what a monstrosity!

The steam from the water was creating a fog as we trudged through the valleys of Hell. It was a landscape born of nightmares—jagged obsidian mountain ranges, rivers of boiling water, and an oppressive sky where the sun had all but extinguished the darkness. Sweat dripping down into my eye from the simmering heat that radiated from the bubbling waters.

Dehya, my steadfast companion, floated beside me, Her eyes sparkled with determination fueled by the magic she had grown into over the course of our six-month training.

"Do you feel that?" she whispered. I could see the violet light gathering in her hands, a pulse of energy ready to pour into the earth like tendrils of roots seeking the blood of the land.

"I do." I squinted toward the river. There was something amiss. Leviathan had to know we were here, and we were about to find out just how well his army could read our intentions.

Before we could ready ourselves, they came—an onslaught of octopus-like beasts erupting from the boiling waters. Each had dark, spiked, obsidian armor encasing its massive head and segmented legs that ended in razor-sharp blades. Their black eyes glinted with a primal hunger as they surged toward us.

"Here we go!" I shouted, falling into the rhythm of the Drunken Sword style, mixed with the violent grace of the Lightning Strike technique that I had honed during our training. Zipping forward, I danced through the chaos, my sword weaving intricate patterns through the air. The first demon lunged at me, but I swayed to the side, letting its appendage brush past me before responding with a swift strike that took off a leg.

"Roots of the Planet, lend me your strength!" Dehya cried, and from the ground erupted vines that snaked their way toward the nearest demon, ensnaring its bladed legs and thrusting upward. It howled in rage, but the roots pierced through the armor as if it were mere parchment, ending its assault.

"Nice one!" I called, spinning beneath another Beast. My next strike carved a deep gash into its flank, and with every swing of my sword, I kept my footing amidst the boiling chaos.

Heavy thuds echoed around me as Viscoff, the warrior with no with no shirt but glistening metal shoulder guards, swung his great axe. Each fell swing shattered the nightmarish limbs of the beasts as if they were made of brittle glass. It was like watching the fury of a mountain come to life, and I could not help but feel the adrenaline surging through my veins.

"I'll take on as many as I can!" he roared, cleaving another monster in half with a sickening crunch, sparks erupting from where metal met flesh.

Ben, our marksman, stood poised, his red bow gleaming ominously in his hands. Each arrow flew with deadly precision, finding chinks in their obsidian armor. They slowed, staggered by his shots, their momentum waning just as we needed.

"Keep them busy!" he called out, his voice steady beneath the chaos. I could see the determination in his sharp features as he picked off another beast trudging closer to us.

"Gimola! Gimli!" I shouted. The dwarf twins darted in and out, as they wielded their kukris with agility deft enough to leave the Demons staggered and off balance.

"We'll finish them off!" Gimola called, her twin blades moving in a blinding blur as she slid between the beast's legs to strike from behind.

"No beast shall remain!" Gimli echoed, spinning on his heel to engage another, his muscular form a whirlwind of destruction.

We must have taken down fifty, sixty of them, but the relentless tide of monsters did not let up. When the remaining swarm of these ugly octopus type demons made their appearance—fifty strong, rising up from the scalding depths of the river—our training kicked instinctively into gear.

"Time to push forward!" I shouted, but as the words left my mouth, the team sprang into action. Together, we cut through the darkness like a knife through butter. I swung low at one, Dehya summoned roots, Viscoff brought down his axe with the force of an avalanche, the twins weaving in and out of their legs making precise cuts to them and Ben provided the final deathblows from afar.

The clash of metal and flesh echoed as the last of the clustered beasts toppled into the boiling river, an eerie silence settling over the valley as we caught our breath. The air was thick with steam, rising from the river, curling like ghosts above our heads.

But just as we thought our fight was over, something shifted in the water—a figure slowly rising. My heart pounded as a humanoid figure emerged, striking a contrast to the grotesque creatures we had just dispatched.

He had a sharp horn protruding from the center of his forehead, his dark eyes like voids that made my skin crawl. Lowering into the water, his lower body was that of an aquatic beast, a black dragon tail with bladed peaks traveling along it. The chilling aura radiating from him was tangible, a whisper of evil that seemed to wash over us.

He held a pitch-black trident, its tip glowing with a white flame that danced ominously. The flames flickered like the chaotic heartbeat of the valley, and I felt everyone tense beside me.

"We're not done yet," I murmured, clutching my sword tighter as a dangerous new chapter unfurled before us.

——

*a few hours ago*

In the heart of Hell, where rivers of molten lava twisted like serpents and obsidian spires clawed at the raging crimson skies, Zain sat on a jagged stone ledge, turquoise hair shimmering amidst the eerie glow. Beside him, Dehya scanned the desolate landscape, her hair flowing like a cascade of lavender nebula. Orion, lounged lazily in his transformed state.

Way off in the distance on the other side of where they were, lay a grand chamber shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by a ring of flickering white fire that danced at the feet of the towering figure known as Satan. Shadows flickered across the cold stone walls, concealing the other six human-shaped figures who drilled their gazes into the infernal lord, their presence barely perceptible in the gloom.

"Seven souls have been trapped in my domain," Satan's voice reverberated, deep and resonant, sending tremors through the air. "Brought by the Demon King himself. It is our duty," he gestured broadly, "to Ensure they suffer."

The atmosphere thickened "Do not underestimate them!" Satan warned, his white flames brightening in response to his indignation. "Each one possesses a strength that warrants respect."

At that moment, a sound broke through the oppressive silence—a chorus of applause resonated through the chamber, echoing off the walls like a mocking chant. It was an ominous sign of the trials that lay ahead.

"We will not falter," Zain whispered, steeling himself for the chaos ahead. "We'll show them strength beyond their dark imaginations."

As he stepped forward, ready to confront whatever lay ahead, the fires of Hell crackled with anticipation, promising that the path would be drenched in action and consequence.

——

Heat warped the air around me as we stepped towards him. Streams of boiling water glowed like rivers of fire beneath the obsidian bridges that snaked through the jagged landscape. Each step I took felt as though it might melt my skin, but the excitement charged my veins, overpowering the unease of our situation.

Beside me, Dehya walked with grace even in this chaotic environment. Her hair swayed slightly against the infernal winds, and her vivid eyes were locked on the horizon where darkness loomed. I could sense her anticipation.

"The sooner we do this, the sooner we move onto the next," she said, her voice steady.

"I know," I replied. Gripping my golden earring, Orion, who—like a loyal shadow—kept watchful eyes on our surroundings even in his feline form, occasionally speak letting us know he was in agreement.

Ahead, a towering silhouette emerged, casting a shadow that engulfed us. Leviathan, the first emperor of Hell, stood regally, a visage that could only be described as monstrous yet majestic. His voice was thunder, reverberating in the air like a storm rolling in. "You who trespass and walk with your dirty feet on my land. I will stab my trident through each and every one of you for defeating and killing my army. I should have taken Satan's warning and came first."

My heart raced with contempt as his words dripped with malice. I couldn't let him taunt us. "Shut the fuck up!" I shouted, my voice rising above the crackling heat. "You are in the way of where I'm needed. We will attack you until all that's left is tiny pieces of your body laying in a pile, and then I will grab them all up and dump them into that lava pit." In an act of defiance, I spat on the ground towards him, demonstrating the depth of my contempt.

A flicker of irritation crossed his features, igniting a surge of audacity within me. It was time.

"I've trained for this," I declared, coating my feet with magic to buoy me above the boiling water. I lunged forward, focusing all my power into my fists and kicking off the surface like a rocket.

As I closed the distance, I felt every ounce of gravity shift around me. I struck first, my fist connecting with Leviathan's jaw, illuminating the air with a burst of yellow energy. He staggered but quickly recovered, his sinister grin slicing across his face as he retaliated with a swift motion of his black trident, aiming to impale me.

I ducked sideways, dodging the deadly thrust. Just then, Dehya, with her agility, leapt in, slashing the weapon with a flash of magic-infused energy from her wand. It sparked as metal met Magic, forcing Leviathan back even further.

"Now, Ben!" shouted Gimola, one of the dwarf twins, drawing her twin blades with deft fingers, Ben began unleashing a barrage of arrows from the shadows—each one imbued with spells of fire, striking their mark on Leviathan's armored hide. His skin shimmered, but the projectiles embedded themselves deeply, drawing cries of fury from the emperor.

"Keep pressuring him!" Gimli growled, his gruff voice unmistakable as he joined his sister in the fray.

Viscoff, the massive warrior, charged, massive axe prepared for impact. "Let's bring this bastard down!" He swung with all his might, the blade whistling towards Leviathan's exposed flank. The impact was thunderous, reverberating like a battle drum through the atmosphere of damnation. The ground trembled beneath us, and for a moment, it seemed our attacks might actually weaken the emperor.

But as Leviathan stumbled, the rage in his eyes flared like a furnace. "You insolent wretches!" he roared, executing a motion with his trident that sent a pulse of energy rippling through the air.

Suddenly, a blinding light surrounded him, and I felt the heat intensify to unbearable levels. With a roar that shook the earth, his form exploded with power, engulfed in white flames. I shielded my eyes as the fire burned hot enough to melt stone.

When the flames receded, what stood before us made even my bravado falter. The Leviathan we faced was now an all-black demon dragon, its scales glistening like polished obsidian coated with razor-like peaks that lined its body, one razor sharp horn sticking from his head.

He spread colossal wings that blotted out the sun, ready to unleash carnage upon us.

"We can't let him take flight!" June shouted, stepping forward and conjuring a controlled tempest ready to bind the dragon's movements.

But before we could regroup, Leviathan surged into the air, casting shadows around us as he descended towards the boiling river below. "You will pay for this insult in blood!" His voice echoed as he launched himself down like a meteor into the depths of Hell's sea.

A feral roar echoed through the abyssal plains, and I braced myself as the ground shook and water splattered.

We had come seeking answers, yet found ourselves teetering on the brink of something far greater. All of us, fueled by vengeance, stood united—a small band of heroes ready to face Hell's fiercest denizen.

But now, with Leviathan transformed, the true battle began. And I could only hope we had what it took to survive this hellish onslaught.