Samuel's POV
As I stood atop the obsidian spire of Ebonreach, watching the shadow-winds howl across the broken lands below, a sharp ding echoed in my mind like a bell tolling for war.
The familiar blue glow of a System Notification materialized before my eyes.
---
[System Notification]
New World Unlocked
Designation: Vez'kar, the Abyss of Iron Flames
Ruling Entity: High Demon Lord Goaliath, the Shatterhorn
Alert: Goaliath is amassing demonic legions to rebel against Roselle Vasilyev, Sovereign of Darkness and Goddess of the Broken System.
Mission Type: Intervention
Objective: Eliminate Goaliath before he destabilizes the balance of Divinities.
Optional Objective: Send Roselle a "message."
---
I blinked once, then twice, before a smirk slithered across my lips.
"Rebel against her, huh?" I muttered, my voice dripping with disdain. "This bastard really has suicidal thoughts."
Roselle Vasilyev.
The name alone sent a ripple of old heat through me. My fingers twitched as memories—twisted and tangled like vines dipped in blood—surfaced uninvited. The nights we danced with blades and bodies. The games we played with hearts and egos. The war we waged in pleasure and pain.
I turned, letting the dark winds buffet my silver hair as I stared into the distance.
Goaliath, huh?
A demon thinking he can challenge my goddess?
"Courageous," I said aloud, "but also incredibly dumb."
My gauntlets shimmered faintly on my arms—newly evolved, twitching as if they could taste what was coming.
I sighed, flexing my fingers.
"System," I said calmly. "Take me to Vez'kar."
The sky above me cracked like shattered glass as a rift began to tear itself open, bleeding crimson and black flame. I could already hear the guttural chants of demon legions on the other side, drums of war echoing like heartbeats from hell.
But I wasn't fazed.
No, I was eager.
"Because Roselle Vasilyev..." I whispered, stepping forward as the rift devoured the light around me, "...is mine to reun..."
The air trembled as I smirked, my voice deepening with promise.
"…and mine to pleasure."
And with that, I dove into the breach—toward the Demon Lord Goaliath, toward war, toward vengeance...
And toward her.
________________________________________
Samuel's POV
The moment I stepped through the breach, the world convulsed around me.
Vez'kar wasn't a realm. It was a furnace.
A colossal iron world where mountains bled molten rock and the sky was a roiling storm of ash and fury. The ground cracked beneath my boots as if the realm itself wanted to scream. Rivers of lava snaked through broken cities, and jagged spires of obsidian clawed into the heavens like the bones of long-dead gods.
Demonic warhorns howled in the distance—deep, resonating calls that shook the air like a living thing. Legions. Thousands of them. Maybe more. The scent of sulfur and scorched steel filled my lungs.
"Nice place," I muttered, my voice echoing against the jagged cliffs. "Very welcoming."
Then came the next ding.
---
[System Notification]
— Welcome to Vez'kar, the Abyss of Iron Flames —
Zone Status: High Alert
All hostiles in this realm are under the command of Demon Lord Goaliath, Shatterhorn.
Power Signature: Grade Omega++
Warning: You are being hunted.
---
My grin only widened.
"Let them try."
I took a step forward—and the moment my boots hit the scorched metal ground, a massive bolt of obsidian flame tore from the sky, slamming down only feet ahead of me. Smoke and soot burst into the air as demonic figures emerged from the haze.
Six of them.
All built like towers of muscle and plated with infernal armor, glowing crimson sigils carved across their bodies like tattoos.
Their leader stepped forward—a hulking brute with horns twisted like blades, holding a war axe twice his size.
"Samuel Gebb," he rumbled, his voice like grinding stone. "The Dark Knight of Ebonreach. Our Lord commands your death."
I cracked my neck and raised a brow. "He's welcome to try himself."
The brute snarled and charged.
I moved.
Voidstep activated in a blink, my form phasing through smoke and shadow, appearing behind the nearest demon before he could blink.
CRACK!
My fist, wrapped in the Gauntlets of the Demon, collided with his spine. The impact sent a shockwave that reduced his torso to splinters of bone and black fire. His scream never came. He died with a gasp, crumpling like ash.
The others lunged.
Axes, blades, fangs—every strike aimed to kill.
Too slow.
I ducked under a war hammer swing and slammed my palm into the attacker's chest—Devourer's Pulse triggered.
His soul was mine before his body hit the lava-stained ground.
Two more came at me with dual flaming swords, howling curses in demonic tongue.
I spun.
Blade Tempest – Chaos Variant.
My gauntlets erupted in purple flame as I unleashed a flurry of explosive punches, twisting energy with each strike. The two demons were shredded mid-swing, their flaming swords clattering uselessly into the dirt as their upper bodies were vaporized.
"Is that all?" I growled.
A single survivor remained, crawling back, his eyes wide with terror.
"Y-you're not human... you're worse... you're..."
I walked toward him slowly. "Tell your Lord something for me."
He shook his head rapidly. "P-please..."
I leaned in, just enough that my glowing purple eyes bored into his soul.
"Roselle Vasilyev doesn't need your rebellion. If she wants chaos, I'll bring it to her myself."
And then I drove my fist through his head.
---
[System Notification]
— Mini-Boss Squad Eliminated —
Bonus Gained: Aura of Absolute Dread Unlocked (Passive)
Realm Response: Elite Demon Scouts Mobilizing. Goaliath is now aware of your presence.
---
"Good," I muttered. "Let him come to me."
But then… the sky changed.
It wasn't a slow shift.
It was like the heavens ripped open—a column of iron and flame descending from the clouds, crashing into the horizon like a hammer from hell.
A massive figure emerged.
Over 40 feet tall. Armor forged from the bones of dragons and planets alike. Horns like obsidian spears. A crown of molten flame flickering behind his jagged skull.
Demon Lord Goaliath, the Shatterhorn.
My muscles tensed. The gauntlets pulsed. Even they felt the weight of what had arrived.
"Samuel Gebb..." Goaliath's voice thundered, every syllable a detonation across the realm. "Roselle sends her dogs to do her work now?"
I laughed. "She didn't send me. I just don't like your face."
Goaliath's molten eyes flared. "I'll crush your bones and offer your soul as a declaration of war!"
His fist came down like a falling star.
I leapt.
The impact behind me shattered a mountain. Dust and flame billowed outward.
In mid-air, I activated Soul Echo: Wrathforge, my body encased in crimson void armor, blades sprouting from my shoulders like wings of death.
I slammed both fists together. "Come on then, God-Killer."
And the world exploded into battle.