As the harsh winds bellowed and the lightning left illuminated gashes in the sky, Samael stood alone before an abomination that laid waste to an entire civilization.

Yet, at that moment, he felt neither fear nor anxiety. Samael felt inexplicably calm and focused. As though something heavy was at stake. Instinctually, he can feel it is because of the calling.

Tightening his grip on Crimson Raven's hilt, the peculiar skull mark in Samael's back hand slowly slithered up, extending and dispersing like strands etched in his skin.

"Void Augmentation."

Samael's hands morphed black as Void essence seeped out of his body, enhancing his strength and overall power.

Just as he changed, Crimson Raven too underwent massive changes as the blade took on its much more ferocious form.

But contrary to Samael's expectations, the wyvern simply stayed mid-air, swirling around.

Samael's gaze narrowed as his Void compass detected multiple presences approaching fast.

Slowly, the ground under his soles trembled, each second gaining strength, until three creatures sprung out of the earth.

These abominations were different; they did not fight or even have hostility for each other. Not only that, but it almost looked as though they were guarding the wyvern.

Well, they were guarding it.

It sent it's lackeys thinking they're enough to take me? Samael wondered.

Then again, Samael's rank was no doubt stuck at Metamorphosis due to his ascension. Anyone would believe that being a rank higher than him is more than enough to end him.

The three creatures looked humanoid in form, albeit grotesquely misshapen. Their arms were long enough to nearly reach their ankles, and they stood towering at nearly 8 feet tall.

They were wrapped in clothes stained by puss and blood, looping all around their skinny bodies. But what really piqued Samael's curiosity was that they had no eyes.

The three surrounded Samael, leaving no gap for escape. Seeing this, the Wyvern gave a mighty roar.

Upon hearing this roar, the three abominations lunged forward with tremendous speed.

However, Samael was already used to such feats. This one was no different than the rest.

As the beast in front of Samael inched closer, he swung his arm three times, each in different directions.

"Void Cleave."

Three consecutive explosions rocked the ancient grounds of Uria as the first abomination's arm, leg, and shoulder were cut off, flying in the air and staining the ground in its filth.

However, the creature was still alive and barely showed any symptoms of pain. It desperately tried to hop towards him, nearly stumbling a few times.

Heeding the call of his Void compass, Samael dove down, avoiding one of the creature's claws.

Countering its attack, Samael dragged his foot in an arc, sweeping the creature off its feet.

Using the fall of the beast, Samael swiftly pivoted and delivered an upward kick, his foot smashing against the skull of the abomination.

Readying his weapon, Samael flinched as he dashed back, narrowly dodging one of the creatures as it landed face first on the earth.

Noticing this odd behaviour, Samael's gaze narrowed.

They're not agile or nimble, but their vitality makes up for it, he concluded.

It seems it was time to use some heavy-hitting skills.

"Void Cleave."

Five consecutive slashes struck the fallen beast in haste, tearing off its limbs and head within a second.

However, Samael's eyes widened as the creature's torn body parts started to squirm and move towards him.

"Abyss spikes."

The minced parts were swiftly impaled by onyx black spikes protruding from the ground, hanging them, yet they continued to move like worms.

"Void bar."

Summoning two dark rods, Samael threw them at the squirming body parts, and to his suspicions, they stopped dead.

These aren't living creatures. These are puppets! Samael thought.

Sparing a glance at the Wyvern flying in the air, its eyes turned crescent in shape.

Clenching his jaw, Samael kept himself calm.

If it wants to play, then let's play, Samael thought.

"Void Flow."

On cue, Samael's body lightened as he vanished, followed by multiple thunderclaps.

"Void Bar."

Samael's voice echoed as multiple dark bars impaled the flesh puppets, falling down like judgement and pinning them to the ground.

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Stopping to a halt, the flesh puppets were all defeated, staying still as though they were dolls.

Switching his gaze at the Wyvern, Samael clicked his tongue as multiple flesh puppets burst from the ground.

However, this time, these creatures wore something.

Clothes? Samael was in confusion as he easily dodged the attacks of the enemy.

Further observing the puppets, Samael's gaze widened.

These creatures wore clothes, undergarments, and even accessories.

These... Are these the people who lived here once...? Samael realised.

Staring at their faceless heads, Samael could almost feel the agony behind them. The torture they must have endured.

This also means one thing.

There must be an entire civilization buried underneath him.

Looking at the marble-like floor, Samael gritted his teeth as he bound them down in one fell swoop.

Casting a glare at the flying abomination, Samael's eyes flickered.

"All seeing eye."

Samael's hand balled to a fist as he felt the intense drain of the ability, yet he did not stop.

Staring at the creature, Samael's pupils shrank as he saw a plethora of lines all coming from the wyvern and to the ground beneath him.

There was no way Samael could sever all of it manually.

Looking at the Void bars holding the puppets in place, Samael's eyes glinted.

Clasping his hands together, Samael channelled roughly 20% of his total essence as he produced multiple giant pillars of Void matter.

These pillars embedded themselves in the ground with a large explosion. On cue, the stream of essence powering all the puppets underneath the ancient grounds was cut.

Samael was already able to create void bars. A pipe like solidified Void matter is capable of disrupting energy flow. At this point, nothing was stopping him from creating larger versions of it.

As the skill landed, words slowly formed in Samael's mind as a codex panel warped before him.

A new skill has been encoded in the Codex!

Seeing this, Samael spoke.

"Hollow Pillars."

As he did, the pillars grew purple as lines etched in their surface glew incandescent, each connecting to the rest and forming a zone.

Feeling its connection shatter, the Wyvern's joy was burned to the ground as it released a bloodcurdling roar.

However, Samael remained unfazed. He steadfastly braved the intimidation of the beast before him.

Lowering his stance, Samael braced himself as the Wyvern rose up before taking a sharp dive.

As it neared, Samael threw seven consecutive Void Cleaves, the attacks flashing through the wind and towards the wyvern.

Spotting the attacks, the beast halted its flight and opened its maw, its mouth glowing yellow as a burst of flame shot off of it.

The flame and the Void cleaves struck each other, causing large explosions mid-air.

Taking advantage of the smoke, Samael dropped down to his stance as he catapulted himself through, tearing a hole and closing the distance with ease.

But the Wyvern was ready as pillars of rock hauled at Samael.

Samael's eyes widened as he twisted his body, the large chunks of stone grazing his arm.

With his momentum lost, the Wyvern swooped in and threw a large slash, intending to shred Samael to pieces.

"... Nihility..."

"Surge."

The Wyvern's demonic eyes widened as a jet of Void matter whipped it straight in the face, carving a straight line from its jaw to its left eyebrow, completely blinding one of its eyes.

At the same time, Samael's figure was pushed back by the recoil of the attack, allowing him to dodge the slash of the beast.

Landing on the ground with a loud boom, Samael rolled off the marble before jumping up and landing on his feet.

The wyvern released a screech of pain as it flailed in the air, causing chaos and mass havoc as it destroyed everything in its path.

Now! Samael thought as he dashed forward with one forceful step.

Closing the distance with ease, Samael raised his blade—multiple collosal stone spikes burst from the ground, forming a forest-like zone and knocking Samael back.

Rising from the rubble, Samael cracked his neck as he extended his Void compass.

Adhering to its warning, Samael used Void latch as a sling and propelled himself up, avoiding the sea of flames that came after.

Seeing Samael fly high in the air, the Wyvern pointed its mouth up, its scorching flames slowly approaching Samael.

Raising his hands up, Samael uttered.

"Void Aegis."

The flame collided with the shield, igniting it purple as Samael pushed it forward.

As the Void Aegis marched forward, Samael swiftly burst into a flock of Raivens as he made his way towards the abomination, coursing through the gaps of its claws.

Converging to form Samael's figure, he clasped his hands together.

"Nihility Surge!"

Another burst of the Void stream shot forward, causing a small shockwave and pushing Samael back.

Unable to react on time, the jet stream drilled through Wyvern's cheeks, tearing its cheek open and showing its large fangs.

Blinded by the pain, the beast flapped its wings, causing a massive surge of wind that nearly knocked Samael off his feet.

As the beast flew high, Samael clasped his hand once more. However, before he could even utter the attack, the Wyvern shot a myriad of sharp boulders from its wings.

Samael's eyes widened as he backflipped and dashed back, dodging the boulders exploding on the ground one by one.

By the time he was done, the wyvern had regained its distance and had recovered from the pain.

It glared at Samael with hatred brimming in its depths as its nose billowed smoke.

"Angry? Then come and get me," Samael taunted.

The Wyvern released a loud roar as it dove towards Samael, constantly releasing spikes and sending them forward.

Left with no choice, Samael weaved back and forth, avoiding one boulder after the other.

Nearing Samael, the wyvern released a river of fire, engulfing and melting the ground under its fury.

However, Samael, who has experienced and gotten used to the scorching heat of the sun, was not swayed by this as he propelled himself up and rotated mid-air each time he threw a Void cleave.

Using a wall of stones to block the attack, the abomination sent a shockwave through it, shattering it and sending a rain of stones to Samael.

Cussing under his breath, Samael spoke.

"Void dome."

A spherical black barrier erupted from Samael's body, shielding him from the storm of stones.

As it subsided, Samael was forced to abandon his shield as he cast a mirage. Seconds after he left, a large spike erupted from the ground, shattering the dome like glass.

In its chaos, Samael sprinted forward, closing the distance as he threw Crimson Raven in an arc.

The blade of the axe breezed through the scales of the Wyvern, cutting through them and leaving deep gashes.

The passive effect [Sear] has taken effect! The enemy will feel twice the pain!

The passive effect [Bleed] has taken effect! The enemy will continuously bleed unless taken care of!

Crimson Raven feeds on the blood of your enemies! Crimson Raven grows stronger...

The Wyvern's body shook as it released a thunderous scream, shaking the temple as it clawed its wounded abdomen, as though taking out the harmed parts was going to get rid of the pain.

Seeing the myriad of panels, a smile made its way to Samael's face.

The fight was nearing its peak.