SSSSSSHHHHHHHH—!

The sound of flesh and stone sizzling filled the air as Seraphina's venom beam tore through Dolenkroh's massive body like a hot blade through ice. The toxic energy didn't just burn—it corroded, melted, and hollowed him out from the inside.

Huge chunks of his stone armor cracked and fell away, revealing gaping holes where his core had once been solid.

"AAARGH! No—this isn't possible! How can your venom be this strong?! Even Virelgar wasn't this powerful!"

Dolenkroh's scream echoed across the battlefield, raw with disbelief and agony.

"This… this can't be happening!"

Panicked, he immediately recalled the monsters he'd summoned, pulling them back to form a defensive wall between himself and Seraphina, hoping to buy time—maybe even force her to retreat.

But it was pointless.

To Seraphina, his movements were sluggish, predictable—laughable.

Now that she had ascended to SSS-rank as a Crimson Ultimate Hero, her draconic nature had fully awakened. Her speed was blinding, her strength overwhelming, and her mastery over the Venom Law was absolute.

She was a force of nature.

A living weapon.

And Dolenkroh? He was just a target.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

What followed was a one-sided massacre.

Seraphina tore through Dolenkroh's summoned beasts like they were made of paper. Her claws slashed, her tail whipped, her venom breath melted through armor and bone alike. It wasn't even a fight—it was a slaughter.

The summoned monsters didn't stand a chance. They barely had time to react before they were ripped apart, one after another.

And Dolenkroh?

He was getting rag-dolled.

"G-Gulp…"

The native onlookers of The Veilmarsh—creatures, warriors, and beasts alike—watched in stunned silence, their jaws slack, their eyes wide with horror.

Their worldview was shattering in real time.

"She's… she's a monster…"

"She's also SSS-rank, but the way she fights… it's terrifying!"

"Even Dolenkroh—the Abyssal Titans' king—is getting wrecked!"

They weren't wrong.

Seraphina's brutal, up-close combat style was pure intimidation. She didn't just overpower her enemies—she humiliated them. And for creatures used to ruling through fear and strength, that was the ultimate nightmare.

This… this was their true natural predator.

"My Lord…" a soft voice came from beside Ethan.

It was Feylora. She had just arrived, her eyes wide with awe as she watched Seraphina dominate the battlefield.

"She's one of yours too? She's incredible… She's actually overpowering Dolenkroh—the king of the Abyssal Titans! That guy's one of the strongest beings in our world!"

Ethan glanced at her, then gave a small nod… followed by a shake of his head.

"She's strong because she fought for it," he said. "You want to get stronger? Then stop watching and start moving. Those summoned monsters—if you can absorb their Primordial Force, you might be able to level up too."

"Me?" Feylora blinked, caught off guard.

But then she looked back at Elira, still locked in battle with Bathorax, and Seraphina, who was single-handedly dismantling Dolenkroh's army.

Her hesitation vanished.

She clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and nodded sharply.

"Then I'm going in, Lord Ethan!"

"Go," he said simply.

And with that, Feylora leapt into the fray.

She wasn't on Seraphina or Elira's level—not yet—but she was still an SS-rank Crimson Ultimate Hero. Against the remaining summoned monsters, that was more than enough.

She moved quickly, striking down enemies and absorbing their Primordial Force as she went, her aura growing stronger with each kill.

Meanwhile, the real fight—Seraphina vs. Dolenkroh—raged on.

But it was clear: Dolenkroh was done.

Even though he was technically an SSS-tier summon, his power was diluted—he wasn't a true Crimson Ultimate Hero. Compared to the soul-bound heroes in the Graveyard of Legends, or real-world SSS-rank elites, he was lacking.

At best, he was SS+ peak.

And that wasn't enough.

Not against Seraphina.

Not now.

BOOM!

Elira was absolutely in the zone now—completely unleashed and loving every second of it. She tore into Bathorax with ruthless precision, her attacks relentless and devastating.

Sure, they were both SSS-rank Crimson Ultimate Heroes… but clearly, not all SSS-ranks were created equal.

Elira wasn't just strong—she was elite-tier among elites. A top-tier predator.

And Bathorax? He was learning that the hard way.

BOOOOM!

"Judgment of Shadows!"

A massive wave of dark energy exploded from Elira's hands, rippling outward in a pulse of pure destruction. The moment it hit Bathorax, his body began to crack and crumble, his form destabilizing under the sheer force of it.

"N-No—!"

Bathorax's eyes went wide with horror. He could feel it—he was losing. Fast.

We can't win… The thought hit him like a hammer. They're too strong…

And just like that, panic took over.

With a flash of movement, Bathorax turned and bolted, trying to escape.

But—

BOOM!

He didn't get far.

Feylora stepped in, cutting him off with a burst of strange, radiant energy. It wasn't enough to hurt him—but it was enough to stop him.

And that was all Elira needed.

She was already there.

"Shadow Retribution," she said coldly.

Her power surged, and with a single, brutal strike, she slammed her fist into Bathorax's core.

CRACK!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The sky split open as Bathorax's body exploded in a shockwave of shadow and venom. He didn't even get a final word out—he was obliterated on the spot.

From a distance, Dolenkroh saw it happen.

His eyes widened. His stone face twisted in terror.

"No… no no no—!"

If Bathorax was dead… and he was the only one left…

Then he was screwed.

He turned and tried to flee, desperation in every step.

But Seraphina was already there.

She dropped in front of him like a thunderbolt, her wings flaring wide, her eyes glowing with venomous fury.

"Running? You think it's that easy?" she said with a cold smirk. "Come on. Show me your best. Or die like the coward you are."

She didn't wait for an answer.

She lunged.

And Dolenkroh never stood a chance.

The Veilmarsh natives watching from the shadows could only shiver in silence. This wasn't a fight—it was a public execution.

Seraphina was a close-combat nightmare, and Dolenkroh, a summoner-type hero, was completely out of his depth. He couldn't keep her at range. He couldn't summon fast enough. He couldn't even run.

She was his hard counter.

And she was merciless.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

She tore into him with claw, fang, and venom, her attacks a blur of destruction. Dolenkroh tried to fight back, but it was hopeless. He was outclassed in every way.

Ethan watched from a distance, arms crossed.

"It's over," he said quietly.

And it was.

Moments later, Dolenkroh let out one final, agonized scream before Seraphina unleashed a barrage of innate skills that shattered his body into dust.

BOOM!

Gone.

"Master!" Seraphina landed in front of Ethan, her chest rising and falling with excitement. "I did it! I didn't let you down!"

Ethan smiled. "You crushed it, Seraphina."

He turned to the others. "You too—Elira, Feylora. That was flawless."

Then he looked back at the battlefield, where the remains of Bathorax and Dolenkroh's Primordial Force still lingered.

"Can you absorb any of that?" he asked.

Elira shook her head. "Nah. We're already SSS-rank. Their Primordial Force doesn't do much for us anymore. But…"

She glanced at Feylora.

"She might be able to."

Feylora's eyes lit up. "Me? Really?"

Ethan nodded. "Go for it."

"Thank you, my Lord!" she said, bowing quickly before sprinting toward the remnants of the fallen titans.

Moments later—

DING!

System Notification:

Congratulations, Player Valkarion. Your Hero Unit, Feylora of the Toxari, is evolving to SSS-rank. Current racial stage is undergoing transformation…

Ethan grinned.

Another one ascended.

A perfect ending to a brutal battle.

"Master," Seraphina said, her eyes still burning with energy. "What now? I can feel it—I'm not fully in control of this new power yet. I need more combat. More pressure. Let me fight again—I'll master it."

Feylora stepped up beside her, nodding. "Same here, my Lord. I've evolved, but the power's still unstable. If Seraphina's going, I'd like to join her."

Ethan looked to Elira.

She caught his glance, shrugged, and smirked. "I'm down. Let's go."

Ethan nodded once.

"Then let's move."

And with that, the group turned and headed deeper into The Veilmarsh, toward the heart of the unknown—where stronger enemies surely waited.

And sure enough…

It didn't take long before they found their next challenge.

A massive, terrifying creature emerged from the shadows ahead.

A monstrous crocodile, easily the size of a fortress, its scales glistening with venom, its eyes glowing with ancient malice.

...