A black figure zoomed past the decaying tree, leaving the forest in no time. Without an ounce of hesitation, Samael kept his pursuit through the traps, nimbly avoiding them.

Samael's hair whipped back as the harsh wind rammed towards his face, the thick fog of decay parting as he went through.

Samael's feet had long morphed black as he used Void augmentation, further boosting his speed.

Unfortunately, speed alone was not enough.

Samael's gaze narrowed as dozens of silhouettes converged in his path, baring their fangs against him.

"Void Augmentation."

On cue, Crimson Raven warped, becoming fiercer and stronger as it drank Samael's essence like fine wine.

As Crimson Raven finished its transformation, a burst of red miasma shot out of its butt spike, devouring the area within seconds.

The wolves, unsure, inhaled the miasma. Stepping back as they shook their heads, their vision swirled as their surroundings appeared bathed in red.

Slowly, their furs rose up, their hearts slowly being engulfed in...

Fear...

Passive [Fear] has taken effect! Enemies will gradually feel fear over time.

Seeing the notification, Samael barreled forward, breaking through the unstable ranks of the imgrave wolves.

With their shaken wills, the wolves fell one by one to Samael's axe, their blood painting the decaying ground red as their howls of pain left trails of echoes in the air.

Samael's axe weaved back and forth, each slash sending heads flying high in the heavens, raining down in numbers.

Desperate, the remaining wolves lunged at Samael. However, Samael effortlessly dodged their attacks.

Stepping to the side, the abominations attack missed. Seizing his opportunity, Samael countered with a swift slash, decapitating the beast.

As another wolf jumped at Samael, his figure exploded into a flock of ravens, circling the wolf and pecking it before an axe flashed out of the horde, splitting the abomination in two.

Unfazed, Samael's figure formed from the ravens, stepping out without an ounce of fear in his eyes.

Crimson Raven feeds on the blood of your enemies.

Crimson Raven grows stronger...

Samael zoomed forward, his axe tearing through the wolves, taking down five in one fell swoop.

Seeing this, the last remaining abominations scurried off, seeking refuge. But Samael was not forgiving.

The wolves kept running—Crimson Raven blew a hole through one of them before the weapon circled back and returned to Samael's grasp.

The last few wolves hastened their pace even more, but Samael was far too fast.

Samael's figure turned to a blur as he appeared before the abominations, grabbing one by the neck and twisting it with one hand.

The last wolf backed away slowly, cowering down in fear as Samael overshadowed it.

Devoured Void Essence of "Imgrave Wolf" [Hatchling II] +940

Dropping the corpse of the beast, Samael flew forward, sending chunks of dirt back as he breezed through the fog.

Within minutes, Samael noticed Vapad's traces becoming more clear.

I'm close, Samael thought, his heart beating faster by the second as he noticed his path.

Did they drag Vapad near the middle grounds?! Samael wondered.

Should I just leave him? Samael thought.

To begin with, Samael had no relation to the priest. He was also his main suspect.

Samael shook his head.

If Vapad really was a traitor, Samael will need to know what he knows. For that to happen, the priest must survive.

Clenching his teeth, Samael burst forward, zooming past the metal halls.

The fog was as dense as an ocean at this point. Samael had to actively use his astral veil to protect himself from the immense rot caused by the fog.

Samael wanted to halt his steps, thinking maybe Vapad was already dead considering the extreme rot, but no.

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This was a lure. Vapad would surely still be alive.

As Samael closed off the distance, the more he felt the overbearing presence of whatever lay in the middle of the room. At this point, Samael's Void compass had already started blaring its alarms.

However, contrary to his expectations, Samael found himself not in the middle of the lair but rather somewhere near it.

It was an extremely vast room with towering pillars at the side. It almost looked like a Coliseum.

Samael's gaze widened as he saw Vapad on the other side of the room, leaning towards a wall, his arm nearly torn off his body.

He'll bleed to death! Samael thought as he stepped forward— Samael shot a glance up as a shadow fell down the middle of the room, stirring the dust.

GROWL...

"What the fuck?" Samael muttered as he saw a wolf three times the size of the ones he saw guarding the decay spheres.

The wolf had black silver fur flowing with the wind; its fangs were large enough to tear ballistas like paper, and its six crimson eyes bore a hole through Samael.

However, the wolf held a smirk as it walked in a circle, looking at Samael as though he was a tasty delicacy.

Damn it! Vapad can't take much longer! Samael thought as he tightened his grip.

Slowly, Samael lowered his stance, grasping the ground before him as he watched the wolf move.

As deafening silence engulfed the room. Tension kept his heart beating wildly. Without another word, Samael blasted forward, sending a gust of wind back as he shattered the ground.

However, Samael's face fell as the wolf easily dodged the attack as it delivered a fiery slash. Unfortunately, it struck nothing as Samael turned to a flock of ravens.

But the wolf was not done yet as its slash sent a black substance forward, tearing through the ravens, leaving Samael no choice but to reform.

As he landed, Samael muttered.

"Abyss spikes."

A plethora of onyx-black spikes burst from the ground, coursing towards the abomination.

However, the wolf released a loud howl. On cue, the strands of fur on its body stiffened before ejecting forward, countering the sea of spikes with spikes.

Samael's gaze narrowed down as he casted.

"Void fire."

A rain of black bullets struck the wolf, causing a multitude of small explosions and stirring up the dust.

But, as the debris settled, Samael's visage fell grim.

The giant wolf walked out of the crater with no wounds, a layer of metal slowly retracting away.

Samael lowered his stance, preparing for another assault— The wolf's figure blurred as a sharp jolt of pain struck Samael, followed by his body striking layers of metal in a loud explosion.

Samael's ears rang as his Void compass shouted in distress. But he could not move as the wolf's jaw had impaled its canine fangs to his shoulder, penetrating his sturdy skin and muscles as though they were paper.

The wolf increased its strength, sending a massive wave of pain throughout Samael.

"ARGHHHHH!!!" Samael wailed as he grabbed the lip of the beast, struggling to keep it from closing as his blood pooled below him.

The wolf released a laugh of mockery as it closed its jaw even more.

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Samael roared, his face morphing in pain.

The wolf's gaze turned to Samael, its crimson eyes turning crescent in pleasure— A burst of light engulfed the room in its glory, opting for the beast to stumble back as it released a howl of pain.

Samael, injured and confused, shifted his gaze at the priest, where Vapad's hand remained hanging in the air, his pale face looking at the abomination.

Biting his lip, a feeble wave of clarity brought Samael back to his feet as he recalled Crimson Raven.

The weapon, now hammered, had returned to Samael.

Seizing the chance, Samael gathered his strength as he flew forward, driving his axe at the leg of the beast as he spoke.

"Ingrid."

The wolf's leg bloated like a balloon, forcing the beast to fall down as it watched its leg double in size before...

BOOM!

AWOOOOOO!!!

The giant wolf howled in torture as its leg exploded in a mist of blood and flesh, raining down and staining its surrounding ground and walls red.

Samael narrowly avoided a stumble as he felt his reserves plummet, forcing him to use his saved-up essence in his Void charge.

As the gigantic wolf turned in agony, Samael dashed across the room, snatching Vapad and fleeing.

As the wind whipped Samael's face, he gritted his teeth. Ignoring the agonizing pain in his arm.

His bones were shattered, and his arm was barely hanging on. What made it worse was that he had reinforced skin and bones! He was able to tank explosions and survive yet a single bite was enough to nearly end him.

Unfortunately, it did not end there. Samael was starting to feel lightheaded due to his essence burning up like paper. Using Ingrid once was enough to nearly blow a hole through his ethos, and now he's forced to run on his reserves. His Void Mark was of no help either, considering the severe consumption he's doing.

If it weren't for Vapad's attack earlier, Samael was certain his arm would've been torn to shreds by that wolf or worse...

Shifting his gaze to the priest, Samael cussed. Vapad was pale—too pale. His breathing was also becoming shallower by the second.

He's not going to make it! Samael thought as he focused his regeneration on his arm.

As they continued down the path, a loud roar coursed through the hall, sending shockwaves before them.

ROAARRRRRRR!!!

He's pissed! Samael thought.

Burning through his strength, Samael flashed forward, shattering the ground as he crossed hundreds of meters with haste.

However, his Void compass soon sensed the large beast gaining on them.

We're not going to make it! Samael thought as he cast.

"Void Palm."

A large palm composed of Void matter erupted from the ground, slamming against the walls and ceiling, causing it to fall down and block the path behind them.

Samael felt his vision blur for a moment as he steadied himself before running again.

Samael closed off the distance within minutes, sometimes having to halt himself as he killed a couple of beasts blocking his way.

Tired and lightheaded, Samael soon found the exit, blasting through and killing all the wolves blocking it.

Without another thought, he dove through the forest, using the dead, crooked trunks to his advantage.

But a more pressing matter lay at hand.

Samael was nearing his limits. His injury had worsened and was progressively rotting due to his inability to sustain his regeneration.

The pain was blurring his mind. He does not know where to go or where he is.

However, in the midst of his confusion, Vapad spoke.

"South, near the ruined citadels..."

Deciding to trust the man, Samael strode forward, dragging himself with his full efforts as his body shook nonstop.

Samael swiftly took out bottles of red vials from his dragon horde remnant, chugging them down like water to slow down the decay. But he left a few, forcing them down the priest's throat to stop his bleeding.

Slowly, seconds turned into minutes and minutes into hours. What felt like an eternity was but a mere brief moment passing by. But he remained steadfast.

The agonizing pain had ceased Samael's thinking. He did not know what else to do but keep his legs going.

Everything swirled around him, his breathing was ragged and he could not sense what lay ahead of him.

As the fog eased up, Samael stumbled down, stirring the dust as he landed face first on the dirt.

Everything felt muffled. He was exhausted. His limbs refused to move.

Samael couldn't help but wonder.

Is this it?

As Samael's vision blurred and his body freeze up, he could only grit his teeth in frustration.

Then the dark took him.