Level Up: Voidwalker

\'Good idea, we won\'t last long out here,\' Atlas thought while blocking a spear aimed at his throat as he saw the worry on Esetlle\'s face.

Everyone agreed before taking off down the street as mana shells rained from the sky and caused the surrounding buildings to explode around them. Debris and large chunks of stones flew everywhere.

Atlas had to use Void Arrows to take out a few heading in their direction, but that\'s when a group of Evergladians appeared, trying to block their way. He couldn\'t stop running as Lilith leaped off him and swiftly joined the fray.

He could tell the honey badger was excited to fight as she let out growls. Together, they unleashed a barrage of attacks on the soldiers. Atlas sliced through their armor with precise strikes, aiming for vulnerable joints to bring them down with resounding thuds.

Each strike was followed by a piercing thrust through their helmets, swiftly killing the threat that blocked their escape. The girls arrived, and Grishna used Silver Shriek to disorient the enemy before skillfully using her spear to attack the confused soldiers.

Atlas retreated as Artemis and Amethyst entered the fray. Artemis seamlessly blended elements, launching an Aqua Bomb that sailed through the air, detonating amidst a cluster of Nightowls.

Immediately after, she unleashed a Thunder Slash that strengthened the explosion, electrifying the foes who collapsed in a heap. Atlas watched the happiness on the brunette\'s face as she combined the two spells to do extra damage.

Once, Artemis noticed two Evergladians rushing at her, but thanks to being a skilled warrior, she butchered the men quickly. Meanwhile, Amethyst wasted no time, barraging the area with Cosmic Blasts and Bullets, streaks of purple energy cutting through the chaos.

Her relentless assault ensured no enemy could evade their combined onslaught. Atlas noticed Estelle using Solar Shield to send the spells the enemy casters aimed at them whenever their attacks flew at the group.

While doing this, Lilith went wild and took out soldiers with her sharp claws and teeth. Blood soaked the streets as bodies started to pile up all around them, but Atlas rushed to help the blonde knight, who was now fighting several soldiers who suddenly appeared to stop her using her shield magic.

When Atlas got closer, he cast Void Step and vanished, only reappearing in the middle of the men to take the pressure off Estelle. He started to wildly slash and stab everything around him, causing panic to erupt among the Evergladians.

Then, he was hit by a punch from one of the Nightowls, who suddenly appeared. A dozen of them engaged with the girls. Three of them were fighting Grishna, who was holding her own despite being at a lower level.

Amethyst took to the sky while peppering them with cosmic blasts, but she was brought to the ground when one of the Nightowls used gravity magic on the phoenix girl. When Atlas saw this, he rushed forward and dodged attacks.

Atlas managed to kill the assassin with Amethyst trapped, but he soon noticed Artemis and Grishna were being separated, which worried him. He tried to rush toward the two girls but was blocked by several Nightowls.

\'They\'re separating us!\' he instantly knew what they were doing.

He turned toward Estelle, surrounded by Evergladians but holding her own. Still, Atlas rushed in her direction and cast several Void Blasts into the enemy soldiers, causing another explosion to scatter the enemy.

In a sudden burst of chaos, Estelle was engulfed by a searing mana shell, hurling her through the air. Amethyst lunged to catch her, but a stealthy Nightowl slipped out of the shadows before she could catch her falling form.

With a vicious strike, the assailant knocked Amethyst aside, sending her sprawling. The blonde knight lay motionless, injured, and unmoving. Atlas, watching in horror, felt panic surge through him like a torrent.

\'Please be okay,\' he thought while looking at Estelle.

Every second she remained motionless intensified his dread; that\'s when he noticed Amethyst springing to her feet with a frown and unleashing a barrage of spells at the ambusher, who dodged each onslaught.

Before the Nightowl could react, Lilith, who crashed into the enemy assassin, blindsided it. The honey badger tore into the surprised enemy, buying precious moments for Atlas to dash forward.

His blade found its mark with precision, piercing the enemy\'s skull. But as the Nightowl fell lifeless, realization struck hard—Atlas stood alone now, surrounded by chaos and carnage while cut off from the girls.

As Atlas glanced around, he saw Amethyst scooping up Estelle and soaring into the sky after summoning her wings, leaving him alone. He glanced around and realized another assassin had appeared, striking Lilith while she was engaged with the first one.

The small creature screamed in pain and was sent flying before crashing to the ground. He sprinted towards her, pulling out a good health potion and pouring it over the creature, but the wounds were severe.

Atlas looked up and spotted the Nightowl, quickly scanning the assassin and its deadly blade.

[-----]

[Level: 239]

[Rank: Journeyman]

[Cursed Blade]

[Rank: Rare]

[Level: 5]

Atlas\'s eyes widened as he unleashed a dozen Void Blasts at the Nightowl. Scooping Lilith into his arms, he sprinted away, knowing he couldn\'t face this assassin head-on. As he fled, he desperately scanned the small creature.

[Soul Damage: Lilith\'s soul was grievously wounded and requires healing from a Soul or Spirit Mage. She will slip into a deep, unconscious sleep in the meantime]

\'Oh no, where will I find a Soul Mage?\' Atlas thought, heart racing as he dashed down the narrow street.

Amidst the chaos, he spotted Amethyst crashing to the ground nearby, clutching Estelle in her arms. Racing towards them, Atlas arrived just in time to find the two girls surrounded by Nightowl Assassins, their blades menacingly held to the girls\' throats.

Grim determination set his jaw as he swiftly retrieved the Monster Vault. With a heavy heart, he gently placed Lilith inside, securing her safety before turning to face the looming threat. But a commanding voice cut through the tension with a Persian accent before he could move.

"Lower your weapons, Dahaka, and we\'ll release your companions unharmed. Refuse, and their blood will stain these streets."

As Atlas heard the demand, he knew they had him. With a swift thought, he dismissed his armor and weapons into his Dimensional Storage, which visibly startled the assassin.

"Hand over your weapons. They\'ll make fine gifts for our emperor," the man demanded.

"No," Atlas replied calmly, though his smile betrayed underlying nerves. "If you seek a reward, you\'ll have to end me for it."

The man sighed heavily before he let out a sharp whistle. Behind Atlas, he heard swift footsteps approaching. In a blink, someone had clamped cold shackles around his wrists and hoisted him effortlessly over a broad shoulder.

Atlas watched as they let the girls go before they dashed through the city streets while the battle raged across Volantis. He watched helplessly as the phoenix girl grew smaller in the distance.

He bounced roughly on his abductor\'s shoulders as they hurried through the winding streets of Volantis. Atlas wondered what the assassins had planned, but before he could ponder further, they reached the city walls.

With a quick chant, the assassins cast a spell that allowed them to float effortlessly to the top of the city wall. Once there, a group of Evergladians tried to stop their escape, but the Nightowls swiftly eliminated them.

Atlas was shocked by their efficiency, but he had little time to process it before the assassins leaped off the wall. Chanting again, they glided through the air until a ship sailed into view.

The assassins altered their course, heading straight for it. Moments later, they landed on the deck with a solid thud. Atlas was thrown to the deck as the commander said, \'\'Take this devil to the hold and make sure he can\'t escape.\'\'

Two sailors grabbed him by the feet and dragged him along the deck. This sudden situation made him chuckle, \'Am I in a comedy movie?\'

Before long, they arrived at a door leading into the belly of the ship. Without warning, one of the men opened the door and pushed Atlas down the stairs. He hit his head on each step with an alarming thud until he crashed into the floor below.

[Health: 424/444 (50)]

Atlas\'s head was spinning as he felt blood trickling down, but this time it wasn\'t healing, which worried him, \'Is it because of these shackles?\' he thought while looking at his hands.

Eventually, when the pain subsided, he noticed a small cage tucked away in a corner. The men walked down before hauling Atlas towards it and dumped him inside. He lay there, catching his breath amidst murmurs and distant voices.

As Atlas glanced around, he saw dozens of other people confined in similar cages. It made him wonder, \'I wonder who they are?\'

While doing that, a man\'s voice reached his ears, \'\'They finally caught Dahaka; I can\'t believe their boogeyman was a little boy.\'\'