The originator of Deceit!

As I stood at the edge of the boiling river, my hair whipped wildly in the scorching winds of Hell, I felt the weight of oppression crush down on me. The valley stretched between two gargantuan obsidian mountains, their soot-black peaks silhouetted against the black sky. Each breath I took tasted like ash, and a relentless heat sizzled against my skin. I glanced at my companions, my heart pounding with trepidation—we were about to face Leviathan, the Emperor of Hell's seas.

"Stay on guard!" I shouted, trying to fortify my voice against the oppressive aura radiating from the water below. The boiling river churned and roared, mocking us with its fury. Leviathan's essence pulsed beneath, a thrumming reminder of the god-like power he now wielded.

Dehya, knelt beside me, her luminous eyes filled with determination. I could see her fists clutching the earth, fighting to remain steady. Nearby, the twin dwarves, Gimola and Gimli, shared a glance filled with fierce resolve, but even they struggled, forced onto one knee by the malevolent force digging into our very souls.

I spotted June, her face bore the struggle against the suffocating pressure. Her power surged like a brilliant flame, yet the shadows around us threatened to snuff out her light. Beside her, Viscoff, the towering figure clad in metal shoulder guards that gleamed ominously, stood resolute, grinding his teeth with every ounce of strength he possessed.

I was about to say something but then a violent WHOOSH was heard and a huge sprout of boiling water was shooting up, this shattered the tension. Leviathan erupted from the depths like a storm unleashed, his massive form spiraling into the air. The force of his wings slammed into the dwarves, sending them crashing against the nearby mountain with a thunderous impact. I gasped as I saw Dehya dragged into the chaos, her determination replaced by sheer surprise as she was hit by his massive tail. And then June—her light dimmed, swallowed by the force of Leviathan's rage.

"Hold steady!" I shouted, helplessly watching them rally beneath the impact. The ground quaked beneath us, fissures opening in the earth as the crater formed from their collision. My heart sank—had we underestimated him?

Ben was far enough away to evade Leviathan's initial assault, his red bow drawn tight as he scanned for an opening. He was a vestige of hope. My focus shifted back to Viscoff as he embraced the form of Loki—a wrathful spirit he had unlocked during our training. A wooden mask adorned his face, a trickster's emblem With the Letter L on the top of a rectangular rod that spanned from the top of the mask to the bottom of his nose. All of his armor now coated in gold and a bright Viridian green. Mischievous laughter echoed through the valley, stemming from no one other then Viscoff, a defiant sound that ignited a spark of hope in my chest.

"I'll show you what true power is!" he bellowed, now wielding a transformed spear —a magnificent sight as all the metal was gold and an emerald orb pulsed between two blades, glowing with a life of its own. Leviathan charged forth, a behemoth ready to crush anything in his path.

I could only watch as he clashed with Viscoff. The contact sent shockwaves through the air, teeth jarring against the sheer force of their collision. Leviathan's sharp horn struck one of Viscoff's gauntlets, a clash of titans reverberating through the air. Viscoff held steady, an indomitable spirit rising to meet the onslaught. The corner of his lips curled into a smile, a hint of mischief flickering in his eyes, reminding me of how far we'd come since our first encounter with that gorilla demon.

"Now, Zain!" he roared, his voice a thunderous command. I didn't need to be told twice. My body responded instinctively; magic surged through my veins, igniting my teal hair like a beacon against the darkness. I could feel Orion, my spirit cat, ready at my side, his presence a grounding force.

The battlefield transformed into chaos as I prepared to unleash sword skill adorned with magic. With a deep breath, I summoned energy from every corner of this haunted realm. Tendrils of light and dark danced around my form—an amalgamation of the worlds I understood and didn't. I glanced at Dehya, Still laying unconscious, her vibrant hair trailing like a comet. I was filled with rage. *how dare you lay even a finger on her!* my mind filled wrath. Seeing Dehya hurt set me off into an fury I had yet to feel in this life.

Orion thought to himself *This boy is still a blockhead and has yet to realize why.* shaking his head with a smile.

Time seemed to slow as I witnessed that singular moment: the embodiment of my hopes, the resolve of my companion, fighting in a blinding spectacle. With a heart that raced in tandem with his surge of power.

As their forces collided, I could feel the weight of his determination against the tide of darkness, the final battle in this valley of Hell had only just begun. And amidst the chaos, I realized something vital: we weren't just fighting for ourselves; we were fighting for each other, bound by an unbreakable bond that transcended even this treacherous realm.

——

Viscoff—now more a force of nature than man—lunged at Leviathan with a fierce growl. His transformation had been nothing short of spectacular: It was as if the essence of the wild itself had poured into him, shaping him into a being of emerald and gold, shimmering and alive. He wore a wooden mask, the engraved symbol of an 'L' glowing faintly, hinting at both his newfound strength and the arcane powers he had harnessed.

Across from him, Leviathan shifted in the boiling waters of Hell's all-consuming river, his massive scaled body reflecting the lurid, molten hues that surrounded us. As he flew high up into the black sky, The tips of each razor sharp peak glistening like obsidian daggers ready to strike. He arched his back and lunged forward, mouth wide to reveal rows of serrated teeth that glimmered under the caustic glow.

My heart raced, grounding me in the heart of the chaos. Dehya's vibrant eyes, those iridescent pools of purple, haunted my thoughts. She lay at the bottom of a crater, slipping in and out of consciousness, while June, mirrored her state nearby. The twins had been thrown to the side like dolls discarded by a thoughtless child, their forms obscured beneath tumbling boulders.

A red bow shimmered like the fiery sun, Ben remained at a distance, catching his breath and sizing up the right moment to unleash his deadly arrow, fletched with the flames of a Phoenix. I respected his patience, but it strained me to watch Leviathan advance with every pulse of his colossal tail, venomous intent in his piercing midnight eyes.

With a roar that echoed through the obsidian canyons, Viscoff struck first, wielding his golden spear as if it were a part of him. The ground trembled as he rushed forward, spinning and thrusting with an unmatched ferocity. With each strike, his spear met Leviathan's obsidian spikes, sparks flying like fiery stars in the darkened skies of Hell. The smell of heated metal and the screech of weapon clashing filled the air—a symphony of turmoil.

I concentrated on the rhythm of lightning and steel, marking each thrust, each retreat, desperately seeking out a weakness in Leviathan's impenetrable offense.

Leviathan, undeterred, countered with terrifying elegance. He swooped low, the razor-like ridges along his serpentine body shimmering ominously. I could see the fleeting flicker of fear in Viscoff's piercing gaze as Leviathan's tail whipped low, eager to send him tumbling into the lava river. With divine agility, Viscoff jumped, somersaulting through the air, spear poised to plunge.

I held my breath, processors running wild, desperate to glimpse what we all needed—the chance to activate our comeback, to settle the difference between life and oblivion.

"Now, Ben!" I shouted, my voice swallowed by the surrounding chaos.

Ben released his arrow, that brilliant burst of flame flying true and hot, powering straight toward Leviathan. The golden earring that Orion had transformed into, the flicker of his presence encouraging. Together, we formed a shield, channeling energy through Ben's payload, the heat rushing like a scorching tide.

There was a resounding explosion as Ben's arrow exploded upon contact with a forcefield cast by Leviathan, igniting into a shower of sparks. But Leviathan was relentless. He twisted elegantly, barreling down on Viscoff, who barely dodged, growling in pure defiance.

"He can't keep this up much longer," I muttered under my breath.

They collided again, a flurry of strikes and magical energy. Leviathan lashed out with an undeniable fury, thrusting his trident downwards, and Viscoff met him stroke for stroke. I could feel the ground shake with the aftermath of their conflict.

But then, with a savage shriek, Leviathan saw his opening. He lunged forward, his body coiling impossibly fast, whipping around Viscoff. With a sudden surge, he struck—a heavy blow that reverberated through the air. Viscoff's spear was sent flying from his grip and, in that moment of vulnerability, he faltered.

I wanted to scream, felt the agony of loss seeping into my bones as I watched Leviathan seize the opening. The dragon's tail swung wide, crashing down like a mountain, and Viscoff was caught mid-fall—a mammoth wave of water rose behind him, pulling him toward the boiling inferno.

"No! Viscoff!" I howled as the glow of his armored form disappeared beneath the churning waves. The boiling surf hissed, fizzing as it consumed him whole, leaving behind only silence.

I felt a tear force its way down my cheek as my heart dropped into an abyss of despair. The weight of impending doom loomed, a darker shadow over my allies, over Dehya, and June. I could feel the power of life draining from our fight—the fiery heart of our existence threatened to be extinguished.

But with this loss of hope, an unexpected surge of anger bubbled up within me. I had come from another world, fought beside these heroes, forged bonds beyond comprehension. And this emperor was going to take that from me? I wouldn't let that happen.

Leviathan's rumbling laughter echoed in the void where Viscoff had stood just a heartbeat ago. The fight wasn't over, not by a long shot, and I vowed to summon every ounce of power I possessed from this realm, to rally my remaining comrades to avenge our fallen friend.

I inhaled sharply, the very air tinged with sorrow. It was another life on the line, another chance to stand and rise, for Hell had much more in store. The fight would rage on.

——

In a place I once thought was a myth. The immense black obsidian mountains loomed on either side of me, cradling us in a valley of relentless fire and boiling water. I could feel the sweat trickling down my brow, but it couldn't compare to the adrenaline coursing through my veins. In that moment, amidst the chaos, every feeling I had ever known seemed trivial compared to the battle that lay before me.

I finally shot forward, engaging in the confrontation that had brewed in my mind long before this day. My comrades had fallen like saplings beneath a storm, yet I stood resolute, determined to fight the embodiment of terror—the Leviathan, the first emperor of hell.

Viscoff had fought valiantly, the towering figure who once wielded his axe, while in his Loki form he was brought low in his struggle against the draconic beast. With a roar that could echo across galaxies, Leviathan had shaken the very air around us. I clenched my fists around my weapons: the blue katana in my right hand, honed for speed, and my dragon sword in my left, imbued with the weight of my will.

At a distance, I could feel Ben's presence, the nimble marksman readying his shots with precise focus. He always had a knack for keeping enemies at bay, and while he kept Leviathan distracted, I planned my next move. Every twang of Ben's bowstring sent arrows sailing true, each striking with resolve as he engaged the beast from afar.

As I closed the distance, I tapped into my mastery of the drunken sword style, sculpting the ferocity of lightning storms into every swing. I shot toward Leviathan with the swiftness of a lightning strike, ducking beneath snapping jaws and clawing talons, my blades weaving a deadly dance through the scorching air.

I swung wide with my blue katana, catching one of Leviathan's scaled flanks. He hissed, recoiling just enough for me to press forward again, the dragon sword cleaving through the air with my intended ferocity. A glancing blow struck the surface of his obsidian skin, causing fiery sparks to shower as our blades met.

But Leviathan was not so easily daunted. With a roar, he retaliated, his massive frame spinning around with unsettling speed. He struck out with a tail the size of a fortress wall; I barely rolled aside in time. The impact sent shards of molten stone flying in all directions—a painful reminder of how much danger we were in.

Still, Ben remained vigilant, his arrow striking Leviathan's side, keeping the beast contained. I could see the irritation flicker in his amber eyes, a mix of primal intelligence and furious rage. "You're really starting to annoy me," he growled, his voice rumbling like thunder.

Time slowed as my instincts sharpened. I could see the flicker of white glow form at the back of his throat! I felt panic surge through me just as Leviathan unleashed a torrent of white flames aimed directly at Ben.

"No!" I cried out, but the heat was already upon us. The beam struck Ben, sending him crashing to the ground unconscious. A deep chill echoed in the pits of my stomach. A surge of fury washed over me, and with it came clarity.

I staggered, caught in the chaos, but my will did not falter. Channeling my drunken mastery, I slipped and slashed with both swords. Leviathan barely dodged in time, though not before my blade connected with his razor-sharp horn. It shattered into shards of onyx, and he howled in agony, a sound that cracked like the earth itself.

For a moment, he retreated, assessing me with scorn. Our gazes locked, not blinking, not wavering. His hatred radiated like an inferno, while I held the resolve of my fallen comrades, their spirits thrumming alongside me.

In that suspended moment, our breaths mingled in the sweltering heat—a dance of fate. The flames of hell flickered in the background, but I was not afraid. With every friend I fought for, I found strength surging through my veins, feeding into the duality of my blades.

"I won't let you win!" I bellowed, and I saw a flicker of uncertainty cross Leviathan's features, just for an instant. How I longed to exploit that crack in his facade, to surge forward with the duality of my spirit!

Yet, at that moment, the ambient chaos of hell intensified around us. The boiling river churned violently, and from the corners of my perception came Dehya—her eyes glowing like a beacon amidst the desolation. I could almost feel her faith in me, urging me to move forward. Even through the pain she was in, our eyes locked and she gave me a gentle smile.

With a deep breath, I steadied myself. I could hear the echoes of my comrades, silent yet unwavering. The upcoming blow would determine everything, and I could not fail them.

Time resumed its relentless march, and as the world melted into motion, I was ready to unleash the storm within me—the heart of my soul igniting like a beacon amidst the abyss, ready to claim victory against the Leviathan and reclaim the hopes we had almost lost.

And as my resolve strengthened, I prepared to strike, fueled by the fiery spirit of those who fought beside me.

——

Hell, the place I had come to know all too well this past year, was alive with fire and brimstone. I glanced at my friends, my comrades; we stood united against the embodiment of our fears—Leviathan, the first emperor of hell.

His obsidian form loomed over us as he bared his jagged teeth, no longer having a horn like a sinister crown. The air crackled with intensity, and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. With a deep breath, I clung tightly to my twin blades, prepared to face the storm that was about to unleash.

With a surge of energy, Leviathan unleashed a white flame attack from his maw. The blaze hit me squarely, knocking me down onto one knee, the force of it spiraling me into darkness for a fraction of a second. My vision blurred, the world echoing into silence, until I felt a strong hand on my shoulder.

"Grasp your bearings, kid; let me be your shield," came the unmistakable voice of Viscoff, a towering figure with scorched red skin, He stood in his Loki form, a sight both intimidating and reassuring.

"Zain," Dehya's voice broke through the fog, her violet hair catching the light like a beacon amongst chaos. Now standing by my side "I will always be right by your side."

On my other side stood June, her presence calming "I know now why, Zain," she said, the weight of her words pressing upon me, accompanied by a smile reminiscent of my mother's. It ignited a glimmer of hope in my heart even amidst the despair.

The twins, Gimola and Gimli, were a whirlwind of action, sliding across the ground and assuming positions alongside Viscoff. "Reporting for duty," they echoed in unison, wielding their Kukuri blades with the precision of seasoned warriors.

"Orion!" I spoke out, and my loyal spirit cat appeared, shimmering and ethereal. He stood between my legs, his golden earring glinting in the firelight. "You got this, boy!" His encouragement added fuel to my resolve.

Ben standing guard at the rear.

I stood, gritting my teeth, and locking eyes with Leviathan. As he charged towards us, Viscoff took the brunt of the attack, his form merging with sheer resilience as he absorbed the force of that impossibly powerful dragon. The twins flanked him, their blades dancing under Leviathan's massive body, seeking out vulnerabilities beneath the armored skin.

Dehya, being the master of nature, summoned creeping vines and roots that wound around the dragon's massive wings, stalling him momentarily. June ascended into the air, luminous golden wings unfurling from her back. She emanated a protective glow that enveloped Viscoff, reinforcing his defenses.

It was now or never.

Summoning every ounce of strength, I propelled myself over Viscoff's shoulder, my boots finding purchase on the nape of his colossal frame. Balancing my two swords in a tight grip, I leaped into the air, hurtling towards Leviathan like a bolt of lightning.

The world slowed as I fell towards the dragon, the fiery landscape blurring beneath me. I aimed for the soft flesh between the plates of his dark armor, ready to pierce through, fueled by the bond I felt with my comrades. I flew down like a stroke from Zeus.

With a resounding clash, my blades broke through that voluminous skin, and I felt the tremor of Leviathan's growl resonate in the depths of my bones. His body convulsed, the fury in his eyes transforming into a primal rage.

We all moved as one, falling back slightly into a circular formation as Leviathan thrashed beneath me. Each of us remained on guard, hearts pounding as the dragon roared and took to the sky. The heat intensified, molten fire curling into the air, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at what we had become—a band of misfit warriors against the darkest of odds.

No longer just allies, we had forged a family in the fires of battle. I glanced around at Dehya, Viscoff, the twins, Ben and June; their determined faces mirrored my own.

I had come from another world with nothing, gaining a burning desire to protect those I cared about. Now, in this land of nightmarish traps, sent by the demon king himself inside of the body of that snake of a man, Archebald. we were fighting not just for survival, but for each other.

As Leviathan landed on the rocky crags nearby, the ground shook ominously. The battle was far from over, but with my friends at my side, I felt an unshakable belief that we would not falter. We would prevail.

With a roar of defiance echoing in my chest, I gripped my swords tighter, our teamwork solidified, and together we prepared to face the wrath of our adversary head-on.

The air hummed with energy, anticipation hanging thick. We were ready to wreak havoc on the first emperor of hell.

And as long as we fought together, I knew we could rewrite our fate.