right before the Pillar could ascend the stairs.

"You can't escape from me!" Sero shouted as he lunged towards Dr. Malek. However, the Pillar was ready for him. With a twirl of his hand, a gust of shadowy energy coalesced into a spear, which he threw directly at Sero.

Copying the skill as 'Rot', Sero simply burned it away with a Fire Blast, sending out his own spear of decay at Dr. Malek. The doctor grunted as the dark projectile barely missed him, the walls behind cracking and crumbling as it embedded itself into the concrete.

Sero didn't let up, casting Wind Rush to boost his speed while also throwing out a combination of Shadow Bind and Mana Lock, finally capturing the Pillar member in a green cage. Even as Dr. Malek threw out corrupted bolts of mana at the prison, trying to free himself, Sero could feel the immense strain on his body. The combination of evil and Ascendant abilities was unstable and exhausting. He had to end this fast.

He sensed the Graven Three recovering behind him, an idea popping into his mind. Making sure Malek was securely trapped in the bindings, Sero turned and unleashed his rage upon the trio, stealing copious amounts of strength and mana from them via Undying Spirit.

Tendra and Brunn fell quickly, exhausted from the sudden lack of resources, but Kael was slippery, dodging and weaving through the stolen power bolts. His movements were erratic, but Sero could see the calculations behind them, a sign of his Full Potential in action. The bone-clad warrior charged at Sero, his fists glowing with a ghastly black light.

"Ooo, that looks cool," Sero smirked as he casted his own Bonemake, conjuring a pale green skeletal armor around his body.

The clash of bone and shadow was intense, echoing through the corridor as Sero and Kael exchanged blows. Sero noticed that the bindings on Dr. Malek were fading, a sign that the man was close to breaking free.

Gritting his teeth, Sero juiced up his attacks, emulating Relentless and casting the demonic elemental auras around him in an instant. Kael, caught off-guard, was struck by the stray elements, giving Sero the chance to put him down for good with a solid punch to the gut. The bone armor shattered into dust, leaving the Graven Three leader wheezing on the ground.

Turning his attention back to Dr. Malek, Sero saw that the Pillar was almost free from the weakened Mana Lock. The doctor's eyes were alight with fury, his teeth bared in a snarl. The room was a wreck, bodies of cultists and shattered bone littered the floor, and the stench of corrupted magic filled the air.

"You think you've won?" Dr. Malek spat, his eyes burning with malice. Sero could see the man's desperation to escape, and it only served to fuel his own determination for revenge.

With a grim smile, Sero approached the weakened Pillar. "I'm not playing games anymore," he said, his voice cold and unforgiving. He could feel the power of sinister energy coursing through him, begging to be unleashed in a display of utter destruction. But he held it back, not quite ready to succumb to that level of darkness.

As Dr. Malek struggled against the fading Mana Lock, Sero raised his hand, a sphere of green energy forming in his palm. "I don't have the luxury of mercy," he whispered, channeling all his anger into the spell.

"What, do you think you can really just kill me and get away with it?" Dr. Malek sneered, his eyes flickering with a hint of desperation. "You're nothing but a pawn in a game you don't even understand!"

"It's funny you should mention 'pawns'," Sero's smile grew wider. "And to answer your question... who said I was gonna kill you right away?"