A surge of Abyssal Energy erupted and condensed into a dense, black fog tinted with streaks of purple, resembling gusts of wind. The fog enshrouded the spider, depriving it of its entire mana for a fleeting moment.
As a result, the creatures that had been repeatedly resurrecting even after Dante had slain them began to crumble, their bones clacking as they hit the ground.
The spider let out a fierce and anguished shriek that shattered the silence, blending with the clacking sounds as four of its legs were suddenly severed.
Retreating with its remaining legs, the spider hastily moved out of the fog's range. It managed to recover half of its mana and attempted to revive the fallen creatures, but to no avail.
The fog had severed any mana signals within its reach, rendering its attempts useless. In despair, the spider could only emit hopeless shrieks, waiting for the fog to dissipate as it had done before.
Dante had only just experienced a brief encounter with the horrors that lay in this dimension, and he couldn't fathom the true extent of the terror.
However, as an inhabitant of the realm, the spider knew that without its resurrected creatures, it would not survive for long in the territory of an even more fearsome being.
This was why it had no choice but to wait for the fog to disperse and regain control of its mana to bring back its fallen army. If it failed to do so, its 300-year existence would have been for naught.
Even if Dante had received information about the true dangers of the dimension he was in, he wouldn't have cared much. The situation he was in was so unimaginable that it felt worse than living a hellish life where survival is a constant struggle - he was on the brink of death, after all.
The only things that appeared to prevent Dante's faint consciousness from completely giving up and shutting down were the small sparks of life fueled by his willpower and the constant chant in his mind of not giving up.
There were limits to what could be achieved, particularly in terms of consoling him in his present condition. Despite his tenuous grip on life, he discovered himself adrift in a void, with nothingness encircling him.
As he floated in limbo, all his senses had been severed, leaving him disoriented and without any sense of his whereabouts. The unnerving stillness, combined with the gentle, whispering breezes that brushed his face, provided no solace whatsoever.
To make matters worse, Elrid was nowhere to be found, and he was unable to tap into his sea of consciousness. He felt as though his mana had been drained, leaving him powerless and vulnerable.
The familiar sense of control he typically had over his body through the passive use of Oppressive Control now felt like a distant and abstract concept. Lying in limbo, he was unsure whether his body had transitioned into another dimension or if his soul had been separated from it.
Meanwhile, in the physical realm, Dante's body was consumed by a thick fog that obscured him from view. Despite being unconscious, his body continued to thrash about uncontrollably, emitting a bestial shriek that pierced the air.
As the shriek echoed, the fog surrounding him abruptly receded, leaving only a two-meter radius of thick mist enveloping his body and his sword. The fog was so dense that it concealed everything, except for the occasional glint of his glowing red eyes, which served as the only indication that he was still human and not some malevolent entity.
Taking advantage of the situation, the spider swiftly closed in on its prey, signaling its undead minions to retreat after their bones had mended themselves.
The creatures obediently shuffled away as the spider let out a triumphant roar, excited that they had been restored to their former state. They quickly gathered beside the spider, ready to do its bidding.
Unfortunately, the insatiable greed that plagued all living creatures under the heavens was an inexplicable mystery. Despite achieving its original objective, the spider was overcome with the emotion of greed as it gazed upon Dante as if he were a succulent slab of meat.
Ignorant of why its bloodline feared the fog, the spider's instincts told it that by assimilating the fog, it could become the supreme ruler of its territory or even the entire plane.
The sheer thrill of indulging in such avaricious thoughts sent the spider into a state of ecstasy, causing its six eyes to roll back in its head. The overwhelming pleasure only fueled its insatiable greed, as it imagined the immeasurable power it would gain if it succeeded in assimilating the fog.
The spider couldn't even fathom what it would feel like to possess such incredible power, which only served to intensify its greed even further. With its insatiable greed now driving its actions, the spider commanded its loyal undead minions to bring it the head of the human.
Without hesitation, the obedient creatures shuffled forward, eager to please their master and claim their prize. The spider watched with bated breath, eagerly anticipating the moment when it could consume the human's essence and assimilate the mysterious fog that enveloped him.
As the undead minions approached Dante's thrashing body, they were met with a sudden burst of energy that knocked them back. Dante's body, still consumed by the malevolent fog, was now emanating a powerful aura that repelled the undead creatures.
With a ferocious snarl, Dante unleashed a barrage of attacks, swinging his sword with deadly precision as he charged toward the creatures.
In an instant, his fog-covered sword was engulfed in a burst of flame, as a golden aura enveloped his body. With a sharp focus on the flames beneath his feet, he propelled himself forward at an unparalleled speed, bursting through the undead creatures that stood in his way.
This time, however, the creatures were not merely defeated, but permanently destroyed as the pitch-black flames merged with the fog and the golden aura, disintegrating their bones down to the very last cell, leaving nothing behind.
Without missing a beat, Dante surged forward toward the spider. Caught off guard by his sudden burst of energy, the spider quickly scurried backward, its six eyes locked on Dante as he approached.
As he closed in, the spider launched a barrage of webbing, hoping to ensnare him and bring him to a halt. But Dante was too fast and agile, effortlessly dodging and weaving through the sticky webs.
As Dante let out a fierce, ear-piercing shriek, he launched himself forward, his sword glinting as it sliced through the air toward the spider. Sensing the imminent danger, the creature quickly scurried to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly blade.
With lightning speed, it retaliated, its sharp fangs glistening in the dim light as it lunged toward Dante's neck. But Dante was one step ahead of the spider, having had a premonition about ten seconds earlier that got him fully prepared for the attack.
Reacting swiftly, Dante used his sword to deflect the spider's fangs, sending the creature reeling backward. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he launched a series of devastating flame attacks consisting of burns and explosions.
The spider was pummeled with a barrage of blows that left it staggering backward, struggling to keep its balance. Dante continued to assault it with wave after wave of fiery attacks, determined to defeat the creature once and for all.
With the spider wounded and weakened, it retreated to a safe distance, its six eyes filled with fear and desperation. Sensing his advantage, Dante charged forward, his sword raised high as he prepared to deliver the final blow. The spider, now cornered and helpless, could only watch in horror as Dante's sword came crashing down upon it...
Meanwhile, Dante was unaware that his body was executing advanced maneuvers with impressive force, capable of matching a formidable beast that he would have struggled to defeat had his conscious mind been in control and the fog not present.
Additionally, Dante remained oblivious to the fact that his heightened strength had made him susceptible to the deadly effects of the fog, and the risk of losing his sanity and devolving into a mindless beast would be the least of his problems.
In his current state of suspension in the seemingly weightless void, Dante felt powerless despite the heightened strength of his real body. As he floated there, a woman of unparalleled beauty appeared before him.
However, there was another woman opposite her, equally as beautiful. This strange situation was made even stranger by the sight of Elrid kneeling before them, drenched in sweat from the pressure emanating from the two imposing women.
Elrid was barely holding himself together, both from the recognition of these two women and from his struggle to prevent Dante from succumbing to the overwhelming Abyssal Energy.
Despite the absurdity of the situation, both women seemed to care about Dante, albeit for different reasons. However, their presence inadvertently put Elrid in a dangerous spot, where he could potentially harm or even kill Dante.
Dante remained oblivious to the tension and danger in the void, as his perception had been completely cut off. Even with the presence of the two women and the charged atmosphere, Dante was spared from the pressure and thoughts that could have overwhelmed him.
However, if Dante were to see the two women, he would undoubtedly be confused, as he had no recollection of ever meeting them before, let alone knowing them.
The first woman was a stunning beauty, with long flowing silver hair that cascaded down her back. Her facial features were strikingly similar to Dante's, with sharp cheekbones and a strong jawline.
Like Dante, she had an indifferent expression on her face, but her eyes shone with a deep, motherly love as she gazed upon him.
The second woman was also a breathtaking beauty, with long flowing pure white hair that was streaked with black. Her prideful expression conveyed the feeling that the celestial bodies and the entire universe revolved around her.
And rightfully so, as she had once held a position of great power and influence where the world did indeed revolve around her.
Elisa, Dante's mother, spoke in an indifferent tone as she remarked, ''Oh, so it seems that even the renowned Goddess Theia is interested in my son. May I inquire as to what business you, esteemed self, have with him? It must be a matter of great importance for it to pull you back from the brink of death.''
Theia responded with a tone of pride, completely dismissing Elisa. ''I'm sorry, but I am not obliged to answer to mere mortals who question me. If not for your strength, I doubt you would even be allowed a glimpse of my esteemed self.''
''How dare you plan to awaken the forbidden art of your revolting race in my son without consulting me? Your race has been annihilated, and even in death, you seem to have failed to realize it. Do you think you can just come out of nowhere after sacrificing yourself and expect the world to still revolve around you? Humans aren't the weak creatures you used to know.''
Elisa retorted with biting words, reminding Theia of the changes that had taken place in her absence.
''How did you learn about my sacrifice...'' Theia started to answer, but Elisa interrupted her abruptly. ''As I said, the world has changed. There's no need to ask questions about your race. The last remnant is this little one,'' she said, pointing to Elrid, ''who has been given the chance to act as a servant for my beloved son.''
As Elisa's truth about the annihilation of the Abyssal Race dawned on her, the conversation took a dark turn. In fact, it had come to a complete halt, as sparks flew in the void dimension.
Suddenly, with a loud bang, the two women began to kick at each other in the gravity-less dimension, attempting to tear one another apart. But before they could inflict any damage, a golden-haired man materialized, effortlessly separating them.
''Enough,'' he said sternly. ''Theia, it's your turn. Just make sure my son survives. Otherwise, even the souls of your deceased clansmen won't be enough to plead for your forgiveness.'' With that ominous warning, Conrad scooped up Elisa in a wedding-style embrace, and they vanished from the space.
The air was thick with an oppressive silence as Elrid gazed at the woman who was revered as a god by his entire race.