Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas continued attacking the Achaemenids alongside the Blood Bat King Leo. The two of them slaughtered the enemy until one was left. He raised his hand to the monster while speaking, ''Don't kill him boy, he needs to return to his people to tell our story.''

The giant bat nodded before sitting next to him while chewing on a body. When he saw this, a shiver ran down his spine, 'I'm lucky these creatures belong to me,' he thought with a chuckle.

Following that, Atlas turned to the sole survivor of the ambush and warned, ''You better go back and tell them I attacked. If not, I'll feed you to my monsters.''

When the man heard this, he nearly buckled but started running to get away from the white-haired demon who butchered his friends. Once done, he climbed onto Theos back and giving him the next target.

''Let's find a fortress to destroy,'' Atlas revealed with an excited smile.

The Blood Bat King soared through the air while searching for any enemies that were hiding across Astoria. An hour later, he found an Achaemenid Watchtower that was guarding the border between Thalassia and the wolf kingdom.

''Head toward there, Theo,'' he said to the monster.

Seconds later, the monster let out a screech before swooping down and getting close to the border post. When close enough, Atlas started unleashing Void Bombs that peppered the enemy fortification.

Explosion erupted and wiped out any soldiers just in time to realize what was happening. While doing this, Amethyst sent him a message through the bracelet. ''Where are you, my love?''

The sound of her sweet, melodic voice took aback Atlas, but he quickly regained his composure. ''I'm flying back to the manor now,'' he replied. ''Was making a bit of a mess in the empire, causing some trouble for them.''

Amethyst's soft giggle rang in his ear, light and teasing. ''Well, make sure you hurry back. The city is coming back to life thanks to you and you owe us some dates, handsome'' she urged, her voice filled with warmth.

''We'll spend some alone time with each other,'' he replied.

Following that, Atlas urged Theo to pick up speed, and they soared across the cold, barren land that was shifting, with patches of melting snow revealing the first hints of spring beneath.

'Can't wait until I have to fight the empire anymore, but I'll have to destroy them piece by piece,' he thought to himself while enjoying to view.

The wind whipped through the air as they cut through the landscape. He quickly noticed the herds of elephant-like monsters eating among the snow with other creatures mixed in while a nearby river was melting.

'I can't wait until the warm weather appears,' Atlas mused while looking at the distant mountains covered in a layer of white. 'The girls said it gets hot some days, forcing people indoors.'

Following that, they continued attacking any empire soldiers they came across and thanks to Theo's sharp claws; it was easy to deal with the columns of enemy troops that were retreating south.

''Looks like they're regrouping. I wonder if they're planning an attack,'' Atlas muttered, his senses suddenly going haywire as the sun finished setting.

His heart skipped a beat, a surge of danger flooding his instincts. ''Dodge, Theo!'' he shouted, but his warning came too late.

A barrage of powerful spells shot through the air, striking the Blood Bat with brutal force. The impact was like a thunderclap, and before Atlas could react, the creature was thrown into a violent tumble, its wings flailing helplessly.

They plummeted toward the ground, the world spinning in a chaotic blur. Atlas was helpless as the monstrous force of their fall consumed them. The Blood Bat's final, pained screech echoed in his ears before it was torn away.

'Girls, get to the Otherworld now! The empire is on top of me!' he sent them all a message as the panic set in.

And then, with a sickening crash, Atlas hit the earth. The shock of impact rattled every bone in his body, sending a wave of agony rushing over him as he stood up but still managed to take out his swords.

'Need to fight until the girls can come!' Atlas thought as determination surged through him.

The first group of Achaemenids attacked, forcing him on the defensive as he blocked and deflected dozens of strikes. He quickly used Void Wave to send the enemies flying as he countered.

Even though he was seriously injured, he thought like a wild animal as he tore through the enemy's ranks. While doing this, he was losing blood as the wounds appeared even more than more soldiers appeared.

Atlas cast Void Wave again and went to open a portal but was hit again, causing his vision faded, but he bit his tongue to keep himself awake. That's when Nulia's rage-filled voice echoed in his mind, ''Open a fucking portal now!''

He followed the Frostbear woman's command and opened one, causing her to rush out filled with a primal rage, her powerful form tearing through the air as she collided with a group of soldiers.

Her ferocious roar echoed through the chaos, and her massive claws ripped through armor and flesh alike, leaving nothing but destruction in her wake. As the soldiers were scattered, the ground shaking beneath her assault, a giant white wolf emerged from the portal.

Zena moved with incredible speed, and before Atlas could react, it seized him in its jaws in a loving embrace as she was careful, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. Nulia, witnessing the scene, returned to the Otherworld.

Just as the Zena made her move to follow suit, an overwhelming aura flooded the battlefield, saturating the air with a thick, oppressive presence. The temperature plummeted, the very atmosphere seeming to freeze in place.

It felt as if the land itself was holding its breath. A sharp, invisible force sliced through the air, and in that instant, the magic tethering them to the Otherworld was severed. The sudden appearance of an enemy powerhouse cut Zena's escape off.

The connection to safety, her only hope of retreat torn from her grasp, as if it had never been there at all. The weight of the aura pressed down on the surroundings, leaving nothing but a stark sense of isolation in its wake.

''I'm going to run, Atlas,'' her voice echoed.

Following that, Zena turned on her heels and started sprinting so fast that it caused wind pressure that sent the Achaemenids flying all over the place. Her claws digging into the earth as her massive muscles propelling her forward.

The air was thick with the scent of pursuit; the soldiers gaining on her, but she was faster, more agile, weaving through the trees like a shadow in the night. She could hear the soldiers' shouts growing louder, their heavy steps crashing through the underbrush.

They were relentless. But she pushed harder, her legs stretching out in long, powerful strides, the forest blurring around her. The weight of Atlas in her mouth made every movement more challenging, but her focus never wavered.

'Hopefully he's fine and can be healed,' she thought while tasting his blood.

Zena could feel his pulse against her, faint but steady, and it steeled her resolve. She would get him to safety. As she surged forward, she heard the roar of the soldiers' commander ordering them to close in.

Her ears perked, and her eyes scanned the terrain ahead. She saw it, an ancient, twisted tree with low-hanging branches. Perfect. Without hesitation, Zena swerved toward the tree, launching herself upward with a leap that defied her size.

She crashed into the thick branches, her claws digging into the bark as she scaled the towering tree. The soldiers shouted in confusion, realizing too late that she had taken to the canopy.

With Atlas still secured on her back, Zena darted through the branches, moving swiftly despite her size. She could hear the soldiers scrambling below, unable to follow her through the treetops.

For a moment, she paused, crouched low, waiting for the perfect moment to make her next move. She could feel the rage and frustration of the soldiers seeping through the air below. They weren't giving up, and neither would she.

'I need to get him to safety so he can heal,' she thought while glancing around only to hear soldiers getting close.

Zena snarled, her sharp teeth flashing in the moonlight, and then she leapt again, bounding from tree to tree, each jump carrying her farther from their reach. As she moved deeper into the forest, the pursuit ended.

The soldiers couldn't match her speed in the trees, and not long after that, she collapsed in a secluded clearing with an abandoned cave. She entered it before lying down and allowed herself to rest while catching her breath.

Her chest heaving with exertion as she landed on the solid ground of a hidden clearing.

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