Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas continued watching the monsters fighting below the treehouse, but seconds later, he heard Amethyst's voice, ''Azhar'Zul, are you okay?''

He turned around and froze for a moment, his eyes landing on the young phoenix woman standing there, her radiant smile lighting up the room. The sight of her stirred something deep inside him, and without hesitation, he stood up.

Atlas approached the surprised beauty, his heart racing as he embraced her tightly. He leaned in as her warmth surrounded him and whispered, ''I've missed you so much, my pigeon girl.''

Amethyst giggled before returning the hug as she replied, ''Me too; I can't believe you went through all that and managed to make it back to us.''

''I know, it took years, but I'm here now and ain't planning to go anywhere,'' Atlas answered before lifting her chin and kissing her.

Time seemed to slow as they continued, the world outside fading away. Each kiss was filled with longing and the quiet need that had built up between them during their time apart. The connection between them grew stronger.

Their breath mingled as they lost themselves in the moment, neither wanting it to end. Soon enough, Amethyst backed away before speaking, ''Can I help you in the Void Realm, please?''n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

A broad smile spread across Atlas's face as he replied, "Of course, but be careful—the monsters are powerful Ghouls."

The phoenix woman smiled back, her eyes glowing with confidence. Without hesitation, she reached for his hand, her touch warm and familiar. As Atlas sat down, she gracefully slid onto his lap and got comfortable.

Soon after, he activated Void Realm, and the duo appeared in the creepy streets covered in darkness. When Amethyst saw this, she became wary and ensured the Ghouls weren't nearby.

Atlas was about to speak when a chilling howl echoed through the city, followed by several more, growing louder and closer. Amethyst immediately grabbed his arm, her eyes wide with concern.

He gave her a reassuring smile, his expression calm despite the looming threat. "Take off," he instructed gently, his voice steady. "Stay in the air and cover me."

The violet-haired beauty nodded as she unfurled a pair of stunning wings that matched the color of her hair, shimmering like the Void Realms sky. Instantly, she took off into the air, soaring above the chaos.

'She's so much stronger than when we first met,' Atlas smiled while watching his girlfriend sending her magic into the streets below.

Continue your adventure at empire

Amethyst began casting her cosmic spells as the incoming creatures approached, radiant bursts of energy lighting up the darkened sky. Each spell crackled with power as they struck the approaching ghouls, illuminating the scene.

Once that happened, Atlas noticed a horde of creatures rushing toward him while letting out an eerie snarl. The sounds bounced off the buildings, causing him to cast Void Barrage into the swarm.

Explosions erupted as Amethyst's spells connected with the Ghouls, sending them hurtling through the air. Seizing the moment, Atlas dashed forward as he closed the distance. He weaved in and out of their attacks, ducking and diving, his instincts sharp.

As he got within range, he started stabbing the creatures fiercely, his blade finding its mark repeatedly. Each thrust was calculated, and he moved fluidly, countering their strikes with his own.

Meanwhile, Amethyst continued to unleash her Void Blasts, azure projectiles piercing through the Ghouls' torsos with deadly efficiency. While she did that, Atlas cut the creatures in two thanks to Void Infusion coating his blades.

Ten minutes later, the battle ended as the Ghouls ceased their relentless assault, allowing Atlas and Amethyst a moment to catch their breath. The air was tense, but the silence was a welcome relief.

Atlas pulled up the monster tally on his interface, eager to see how many they had taken down. When the results flashed before him, he was taken aback, his eyes widening in disbelief at the staggering number.

[Void Ghoul – 1789/20000]

[Void Savage Ghoul - 178/10000]

[----]

[----]

When Atlas saw that, he got excited. Amethyst landed next to him with a pretty smile, and she spoke with a giggle, ''That was fun, but the Ghouls started throwing stuff at me.''

''Don't worry about it; you're too fast for them to catch,'' he replied as the duo continued through the ruined city.

The battles they faced were getting more challenging as Savage Ghouls appeared. Atlas had to concentrate as he deflected most of the attacks, but a few made it through and bounced off his armor.

'That was close,' he thought before swinging up with Nightblade and carving through the creature's skull.

After a fierce battle, Atlas successfully cleared the area, taking down every last of the Savage Ghouls. Though he had sustained some injuries, the pain was quickly overshadowed by the comforting sensation of his Health Regeneration kicking in.

He felt the warmth of healing wash over him as the wounds closed, the bruises faded, and energy returned to his body. Once they recovered, the couple continued through the deserted city streets, their hearts racing from the battle.

'This level won't take too long now that I have help for the girls,' Atlas mused while scanning his surroundings.

They navigated the shadows, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of danger until they finally emerged into a large square. The expanse was eerily quiet, and the cobblestones were cracked and overgrown with weeds.

Just as they began to relax, a low growl reverberated through the air, causing them to tense. A massive Ghoul emerged from the shadows, towering above them with a twisted, grotesque form that dwarfed the warriors.

Its red eyes glowed with a menacing hunger, and a chilling grin stretched across its decayed face. Atlas studied the newcomer before using Void Sight to determine the monster's rank and strength.

[Void Brute Ghoul]

[Rank: Rank B]

[This is a rage-filled Karen that wants to talk to your manager]

When Atlas saw the advice, he was stumped and didn't know what to think but looked at Amethyst, ''Take off and hit them from a distance; this big one will be a problem,'' he said while readying his magic.

He threw several Inferno Bombs that connected with the Brute's chest. He exploded, causing it to roar in agony as Amethyst soared into the sky while bombarding the creatures with Cosmic Blast and Barrage.

Explosions sent the smaller Ghouls flying back as Atlas dashed forward and dodged a wild swing from the monster's fist. Once in the clear, he cast a dozen Void Lances at the leader, who blocked the attacks.

But this is what Atlas wanted as he slid next to him while slicing through the man's ankles, causing him to crumble to the ground. He rushed in and started hitting the Brute with a dozen slashes.

'Death by a thousand cuts! Now die.'

Once Atlas was done attacking and calmed down, he quickly noticed the ground was soaked in blood as the massive Brute Ghoul fell, its lifeless body dissipating into the air and vanishing back into the Void Realm.

The echoes of battle faded, leaving only the sound of their heavy breathing and the city's silence. Archer and Amethyst pressed on once the immediate threat was eliminated, but exhaustion set in.

'We need to rest for a while,' he thought while looking for the quiet street.

They trudged through the streets, fatigue weighing heavily on them, their bodies smeared with blood. Atlas pulled out some ale and gave a bottle to the phoenix girl before taking a drink that refreshed him.

He pulled up the total to see how much it went up.

[Void Ghoul – 1789/20000]

[Void Savage Ghoul - 178/10000]

[Void Brute Ghoul - 1/5000]

[----]

'It's going up quick. Now I just need to unlock the boss, and then we'll be good to go,' Atlas chuckled.

Following that, he grabbed Amethyst's hand and returned to the real world, where his mana was getting low. When the two appeared on the balcony, a strong gust brushed against them.

''Would you like something to eat, my love?'' the phoenix woman questioned.

Atlas smiled when he heard and leaned forward to kiss the surprised young woman. After that, she dragged him inside, where the others were relaxing. Estelle looked at him with a smile, ''Do you want some tea, Azhar'Zul?'' she asked.

At the sound of the question, Atlas nodded and settled down, searching for a comfortable position. He kicked off his boots with a relieved sigh, feeling the weight of exhaustion wash over him.

'The battles in the Void Realm have taken its toll on me,' he thought with a smile.

Just then, Estelle appeared with a warm smile as she approached with a steaming cup of tea in hand. The rich aroma wafted up to him, instantly soothing him before he took a sip and loved the taste.

When the tea hit his tongue, he felt slightly refreshed while watching the flames in the fireplace. Atlas was relaxed as the smell of meat hit his nose, causing him to turn around and notice Amethyst and Artemis cooking some food.

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