Purgatory's Trial: Guest Artifact. (99)

Shaking off small pebbles from the scorched, purplish flesh on my belly, I deflected a vicious strike from the ugly beast's spiked tail with the back of my hand.

As I grabbed one of its rough limbs, I slid a few inches on the slick, wet floor due to the force of the creature's momentum. With my left foot planted firmly on a jagged chip, I lifted the creature from the ground with a guttural cry and brought it down onto the narrow head of another foe.

The unmistakable crunch of bones punctuated the battle cry of one of my adversaries, who had already retreated to the far side of the field. The creatures beside me stirred and rushed to aid their comrades.

Swiftly retrieving a slender rod from my inventory, I braced myself against a giant wave of searing lava. The temperature surged dramatically, causing the blood on my skin to instantly evaporate, creating an uncomfortable tightening sensation in my newly regrown flesh, which rustled with each slight movement.

My mental tendrils swept across the battlefield, homing in on several creatures situated to the north of me. Among them was a mage, his legs shattered, and one arm rendered useless, rendering him incapable of bolstering his team's ranks.

With a grin of determination, I opened my eyes and observed the encroaching wave of searing lava that threatened to envelop me. My skin remained hidden beneath the protective embrace of my steel armor, impervious to the scorching heat that would have seared ordinary creatures. I felt as though I were drifting through an endless river of molten fire, gradually drawing nearer to the audience's eager gaze.

A massive boulder, fortified with magic and several meters thick, separated me from the opponents, bravely withstanding the pressure of the accumulating flammable liquid.

As I ascended to the pinnacle of the boulder, I crouched down and scrutinized the alarmed combatants, their hushed voices barely audible. An orange droplet slid from the smooth surface of my helmet, landing on the fur of a wounded creature nearby. It stirred and lifted its head, its mouth agape in surprise.

"Greetings, members of the Bloodthirsty Alliance," I intoned, squinting at them.

"RUN!" one of them screamed, replacing the shout with a heart-rending wail. My cane struck the femoral artery of the creature, driving deeper and causing the carcass to collapse ungracefully on the floor. The remaining creatures, caught halfway between escape and a desperate stand, stared at me as I knelt before the fallen fighter.

Seizing either a crocodile or bird by the scruff of its neck, I relentlessly began to fracture its bones, relishing the symphony of cries for mercy that accompanied my actions.

"YOU BASTARD!" the creature with the crooked horn shouted as it surged toward me on all fours.

Swiftly catching the fist aimed at me, I delivered a powerful kick that sent the creature sprawling to the ground, sending stone blocks scattering in all directions. The force of the impact shattered its forearms, and my boot bore down on its tendons, threatening to rend them apart.

Releasing the severed limb from my steel grip, I cocked my head to the side and placed my palm upon the grotesque, horned appendage that crowned the creature's deformed mouth. The fangs crumbled against the exposed skull, leaving behind patches of raw skin in lieu of a chin. The creature now resembled a beaten and broken puppy, its narrow pupils imploring for a swift end.

(* Note: Do not mock animals; they are sources of happiness. The book is written solely based on the author's dark imaginings and nothing more.)

"Ha, ha, ha," I chuckled, But before I could embark on further torment, they screamed loudly:

"I give up!"

"I GIVE UP!"

And just like that, they were swallowed up by the portal.

[Participant 137, all skin, bones, and muscles have been restored.

  Remaining characteristic points updated: 

Health: 21,199.1.

  Endurance: 56,900. 

Power: 46,200....]

I grunted in disappointment and turned my attention to the menacing figures slowly retreating.

The mage coughed up purple blood, clutching his broken arm, and whispered with a trembling chin, "I give up."

What a peculiar creature.

I emitted a sullen chuckle as I watched him vanish through the portal. Grimacing, I leaped onto the shoulders of the injured creature with holes, seizing its temples, and drove my knee into its blunt snout.

"G-hh. Brlh," it managed to wheeze, unable to withstand my relentless assault. Its face contorted toward the deformed skull, a grotesque bump forming as a result of my relentless blows.

"I..." the defiant beast managed to whisper before I thrust my hand into its throat, tearing out its tongue at the base.

The sinewy organ convulsed helplessly in my steel grip, showering the debris with a gruesome, purple rain.

"No... don't come any closer... no..." Three-eyes whispered, slumping on his rear and pushing off the fine gravel with trembling palms.

"NOPE..."

---

The General's Armor bore the gruesome stains of battle, and within me, it felt as though my innards had turned to a sludgy shade of purple.

After relinquishing my side skills, I donned a loose robe and ascended from the deep pit where the battered fighters lay, their remnants of limbs barely stirring amidst the debris of shattered walls. My progress was accompanied by infrequent, hoarse sighs emanating from the pit's depths and the agonizing grind of bare bones against fractured stone.

As I emerged into the open air, I inhaled the frigid atmosphere, capturing snow-white flakes on my outstretched tongue.

How serene my soul felt.

I glanced at the screens, where a solitary figure in gray dominated every view, sporting a sinister smile that bared sharpened fangs. His narrowed emerald eyes concealed a petulant disposition, and the dried purple splotches on his cheeks accentuated his already dusky complexion, framed by peculiar strands of light-hued hair. His long locks danced in the wind as he strolled casually to the platform's edge, stretching his arms wide as though inviting an embrace:

"THE INFERNAL LEGION ALLIANCE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. SHOW ME WHAT YOU'RE MADE OF TO REACH THE TOP!"

"THE LEADER, LEADER, LEADER," echoed a chorus of a thousand voices, nearly rending the heavens with their collective call.

Turning my gaze toward the platform where the bewildered members of the Bloodthirsty Alliance stood, I indicated the defeated section with a casual gesture of my shoulder.

A robust figure clad in a flowing black robe nodded politely, then pivoted and guided the creatures to the opposite end of the square.

---

"The Leader," Mina spoke, holding a damp cloth in her hand, her tail drooping to the ground, but her eyes shimmering with determination, "Clean yourself up."

"Yeah," I replied, accepting the offered cloth, and settled into a chair, rubbing the back of my neck where a lingering pain throbbed.

Gosha remained motionless, his splendid dress's pink hem marred by yellow smears, his clenched fingers trembling discreetly.

Sigh. I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me. At least all my abilities had been temporarily suppressed.

"You looked quite different in that fight," Gena remarked, his straightforward nature as evident as ever.

"Is that so?" I handed the bloodstained cloth to Mina and regarded Agi, who had already signaled the continuation of the demonstration fights.

"I believe so... But it's a good thing. You must be stronger than your entourage," said Gena.

Indeed, I had changed.

No more serving as a mere cleaner; the cruelties were too sordid.

---

"All selected. My old bones," Uchi grumbled, pressing his hands to his hips and cracking his joints while making circular motions with his pelvis.

"Here's a detailed list," Mina announced, activating a recording stone and settling comfortably in an armchair.

"Quite a lot," was all Gosha said, occasionally casting sidelong glances in my direction.

"Just right! If we aim to reach the 36th Floor," Gena exclaimed, his ear-to-ear grin revealing his excitement. "What do you say, Leader?"

Curious eyes turned toward me, revealing nothing held back. After sipping from another bowl of soup and chewing on a tough vine, I pointed to a few numbers on the list.

"They seem suspicious; check their fight history."

"Those?" Uchi zoomed in on the image and declared with a stern expression, "Ah, these scoundrels! And here I was wondering why they kept winning every round with such ease."

"I expected as much. Many covet our position and seek to uncover our intentions. In the best-case scenario, we'll encounter poisoned food and sabotaged Talismans," Gena added as he scrolled through the screen, finally landing on the number 9870.

"I suspect these fools came specifically for him. Our relationship with the Bloodthirsty might become strained, especially after the Fifth Level, where their strength surpasses ours."

"No need to fret about that," I replied, contemplating the new advantages granted by the System.

A blue window containing enticing content hovered before us.

[Participant 137 has received a Special Guest Artifact.

Participant 137 has made a deal with the Leader of another Alliance for the first time.]

"I'd like to add something," Gosha interjected, raising his hand like a first-grader. The feverish glint in his eyes spoke volumes. "What about differentiation?"