"Fly," Charon commanded. I then remembered that I could, so I did so. The seismic activity continued, swallowing everything on the ground.

"I guess there are no treasures remaining," I said.

"With this, they will all break under the movement," Charon replied.

As suddenly as it began, the shaking stopped. Everything was destroyed, but the world remained intact.

"Let's see if anyone else survived," Charon said before executing a skill to contact them.

"The four ghost kings seem fine. It looks like half of the wooden macheteswingers are good as well," he told me after five minutes passed.

"The angels?" I asked, appearing to hide my smile.

"I couldn't feel any of them in this world."

"So, they're gone, and we didn't even have to lift a finger," I said, acting while putting on a smile.

"Either that or they escaped before the meeting a few days ago. This skill takes a lot of blood force to use such a wide net, so I don't deploy it usually."

He ate some fruit and potions to restore his spent force before continuing.

"At least we don't have to deal with them. Let's meet up with the others and explore together. We can share it three ways between our groups if we do find something more. It should at least take a couple of days before the destruction completes."

I followed him to meet up with the others. It took two days to reunite with everyone before we could search together, leaving only two days left on our voyage.

As a large group, we ventured forth. I sensed a particularly strong treasure about half a day's journey from our current location. As such, I lead everyone through the destroyed terrain. It looked like a second apocalypse struck the land.

Finally, in front of us was a strange cave.

"Why isn't this destroyed?" a ghost king asked.

"I don't know," I responded.

A second ghost king asked, "Does it really matter?"

"Let's go through anyway. It must be because of the treasure", a macheteswinger said.

The other macheteswingers followed behind the leader, and we also did. We didn't want to be left behind.

Charon whispered to me, "It will be a steep competition. Who do you want? The ghosts or macheteswingers?"

"What do you mean?" I whispered back, although I already had a faint idea.

"There's obviously not enough treasure for everyone. We have to fend them off and claim it for ourselves. If we're lucky, we can quickly escape to our world after touching it. They'll be unable to follow us there."

"I guess, in that case, I'll take the macheteswinger. My swords aren't the best at taking down bodies like ghosts."

"Then, I'll deal with them."

"Let's wait until we see what the treasure is. They can still have some uses."

"Fine. At least it's not angels."

I ignored his last comment as we soon arrived at the threshold of the cave.

"I can't get through, and I don't know why," the leading wooden macheteswinger stated.

"Then let us try," a ghost king said as the representatives attempted to turn into smoke.

Soon after, he said, "You're right. Even we can't get through. Even spirits may not be able to do so."

Charon, lastly, walked up. He attempted to use brute strength and just punch through the invisible barrier.

Even though he failed, he did not seem dejected and began explaining. "I could tell from the punch that this is no normal barrier. My vampire hand would have been able to easily beat it if that was the case. Looking at the energies, I almost wish the angels were here."

This surprised me, as I knew more than anyone here how much he hated them.

"Why's that?" I asked.

"Easy. Although not strong, they most likely have someone up their chain of command who can use divinity to break this."

"Divine energy?" a ghost king asked, confused.

"Correct. This barrier can only be destroyed by divine energy. Even blood force won't scratch it. I doubt even demonic energy would penetrate further."

"I see it differently. I see that only demonic energy could penetrate this barrier," the ghost responded. "I doubt divinity could scratch it."

"What do you think?" I asked my demons.

"Interesting," Seere said. "They're both right, making this a rare sight."

"What do you mean?"

Amon said, "if you keep training, you may be able to realize this."

Amdusias gave an actual explanation. "The energies of this barrier encompass the entire cave. It is made with energies higher than both, meaning both a god and a devil cooperated to create such a masterpiece. Why they would be in such a small world, or why the mortal enemies would be fighting with each other, I have no idea."

"But the energies are still demonic and divine," I said.

"True, but that was on purpose," Raum said.

Foras continued. "they intentionally lowered the energy so others could access it. I also know not why they would ever cooperate."

"Can you open it?" I asked back.

Balam dejectedly answered, saying, "I know not what treasure lies past here, but even I am not enough. If at full power, I could deal with the demonic energy easily, but the divine energy would be way too strong."

I still wanted to at least look at what was causing so much struggling. As such, I walked up towards the entrance. There, I first tested the barrier with my hand. Feeling nothing, I tried putting my arm further in.

"Are you sure the barrier's real?" another macheteswinger asked.

"Of course," two ghost kings, the leading macheteswinger, and Charon said simultaneously.

"Then why's that kid able to put his arm through?" the original question-asker asked.

"First off, this 'kid' is a midnight vampire. He's much stronger than you," Charon said boastfully.

"Really? Then, why not kill me? If he can, let him try! To be safe, I'll have my brother and sister swear not to harm him."

"I like the idea," Charon said.

"Do you two agree?" he asked the other two macheteswingers.

"Yes," one responded.

"Of course. Let him try," the other said.

Taking the cue, I activated my various vampiric skills, my spiritual fire, and Blackmail to burn him to ashes within one minute.

"Easy as breathing," I announced.

"You killed him!" the female exclaimed, astonished.

"Of course. He was literally asking for it," I said.

"I wish I could kill you," she said again.

"Of course you do. Do you want to try?"

"No, I know I'd lose."

Following my deed, I again went to pass through the blockage of the cave.

"Wait, take this," Charon said, handing me a crystal ball.

"What is this?" I asked.

"How do you not know? You need these energies to level up. What have you been using until now?"

"EXP shards," I responded.

Charon began laughing. "So, you have been using these. You must know that the shards are broken off from these. Watch."

He broke it apart into twenty EXP shards! Each gave me ten points of experience!

"You earned it," he said. "I just didn't expect you to be so lucky as to find a core. They are rarely left behind."

After gaining the experience, I, again, went up to the barrier. I walked right past, unable to tell what impeded them.

"How?" Charon asked. "The energy dissipated as he walked past, reforming once he went through."

"I see it, too. Who is that kid?" the leading ghost king inquired.

"He's a midnight vampire, same as me, yet he was able to get through.

"Interesting. Tell us how you did it," Seere said.

"I don't even know," I responded.

Balam also commented. "It seems even you aren't entirely aware of all the mysteries your body contains."

I told them I'd continue on down. It wasn't like they could stop me, anyway. As such, I went deeper into the tunnel. Suddenly, the air seemed thicker, and gravity more intense.

I could no longer see where I came from, and it was completely silent. Suddenly, before my eyes, a giant desert spread out. From the desert arose soil, and from the soil arose grass. From the grass arose flowers, and from the flowers arose pollen, which spread throughout the air.

The space shook, and millions of monsters suddenly appeared. I found myself in a small circle, with darkness to my back. At least there were some directions.

『off-limits area. You will be rewarded if you pass this trial. Fight the monsters. Current statistics: two partial successes. Race: 1 God, 1 Devil. 』

This must have been why they were so interested in such a small world. In addition, they sealed it so no one else could take the treasure. With their powers, I knew this trial wouldn't be easy. I knew not how I would survive.

"Interesting. The treasure itself has set up such a test. It's even intelligent. Your familiar can finally come out and play."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember Typhon? You're not in the dungeon anymore. Let him rampage."

Quickly, I summoned Typhon.

This time, though, he was much smaller. I appraised him with the earrings.

Name: Typhon

Race: Void Beast (King)

Level: 600

Vitality: 10,800,000

MP: 805,784,098

Miasmic energy: 1,395,693,591

"I am glad I can finally stretch," he said once he opened his eyes.

"How'd you gain so many levels?" I asked.

"You fed me such delicious skill tickets. It's only natural I would use them."

"I guess. Do you think you can handle these monsters?"

Suddenly, Furcas spoke. "Where'd he come from? He's as powerful as me!"

That made me think, "how powerful must my demons be?"

I responded to Furcas, saying, "He's my familiar from the void."

"I see," he replied.

Typhon also replied, "I believe so. It will be tough, but I must prove myself to you now that I'm a child."

He dashed out at a blindingly fast speed and instantly swept up many monsters with just his speed. His snakelike arms spread far and wide, each biting off the head of a different monster. His body wasn't doing as well, though. Many monsters were attacking his tail.

"Why don't I try this? My miasmic energy and MP are high enough for a few. Please watch my show," he said, twirling his tail to knock the various monsters away.

"I probe the deepest parts of the soul, through the ancient lands," he began chanting. I felt a chill run through my spine, scared even though his chant just began.

Balam calmly explained what happened, as a disc spread out below him. "It's a low-leveled domain of slaughter, perfect for killing monsters. He's using a spell based on the eternal law of slaughter, which should kill all who fall under his dominion, especially with the power boost of having both deal with the same. Your expert familiar even has a lawful source inside him."

"What's a lawful source?"

"It's similar to an elemental source, but it contains the power of laws."

Typhon, meanwhile, continued his chant.

"By the laws of the ancient lands, I summon the law of slaughter by my command. May my dominion gift you with power. By my authority, as a race from the void with the evolution of king, I, Typhon, familiar and loyal servant of my master Roberto, in tune with the ancient laws, I request the power of murder! May the glory of the king live forever."

"Lawful Slaughter's Dominion Apocalyptic Eclipse!" he shouted.

It sounded similar to Keith's spell, but the darker power within seemed to be much fiercer. Overall, he was able to use it a little over one hundred times; however, the enemies were unrelenting. I was also lucky enough to siphon away a few souls from this battle. Unfortunately, though, they were just fragments. None were complete.

Typhon continued battling for the next week, unable to get any rest. Luckily for both of us, the monsters that kept coming were mostly goblin and skeleton evolutions from the low floor of the dungeon. Rarely, a lizardman would show itself.

Soon after, I noticed the enemies vanished. I used Pounce to snipe a few who were hiding away. Typhon, though, was severely injured. I recalled him, as he insisted he only needed to rest before fighting again.

I wasn't convinced. If his recovery was high enough to be even one per second, it would still take over forty years to completely fill!

I thought we had finally passed, and I wondered how the god and devil were unable to get this far, even. They must have been a lot stronger than Typhon, seeing as my demons were.

I was worried, though, seeing the change in the directions.

『Part 1: passed. Partial success awarded. Current statistics: three partial success. Race: 1 God, 1 Devil, 1 Midnight Vampire. Starting round 2』

Without Typhon, there was very little I could do if the second round was anything similar. I didn't want to die in such a place, so I tried fleeing to my spiritual world. Unfortunately, it seemed I was unable to do so. This artifact must be very strong!

The scenery shifted. Rocks littered the ground, and from the rocks arose hills. From the hills arose mountains, and from the mountains arose coal. From the coal arose sulfur dioxide.

Like before, millions of monsters began gathering. I saw those who looked like giants and birds as big as mountains. Some hid in the ground while others floated in midair. This was a whole different group!

I was worried about survival, but I thought back to Bella, Krystal, and Kylee. What would they do if I was gone? Even if my soul could somehow survive and join them, would such a barren world really be enough? We'd been having fun in the dungeon, trying our best to get past all the monsters. We had met many friends, such as Isaac and Victoria, and fought a few enemies.

I wanted to continue living, fighting alongside them to become stronger—to conquer the dungeon and protect Earth from the great catastrophe, whatever and whenever it is. I had a mission, and I wasn't about to fail it. My family, both in Persephone and on Earth, were waiting for me to return, and I knew I couldn't disappoint them.

It was then that I realized I still had one last trick to try. It didn't appear on my status, so I didn't think about it too often, but I just hoped it was enough.

My absolute dominion, spanning over 100,000 kilometers, instantly showed itself. I had all the monsters present stand absolutely still, unmoving for anything, so I had time to prepare my most powerful spell!

"I am the absolute ruler, the executioner of the universe. All lives shall fall beneath me. I, Roberto, command so. As such, it shall be done. You who grovel at my feet, I shall show no mercy. You can't hide—I will find you. The eternal spell, the end of your soul, pierces through all cracks and crevices, throughout all worlds. It knows no bounds and kills gods and devils alike. The incomparable might is me showing you mercy, for your time draws near. I command your souls, each and every one, with a single word. Annihilate!"

With my powerful chant, I activated my last resort. The fairy queen mentioned never using this spell, but I had no other choice if I was to make it out of here alive. Almost instantly, my HE went down to zero. I began consuming recovery potions as my HP began to likewise decrease. In front of me, I saw souls flying out of bodies, disappearing into nothingness. I couldn't even trap them for my spiritual world.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, but only took a minute, the spell finished. The battlefield was no longer covered in rock. Only the blood of my enemies remained, forming a sea before it, too, disappeared. That was the price for using this spell: I could gain nothing from it. Not even dust from their bones.

It was also then that I realized this spell was the most powerful the fairy queen possessed, taken out from the room even the dungeon couldn't monitor. She knew I may, one day, have to use it. She also knew I would protect Bella no matter what. She may not even know the scene before me, but it considerably shook me. Even Balam, not to mention the other demons, didn't expect such carnage to immediately vanish. I was tired from trying so hard, so I laid down and took a nap. When I awoke, I heard a soft voice talking to me.

"Who are you?" I asked, groggily sitting up. I had a pounding headache, as well.

"I'll show you soon. Congratulations on passing the third stage! You are the first to do so, even beating gods and devils."

"Thanks, but why do I feel so terrible?"

"You used so much energy, and your body couldn't keep up with your replenishment while 500 million were killed. It took your body a million years to fully recover, even with the special nectar you were bathed in. Don't worry about your head, it will feel better shortly."

"Thanks," I said before realizing the time!

"A million years?"

"Yes, but, again, there's no need to worry over something so insignificant. Time here is frozen, and nothing passed at all. Even your spiritual world was frozen. Also, as I bet you will, don't worry about that. Your friends were frozen, and I fed that core my entire stash. Your barrier increased to level two, and the system's fully formed. You also have a thriving population of a few animals."

"Thanks again," I said. I was glad nothing happened to them nor my family on Earth.

I still couldn't figure out, though, who this lady was that I was talking to.

"Isn't there anyone left in this world?" I asked. "I know you're neither a ghost king nor a wooden macheteswinger. You're definitely not Charon."

"How can you compare me to the likes of them? I am much more!"

"And what do you mean by that?"

"Creating monsters from slivers of souls, sealing an entire world, recovering your small body. Do you think they can do any of these?"

"I think Charon can help with healing me."

"Not as well as me. It would have taken him at least fifty million years minimum! And that's if he labored over you each and every day!"

"Then why did it still take you so long?"

"The power contained in that spell was too much, and your dominion's twisted laws interfered with its power and prevented my healing from working at its pinnacle. You know, you can withdraw the dominion now."

"Oh," I simply responded. I was unaware that my dominion had been spread out for so long, but I retracted it nonetheless."

"That's better," the voice said. "I don't have a name anymore. Maybe you could give me a name. I heard from the demons that you already named quite a few artifacts—your entire outfit, for example."

"You can communicate with them?"

"Yes, of course. You know, even for me, it's rare to get the chance to talk to hellfire demons. There aren't many remaining. Knowing the current year, perhaps less than a hundred in the universe."

"I never knew," I responded. The vampire library's books didn't mention how rare certain monsters were. It was an important point.

"So, then, can you please give me a name?"

"I don't know anything about you."

"I'll tell you more as soon as I'm named. Really, it's for your own good."

"Fine, then! I name you Annie."

"perfect," she said as I felt a connection between something and my soul.

"To start off, now that I'm soul-bound to you since you want to know so much about me, I am a compass. Yes, that's correct. A compass."

Why did this voice have to belong to something so useless? I thought, maybe, it'd be a weapon or a new spell. Not a useless compass.