When I first entered the Sunset Monster Mountain Range, I was just a weak High-Class shortly after my rebirth. It was several years ago, but it seemed like decades to me.
Now I was in the Satan-Class with combat prowess to defeat anyone at the same rank as me.
"Last time I was here, it was when I was High-Class, and I didn't dare to venture to Inner Layer, and this time we are going to the Core Layer."
The entire Sunset Monster Mountain Range could be divided into three layers. Outer Layer, where the strongest monster was at the Commander Level, then Inner Layer, where there was an abundance of General Level Monsters, and finally a Core Layer, where Monarch Level monsters were living. Of course, there were even Emperor Level monsters in the Core Layer, whose strength was comparable to the Super-Devil Class or Great God Stage, but they were usually sleeping in their nests, not bothering with anything.
"And now, how do you want to find Ereshkigal here, Hela? Sunset Monster Mountain Range is an enormous place."
I commented from the side as I watched Hela wearing her tight battle suit, enhancing her womanly curves to the maximum. While as Devil, my primary sin wasn't Lust, I had to admit after sleeping with Venelana; Lust has become one of my secondary sins.
"She would be hiding in the Core Layer. If it is so dangerous, then it would be a perfect choice for a hiding spot, as nobody would search there for her."
Said Hela with a smile.
We strolled through the Outer Layer like nothing as all monsters immediately ran away when they saw us due to our overwhelming aura.
"How long till we reach Inner Layer Zeoticus?"
Asked Hela with a bored tone.
"When we see first General Level monsters running away from us, we would be either already in the Inner Layer or extremely close to it."
I said as I already knew the layout and my way around here. Hela just nodded, not betraying her hope that we would soon arrive at the Inner Layer and then to the Core Layer.
After twenty minutes, we finally arrived at the Inner Layer. Inner Layer was full of the General Level monsters, and Commander Level monsters were everywhere.
As we were talking and observing various species living in the Sunset Monster Mountain Range, not even one of them dared to make a move on us, and all of them just escaped or pretended they didn't see us.
One must know that monsters on the General Level had the same intelligence as average intelligent species, so they knew very well who not to provoke. Soon enough, we arrived at an enormous valley, deep within the Inner Layer of the Sunset Monster Mountain Range, that was the path to the Core Layer.
Not many devils have entered the true depths of the Sunset Monster Mountain Range. As I was admiring the beautiful nature here, all the various plants and trees suddenly heard a roar.
I looked in the distance, and I saw a Monarch Level Violet Tattooed Bear.
Violet Tattooed Bear was a monster of the bear species, with terrifying physical abilities and high resistance to energy-type attacks, due to its steel-like hide and fur. It was called Tattooed because as this species of bears grew older, they would get various patterns on their body. All of them were magical and could release magical attacks during the fight.
"It is a Violet Tattooed Bear, Monarch Level. Physical ability is astonishing, and I don't want to use Ultra-Order Spells to deal with it, so it is yours. Remember not to destroy Nuclei."
I said to Hela seriously. I wanted to fight strong opponents, as I had become a bit battle maniac after my rebirth, as every time I fought somebody strong, my blood was boiling, and I was in a state of absolute bliss.
While my physique was strong, it was nowhere near to competing with Violet Tattooed Bear, so I let Hela kill it. She was a close-combat fighter and was good as hell. Of course, I warned her not to destroy its Nuclei, as it was a valuable thing for me to Devour. It could increase my energy reserves by some amount.
Hela's fighting style was brutal... nicely said.
When she heard that, she grinned with a bloodthirsty grin and conjured two Necroswords as she rushed at the Violet Tattooed Bear.
Violet Tattooed Bear noticed somebody was attacking him, so he used his massive pawns to strike Hela down, but alas, she was too fast for his reflexes. She dodged Violet Tattooed Bear's paw strike, jumped in the air, high above the Violet Tattooed Bear's head, and slashed down with her Necroswords.
In the split of the second, a huge paw of the Violet Tattooed Bear fell down, as it was perfectly sliced off. I observed this battle from an aside, and I noticed why her combat style was so effective.
She was using her Magical Power and Divine Power to enhance her strikes and weapons so that they would cause more damage. On top of that, her Power of Death was practically unhealable in Draconic Deus by normal or standard means.
The bear roared in pain as Hela landed behind the bear's back and threw her two Necroswords at the Violet Tattooed Bear, piercing through its legs as two missiles. Immediately afterward, another two Necroswrods were conjured as she ran up to the bear and sliced off the neck of the Violet Tattooed Bear.
As anticlimatic as the fight was, Hela won very easily due to her combat experiences and other sets of abilities.
Also, Violet Tattooed Bear was a rather ordinary monster with not a lot of special abilities, and as I warned Hela about its magical tattoos, she ended the fight as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary troubles.
"Bring me the Nuclei, or do you want it?"
I asked her.
"I will keep it; my Magical Power reserves are stagnating already for some time."
She answered swiftly as she tore out the Beast Nuclei out of the corpse of Violet Tattooed Bear.