"Reporting to the Knight Commander, we have not found anything unusual on the mountainside. Should we investigate further?"

Gwen stood halfway up the mountain, her eyes slightly closed.

After listening to the knight's report for a while, he opened his eyes and asked the knight in front of him:

"Where's Viktor? Where did he go?"

Initially, Victor came with his knightly order to investigate the volcano.

With his magical assistance as a fourth-tier mage, the entire investigation team's exploration of the volcano should be much easier.

Moreover, it was Victor who proposed the idea that there might be monsters beneath the volcano, so it was most appropriate for him to be the one to find clues about the volcano's anomalies.

Nevertheless, when the Knights reached the mountainside, Gwen realized that she hadn't seen Viktor for a long time.

That's why she asked the knight this question.

“Knight Commander Gwen, Mr. Victor asked us to tell you that he has gone ahead to the mountaintop to investigate.”

"The gentleman also specifically instructed that you do not need to look for him, and that you need not worry if he does not return for a long time."

"He also told us to tell you that once the location of the volcanic monster is discovered, you should immediately return to the foot of the mountain and report to Duke Rivi."

Mountain top?

Gwen frowned.

Indeed, given Viktor's strength, since he said there was nothing to worry about, then she really didn't need to worry.

Gwen still trusted her husband, with whom she had spent many years, completely.

But what was he going to do on the mountaintop?

What could be on the summit of a volcano?

Gwen lowered her head, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought for a long time.

After thinking for a long time, he suddenly widened his eyes, as if he had realized something.

"Volcano... crater?"

...

at the same time,

The summit of Mount Vesuvius.

By this time, Victor was already standing on the edge of the crater.

The strong winds rising from above kept whipping his black trench coat, which billowed and tumbled behind him.

Scorching winds billowed from inside the volcano, the astonishing heat causing the surrounding air to tremble, and the dangerous atmosphere sending chills down one's spine.

Standing on the edge of the crater, Victor looked down at the bottomless crater entrance and couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

He had come here alone countless times before.

At that time, he was challenging the Calamity of Fire as a 'player'.

It wasn't until he truly came into this world that Victor finally had a partner to accompany him in challenging the boss.

Unfortunately, upon my return, the familiar noise and birdsong had completely disappeared.

Things have changed, but people are no longer the same.

"But, as long as there is still a chance."

As he spoke, Viktor looked at his palm, then clenched it tightly.

As I said before, he needs more power.

So he took the next step toward the bottomless crater ahead.

His body plummeted freely towards the bottom of the volcanic valley after he lost his footing.

The scorching heat slapped against Viktor's face, stinging and burning his cheeks.

I don't know how much time has passed, or maybe not much at all.

Viktor suddenly lost the sensation of falling.

In a hazy state, he seemed to have traversed a world and stood at the very bottom of the volcano.

The surroundings were a deep, inky darkness, so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

Moreover, a very familiar snoring sound echoed in the darkness.

Snoring—snoring—

The sound rang out several times, then suddenly stopped.

Viktor squinted, gazing into the darkness before him.

Immediately, the enormous creature hidden in the darkness seemed to sense someone's arrival and abruptly opened its eyes.

Buzz—

In an instant, the blazing yellow light dispelled the darkness of the entire space, illuminating the reddish rocks all around clearly.

Then, Victor could feel the ground beneath him trembling violently.

In a short while, the earth began to crack and crumble, and gushing lava surged out from the cracks in the rocks, with waves of heat instantly spreading throughout the entire mountainside.

Boom boom boom—

At that moment, the intense tremor was like a small mountain collapsing.

The sound was deafening, wild, and violent, terrifying to the core.

Awooooo—

The giant beast raised its head, let out a deafening and terrifying roar,

The surrounding rock walls trembled violently as a result, and the tremors continued for a long time.

Large chunks of rock crashed to the ground, raising clouds of dust.

At the same time, it straightened its thick, pillar-like legs. Slowly, it raised its towering, crimson body.

In the blink of an eye, crimson filled the entire bottom of the volcano.

Viktor was finally able to see the other's magnificent figure clearly.

"I know that defeating you this time might not be so easy."

Because you can't see the opponent's health bar and level, and even your own status is unclear.

Although he is now a fifth-tier mage, two tiers higher than during his last challenge.

However, some gaps cannot be bridged simply by ranking.

He has no player inventory and cannot use any items, including healing potions.

Without any plan, we can only fight a tough battle from start to finish.

"so."

The next second, Viktor's eyes flashed, and a streak of azure light swept across his eyes.

His right hand surged with magic, and a gleaming greatsword appeared in his hand, shining brightly.

He gripped the greatsword, slowly raised his arm, and aimed it at the enormous Gulerton.

The space was filled with roaring lava, and red-hot rocks were constantly breaking off from the surrounding rock walls, crashing into the molten fire and splashing drops of high temperature.

Victor's trench coat billowed in the hot wind, and the crimson light made his face feel hot.

Before this behemoth, he was like a faint black star.

But the dazzling light it emitted could rival that of the bright moon.

"I will use everything I have learned,"

"I'll use any means necessary to subdue you."