### The Sixth Circle
Denim Lab stood at the edge of the Sixth Circle, catching his breath after his latest battle. The demonic landscape stretched out before him, bleak and desolate. This time, something was different. The boss of the Fifth Circle, a colossal demon named Baal, did not advance to attack. Instead, Baal stepped aside, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of respect.
A shadow fell over Denim, and he looked up to see a figure descending from the sky. The presence was overwhelming, radiating an aura of pure power. This was the final boss of the Ninth Circle, the true challenge of the hellish trials.
### The Ninth Circle Boss
**Name:** Astaroth "Abyssal Overlord"
- **Level:** 75
- **HP:** 2,000,000
- **Abilities:**
- **Abyssal Fury:** A devastating combo of strikes imbued with dark energy.
- **Void Shroud:** Creates an impenetrable shield that absorbs and reflects damage.
- **Dark Chains:** Summons chains of darkness to restrain the opponent.
- **Hellfire Storm:** Unleashes a storm of hellfire, causing massive AoE damage.
- **Abyssal Regeneration:** Heals a portion of HP every minute.
- **Void Slash:** A powerful slash that ignores armor and deals immense damage.
"You are quite an interesting fellow. You're quite strong. You deserve to be commended for your strength."
Astaroth, with his towering form and dark wings, exuded an aura of absolute dominance. His eyes, glowing with infernal light, locked onto Denim. "You have proven your worth," Astaroth intoned. "But to claim victory, you must defeat me in the Final Circle."
Denim followed Astaroth as he led the way to the Final Circle. They arrived at a colossal, circular stadium with an intricate star symbol etched into the center of the arena floor. The air buzzed with anticipation as if the very arena awaited the clash of titans.
Denim felt a surge of adrenaline. This was it, the ultimate test. He readied his Shadow Sword and Corrupted Sword, his mind racing through the skills and strategies he would need to employ.
Without warning, Astaroth launched an attack. He activated **Abyssal Fury**, a series of rapid, dark-infused strikes aimed at overwhelming Denim. Denim countered with **Shadow Dance**, enhancing his speed and evasion, weaving through the onslaught like a shadow.
Denim retaliated with **Void Slash**, his sword crackling with void energy as it sliced through the air. The attack landed, but Astaroth's **Void Shroud** absorbed the impact, reflecting some of the damage back. Denim gritted his teeth, feeling the sting but refusing to back down.
The two combatants moved at blinding speed, their strikes and parries a blur of motion. Denim's **Shadow Splitting** created a doppelganger that mirrored his every move, adding another layer to the fight. They executed perfectly timed attacks, but Astaroth was relentless.
Astaroth summoned **Dark Chains**, aiming to restrain Denim. Using **Shadow Step**, Denim evaded the chains and closed the distance, landing several hits with his Corrupted Sword. He activated **Phantom Rush**, increasing his movement speed and attack power, pressing the assault.
Astaroth roared, unleashing **Hellfire Storm**. Flames engulfed the arena, forcing Denim to activate **Shadow Barrier** to absorb the damage. The intense heat seared his skin, but he pushed through, countering with **Curse of the Abyss** to boost his attack power at the cost of his HP.
Denim's HP was dropping rapidly, the toll of **Curse of the Abyss** weighing heavily on him. His **Warrior's Resolve** kicked in, increasing his defense as his health fell below 40%. He summoned his **Doppelganger Creation**, creating ten doppelgangers to swarm Astaroth.
The arena was a chaos of shadows and flames, each move a calculated risk. Denim's **Swordsmanship Mastery** showed in his precise strikes, while his **Cursed Blade Aura** dealt continuous dark damage with every hit. Astaroth's **Abyssal Regeneration** kept him in the fight, healing a portion of his HP every minute.
Denim knew he had to end the fight quickly. He used **Transform** on his Corrupted Sword, turning it into a massive greatsword. He activated **Void Slash** again, this time aiming for a critical strike. The greatsword, infused with void energy, sliced through Astaroth's defenses, landing a devastating blow.
Astaroth staggered but retaliated with another **Abyssal Fury**. Denim, nearly at his limit, used **Shadow Dance** to evade and reposition. With a final, desperate effort, he channeled all his remaining energy into one last attack. Denim activated **Void Rift**, an ultimate skill that tore through space, creating a rift that dealt massive damage to Astaroth. The arena shook with the force of the impact, and Astaroth let out a final, earth-shattering roar.
As the dust settled, Denim stood over the weakened form of Astaroth. The Abyssal Overlord's regeneration had slowed, and his once overwhelming presence was now a shadow of its former self. Denim knew he had one chance to end this. He summoned all his strength and with a powerful, decisive slash, he cleaved through Astaroth, splitting him in two.
Astaroth's form disintegrated into dark particles, leaving behind a glowing essence. Denim, breathing heavily and barely standing, reached out and absorbed the essence, feeling a surge of power coursing through him. The arena, once filled with the sounds of battle, fell silent.
A voice echoed through the arena, resonating with an ethereal quality. "You have done the impossible, Denim Lab. You have conquered the trials of the Nine Circles and defeated Astaroth. As your reward, you are bestowed with the power of **Shadow Dominion**."
The voice was none other than Lucifer himself, who had been watching Denim's fight ever since he entered the Ninth Circle. The aura and strength of this king of the underworld were beyond comprehension. Denim felt that he might not even last three moves against Lucifer with his current strength. Luckily, Lucifer was not the final boss of this trial, or else the quest would have been over and he might have had to create a new account to start over.
Denim felt a transformation within him, his stats soaring to new heights. His swords glowed with newfound energy, and he knew that this victory had not only made him stronger but had also unlocked new abilities and potential.
**Innate Skill: Shadow Dominion**
- **Effect:** Absorb the shadows of fallen opponents, summoning them as an army. Sustaining their existence requires mana. The summons can use their own skills and fight for you.
"Holy crap, this is like the protagonist of 'Solo Leveling,' only that maintaining their existence requires a lot of mana. It seems I'll need to find a way to increase my mana pool by completing quests that award increases in mana pool and also invest in increasing my intelligence attribute."
Denim was shocked; he hadn't thought that Thalor would give him such an excellent skill. Although at first he cursed Thalor for leading him into such a grave situation, whether he would overcome it or not was a matter of luck.
A whirlpool-like portal suddenly appeared, sucking Denim's entirety and making him leave the realm of the underworld.
In the world outside, he exited a portal that appeared out of nowhere. This place was dark and empty. It felt like a desolate area and it wasn't the place where he had disappeared. If the Western lands resembled greenery and forests, this place was a wasteland, devoid of any life.