Hero of Darkness

A chilling and eerie atmosphere seemed to settle over the surroundings as Atreus executed his gruesome act, his actions invoking a visceral sense of horror that hung heavy in the air.

Sylvana's voice, strained and feeble, pierced through the grotesque scene. "You will pay for this, soon." she warned, her words a desperate echo of defiance.

"Oh, I'm quaking in my boots. You'll wait for me in the depths of hell; yada yada yada…" responded Atreus with a callous, mocking tone.

His taunts dripped with sarcasm, a stark juxtaposition against the gruesome tableau before them.

Perplexed, Sylvana's expression twisted into a bemused smile. 

"What are you even talking about?" she inquired, a note of confusion underlying her fading strength.

As the grip of life gradually slipped from her, her form descending toward the ground, Sylvana uttered her final words with a mix of resignation and dark irony. 

She whispered with whatever strength she had left and made a haunting declaration that seemed to reverberate through the very essence of the grim aftermath.

"This is Hell."

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With Sylvana's lifeless body sprawled before them, a sense of somber relief settled over the Hero's party, their breaths carrying the weight of their recent ordeal.

Rolakan's empathetic sentiment broke the silence. 

"I almost feel sorry for her." he mused, his words carrying a note of unexpected compassion.

Atreus's response cut through the atmosphere like a chilling breeze, his voice laced with a sinister edge. 

"Oh, really? That's touching. 

You should have spoken up earlier. I could have arranged a joint torture session with her, just for you." His eyes gleamed with an unsettling light, his grin sending shivers down the spine of those who heard his words.

Rolakan's demeanor turned ashen, his memories of Atreus's torturous tendencies suddenly vivid and unwelcome.

Shifting his attention to Speki, Atreus issued a command that hung heavy in the air. 

"Hey, Peacock... burn her body." His tone held an unmistakable undercurrent of threat, casting a dark shadow over the Fire Summoner.

Speki's response was swift, his compliance tinged with a palpable unease as he conjured flames to consume Sylvana's remains.

In the dynamic of the Hero's party, Maximus may have held the position of de facto leader, but Atreus loomed as a dominant figure of authority in his own right. 

His role as both enforcer and punisher was undeniable, enforcing compliance through fear and coercion. 

The chilling specter of his methods hung over them, ensuring their adherence to his commands through a potent mix of the Mark of Servitude and the ever-present threat of excruciating suffering. In this crucible of power dynamics, Atreus emerged as a formidable force, wielding his own version of leadership within their ranks.

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Amidst the aftermath of their harrowing encounter with Sylvana, the Hero's party found themselves in a moment of respite, reflecting on the challenges that lay ahead.

"Can't believe that even here, we're not going to get things easily done." Maximus voiced his frustration, the weariness of their ongoing struggles evident in his words.

Kahn's response held a touch of wry humor, tinged with a hint of irony.

"Yeah, I'd rather face monsters in the thousands than these guys. At least we know what to expect from monsters.

Even the information that Dryad gave us, I don't think we should completely rely on it."

The conversation took a more serious turn as Kahn delved into their predicament, highlighting the unequal nature of their battles.

"And the fact that we have to face others like her. Especially when they can all temporarily become saints while we're all stuck at the semi-saint rank... It feels exhausting."

[Oh my goodness. Look at the handicap you have. Ten semi-saints, two of them Heroes, and they're forced to fight against saints.

This world is so unfair.] Rathnaar's voice interjected into Kahn's thoughts, a blend of amusement and sarcasm coloring his words. 

The exchange between Kahn and Rathnaar continued, as the latter kept taunting and berating Kahn.

[Just shut up, old man! I'm not worried about that.

I'm just concerned that there might come a situation where I will be forced to use my other skills that go against my established identity as Atreus.] Kahn's frustration was palpable, his voice laced with an air of exasperation.

He was grappling with the need to maintain his facade while possessing powers that far exceeded his outward persona.

[Even as a semi-saint, I was fully capable of killing her in minutes, but I had to hold back and fight like a mob-player just to hide my real strength.

Others face problems because they're not strong enough.

I face problems because I'm too strong, to a level that I struggle to control my strength.]

In his admission, Kahn touched on the paradoxical nature of his situation.

While others might be struggling due to their limitations, his struggle stemmed from the excess of his strength, compelling him to navigate a delicate balance between revealing his true capabilities and adhering to the persona he had crafted.

Kahn fell silent and absorbed all the details Sylvana provided about the peninsula in the God's Domain. As the information flowed, a clearer picture emerged.

Within this particular peninsula, a creation of the God of Nature, there existed a total of 7 guardians, Sylvana being one of them. Each guardian was assigned to protect a distinct perimeter, forming a series of concentric circular layers akin to barriers.

And Sylvana, despite her formidable capabilities, was categorized as the weakest among them.

Consequently, her responsibility lay in guarding the outermost layer, which predominantly comprised natural elements such as trees and the environment itself.

However, this revelation signaled that the challenges ahead were far from over.

The Hero's Party would have to confront an array of guardians, each possessing unique powers and abilities.

These guardians would hold sway over environments that favored their techniques, elements, and strengths, creating a series of distinct battles for the party to navigate.

In this initial confrontation, their triumph over Sylvana hinged upon the flawless teamwork and synergy displayed between Atreus and Maximus.

Without their calculated tactics, leveraging the element of surprise and exploiting Sylvana's own abilities against her, the task of defeating her would have been insurmountable.

Their strategy was successful in this instance, but as they progressed through the successive layers of guardians, the challenges would escalate exponentially.

The enemies awaiting them would grow in strength and resilience, leaving the Hero's Party with a stark choice: either defeat these formidable adversaries or find a means to escape their clutches in order to advance toward God's Altar.

Among these guardians, one name loomed with particular dread: the final guardian, the entity Sylvana had spoken of. The party's path to God's Altar seemingly required their confrontation with this immensely powerful foe.

Sylvana's tone suggested that this guardian was an almost insurmountable challenge, an opponent whose defeat appeared to be the sole key to accessing the altar.

Her almost jubilant mention of this guardian's name underscored the gravity of the impending battle and the potential threat it posed to the Hero's Party's mission.

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Within a castle-like towing construct at the opposite end of the peninsula, was a chamber filled with visible and vibrant Divine Essence, darkness enveloped the space, accentuated by the presence of seven colossal crystals arranged in a circular formation. 

Each crystal emanated its own distinct hue, casting an eerie glow that illuminated the room's interior.

Crack!

Shatter!

Abruptly, the tranquility was shattered as the green crystal, vibrant and captivating, fragmented into pieces that littered the floor in a cascade of destruction.

Creak!

Amidst this shattered display, the chamber's entrance creaked open, admitting the presence of a tall and imposing figure. 

Obscured by shadows, the being's features remained veiled, but their emotions were palpable through the intensity of their gaze—a mixture of disappointment and smoldering anger that filled the air around them.

"Oh, Sylvana… How many times did I tell you to not overestimate yourself and underestimate your opponents just because of your unique powers." spoke this tyrannical figure with a slight exasperation hinted in their tone.

"A Hero's Party is bound to be filled with powerful and knowledgeable people who could find loops in our powers and defeat people like you and the other guardians. 

Your arrogance has caused your downfall again. And here I stand… looking at your shattered core." he declared in a somber voice.

With a weighty solemnity, he activated a circular bracelet-like artifact adorning his hand, its surface pulsating with latent power. His voice resonated with authority as he communicated his message.

"Sylvana is dead. Her demise signals their approach. 

And now… Their footsteps draw closer to you." he spoke in an authoritative tone.

From the other end of this mysterious communication, a ghastly, masculine voice responded firmly, acknowledging the command.

"I shall prepare accordingly, my lord."

Satisfaction tinged the figure's somber demeanor. The gravity of the situation demanded swift and decisive action.

"Excellent. Ensure absolute surprise and eliminate any possibility of their anticipation or counteraction.

We must kill all of them, including the Hero of Nature this time..."

As his words lingered in the air, the figure's eyes radiated a profound golden gleam, a manifestation of his terrifying killing intent as he revealed their reason...

"To leave this Hell."