The commander quickly launched a wave of energy spheres at Joseph but Tadashi had used Banshee Disruption sending them off course, passing Joseph.
"Tch, you…" The commander clenched his fist and he looked up at Tadashi.
"Tadashi, stand down for now. I can take him on."
"Alright then."
Tadashi turned around and flew away. The commander took this as a chance to attack him while he wasn't looking and fired fireballs at him.
"What makes you think I'll allow that?"
The commander noticed the fireballs vanished as they entered a dark hole that suddenly appeared. A second later he received an attack from his back. When he turned around, he realized he had attacked himself.
"Wha-?"
Wham!
A sudden blunt force struck the commander. He looked down to see Joseph's fist thrusted into his stomach.
"Burning Curse."
A heated feeling began to build up in the commander's stomach, but then that feeling eventually turned into a scorching nightmare.
"Tch!"
The commander used Flash Step and escaped from Joseph's clutch, however that didn't stop the burning pain in his abdomen.
"Y-you…!"
Despite the commander being able to resist fire, he couldn't resist the energy that came from the void.
Joseph watched as the commander fell to the floor in pain and descended to the ground.
"Seems I was wrong… I'll just put you out of your misery as you don't prove much of a threat to me at all."
He smashed his left fist into his right palm, creating a tiny void.
"Blue Devil Arm."
His right arm was engulfed in blue energy before it transformed into a devil-esque arm.
"I'll give you a chance to perform any trump cards you have up your sleeve. Otherwise, I killed you for nothing."
The pain in the commander's chest eventually subsided away. Now that he was free of pain, he focused his attention on Joseph.
"So be it. Be proud! For you are the only human worthy of witnessing my full power!"
The ground shook, and a massive fiery aura appeared around the commander, engulfing him.
"Phantasm, God of flames!"
The entire area was covered in malice energy and the floor immediately turned to dust due to the heated energy. The only thing left after the smoke cleared was ash.
Standing in the place of the commander was a young boy with three horns on his head and he donned black clothes covered in flowing white flames.
"God of Flames?"
Joseph watched as flames vented from the side of the God of Flames' bright eyes. The God of Flames rose his hand and pointed his finger at Joseph.
"Mortal, die!"
A ray of fire shot towards Joseph which exploded on impact.
"Hmph, to think I would be summoned for such trivial reasons..."
The God of Flames would turn to leave.
"Trivial you say?"
The God of Flames turned around as he heard Joseph's voice. When the smoke cleared, Joseph had the ray in his devil arm which was then absorbed.
"What...? How is that possible?"
"The legendary arm of convergence. Otherwise known as the Blue Devil Arm. With this power, I am able to absorb the energy that this arm makes contact with. Then, I can convert that energy as my own."
The God of Flames seemed to be pissed as he watched Joseph stand around as if nothing had happened to him.
"You... have you no shame possessing an arm forged from the void?"
"Hmm... not really, but with this, I can kill fakers like you."
"Fakers?"
"People who think they can be God."
"Fool... I am a God!"
Joseph began accumulating energy into his devil arm, creating a small blue sphere.
"Then try to survive this. A void that absorbs all life in its path."
The God of Flames began amassing energy which formed a giant orb made of flames and shot it towards Joseph.
"Burn!"
He threw his attack at Joseph as he was still in the middle of charging it.
Joseph took off one of his bracelets and his ring. When he finished charging his attack, he threw it at the massive fireball.
"Cursed Blue Arts: Cerulean Cyclone"
The tiny sphere that was heading for the fireball transformed into a massive moving void, absorbing all matter, substances, and mana in its path.
The God of Flames' fireball was quickly neutralized and it was now heading for him. He attempted to flee but it was as if he was being sucked in.
"What-?"
"Activate, Mystic Eyes of Interspace."
The exerting force that the void caused was now stronger, pulling in the God of Flames even more.
"No... NO!! I cannot be defeated by a mere mortal such as you!"
Joseph said nothing as he watched the God of Flames get sucked into the void.
"I will retur-!"
But he was cut off as he was completely swallowed by the void. The void then closed and Joseph deactivated his devil arm.
"No one should use the father's name so foolishly."
He placed his limiter ring back on, then he looked at his bracelet.
"Hmm, seems I unsealed the wrong ability. Well, if he was defeated by Cerulean Cyclone like that, then he was too weak."
As he began to equip his bracelet again, he had forgotten to deactivate his Mystic Eyes.
His vision was at maximum due to his lack of control, and he was now seeing everything from a far distance.
In his sight, he saw an arena located in Paragon and even what was unfolding inside.
"Hmm... to think the other heroes are having trouble."
Joseph turned to Tadashi.
"Tell the king I'll be gone for a while."
"Huh? R-right. Wait, where are yo-?"
Joseph quickly opened up a void connecting him to the arena and walked through it. As soon as he approached from the other side, he threw down a Dissipating Sphere at the man who had pinned down the Warrior Hero.
The man seemed to have noticed Joseph and quickly stepped to the side.
Joseph's Dissipating Sphere hit the ground but it didn't explode, only leaving a small crater.
The man looked up at Joseph as he descended from the sky.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Joseph noticed the man had some kind of skeleton mask on his face and couldn't figure out how he looked like except for his eyes.
The man's eyes glowed green and the look on his face was as if he was inspecting him. Then the man spoke.
"I thought the other batch of heroes wouldn't be summoned until a month later. When did you come here?"
"Hmm, I think I came here a week ago."
The man closed his eyes and seemed to think for a second. Then all signs of hostility faded away.
"Looks like this is as far as I can go," He said as he began backing up into the corner.
"I may be arrogant, but I am not so cocky to fight someone of your caliber."
Joseph nodded, understanding.
"At least someone knows their place."
"My strength has run out after fighting the earlier guy. I am retreating, but before that, may I ask you your name?"
Joseph nodded and answered.
"Giuseppe Valentino, you can call me Joseph."
"I see, I will bear your name in mind."
Then the man disappeared into the shadows.
Before the man had disappeared, Joseph did manage to get a peek at his stats as he had taken off another bracelet, unveiling another hidden ability: Appraisal. With this ability, he not only got a look at his skills and level, he even got information on his stats and his titles.
"I see... so that's who he is..."
Joseph understood as he sealed his abilities once again with his bracelets.
"But why...? Hmm..."
He didn't want to think about it, so he just shrugged it off. He would then turn towards the other heroes.
"Pretty embarrassing being defeated by someone with a lower level than you. Get stronger and you might stand a chance. Now then, I'll take my leave." He said before disappearing into another void.
***
It's been 4 days before that event.
Currently, we were traveling down the road headed towards Maroon City. In just 4 days, we'll arrive where we need to be.
On our way, I took a look out the wagon and spotted what looked like an entrance to a mineshaft. It was heavily covered in bushes and trees but with my vision, I was able to spot it in the corner of my eye.
"Kiyomi, stop the ride."
"Yes."
As I got out, I walked over to the entrance and looked down the dark corridor. I eventually spotted what looked like some kind of door all the way at the bottom.
"I see... so even they can be out here."
The underground... looks like even the black market resides in hidden and/or abandoned areas. I guess I should take a look and see what it has to offer. Maybe some skills would be fine. After encountering Joseph, I should prepare myself.
"You two, hide the wagon and camp out. I'll be gone for a day or two so you can do whatever you want up here."
"Do you need us to come with you?" Kiyomi asked but I shook my head.
"No, just me alone would do."
I snapped my fingers and my shadow servants appeared.
"What shall we do for you, my lord?"
"Guard the perimeter and don't allow anyone to get near them or this entrance."
"Affirmative."
The shadows then dashed away and vanished.
"Stay here. When I get back, then we'll hit the road."
"Yes, master."
I watched as they left to go hide the wagon and then entered the mineshaft.
As I walked deeper and deeper, I could hear many noises coming from the bottom of the mine. When I opened it, it revealed some kind of underground city.
The underworld... not to be mixed with the underworld from hell. Places like these are home to criminals and black market businesses. You could say that I belong here since I am a fugitive myself.
"Now then, let's start exploring."
.
.
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