The dim tunnel was utterly silent. Torches lining the passage flickered, their flames casting shadows that swayed like dancing spirits.
As the group advanced, the air grew heavier with each step.
They passed through the tunnel and arrived before an enormous door. Before the Black Scripture could make a move, it suddenly lifted upward, as though it had been waiting for them.
Beyond it lay a vast platform.
Lavish architecture and a resplendent hall stretched out before them. Overhead, crystal chandeliers enchanted with [Continual Light] illuminated the entire chamber.
Before the Black Scripture could properly take in their surroundings, a piercingly cold wind swept toward them, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Since you have come this far, I assume you have already prepared yourselves for death."
Cocytus emerged, and from him the freezing air surged outward, engulfing the entire room. The members of the Black Scripture could not stop themselves from shivering.
He was not even deliberately releasing his frost. His mere breath was enough to make them suffer.
"C-Captain… wh-what do we do?"
Before them stood a massive insectoid figure clad in ice-blue armor, a gigantic axe gripped in hand, exuding crushing pressure. The temperature around them continued to plummet.
Even the battle-hardened, retired members of the Black Scripture had to admit it.
This… was a true monster.
Their bodies refused to move. Their thoughts stalled. They could only watch helplessly as he drew closer.
"Kh… I'll stay behind and cover the rear. This was my misjudgment."
"Run! Get out of this… demon's den!"
Under the overwhelming pressure, Quaecaisse gritted his teeth and roared.
He immediately took out a magic crystal. He was going to summon the Supreme Seraph Aerosphere.
The situation was far worse than he had anticipated.
As the strongest member of the squad, Quaecaisse felt it most clearly.
The presence of the monster before him was no weaker than the Theocracy's God-kin, [Zesshi Zetsumei].
And more importantly, the opponent was not Undead.
The moment he realized that, Quaecaisse understood that this operation had completely failed.
Now, only the Supreme Seraph Aerosphere could stall for time and give the others a chance to escape.
Without hesitation, he poured his magic into the crystal.
In an instant, a phantom sun manifested. Milky-white radiance spread outward, driving back the cold and flooding the chamber with light.
Cocytus stopped, a hint of surprise flickering across his face. After a brief pause, he chose not to advance further.
As a being created by the Supreme Ruler, the Warrior Takemikazuchi, Cocytus possessed an unshakable warrior's code.
No matter how strong his opponent was, he preferred to face them head-on. He disdained ambushes.
Of course, if the Supreme Ruler commanded it, that would be another matter entirely.
After all, the Supreme One's command always came first.
Within the holy light, a tall, somewhat unsettling Angel Guardian slowly took shape.
Eight pairs of wings extended from its back, radiating sacred brilliance without pause.
In the game [Yggdrasil], angels were divided into nine tiers, further categorized into lower, middle, and upper ranks.
The lower ranks consisted of: Principality, Archangel, Angel.
The middle ranks consisted of: Dominion, Virtue, Power.
The upper ranks consisted of: Seraph, Cherubim, Thrones.
Each rank represented a vast gulf in power.
For example, even a mid-tier Dominion could easily surpass human limits, freely casting Seventh-Tier magic, the so-called Divine Realm, and possibly even higher.
As for the highest-tier Seraph, its strength was self-evident. It stood at a terrifying Level 90.
And yet, even with the Seraph's descent, there was no trace of relief on Quaecaisse's face.
In his eyes, the chamber had split cleanly into two domains.
On one side, sacred radiance. On the other, bone-chilling frost.
What horrified him most was that the Seraph's domain was slowly being eroded, its territory steadily shrinking.
The meaning was unmistakable.
Even the highest-tier Seraph was no match for the monster before them. In the clash of sheer presence alone, it was already losing ground.
"What are you standing around for? Run!"
Seeing that his teammates were still frozen in place, Quaecaisse roared again.
He himself had already given up on escaping.
The Seraph he had summoned had no self-awareness and acted purely on instinct. As the summoner, he had no choice but to remain behind.
All he could hope now was that his comrades would make it out alive, return to the Theocracy with this information, and report the danger lurking here.
"Captain… we'll come back for you."
The members of the Black Scripture clenched their teeth. After casting one final look at Quaecaisse, they turned and sprinted toward the rear.
The battle that was about to unfold was beyond their ability to interfere.
It was a clash between beings on the level of gods.
Even those who had stepped into the Realm of Heroes were nothing more than grains of sand here.
There was only one thing they could do.
Run. Run with everything they had. The faster, the better.
"You are a worthy opponent. Under normal circumstances, I might have pleaded for your life."
"But unfortunately, my master has ordered your execution."
"Even if you delay me here, they will not escape."
Watching Quaecaisse stay behind alone to cover his comrades' retreat, fully aware it meant his death, Cocytus showed a trace of admiration.
But he soon shook his head.
Past, present, or future. No matter the race.
Anyone who trespassed into the Great Tomb of Nazarick without permission faced only one outcome.
Death.
"To show my respect, I will fight you with my full strength."
The giant halberd "Decapitation Fang" vanished from Cocytus' grasp, replaced by the divine-class weapon "God Slaying Emperor Blade."
He gave his opponent no time to speak.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, Cocytus raised the blade. The divine weapon let out a clear, resonant hum as frigid light coiled around it, frost scattering into the air.
[Acalanatha Strike]
The air rippled.
In the blink of an eye, Cocytus disappeared from where he stood and reappeared above the Seraph. A dazzling arc of blade light crashed down toward it.
Sensing danger, the Seraph reacted instinctively, meeting Cocytus' frontal assault head-on.
Its angelic sword, wreathed in sacred flames, collided directly with the God Slaying Emperor Blade.
Boom!
A thunderous shockwave erupted as terrifying force exploded outward. The immense impact surged into the ground, causing even the Great Tomb to tremble faintly.
Complex magical inscriptions flared to life along the surrounding walls, reinforcing the chamber again and again.
Quaecaisse leaned against the wall, struggling just to keep his eyes open as he watched the battle unfold.
In both speed and strength, the two far surpassed human limits. His vision could not follow their movements. All he could see were two blurred figures clashing again and again.
Each collision sent flames and frost bursting outward. The temperature in the room fluctuated violently, as if it had been thrown into a world of ice and fire.
Strong. Far too strong.
Quaecaisse could not help but think that even the so-called True Dragon Lord might not surpass this level.
If it were anyone else, the shockwaves alone would have been enough to kill them instantly.
Only Quaecaisse, despite his advanced age, remained standing. With his strength having reached Level 49 and stepped into the [Outlier Realm], he was barely able to withstand the aftermath of their clash.