Denim stumbled through the portal, the scorching heat of Lust fading as he emerged into a new realm. The air here was charged with an oppressive energy, crackling with raw power. Jagged cliffs and turbulent rivers of molten lava crisscrossed the landscape. This was the Third Circle of Hell, Wrath, a place where anger and fury reigned supreme.
**System Notification:**
*Welcome to the Third Circle of Hell: Wrath*
- **Objective:** Defeat the Guardian of Wrath
The ground beneath Denim's feet shook violently as a towering figure erupted from the earth. This guardian was a colossal demon, its body covered in jagged, black scales. Flames danced in its eyes, and its fists were the size of boulders.
**Guardian of Wrath**
Ares
*Lv. 80*
- **HP:** 90,000/90,000
- **Abilities:**
- **Fiery Fists:** Powerful punches that deal massive damage and ignite the target.
- **Rage Storm:** Unleashes a torrent of fiery meteors from the sky.
- **Inferno Roar:** Emits a devastating roar that stuns and damages all within range.
"Sure enough, even their HP's becoming increasier and increasier as the trial proceeds, luckily, I brought enough potions and consumables to maintain my HP and Mana as the battle progresses."
Denim tightened his grip on his sword, his body still aching from the previous battles. He knew he had to conserve his strength and use his skills strategically. The Guardian of Wrath roared, a deafening sound that sent shockwaves through the air, and charged forward with terrifying speed.
**System Notification:**
*Skill Activated: Phantom Rush*
- **Effect:** Increases movement speed and attack power for 10 seconds.
- **Cooldown:** 3 minutes
Denim dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding the guardian's fiery fist. He retaliated with a swift slash to the demon's side, but the creature's scales were tough, and the attack barely left a mark. The guardian swung its other fist, forcing Denim to backflip away.
**System Notification:**
*Skill Activated: Void Slash*
- **Effect:** Infuses the sword with void energy, dealing increased damage and ignoring a portion of the enemy's defense.
- **Cooldown:** 2 minutes
Denim's sword glowed with dark energy as he charged again, aiming for the guardian's joints. His blade cut deeper this time, eliciting a roar of pain from the demon. But the guardian was far from finished. It raised its fists to the sky, summoning a storm of fiery meteors.
**System Notification:**
*Skill Activated: Shadow Barrier*
- **Effect:** Creates a protective barrier that absorbs damage.
- **Duration:** 30 seconds
- **Cooldown:** 5 minutes
The meteors rained down, but Denim's barrier absorbed the brunt of the impact. He gritted his teeth, feeling the heat through the shield. The guardian took advantage of his momentary distraction, slamming its fist into the ground and sending a wave of molten lava towards Denim.
**System Notification:**
*Skill Activated: Shadow Dance*
- **Effect:** Allows the user to move through shadows and swap positions with a doppelganger, enhancing speed and evasion.
- **Duration:** 5 minutes
- **Cooldown:** 1 hour
Denim and his doppelgangers scattered, avoiding the lava and converging on the guardian from all sides. They struck with precision, targeting the weak points in the guardian's armor. The demon roared in fury, swinging its massive fists wildly, but Denim's enhanced speed and evasion kept him out of harm's way.
**System Notification:**
*Skill Activated: Curse of the Abyss*
- **Effect:** Increases attack power by 20% but gradually consumes the user's HP by 0.5% per second.
With his power boosted, Denim's attacks became even more relentless. He struck again and again, chipping away at the guardian's defenses. The demon's health dropped steadily, its movements growing slower and more erratic.
Still, with the same sets of battling these different trial bosses, he had used mostly the same sets of his skills in his arsenal for a moment training and testing his limits.
Finally, Denim saw his chance. He gathered all his strength and unleashed a powerful strike, driving his sword deep into the guardian's chest. The demon let out a final, anguished roar before collapsing, its body disintegrating into ash.
**System Notification:**
*Guardian of Wrath Defeated*
- **Proceed to the next circle**
A new portal appeared, its light a seething mixture of red and black. Denim, breathing heavily but determined, stepped through, ready to face whatever awaited him in the next circle of hell.