Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas and Amethyst continued their hunt, eventually coming across a Rank F Forest Boars herd. The duo skillfully hunted down the boars, securing their prey. Later, they encountered a colony of Snow Widows, swiftly dispatching the creatures with flames until they ceased their movements.

The monsters made the couple cringe as their skittering was skin-crawling. Atlas looked at the phoenix girl as he felt the experience pour into his body. A refreshing feeling washed over him as he leveled up once again.

He worked out the number of monsters he killed, consisting of twenty Forest Boarts and fifteen Snow Widows, while Amethyst killed twelve boars and twenty spiders, which helped her level up.

Atlas checked his status.

[Level Up: 21→24]

[Experience: 850/1000]

[Experience Gained: 3500]

[Health: 224→234]

[Mana: 1060→1084]

[Strength: 212→218]

[Stamina: 218→222]

[Charisma: 294→298]

[Intelligence: 216→222]

[Core Points: 14800→16300]

[Core Points Gained: 1500]

Atlas got happy, and Amethyst noticed, ''Leveled up again, Azhar'Zul?''

''Yes, three times, and gained some boosts on my attributes,'' he said while standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants before continuing. ''We should head back to the village; we've been out for hours.''

''Go collect the cores; there should be thirty-five,'' Amethyst commented as she messed around with her status.

Atlas nodded in acknowledgment before retrieving his dagger and looting the spiders. The task turned his stomach, as he would have preferred the process to be more akin to dealing with the boars, but luck wasn't on his side.

In total, he managed to collect seventy-five white cores from the creatures. With a sense of relief, he stowed them away in his Dimensional Storage. Atlas couldn't help but feel grateful to Biric for granting him this skill, which was proving incredibly useful already.

Once Atlas finished collecting all the cores, he stored some of the Forest Boars before the duo returned to Frostwood Village. While walking, she grabbed his hand, causing him to smile.

While walking, Atlas felt a bad feeling crawling up his spine. He spun around and fired a Void Bullet at a creature standing there. But to his horror, it slapped the spell to the side, causing an explosion to light up the forest.

He quickly moved Amethyst behind him while readying more spells as he took the creature in, and it sent a shiver up his spine. It was unmistakably humanoid yet distorted as if shaped by nightmares themselves.

Its red eyes burned like molten embers as it fixated on him as it had just found a long-lost prize. Atlas noticed the creature gave off an aura of evil and malevolence that pierced his soul.

The contours of its face are twisted as if carved from the depths of a nightmare. Its pallid and sickly skin seems stretched too tightly across its angular features, accentuating the sharpness of its bone structure.

Jagged lines trace across its visage, resembling scars etched by some otherworldly force, adding to the unsettling nature of its countenance. Its movements are jerky and unnatural, like a marionette controlled by unseen strings.

Its limbs seem elongated and disproportionate, bending at odd angles with an unsettling gracelessness. Yet, amidst the horror of its appearance, this twisted being emanates a sense of undeniable power.

As Atlas cautiously retreated, Amethyst's voice quivered with fear as she whispered, "What is that thing? Its aura is so potent, I can feel my bones trembling."

In response, Atlas activated Void Sight to assess the creature's strength.

[The Lost Prince]

[Level: 431]

[Rank: Master]

"Damn, this creature is strong," Atlas mumbled as he continued to edge away.

The monster observed them with a sinister grin, but its next action sent a shiver down Atlas's spine. "Cease your movements, little Voidwalker," a raspy voice said, freezing them in place with fear.

It approached him at a weird pace until he was a few feet away before doing a mock bow, ''I am the Lost Prince, 7th Chaos General and leader of the fearsome Dark Knight Reavers.''

Atlas went pale when hearing it, but the Prince continued, ''Don't worry, little one, I am not here to kill you yet,'' it said in an amused voice. ''I will let my meal fatten up before we have our battle. It will be more fun by then.''

Atlas's mind raced with shock and disbelief. 'This creature is toying with us,' he thought before responding, "So, you're suggesting I become stronger?"

"Yes, yes, little Voidwalker," the Prince replied eagerly. "I won't inform the king or the other generals because I desire the pleasure of killing and consuming you myself."

A chill ran down Atlas's spine, and she gasped, "But why? Isn't the king your leader?"

"Meh, I relish a challenge, and I've developed a fondness for you, little one," the Prince explained in an eerie tone. "You bear a striking resemblance to my beloved wife, who is unfortunately no longer with us."

Atlas could have sworn he heard sadness, but the creature spoke one last time in a strange, concerning tone, ''Now I see you, little one. I want to eat you even more. You mustn't die so I can see your face and remember my love.''

The Lost Prince approached Atlas, delivering one last message, "Stay alive, young Atlas. Do not perish, and we shall meet once more."

Afterward, the creature vanished into the shadows, relieving the two from its malevolent aura. He shook his head, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Azhar'Zul," she replied. "Let's find a place to rest."

Guiding him to a fallen tree, the couple settled down, finding comfort amidst the forest's eerie silence. Amethyst leaned her head against his shoulder, seeking comfort in his presence.

They took a brief respite, allowing the tension of their encounter with the Lost Prince to dissipate. After a while, they rose from their makeshift seat and began their journey back to the village.

However, as they neared their destination, a plume of black smoke rose ominously into the afternoon sky, casting a shadow over their return. Atlas panicked and started running toward the village.

Amethyst followed behind and saw the town guard battling against slavers who attacked the town. Looking at the Phoenix girl, Atlas said, ''We should help find Biric and his family.''

She nodded with a bright, out-of-place smile, and the two steeled themselves before rushing toward the attacking slavers. Atlas readied his tomahawk and dagger as he cast several Void Arrows that pierced the enemy's skulls.

The village guards managed to push them back, allowing her to hit them with a Cosmic Blast. As Atlas moved in close and started slashing the back of the slaver's legs, they dropped to the ground, allowing him to finish them with a stab to the eye.

When he felt the blade pierce the man's flesh, he nearly threw up but kept it under control as he moved toward her, who was dodging two bandit attacks before sending multiple Stellar Arrows into one of their skulls.

Atlas jumped on the second man's back before stabbing him in the neck; he fell with the lifeless body and landed with a thud while speaking, ''Let's head into the village; I hear more fighting beyond the wall. Head to Biric home, and I'll be you there.''

She nodded before whispering, ''Cosmic Wings.''

She leaped into the air, her wings spreading wide as she soared effortlessly over the village walls. Atlas, spurred into action by her bold move, followed suit, using his Void Bullets to catch the slavers off guard, causing explosions that halted their advance.

As they reached Biric's home after a swift and decisive flight, she was already engaged in combat, swiftly dispatching the attackers with her formidable skills. Atlas wasted no time, charging into the fray alongside her.

Dodging a swing from one of the assailants, he countered with a precise strike, plunging his dagger into the man's face. He jumped off the body while firing a Void Arrow at another enemy approaching from behind.

After that, he joined Amethyst as she called out to Biric, who opened the door while holding a sword. When the older man saw the two of them, he sighed in relief before dragging them inside.

Once in the house, he noticed they were all packing to leave, with each family member wearing a travel bag as Neryssa moved the kitchen table with a grunt. Atlas put his weapons in his storage before helping the woman.

When they did that, it revealed a trap door just as Biric was about to speak, and the door started to shudder as the slavers tried to break it down. Everyone paled at that, but Atlas quickly spoke, ''Get your family down there now! The guards will be here soon. We will hold them off.''

Biric looked hesitant, but Atlas insisted, ''Go! Wait for help until you return.''

The older man nodded his head, his eyes full of shame. Biric ushered his family down the ladder, allowing him to hide the trapdoor just as the door flew off the hinges. Atlas spoke with determination, ''Stay close to me, my Phoenix, and we'll make it through this.''

She nodded as they readied their spells just in time for a wave of slavers rushing in, screaming about capturing a phoenix. When Atlas heard this, he unleashed dozens of Void Bullets and Void Arrows, which exploded in their faces.

Chaos erupted in the house as she started casting her magic while they dodged the slaver's attacks. Soon, there were just too many enemies that they got overwhelmed, and he watched as a sneak attack knocked her out.

The leader grabbed Amethyst and held a blade to her throat, ''Stop fighting us, boy, or your pretty girlfriend will die,'' he said with a cocky smile.

Atlas wouldn't give up, as his journey was beginning just like the two women traveling to find him or trying to get out of trouble.