Orange light erupted from the blazing gate hidden within the swirling sand.

  Fierce flames writhed like living creatures across the massive mechanical door.

  Sparks showered from between the mechanical gears, and the flames seemed to stretch out their necks, as if eager to leave their mark on Viktor's arms.

  Vega, perched on Viktor's shoulder, felt the scorching heat and narrowed its eyes slightly.

  Staring at the erupting orange-red flames, with dancing light reflecting in its eyes, it rasped through its vocal cords, disturbing the air as it slowly spoke:

  "This is the true Underworld."

  The Underworld, true to its name, was the final resting place for all living beings after death.

  The Hell Gate before them was the doorway to that Underworld.

  Once it opened, it meant a speci al path between the Underworld and the mortal realm would temporarily connect.

  But this path was fraught with danger.

  The flames of evil spirits, merciless steel, and the terrifying three-headed hellhound.

  These undoubtedly posed great challenges to anyone attempting to enter Hell.

  Hollow chain sounds echoed around them, while the howls of souls devoured by flames shook the surrounding air.

  The deep growls of the three-headed hellhound were enough to make one's heart tremble with fear.

  Vega's heart surged with emotion as a long-forgotten feeling quietly awakened within.

  The Hell Gate hadn't been opened for a very long time.

  How did Viktor find the entrance to the Hell Gate?

  Oh... right, it made sense.

  After all, it was Viktor. The fact that he could find this place didn't surprise Vega at all.

  Now, Vega slightly ruffled its feathers, its gaze turning serious.

  It was just extremely curious about who Viktor's father really was, to have hidden a gate to Hell in his own tomb.

  "Viktor, are you really going in?"

  Its tone had become much steadier than usual, the hoarse voice somehow even providing a sense of reassurance.

  Viktor stood still, allowing the scorching waves of heat from the Hell Gate to flutter his black coat.

  His gaze fixed firmly on the Hell Gate, the red flames making his black pupils shine brightly.

  There were two ways to enter Hell.

  First, find the Hell Gate.

  Hell Gates would randomly appear in many places around the world, generally in locations with abundant death and spirits.

  As long as a player was above level 50 and could convince Hell that they were in a state of death,

  They could welcome the opening of the gate and step inside.

  However, players wouldn't actually die.

  So, the method to explore Hell was either through necromancers casting death-infused magic to deceive it,

  Or by using items to simulate a death state.

  The second method, applicable to any player, was much more universal.

  Find the Abyss and enter its 101st layer—[Tartarus].

  Viktor stared into the depths of the Hell Gate, where the three-headed hellhound wreathed in flames was emitting low, threatening growls as it faced a powerful enemy.

  "Have you ever considered adding an animal to your followers?"

  Vega was confused, not immediately understanding what Viktor meant.

  "What... animal?"

  In the next second, Viktor stepped forward with Vega on his shoulder.

  Instantly, ghostly green soul fire climbed up Viktor's body.

  The green light flowed over his body, with flames burning fiercely from his limbs.

  Under that intense blaze, his figure, wrapped in ghostly green fire, was like a star in broad daylight.

  In this state, he stepped into the Hell Gate.

  As his form completely disappeared, the dust on both sides of the Hell Gate gradually dispersed.

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  Like the steel jaws of a mechanical beast constantly colliding, the center of the steel structure boomed, and hidden flames continuously erupted.

  In the hole at the top of the gate, faint light flickered, and the fluttering light was accompanied by low, distorted laughter.

  The endless flames rushing toward them were all absorbed by the giant mouth, forming a fiery vortex that swayed rapidly in the air.

  The massive, scorching light lingered in the sky, as if the giant mouth was tearing apart and devouring the entire world.

  Soon, the Hell Gate, like a giant beast, began to crumble, its steel collapsing and flames gradually dissipating.

  The world around returned to calm, and the rising dust quietly settled.

  The surrounding palace remained intact, as if nothing had happened.

  ...

  Meanwhile, the confrontation between Helnersen and the crimson armor had not yet ended.

  Helnersen's hands moved in circular motions, tracing paths in the air, with energy flowing like two rivers along his arms, forming circular outlines.

  Seeing the crimson spear rushing toward him with afterimages, Helnersen forcefully pushed away each incoming thrust.

  His agile form twisted, power flowing through his energy.

  It was as if infinite power exploded with each breath.

  The surrounding dust was drawn up in high waves, and the solid ground beneath his feet cracked under this power.

  Doragon's crimson figure darted swiftly across the open space.

  Each spear tip carried sharp airflow attempting to pierce through Helnersen's body, yet each was simply blocked.

  Just as Doragon was about to attack again, Helnersen suddenly grabbed the spear tip.

  Simultaneously, he turned his palm horizontally and struck toward the opponent's chest.

  Bang—!

  This palm strike carried such immense power that it made the armor vibrate.

  The force penetrated the steel, heavily cracking the distant red floor into a fan-shaped pattern.

  With the spear thrust into the ground, Doragon bent his body, struggling to drag a trail of dust on the ground, preparing to strike again.

  He leaped high into the air, rapidly spinning several times before grabbing the ground with one hand.

  Struggling to drag a trail of dust on the ground, he finally stabilized his form.

  He slowly raised his head, two crimson star-lights bursting from his eyes, one eye filled with intense flames, ferocious beyond measure.

  Helnersen remained steady, standing calmly in place.

  The aura around him was like an unmoved elephant, completely composed.

  Displaying the demeanor of a true master.

  After that intense battle, there was no longer any sense of Viktor's life force in the tomb.

  So, looking at the crimson armor about to launch another attack, he spoke calmly:

  "Then, for the sake of my master's safety,"

  "I need to end this immediately."

  Doragon naturally couldn't understand Helnersen's words, but it could clearly feel that the bear-man before him seemed to have become a little more serious.

  Within that intense bear-man aura, Doragon could sense a heavy presence and powerful impact.

  He bowed slightly to Doragon, hands clasped:

  "Pardon me."

  As soon as the words fell, Helnersen placed one palm on the ground.

  Stepping forward with one foot, toes touching the ground, he slightly bent the other leg, kneeling on one knee, as steady as a bell.

  [Martial Stance: Bear]

  Sensing Helnersen's magnificent and sharp power, Doragon's crimson deep-glowing eyes widened slightly.

  Instinct accumulated from countless hard battles told it that this was a power to be feared.

  Therefore, it no longer held back.

  The armor on its body expanded forcefully to the sides, like a grimacing smile.

  The immense shocking power caused a crack to appear on the helmet, revealing its deep, frenzied smile.

  Its legs erupted with endless power, shattering the ground, transforming into a crimson comet.

  It charged at Helnersen with its spear, breaking through the dust-filled space.

  Facing this attack that broke through the air, Helnersen's arm embedded in the ground bulged with veins, muscles tense.

  He gathered all his body's strength into his arm, and an enormous force exploded from within his palm.

  Like an earthquake shaking the ground, the terrifying vibration severely cracked the crystal-like surface.

  In an instant, an incredibly thick pillar shot straight into the sky, coming to block Doragon.

  Sharp instinct made Doragon immediately aware of the danger.

  Urgently twisting its form, it stepped on the extremely thick crystal pillar, avoiding this impact.

  Just as its feet touched the ground, it felt continuous tremors coming from beneath.

  Boom—boom—boom!

  The vibrations caused the ground to crack again, and countless crystal pillars rose from the surface.

  Breaking through the heavy sand and dust, they rushed toward Doragon's body from under its feet.

  It leaped high, avoiding those complex, sharp protrusions.

  But in that instant, it suddenly noticed.

  The huge bear-man had straightened up.

  Toward the sky, he suddenly let out an ear-splitting bear roar.

  Roar—!!!

  This roar seemed to awaken the fury underground, and countless sharp crystal pillars instantly erupted from the earth, winding like snakes toward Doragon.

  It could only try its best to twist its form in the air, using the giant pillars as stepping stones, constantly maneuvering back and forth.

  But in the next second, while Doragon was focused on dodging.

  It saw the terrifyingly huge bear-man grab the protruding giant wall in front of him.

  And break it off from the ground at the waist.

  Then, he grabbed the huge protruding wall, his legs slightly exerting force.

  Bang!

  Like a meteor's light, he shot up into the sky.

  In that high space, Helnersen used the momentum to rotate himself two and a half times, forcefully throwing that wall.

  As if hurling a comet toward the earth.

  Doragon barely dodged this wall flying toward it at the last moment.

  It landed on the ground, but the vibrations permeating the dust made it somewhat unstable.

  Just as Doragon stabilized and avoided the falling wall, the tremors from the ground froze it in place.

  However, as Doragon's vision cleared, a huge black shadow blocked its sight.

  Suddenly, an enormous shadow obscured its view.

  Was that Helnersen's body?

  No, it was Helnersen's fist.

  Before Doragon could react, the bear-man's fist was already near its face.

  Boom—!

  Just a hair's breadth away, the fist carrying endless power would have smashed through its skull.

  But the airflow caused by that punch tore apart the ground in front, creating countless chaotic cracks on the surface.

  And the palace further away was completely destroyed by the air wave driven by Helnersen's punch.

  The ancient ruins collapsed, countless rock fragments fell heavily onto the red crystals, creating a deep, huge crater.

  Only a giant fist imprint remained, as if it had penetrated the entire space.

  Under that punch, the flames in Doragon's eyes flickered, as if scattered by the air wave.

  Suddenly, the fist before it, larger than its head, was withdrawn, and the view before its eyes cleared again.

  And Helnersen before it had already put away his fighting spirit.

  His aura was contained, like a harmless bear-man.

  Looking up, it could only see Helnersen with hands clasped, bowing respectfully to it.

  The flames in Doragon's eyes finally dispersed, and a pair of crimson eyes, as if possessing consciousness, looked at Helnersen.

  It waved its crimson spear, making a flower pattern in the air before placing the spear behind its back.

  It bowed to Helnersen, full of respect and acknowledgment of defeat.

  It had lost.

  With this awareness, this general's soul slowly dissipated, turning to dust.

  Helnersen looked at the scattered armor, revealing a deep, regretful gaze:

  "Thank you for the match."

  """ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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