Inside the dungeon, the place looked like an ordinary cavern, except for the massive white sun above, shining unnaturally as if it was watching everything below.
I looked up, surprised."This is my Phantasia... how can this be here?"
No, if Ragnarok is here, it's connected to my soul. It's possible that when my soul was born into this world, it got dragged into this land as well. That means my Phantasia is still anchored to it.
I closed my eyes and felt it, the zen around my body strengthening, as if it had finally come home.
The dog in the elf girl's hands whimpered. The girl patted the wolf-like dog and asked, "What's wrong?"
I looked at her and said, "Might be PTSD."
I looked ahead and felt it. Ragnarok's energy, my energy, and my Sin. But behind those was another energy — an iron smell and bloodlust. A familiar feeling. It was Zestulla's zen.
"PTSD?" the girl asked curiously.
"Yes. Looks like I'm not the only one."
I smirked. "How pathetic… to become a mere mutt."I laughed mockingly. The dog only growled in return.
"We'll talk later."
I looked at Zestulla. She was staring at me as well."Let's see if you'll live or die," I said with a smile.
I stepped forward, feeling the surroundings. The place was quiet, but it smelled of death, and a strange mix of fear and hope hung in the air.
"Interesting," I muttered.
"Interesting?" Sylf asked.
"Yes. Looks like we're not the first ones who came here."
Then darkness appeared out of nowhere, swirling like smoke. I gently pushed the elf girl behind me."Ugh!" she gasped.
Zestulla jumped from her arms, eyes glowing. Zen surrounded them, protecting the child.
Zinggg—BOOM! A violent shockwave tore through the cavern.
I looked up and caught a black hand trying to pierce my chest. It was the same height as me. A shadow. My shadow.
"An outer spawn," I muttered.
"That bitch's children," Zestulla said sharply.
"Noxis' children," I added.
I kicked the shadow, but it stepped back and vanished, then appeared at my side. My eyes widened. Fast. I crouched low, dodging a kick, then punched its stomach. The creature lifted into the air, and I followed, spinning and kicking its head.
The creature was thrown like a rag doll. It stood again, black liquid leaking from its face, then disappeared — and so did I.
Sylf widened her eyes. "What's happening?"
She couldn't see anything. It was too fast. All she could make out were two blurs, one black and one purple. Every time they reappeared, destruction followed.
"He's the same age as me, right? This strength is already above Papa's," she whispered.
She could feel the power. Her father was a Third Order, so this guy must be Fourth Order, just below Grandmaster."How is this possible? I already awakened to Novice, and they say I'm talented, but this—"
"Don't compare him to you," Zestulla said.
Sylf turned toward the dog. "Huh?"
"That person doesn't have an ordinary soul, and he's no ordinary mortal either. That bastard... tsk. Why am I a dog while he's born a dragon? Though a half one. The human blood in him is transcendent, too."
"D-Dragon?" Sylf yelled in shock. "That's our patron god!"
"God?" Zestulla laughed. "Bullshit. Those fuckers are just transcendents.
"Eh? Aren't they the pinnacle?" Sylf asked.
Zestulla chuckled. "Truly, your world is young."
An explosion erupted, separating the two. The shadow now leaked more black liquid, while the white-haired boy stood bloodied but still steady.
"He's winning," Sylf said with relief. But Zestulla narrowed her eyes. The shadow smoke began to gather again."No... It's not over."
The outer spawn twitched, then screamed. A shockwave tore through the cavern.
"Ugh!" Sirius covered his ears, bleeding. "This bastard... he's absorbing the darkness."
"I need to finish him off."
The sun above glowed brightly. I lifted my hand, forming a white sphere of light. With a flick, I sent it downward. "Inferno."
The orb fell silently, then exploded. The cavern was swallowed in light and fire. Shockwaves tore everything apart. The dimensional space began to crack. The pocket dimension wouldn't last long.
Then a black line pierced everything.
"Shit—" Sirius widened his eyes as the shadow creature punched his stomach. He coughed up blood and was thrown back.
Before he could recover, the outer spawn appeared behind him and slammed him to the ground.
boom!-
Zestulla used blood magic to strike, but the shadow sensed it first and was already beside her.
"Damn—"
Before she could move, it kicked her away.
"Ahh!"
The shadow turned to Sylf, who was frozen in fear. Its head opened like a mouth and screamed.
Skraaa!!
Sylf fainted. Before she hit the ground, the outer spawn lunged at her, its hand reaching for her heart.
Zestulla's eyes went wide in shock.
A wet sound echoed.
She froze. In front of the girl, Samuel stood, the creature's hand stuck in his chest.
His face was full of madness; he was smiling?
He stepped forward, forcing the creature's arm deeper. The shadow twitched, but before it could move, Samuel bit into its neck.
A tearing sound filled the cavern. Black Blood poured like rain. The outer spawn screamed in agony.
The creature tried to run and attack him with its other arm, but Samuel grabbed both of its hands tightly, as blood poured out of his open chest. He spat out the black flesh and his own blood, opened his mouth, and unleashed a beam of fire.
The blast swallowed everything. The Outer spawn burned to ash.
Zestulla trembled, staring ahead. He was still standing, a massive hole in his chest, laughing like a madman.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
"Why did I fight this psychopath..." she muttered.