CH. 188: C.O.C.Y.T.U.S

As the mist slowly parted, Hiro's eyes locked onto the colossal figure emerging from the haze. It was Cocytus, the fifth-floor guardian, his towering presence sending a shiver down Hiro's spine. In each of his massive hands, he held weapons of legendary power. On one side, the infamous world-destroying katana, "The Emperor Blade," glimmered with a malevolent aura, its edge sharper than anything Hiro had ever faced. In the other, the destructive halberd lance, "Decapitation Fang," pulsed with an ominous energy, ready to tear through anything in its path.

But that wasn't all. Floating above Cocytus was a collection of 19 other weapons, each unique and menacing. Swords, axes, spears, and maces hovered in a perfect arc, like a halo of destruction waiting for his command. Each weapon gleamed under the eerie light of the Glacier floor, their edges sharp and their presence imposing.

Cocytus's armor, a golden masterpiece adorned with intricate patterns, shone brilliantly even through the thick fog. The golden plates and ice-blue accents of his armor made him look like an emperor stepping onto the battlefield, ready to crush any foe that dared stand in his way.

Hiro gripped his own sword tighter, feeling the pressure of Cocytus's overwhelming presence. Each step shaking the scenery, "Brace yourselves," he warned the Foresight members, his eyes never leaving the imposing figure. "This... is going to be unlike anything we've faced before."

As Nigredo's berserk flames raged, turning the Glacier floor into a molten battlefield, Cocytus's arrival brought an immediate shift. A massive storm surged forward with him, extinguishing the hellish inferno in an instant.

The air crackled as the storm swept over the battlefield, and the ice that had once melted rapidly reformed, coating the ground in an even thicker layer of snow.

The temperature plummeted to an unimaginable -272 degrees Celsius, just a hair's breadth from absolute zero. The brutal chill threatened to freeze everything solid, turning the Glacier floor into an uninhabitable wasteland.

The Foresight members immediately felt the sting of the cold; their breaths turned to ice in the air, and their limbs began to numb. They shivered violently, their bodies unable to withstand the bone-chilling freeze. Desperation painted their faces, and their movements grew sluggish.

But Hiro's unique skill, [Savior], activated in the nick of time. A faint glow surrounded the workers as a protective barrier of warmth enveloped them. The shield provided just enough heat for them to breathe and move, shielding them from the worst of the cold. Despite this, the biting chill still pierced through, and they could feel its lingering sting.

Imina clutched her arms, her breath shivering. "It's so cold... even with Hiro's protection, I can barely feel my hands."

Termite rubbed his hands together, his face pale. "This is beyond anything we've ever faced. How are we supposed to survive this?"

Roberdyck nodded, his teeth chattering. "If it weren't for Hiro's ability, we'd be frozen solid. We need to be careful—this is a power we can't underestimate."

Hiro stood firm, his eyes focused on Cocytus. "Stay close and don't let your guard down. We're not out of danger yet."

Cocytus's voice boomed through the freezing air, each word striking like a hammer on ice, deliberate and unyielding.

"Nigredo. Calm. Yourself," he rumbled, his presence towering over the battlefield like a living glacier. "Control. Your. Rage. It. Is. Unbefitting. Of. A. Warrior." His eyes, cold and sharp, fixed on her as her battle with Albedo continued to rage. Though stern, there was a hint of concern in his tone, the voice of a brother urging restraint.

Turning his gaze to Hiro, Cocytus's aura intensified. The ground beneath him seemed to tremble as he spoke, his golden armor reflecting the blinding light off the icy surface. "Hiro. You. Have. Come. Far." His tone was powerful but held a strange warmth—a respect for an opponent worthy of facing him. "I. Know. The. Odds. Are. Against. Me. But. Understand. This." He gripped the Emperor Blade and Decapitation Fang, the weapons humming with energy.

"I. Am. A. Warrior. Defeat. Is. Not. An. Option." His eyes locked with Hiro's, glowing with a fierce determination. "It. Is. An. Honor. To. Face. You. Regardless. Of. The. Outcome."

There was no malice in his words, only a true warrior's spirit, eager for a battle that could challenge him and prove his strength, even if it meant risking everything.

The weapons above Cocytus began to rotate rapidly, creating a vortex of destructive energy as they spun faster and faster. Suddenly, with a swift command from Cocytus, the weapons launched toward Hiro like a barrage of meteors, each carrying a force so immense it shattered the ground upon impact. Explosions of ice and earth erupted around Hiro, creating craters as the weapons struck with terrifying precision.

Hiro weaved and dodged, his eyes locked onto Cocytus as he closed the distance. The sheer power behind each weapon's strike made the ground tremble beneath his feet, and the shockwaves nearly knocked him off balance. Yet, he pushed forward, his resolve unyielding.

As Hiro got close enough, Cocytus's eyes flashed with intent. With a swift motion, he swung the Emperor Blade, its edge cutting through the air with incredible speed. "No. Further." The blade's arc was swift and precise, a wall of steel and ice meant to halt Hiro's advance.

The battle between Albedo and Nigredo raged on, each clash of power shaking the very foundations of the Glacier floor. Albedo's shield met Nigredo's fiery obsidian scissors, creating a burst of sparks and flames as they collided. The air was filled with the sound of metal grinding against metal, and the ground cracked beneath their feet.

Nigredo, her form now glowing with intense heat, had managed to rein in her rage, channeling it into controlled fury. She launched herself at Albedo, spinning with blinding speed as her flaming scissors sliced through the air. Each strike carried the force of her enhanced strength, and when she missed, the heat from her attacks melted the surrounding ice, causing steam to rise and hiss.

Albedo, calm and focused, parried the blows with her shield and struck back with her lance. She maneuvered with grace, using her wings to dodge the swipes of Nigredo's deadly scissors. "You're stronger, sister, but still not enough," she said, her eyes fierce as she thrust her lance forward, aiming for Nigredo's chest.

Nigredo narrowly dodged, using her newfound agility to roll away and counter with a barrage of fiery magical attacks. She summoned massive scissor-like blades made of molten metal that flew at Albedo from all directions. "I will surpass you!" she roared as the flaming blades closed in.

Albedo's eyes narrowed as she activated her tank abilities, her armor glowing as she absorbed the incoming flames. She smashed through the blades, her shield deflecting them with precision. The ground quaked as the sisters unleashed their power, and the clash of their abilities sent shockwaves that fractured the ice below, creating deep fissures that spread across the battlefield.

Nigredo, refusing to relent, summoned an enormous pair of obsidian shears that she wielded with both hands. She charged, her speed increased by the energy flowing through her. She locked blades with Albedo's lance, the two of them locked in a test of strength. The force of their struggle created a vortex of fire and ice around them, threatening to consume everything nearby.

"Even if it takes everything, I will bring you down!" Nigredo shouted, her eyes burning with determination. Albedo smirked, pushing back with all her might. "Show me then, sister—prove you are worthy of facing me!"

The intensity of their battle lit up the Glacier, the ice beneath them cracking as they pushed each other to the limit. It was a contest of raw power and skill—one that neither sister seemed willing to lose.

Hiro and Cocytus clashed in a whirlwind of steel and ice, their blades meeting with a force that sent tremors through the Glacier. Cocytus, wielding his Emperor Blade, launched a series of swift and powerful slashes, his movements precise and disciplined. The ground beneath him froze with each step, leaving a trail of jagged ice as he pressed his attack.

Hiro parried the blows effortlessly, his strength evident with every counter. He swung his sword with brutal force, each strike reverberating like thunder as he pushed Cocytus back. Despite Cocytus's towering frame and powerful technique, Hiro's raw power overwhelmed him, sending shockwaves through the battlefield.

In a flash, Cocytus summoned his ice magic, casting a high-tier spell. "Ice. Bind!" he roared as massive spikes of ice erupted from the ground, aiming to impale Hiro and lock him in place. But Hiro, with his speed and reflexes, shattered the ice formations with a single swing of his sword, the shards scattering harmlessly around him.

Cocytus's eyes narrowed, recognizing the threat Hiro posed. He unleashed another spell, "Frost. Wave!" A torrent of freezing energy surged from his blade, forming a massive wave of ice that surged forward. Hiro leapt into the air, dodging the frigid wave, and brought his sword down with tremendous force, aiming directly for Cocytus's head.

Cocytus blocked just in time, the impact pushing him back several meters. The ground beneath him cracked, and the ice shattered from the sheer power of Hiro's blow. Cocytus gritted his teeth, feeling the strain as Hiro's relentless strength continued to press him.

Hiro smirked, closing the distance in an instant and unleashing a flurry of powerful strikes. Cocytus parried desperately, his weapons clashing with Hiro's in a symphony of metal, but Hiro's raw power was unmatched. With each swing, Hiro pushed Cocytus further back, breaking through his guard.

Realizing he needed to create space, Cocytus stabbed his halberd into the ground, casting "Glacial. Barricade!" Thick walls of ice erupted, separating the two. But Hiro wasn't fazed. He tore through the icy barrier like paper, his sword slicing cleanly through.

Cocytus swung the Emperor Blade in a last-ditch effort, but Hiro caught the blade mid-air with his own. The impact sent a shockwave that shattered the remaining ice walls, and Cocytus struggled to maintain his ground. Hiro's eyes gleamed as he pushed forward, overpowering Cocytus's grip and driving him back with a ferocity that left the guardian reeling.

"You are powerful, Cocytus, but strength alone won't be enough," Hiro said, his voice calm but firm. Cocytus could only grip his weapons tighter, feeling the pressure of a warrior who was not just strong but relentless.

Cocytus gripped his weapons tightly, feeling the weight of Hiro's overwhelming power. He stepped back, acknowledging his disadvantage. "You. Are. Stronger. Than. I. Anticipated," he admitted, his voice carrying a tone of respect. "Alone. I. Stand. No. Chance."

The weapons floating around Cocytus returned to his side, spinning in unison as he reached for a small artifact embedded in his armor. "But. I. Am. Not. Without. My. Ace."

With a dramatic gesture, he crushed the paid item in his clawed hand. A brilliant flash of light enveloped him, and the golden armor he wore morphed, transforming into the imposing World-Class Champion set. It gleamed with an ethereal aura, and his entire form seemed to grow larger, more menacing. His eyes glowed with a newfound intensity as his power surged.

In his hand, the Emperor Blade vanished, replaced by a familiar weapon. The Spuit Lance materialized, its scarlet glow radiating with an ominous energy. Cocytus gripped it tightly, the weapon's power pulsating through him.

"This. Is. No. Ordinary. Lance," Cocytus declared. "It. Is. The. Spuit. Lance. The. Very. Weapon. Of. Shalltear. Herself." He raised the lance, the tip glinting as frost and crimson energy danced around it.

He pointed it at Hiro, his resolve unwavering. "With. This. Power. I. Will. Prove. My. Strength. Even. If. It. Means. Cheating. And. Losing. My. Warrior's. Dignity...

...But when it comes to Lord Ainz. I. WILL. NOT. LOSE. NO. MATTER. THE. COST... BE. IT!!"

X―x―X—x—X―x―X

P@treon.com/Skyfall12 (replace @ by a)

Up to 20 advanced chapters starting $3.99 !