Ascension of the Dark Seraph - Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Personal Agenda
Reaching the third checkpoint was extremely hard.

Now that the racing space was tighter, the remaining kingdoms that managed to reach this far could be seen all around them. Most were still struggling to pass the first half of the way, and there are only two kingdoms that managed to reach the halfway point, excluding Lucivar’s and Orivelle’s kingdoms.

Just like them, the other two kingdoms were also working together.

And from their haggard appearance, they also went through hell to reach this far.

Since the quotas per division were set at five kingdoms that could pass through the second stage, they didn’t initiate a fight and instead, focused on reaching the third checkpoint. Passing through the sea of lava, the group was finally able to stand on solid ground.

In the distance, the rainbow light of the third checkpoint could be seen.

Just a little bit more and they would reach the checkpoint.

“Come on, it’s on sight already!” Arthur exclaimed as he prepared to sprint with all his might.

Ahead was a flatland with no kind of threats.

No monsters, no lava, no anything that could hinder them from reaching the third checkpoint.

But Lucivar and the others knew better than to march on without thinking.

“Arthur, wait!” Orivelle called—when she saw that Arthur was already charging forward.

But she was too late, and she had no choice but to chase after him.

Mirel wanted to move too, but Lucivar stopped him, “Let’s wait a minute, and see what happens.”

As Mirel was about to argue, the ground suddenly quaked hard—forcing them to lower their center of gravity or risk falling down. Ahead, the ground exploded here and there, as massive tentacles emerged with a terrifying speed.

Giving no time to process what happened, one of the tentacles lashed onto Orivelle’s kingdom.

Orivelle tried to stop it with her flame, but it was no use.

Crack!

Upon impact, the tentacle shattered the ground, splashing the lava beneath it everywhere.

Fortunately, Orivelle, Arthur, and the other woman were able to move out of the way in time, but got hit by some of the lava that instantly melted through their armor and blistered their skin. But they have no time to idle around as another tentacle tries to crush them again.

Crack!

“Huh… No wonder this section is called the Garden of Monsters,” Caldaros mumbled under his breath.

He had studied the Ashen Cavern’s map and knew that this place wouldn’t be so simple.

It was weird to find no monsters around, considering the name of the place, but now it was more appropriate.

“This octopus has an incredibly terrifying aura,” Mirel added, squinting his eyes, focusing on the faint lava attribute that cloaked each tentacle like a second skin. “We can safely assume that it’s around the four or even five-star Chrysalis rank. It’s impossible for us to kill it.”

“We’re not meant to kill it,” Lucivar answered simply.

Naturally, their focus was to go through the tentacles and reach the third checkpoint.

Whatever this octopus monster was, they weren’t meant to kill it.

Crack!

Lucivar’s eyes focused on Arthur and Orivelle, who got flung away, separated from each other.

He wanted to make his move, but the surprise this dungeon had in store for them wasn’t finished.

Each sucker on the octopus’ tentacles began to secrete a flaming crimson goo that dripped down to the floor, forming a monster, a lava slime. However, unlike the ones from earlier, there was a purplish shade to these lava slimes, and their temperature was also higher.

Lucivar and the others, who were still far away, could feel the heat on their skin.

One touch, and their limbs would probably melt.

Seeing that Orivelle was being aimed at by at least three of these lava slimes, Lucivar sprinted.

‘I can have her dying yet. Not like this,’ He thought inside.

Naturally, Caldaros and Mirel also moved.

Mirel followed suit—charging to help Orivelle, ‘He won’t care if she dies if he does not have a plan for her, so it’s clear that his target is Orivelle, not Arthur. I must stop him—at all costs. I can’t stand by and watch him kill someone innocent.’

On the other hand, Caldaros went in Arthur’s direction.

Not so much to help Arthur.

He came for something entirely different, ‘Fortunately, that person is not in our division. I can focus on Lucivar. Since I can’t attack him right now, I need to at least prepare myself better, and these tentacles are an excellent source of blood.’

Crash!

Arthur was slammed against the ground when one of the lava slimes slapped him hard.

Surprisingly, it could create a limb and use it as a whip.

“Grrgh!”

He groaned in pain, seeing a scorching mark crossing his chest.

But he’s quick to recover, rolling backward to avoid another blow, and he gains back his footing.

As he stood, he scanned the surroundings and saw Lucivar helping Orivelle in the distance.

Almost instantly, his brows furrowed, ‘I thought he was after me, to get back on me, or because he knew who I really was. But he’s targeting Orivelle instead? Why? What does he want from her?’ His thoughts raced. ‘I can’t let him get any closer. I was planning to do it later, but no, I need to end it now.’

Meanwhile, Lucivar used Night Piercer multiple times to ward off the lava slimes and helped Orivelle.

He helped her stand up, but his eyes kept glancing at Caldaros.

“Like I said earlier, I don’t need your help,” Orivelle complained, but accepted his hand anyway.

“Yes,” Lucivar nodded without looking at her. “I also said I won’t help you next time.”

Upon hearing this, Orivelle rolled her eyes as he was clearly going to keep helping her.

But then again, with Arthur being a burden, she was glad someone had her back when she was in trouble.

“I really made a mistake by teaming up with Arthur,” Orivelle sighed and looked around. “I thou-”

Lucivar stopped listening after Orivelle said she made a mistake.

He was focused on another thing, something inside him, as he kept stealing glances at Caldaros in the distance, devouring the blood from the tentacles, “Gandr, do you think it’s enough? I need to finish my work with Orivelle, deal with Arthur, and also get Mirel off my back. I can’t focus on Caldaros too, it’s damn hard to keep track of that many things!”

“Just a bit more,” Gandr appeared on his shoulder and said. “He’s not at the Second Divine Elevation, but he’s still Sunna’s avatar. Give it a bit more time.”

“Ah, fuck it! I’m going in!” Lucivar mumbled under his breath and dashed to the side.

Orivelle was surprised to see this, but she had no time to idle as the tentacles were moving again.

Splash!

Swoosh!

Lucivar crossed through the field, using a God strand to boost his dash, and avoided many attacks from the tentacles as well as the lava slimes. He maneuvered through them expertly, with a clear intent behind his eyes.

But still, avoiding all attacks was hard to do.

Bam!

A whipping tentacle struck him from his blind spot, hurling him away like a broken doll.

Mid-air, Lucivar didn’t panic.

His calculating eyes scanned the spinning world and found the person he was looking for.

It was the other woman from Orivelle’s kingdom.

Once he crashed onto the ground, he raised his gaze and saw a tentacle heading towards him.

Instead of dreading the attack, he smirked and leaped forward to avoid the tentacle.

But in doing so, he collided hard into the woman’s back, sending her stumbling forward, and one of the lava slimes seized this as an opening to latch onto her wrist. Its searching heat instantly burned through her vambrace in seconds, scorching her skin beneath.

“Kyaah!” She screamed in agony, trying to break free frantically.

Soon, another lava slime gripped her other arm, pinning her in place and inflicting excruciating pain.

Due to the amount of pain she was experiencing, focusing her ether to protect herself became hard to do. She tried frantically, but the pain made her lose focus. Desperate, she turned to Lucivar in search of help, but Lucivar was grabbed by a tentacle, lifted up, and hurled to the ground hard.

A loud crashing sound resounded as the impact created a huge crater, almost plunging him into the lava.

Gritting her teeth, she turned to the other side, seeing Caldaros nearby.

“Help! Please!” She shouted pitifully, tears welling up in her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Caldaros turned towards her and raised an eyebrow.

“Help!” She added desperately. “I can’t break free! They are going to kill me!”

Seeing this, a flicker of instinct stirred in Caldaros, a desire to help her, since doing so would not even sweat him to do that. But just as quickly, something within him devoured that impulse. Without a word, he turned away and leapt onto the nearest tentacle, resuming what he was doing.

In that moment, the woman’s face turned ashen.

Considering Caldaros’ powers, he could easily help her, but he chose not to.

She wasn’t given any time to dwell on Caldaros’ coldness as a tentacle surged right in front of her, its length slick with dripping lava. The searing heat brushed against her skin—like a tongue of fire, a cruel preview of what awaited her next.

Ruthlessly, the tentacle swung down hard, and the woman turned away and shut her eyes in fright.

Out of nowhere, Lucivar came to her rescue, using his body and wings to protect her.

But he was a second too late.

Splash!

Crack!

Lucivar felt a crushing weight pressing down on him, flattening him against the rough ground.

He hissed in pain—the molten lava melting one side of his body.

Despite constantly infusing God strands into his body to fight against the burn, it was still not enough.

From a distance, he heard someone screaming his name, but he didn’t know who.

He also didn’t care as his body was now mushed.

“Kkrrgghh! Fuck! It’s fucking hot!”

Once the tentacle lifted, Lucivar pushed himself up—half his body was now turned into burnt flesh.

Once the tentacle pulled back, Lucivar pushed himself upright—half of his body was now charred and smoldering. His flesh seared into a patchwork of blackened ruin. For a second there, he panted heavily, surprised that he managed to survive that.

“You fool! Foolish idiot!” Gandr cursed repeatedly.

He couldn’t believe Lucivar gambled with his life there, all for the sake of his plan.

“Did you really think you could sustain a five-star Chrysalis rank attack, you imbecile?” Sha also emerged, also in disbelief. “You can’t even use the Triune Scarab, and you dare take on that tentacle? Have you left your brain somewhere?!”

“Both of you are such cuties, are you worried about me?” Lucivar chuckled. “I’m still alive, right?”

Lifting up his gaze, he found the woman was flattened—dead.

It was a shame that he couldn’t get her in time, but it shouldn’t be a problem.

His intent should be clear, and that’s all that matters.

Glancing upward at the drone, Lucivar smirked inwardly, ‘See what he did? I’m the good guy here.’