Champion Of Lust: Gods Conquer's Harem Paradise!

Chapter 257 Infernum (The first Reckoning)

Her shadow army had grown immensely in strength during their time in the Grove when she was training.

Each of her 15 shadows was now a Rank 13 Special Class warrior, thanks to the death essence they had absorbed during her rigorous training.

Pyris had initially stopped her from harvesting essence in the labyrinth from the labyrinth's creatures, though she still didn't fully understand why. Even now, her three generals—Shadowshed, Dread, and Torment—refused to absorb essence from these creatures, as if the labyrinth's energy held something they instinctively rejected.

But Pyris no longer objected to her lesser shadows feeding. And with each essence absorbed, their forms became more defined, their power more tangible.

At the front...

The battle raged on, Seren moving with the grace of a dancer and the ferocity of a predator. The shadow warriors mirrored her movements, covering her blind spots and striking down any beasts that came too close or striking them with deadly precision to finish them from the shadows.

Serene was in her element, her enthusiasm and gratitude fueling her every action.

From his position, Pyris crossed his arms, watching Seren with an approving nod. "She's good," he remarked.

"She's learning well. Pyris if you ever get a chance, you know what to do," Zara replied with a whisper to Pyris , her voice carrying a note of pride.

But Pyris shook his head in denial.

As the final beast fell, Seren stood amidst the carnage, her breathing steady and even. She felt good that she was doing the dirty job for the group to show her gratitude.

"She's a different vampire!" Alera let out. Her first encounter with a vampire wasn't a good memory but Seren was proving a difference.

The shadow warriors dissolved back into Alera's control, their forms flickering faintly as they returned to their Mistress's side.

Seren turned to the group, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Thanks for letting me take care of that," she said, her voice steady.

Pyris grinned. "You're welcome. But don't think this means we're going easy on you from now on."

Alera smirked. "Next time, I'm charging you a fee for borrowing my shadows."

Seren rolled her eyes, though the gratitude in her expression was clear. She glanced at Alera. "Your shadows… they're incredible. I wouldn't have been able to finish that fight so quickly without them."

Seren and Lyra didn't know how Alera was doing it since the concept of necromancy was alien to them. Most of young generation was like that even the past Pyris but he, a reincarnated soul, was different and he knew more.

Alera waved her hand dismissively, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward. "Don't get used to it," she replied. "They're spoiled enough as it is."

With the battle behind them, the group pressed forward, their path growing darker and more oppressive. Nysa's voice called out from the front.

"We're close. Prepare yourselves. The guardian is not far from here."

Her words sent a ripple of tension through the group, each member steeling themselves for what lay ahead.

Pyris exchanged a glance with Alera, who nodded silently. Seren adjusted her blades, Lyra's magic flickered faintly in her hands, and Zara's staff hummed with quiet energy.

The group trudged forward, the weight of anticipation palpable in the air.

Nysa led the way, her strides steady and purposeful, a stark contrast to the lingering unease among the others. The shadows of the labyrinth seemed alive, whispering of the immense trial ahead. The tension was broken only by the occasional snarl of a beast that was quickly dispatched by Seren's newfound vigor and the support of Alera's shadow soldiers.

As they walked, the oppressive atmosphere grew heavier. The darkened swamp and jagged rock formations began to shift, the terrain becoming more surreal, almost like a forgotten piece of another realm stitched into the labyrinth.

Finally, Nysa stopped, raising a hand to signal the group.

"We're here," she said simply, her voice carrying an edge of reverence and foreboding.

Before them stood a monumental archway formed of blackened stone, glowing faintly with crimson etchings. The air around it shimmered, fluctuating unnaturally, as though reality itself was struggling to hold its shape.

Without a word, Nysa stepped through the gate, her form dissolving into the undulating distortion. The others followed, their steps hesitant yet resolute.

Crossing the threshold felt like plunging into an abyss. Their surroundings shifted violently, the oppressive dark replaced by an otherworldly realm of green-tinged skies and rivers of molten crimson coursing through cracked earth. Jagged spires stretched toward the twin moons looming above, their light casting eerie shadows that seemed to writhe with malevolence.

The place was both a nightmare and a masterpiece, like a realm where beauty and terror intertwined.

Seren's breath hitched, her eyes wide as she took in the surreal landscape. Alera's usual stoicism faltered for a moment, her gaze narrowing as she processed the sheer magnitude of the place.

But what truly seized their attention, what froze them in place, was the being at the center of this hellish domain.

Seated atop a dais of jagged obsidian was a massive figure, shrouded in tattered blackened robes and dark cloaks that seemed to meld into the darkness itself. Its form exuded raw, unyielding power, its very presence warping the air around it. Waves of dark energy pulsed outward with each of its measured breaths, carrying an almost palpable storm that swept through the expanse.

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The ground trembled beneath its might, and the molten rivers flared briefly with every exhale.

Its head was bowed slightly, the features beneath the hood obscured. Yet, even in its apparent stillness, the figure radiated an aura of dominance, its existence a testament to the immensity of its power.

This was no just a guardian—it was an Emperor Class beast, the pinnacle of the labyrinth's first layer.

Seren instinctively took a step back, the primal part of her mind screaming at her to flee. Beside her, Alera clenched her fists, her usual icy demeanor betrayed by the subtle tremor in her hands.

The overwhelming aura of the guardian was enough to render even her shadow soldiers still, their forms wavering under its pressure.

Pyris, standing tall despite the suffocating energy, reached out and grasped Alera's hand.

His touch was firm, a silent reassurance that she wasn't alone. Alera glanced at him, her crimson eyes meeting his unwavering gaze, and found a semblance of steadiness in his presence.

"Don't move," Zara whispered, her tone sharper than usual. "If you show it fear now, who are you meant to face it?"

The girls remained frozen, their breaths shallow. Time stretched, the air thick with anticipation as the guardian remained motionless.

Yet, as they watched, the faintest shift occurred—a subtle tilt of the head, almost imperceptible, but enough to send a jolt through their spines.

And then, its eyes fluttered open.

A deep, crimson glow emanated from beneath the hood, twin orbs that burned with an intensity that seemed to pierce through their very souls. The oppressive aura surged, its power doubling in an instant. The molten rivers roared, the shadows writhed violently, and the very ground beneath them quaked as the guardian acknowledged their presence.

The monstrosity's gaze locked onto them, unyielding and merciless.

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