Warlock of War: My Ares System

Chapter 573 Labyrinth of Shadows (19)

The Shadowfire Drakes, their obsidian scales gleaming with an incandescent crimson, renewed their fiery onslaught. Orion pivoted, his movements swift and calculated, the Sangria spear emitting waves of protective energy that deflected the flames back towards the creatures. The cavern resonated with the clash of energies, the Drakes momentarily forced back by the repelling blaze.

Meanwhile, the Umbral Serpents, their ghostly forms slithering with eerie grace, coordinated their attacks. Orion's agile footwork allowed him to evade their venomous strikes, the Sangria spear unleashing bursts of vibrant energy that repelled the Umbral Serpents, forcing them to retreat into the dark recesses of the cavern.

The Gloomstone Dragons, with their colossal wingspans and stardust-laden scales, surged forward once more. Orion leaped and twisted, evading their celestial onslaught, the Sangria spear creating a radiant shield that dispersed the cascading motes of stardust, preventing their attempt to ensnare him in their celestial dance.

The Abyssal Wyverns, with their piercing gazes and molten gold eyes, resumed their aerial assaults. Orion spun and lunged, the Sangria spear tracing arcs of crimson energy that repelled the Wyverns' lunges, keeping them at bay with each calculated strike.

Amidst the chaos, the elusive Twilight Drakes continued their shadowy dance, their ephemeral forms almost melding into the darkness. Orion's senses remained sharp, every movement anticipating the unpredictable strikes of the elusive creatures. The Sangria spear emitted waves of pulsating light, a beacon cutting through the shadows, keeping the Twilight Drakes from breaching his defenses.

The battle persisted, a testament to Orion's indomitable will and the creatures' unyielding power. The cavern echoed with the symphony of their clash—a primal contest between man and these otherworldly beings. Each strike, a testament to Orion's unwavering resolve against the creatures' unrelenting assault.

Orion's breath steadied, his focus unwavering, as he adjusted his tactics against the encroaching darkness. The Sangria spear, an embodiment of his resolve, hummed with a pulsating energy, repelling the creatures' advances and marking the battleground with an aura of crimson light.

The creatures, undeterred by Orion's resilience, pressed on with a collective force that tested his limits. The cavern thrummed with an intense energy, the conflict between man and monsters a vivid display of sheer determination and primal struggle. Each maneuver, a dance of danger and resilience, reverberated throughout the cavern's expanse.

Orion's precision grew sharper, his movements more strategic, each parry and thrust a calculated response to the creatures' relentless assault. The Sangria spear, an extension of his unwavering spirit, radiated an unyielding glow, a shield against the encroaching darkness.

The cavern witnessed a relentless struggle, a testament to Orion's resilience in the face of the creatures' unrelenting assault. The creatures, with their ethereal beauty and menacing power, continued their assault, seeking dominance within the shadows. The battle, a demonstration of Orion's unyielding will, persisted as a display of unrelenting determination against the creatures' ceaseless onslaught.

As the clash continued, Orion's movements became a dance of grace and determination, a testament to his unwavering spirit. The Sangria spear, an extension of his resolve, hummed with a vibrant energy, its crimson light cutting through the encroaching darkness, a barrier against the creatures' relentless assault.

The creatures, sensing Orion's unwavering determination, began to falter. Their assaults, once coordinated and fierce, now showed signs of hesitation. The Shadowfire Drakes' fiery onslaught weakened, the Umbral Serpents' movements grew erratic, and the Gloomstone Dragons' celestial dance lost its precision.

Orion seized this moment, his movements fluid and precise. With each strike, the Sangria spear emitted bursts of radiant energy, repelling the creatures' advances. The cavern resonated with the clashes, the sounds of combat echoing through the expanse, as if the very walls bore witness to this epic struggle.

The Abyssal Wyverns, their predatory and absolutely stunning, gleam fading, retreated, their aerial assaults diminishing as Orion's resilience wore down their ferocity. The Twilight Drakes, their elusive forms faltering, retreated into the shadows, their movements becoming less elusive under Orion's persistent defense.

The creatures, once an imposing force, now found themselves facing an unyielding opponent. Their collective assault began to wane, their movements becoming less coordinated, their attacks less aggressive. Orion, a symbol of unyielding determination, held his ground against the encroaching darkness.

With a final, resounding strike, Orion surged forward. The Sangria spear emitted a brilliant burst of radiant energy, a last triumphant defiance against the creatures' fading assault. The cavern erupted with a blinding flash of crimson light, dispersing the remaining creatures into the depths of the darkness.

The echoes of their clashes faded, replaced by a profound silence that settled over the cavern. Orion stood amidst the dissipating haze, his chest heaving, the Sangria spear glowing with a subdued brilliance. The creatures, once a formidable force, had retreated, their presence in the cavern diminished.

With a deep exhale, Orion lowered the Sangria spear, its vibrant glow slowly dimming. The adrenaline of battle subsided, replaced by a sense of triumph and relief. He had faced the creatures of the darkness and emerged victorious, his unyielding spirit prevailing against their formidable assault.

The cavern, once a battleground, now lay in a serene stillness. Orion, a lone figure in the aftermath of the conflict, surveyed the surroundings, his gaze steady and resolute. The Sangria spear, now a silent testament to the battle's intensity, rested in his grip.

With a nod of satisfaction, Orion took a step forward, the echoes of his victory resonating through the cavern. The creatures had retreated, but his resolve remained unshaken. As he prepared to leave the battleground behind, the Sangria spear glowed one last time, a silent promise of his unyielding strength in the face of darkness. The conflict was over, but Orion's determination remained, a dark beacon of light in the heart of shadows.

…

『Status』

[Name: Orion Vazgath]

[Race: Chaos Incarnate] 

[Class: Commander of The Sangria-Eyed King]

[Sub-Class: Prince of Manipulation] 

[Title: Archon of The Emerald City] 

[Level: 100/100] (250/250) XP Needed

[HP: 500/500 | IP: 200000] - Non Human 

[Strength: 400] - Non Human 

[Defense: 300] - Non Human 

[Magic: 200] - Non Human 

[Speed: 200] - Non Human 

[Mana Heart: Six Rings]

[Skills: [Ancient Torterra's Tongue] [Assimilation] [Grand Miasma and Mana Manipulation] 

[Five Layered Divine Enhancements] [Quasi World] [Ancient Serpent's Emerald Rain] 

[Tarot Power: [Will of The Fallen] [Masterful Persuasion] [General War Sight] 

[Chariot of The Grand General] 

[Life Manipulation: [Life Donation] [Locked] [Locked] [Locked] 

[Five Destroying Martial Skills of The Blood Prince: [Demon Splitter] [Innate Calm] 

[Angel Destroyer] [Heaven Splitter] [Breath of the Snowy Underworld] 

[Commander of The Sangria-Eyed King's Armory: [Royal Flesh Manipulation] 

[Monstrous Demonic Vampiric Eggs] [Shroud of Essence Draining Mist] 

[Summon: Undead Soldier] [Blood Being Control]

[Prince of Manipulation: [Thought Manipulator] [Soothing Words] [Sleep Inducer]

[Passive Skills: [Status Effect Immunity] [Ancient Serpents Body] [Night Vision] [Blood of the Underworld] [Blood Tainted Aura] [Blood Tainted Presence] [Speech of a King] [Constitution of a Tarturling] [Prisoner of Tartarus] [Iron Speech] [Demon's Gluttonous Stomach] 

[Potion Organs] [Enemy of Demon Gods] [Enemy of Gods] [Destroyed Destiny] 

[Blessing of A Demon God (Humiliation)] [God Marks] 

[Rune Path: [Grand War Presence] [Throne World: Kingdom of Null] [Declaration of War] [Locked] [Locked] [Locked] 

[Equipment: [Magic Ring] [Storage Ring] [Sangria-Eyed King's Spear of Carnage] 

[The Unholy Lance: Longinus] 

… 

"Of course, I've maxed out my level. All of those monsters were equal to so much XP that I feel it's a waste continuing through this place without evolving my class and race first," Orion muttered, laying back and thinking to himself amongst the piles of corpses just what he could do to acquire this new evolution item. 

.

[Adjusting evolution item according to your status…]

[Evolution Item - One Billion Deceased Souls]

.

"Hahaahha… well, I guess I could farm this place… but that's too boring. I'll just clear this place out. Yet there are also those pictures…" 

Throughout the Labyrinth of Shadows, Orion had encountered peculiar depictions etched onto the floors and walls. These enigmatic symbols, resembling demonic figures, initially struck him as odd. After all, he was in the midst of battling creatures that could easily be mistaken for denizens of the netherworld. Yet, there was an uncanny familiarity to these depictions that gnawed at the fringes of his consciousness.

As the skirmish with the creatures continued, his mind incessantly toyed with the idea of these peculiar drawings. It was during a lull in the combat that a revelation struck him—a deeper understanding surfaced from the recesses of his memory.

Recalling his extensive knowledge of various mythologies and lore, Orion's thoughts meandered through the realms of Hell, specifically delving into the concept of Purgatory. With a sudden epiphany, the notion dawned upon him that the depictions of demons might not merely represent the adversaries he faced but instead served as cryptic signs hinting at something more profound.

Purgatory, the liminal realm between the mortal world and the depth of Hell's inferno, echoed in the recesses of his mind. He mused that the labyrinth he navigated might be more than a mere assortment of shadows. It could potentially serve as an entryway—a gateway to another layer of Hell, one housing the fabled seven rings that countless tales and myths had spoken of.

The depictions on the walls and floors now seemed less like incidental art and more like a deliberate narrative, an esoteric map hinting at a deeper journey yet to be unveiled. These crude, yet evocative sketches were, perhaps, more than mere illustrations—they might hold the key to the very path he needed to traverse.

As the creatures momentarily abated their assault, Orion's mind delved further into the lore he had studied. The depiction of the demons seemed to align with the descriptions he had encountered in his exploration of mythological texts and ancient manuscripts—a profound realization that began to crystallize his understanding of the labyrinth's purpose.

The realization ignited a new sense of purpose within him. The creatures he faced might just be the guardians of this transition, the harbingers standing between the realm he currently trod and the gates to the seven rings of Hell. The depictions on the walls and floors were not mere adornments; they were coded messages, guides through the labyrinth leading to the enigmatic layers of the underworld.

Orion's perception of the battleground transformed. Every scrawled demon, once merely a curious enigma, now appeared as a signpost, guiding him toward an unknown and perilous journey deeper into the realm of the damned. The creatures he fought were not just adversaries but gatekeepers, custodians protecting the threshold to the next layer of the inferno.

Armed with this newfound understanding, Orion's gaze shifted from merely defending against the creatures to scrutinizing the symbols surrounding him. The battle, now interlaced with a quest for knowledge, held a dual purpose—he fought to both survive and to decipher the cryptic messages woven into the very fabric of the labyrinth.