*Slash*
"Arise."
*Slash*
"Arise."
*Slash*
"Arise."
It's been 30 excruciatingly long minutes.
Shortly after some comedic relief the battle resumed in full swing, with every individual except for the incapacitated Alice actively participating.
It was a bloodbath in Adam and his companions' favor.
The addition of his army was a game changer.
Everything was going well, too well to be true.
'There's no end to them.'
Whenever they reached a certain number of kills, the portal through which the abominations came from would open again, and more creatures would pour out.
His army had no concept of stamina, but he did, and that meant that eventually he would get tired, along with the other hunters.
*Slash*
"Arise."
*Slash*
"Arise."
*Slash*
"Arise."
That's why for every kill, he would create a new shadow. Not only his, but everything that died as a whole.
His army kept growing, his level kept rising.
Again, it was too good to be true.
"My Lord, you need to rest."
A sweet voice coming from behind him caught Adam's attention as he slayed a monster.
"I'm not sure I can afford to do so at the moment, Isis."
Turning his head, he briefly appreciated Isis's figure.
Like a river of darkness, her wavy hair flowed carelessly against the windy battlefield. In contrast, her eyes shone brightly pink, a feature opposing the characteristic violet color most of his army had. A feature only seen in his strongest servants.
Though petite in body, each action she carried out was naturally alluring. Her furry tail and ears only add to this fact.
"We don't know what's to come after. If you're tired then, our chances of success will be slimmed down."
Finding true in her words, Adam took a step back, unsummoning his sword in the process.
"Have you felt any changes yet?"
The question came out of the blue, but Isis understood her master's words.
"I have. Though small, my overall power has been increasing steadily."
"Mmh. Good, that means that Ragnar and the girls should be close to reaching the next rank, just like me."
Closing and opening his hands, Adam could feel an increase in power himself.
'Stats.'
[Status]
[Stats]
Name: Adam Zenith
Age: 21
Level: 53 ( A-Rank) ——> (SS-Rank based on stats)
Race: Human
Karma: error!
[Stats]
HP: 7,225/7,225
EP: ∞
Strength: 126
Dexterity: 100 (+5) =105
Stamina: 100 (+5) =105
Intelligence: 100 (+5) =105
Luck: Error
Free Stats: 0
While fighting the gate monsters, Adam had managed to level up three times, increasing his existential Rank to A and his overall stats by 15.
'I am two levels away from reaching 450 stats. The pseudo-SSS Rank isn't too far away.'
This is how he decided to call his Rank based on stats after thinking about it. Though his existential level was far inferior, his status placed him at a far higher place. Yet, at the end of the day, he wasn't in the 'SS-Rank'.
What benefits such existential rank provided apart from the obvious increase in power was an enigma to him, but he could feel it.
Increasing in existential rank was becoming more and more apparent the higher such rank was.
As an A ranked being, he felt a surge in vitality, if his HP changing so drastically was anything to go by.
His sense, which weren't represented in his stats, also got a huge boost, making his spatial awareness astronomically superior.
With this realization came another.
If raising from B to A-Rank brought these many changes, what about the higher Ranks?
It was no secret that Adam was stronger than his commanders due to his arsenals of powers and the versatility they provided. If he were to not use them, fighting one on one against them in a purely physical encounter would make him the loser every time.
And let's not even mention facing the likes of Isis and the remaining two SSS-Ranked newbies.
'Vitality, energy, and one's senses. Plus, whatever the fuck reaching Rank-S may give.'
Ranks had perks, that was a clear topic by now.
Now it was manageable, but who knows what the higher than SSS-Rank perks could provide. Eventually it could reach a point where even having higher stats wouldn't be enough, and his abilities may not compensate for these perks he did not possess due to his real Rank.
'For now, I need to avoid getting hurt by a boss as much as I can. If my stats keep increasing and my level remains the same, it will become harder to level up, which means my enemies will continue to have an advantage over me.'
Some may believe that his worries were unneeded, after all, he had an army of power houses at his disposition to defend him, and his evolved regeneration ability granted immortality.
'Immortality means shit to gods.'
If gods, immortal beings, could die, so could he. Immortality meant nothing in the long run.
'An army of ants, is just that, an army of ants.'
If his army was faced by a being far superior to them then having the numbers on his sides meant nothing.
"My Lord?"
'Shit, I'm overthinking again.'
"Sorry, I spaced out."
Isis bowed frenetically, droplets of sweat falling from her white skin which was barely coated by a thin layer of shadow energy.
"Such words are unneeded!"
Adam could only frown, this girl was too serious.
"Iris, I can apologize too, you know?"
"A servant like me would never accept such thing!"
A smile appeared on Adam's face, his playful side taking charge once again now that his stamina had recovered significantly.
"Oh, so you won't forgive me~?"
Isis panicked, but before she could embarrass herself any further, another individual jumped into her rescue.
"Don't mess with her too much, my Liege. Mrs. Isis is too much of a good lady and can't tell when you are teasing her."
Standing behind Isis, while holding the decapitated head of a monster, a tall man could be seen.
He was on the lean side, but his posture and manners represented an overpowering presence regardless. One that simple muscles couldn't provide.
"She is just too cute, I can't help it, Munin."
While Isis blushed cutely, Adam analyzed the man before him.
Munin, Adam's second SSS-Rank shadow and perhaps the strongest one of the three, at least in terms of skill.
His dungeon was the first SS-Rank dungeon they attempted to raid, but it was a disaster.
Ragnar, Stheno, and Anansi died several times, and even then, they couldn't manage to defeat him.
It wasn't until they brought Isis to their side, a day later, that they finally put him down.
Since his personality and attire resembled a "thoughtful" royal butler, Adam decided to name him Munin, after one of Odin's crows.
'Well, his crow head also helped in my decision, or is it a mask?'
"For some reason I feel offended…"
Adam coughed awkwardly, taken back by Munin's sharpness.
'Can he listen to my thoughts? Maybe my naming skills are truly top tier.'
"Since the two of you are here, where could that trouble maker be-"
*BOOM!*
"HAHAHA! Die you fucking piece of shit! Become my master's puppet!"
Far from them, loud noises and flying corpses of disfigured monsters were visible. At the epicenter of the destruction, a blonde beauty was… massacring the creatures left and right.
Opposite to her otherworldly and unblemished beauty, only comparable to an angel, a pair of black, scaly wings sprouted from her back.
On top of her head, two pointy horns were present, the same color as her wings. An equally dark tail swinged on her lower back, decapitating and severing the poor creatures' limbs savagely.
"Never mind…"
Munin could only shake his head in exasperation.
"Mrs. Agnes is too busy at the moment as you can see, my liege. I suggest you let her be."
"Yeah, that would be for the better."
Dusting himself off, Adam faced the battlefield once again, his stamina fully back.
"I will go back helping pops and the others. I may need you two later if my gut feeling is right, be ready."
"Yes, my Lord"
"Yes, my Liege."
...…..
(On Ragnar's side.)
As Ragnar finished off a grey creature, a sudden tremor was felt around the battlefield.
"What's that?!"
Luffy, who was close by, screamed his lungs out when the closed gate began to open again.
Unlike the gate on Adam and the other SSS-rankers' side, it was the first time this was happening since the battle started.
And, what came from within wasn't a horde of more creatures, but a single individual.
*!!!!!*
The pressure its presence created sent shivers down everyone's spines, Ragnar included. A silently explosive aura as heavy as a mountain.
'E-even that Crow's presence wasn't this intimidating…'
They all felt it in their bones, the being that was approaching was the real deal.
An SSS-Ranked Boss, the leader of this SS-Rank gate break.
"" Greetings humans, and… whatever you creatures are.""
Its voice resonated around, reaching each and every last hunter and shadow soldier present.
Contrary to what they all expected, the boss didn't resemble his minions in the slightest.
Apart from his excessively pale complexion and red eyes, this "boss" was just like a human. An androgenous human exuding authority.
"Luffy, don't engage yet. That guy is dangerous."
Zoro pulled Luffy from the shoulder, his instincts to protect his leader kicking in.
They had barely helped so far. The SS-Ranked minions proving to be too much for them. If not for Ragnar, his army, and the few SS-Rank hunters from the city, they wouldn't have lasted more than 10 seconds facing such abominations.
But this guy? Zoro could feel it.
No one on this battlefield could face it, not even Ragnar.
""My name is Victor Nightgale, Duke of Bloodcastle, and the Night King's right hand.""
Ragnar tightened his grasp around his Axe.
""Pray, cry, laugh, do what you may, for this is the last day of your miserable lives.""
...…
Sorry but this is all I could manage to write in the little time I had.
I don't know if I will upload more for the rest of the year. If I do, it would probably be before the end of December when I get my week vacation.
I'm aware that the story has declined in quality, as I have noted so myself as I re-read the last few chapters, so feel free to point out either typos or any inconsistencies you may find. I will make sure to address them and correct them if needed.
Sorry for the lack of updates…doing my best over here.
Also, regarding the three new additions to the army. I wasn't planning to include them like this, but it happened. I would've preferred to dedicate some chapters to each of them, maybe do a mini arc of sorts, but I guess I was hurrying myself to reach this part of the story so much that I completely disregarded this. If I ever do a rewrite of this fanfic, they will have the introduction they deserve (same for Anansi).
This is where I stop with the yapping…
As always have a great day, I hope you enjoyed reading, and I wish you all Merry Christmas in case I don't update for the remainder of the year.