The moment he showed any weakness, this dormant beast would bare its fangs without hesitation and turn on its master. Only by constantly maintaining an absolute air of strength and composure could he keep Elsa, the Bowel Hunter, in that state of awe mixed with fear.
Therefore, to Natsuki Subaru, a dangerous existence like Elsa was, at best, a useful tool.
After all, in terms of pure combat ability, Elsa was truly outstanding. Even Garfiel might not be able to easily subdue her in a direct confrontation.
The reason for this was that Elsa's true terror lay in her special undying constitution, which allowed her to deceive opponents and achieve a 'first-encounter kill' effect. After all, no one would expect an opponent they had confirmed as dead to come back to life.
Although in an alternate timeline from the original story, a corrupted Natsuki Subaru chose to save Elsa and used her hatred for the Sword Saint, Reinhard, to establish a partnership. Elsa, having taken an interest in Natsuki Subaru, obeyed his commands, and the two gradually became partners. Over time, she even developed feelings of love for Natsuki Subaru, ultimately willing to give her life for him.
But in the current timeline, Natsuki Subaru had no interest in the psychologically twisted and perverse Elsa. If Elsa dared to betray him or harm those close to him again, Natsuki Subaru would end her life with his own hands without a moment's hesitation.
"Still, the intelligence Elsa provided this time is quite valuable..." Natsuki Subaru stroked his chin, musing.
"At least I know where Regulus is hiding, and about all his wives... This information could be the key to victory."
"Regulus... This time, I will take your life."
Natsuki Subaru whispered the name, a chilling, bone-deep killing intent flashing through his eyes.
The last time, when he was ambushed on his way back with Crusch after subjugating the White Whale, he was only Level 37. Faced with Regulus's nearly unbeatable Authority, he could only rely on the System Skill 'Bloodlust' to force his opponent's retreat.
But now, his strength had increased several times over, and he held crucial intelligence, giving him a thorough understanding of his enemy's Authority. This time, Natsuki Subaru would absolutely not let that outwardly strong but inwardly weak, personality-twisted Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus Corneas, escape from his grasp.
Natsuki Subaru arrived alone at the edge of the forest near Arlam Village. Towering ancient trees surrounded him, and sunlight sprinkled through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows.
"This is the place."
Natsuki Subaru glanced around, and after confirming that no one was nearby, he took out a key that glowed with a red light from his System's inventory.
The key had an archaic design, its surface covered with indecipherable runes, and it faintly emanated an ominous aura. It was none other than the rare item Natsuki Subaru had recently obtained from a Blessed Random Box: the Key to the Demon Castle.
Natsuki Subaru looked down at the key in his hand, and a translucent item information window immediately appeared before his eyes:
[Item: Demon Castle Teleport Key]
[Type: Consumable (One-time use)]
[Acquisition Difficulty: S]
[Usage Limit: 0/1]
[Description: A special key forged by an unknown monarch, used to enter the Demon Castle. The castle's layout and the types of monsters within are completely random. Successfully clearing it will grant generous rewards commensurate with the difficulty. It is rumored that the Demon Castle hides a secret about the "Holy Water of Life"—a miraculous potion that can resurrect the dead.]
[Warning: The flow of time inside the Demon Castle is different from reality, but the risk of death is real. It is recommended that challengers be Level 70 or higher.]
"To protect the people who are important to me, I have to become stronger, to reach a higher level."
Natsuki Subaru's gaze deepened as the faces of Emilia, Rem, and Beatrice flashed through his mind, his fists clenching unconsciously.
Although the System clearly recommended a strength of Level 70 or higher for the challenge, he believed that with his current abilities and stats, it wasn't impossible to challenge a higher-level dungeon.
"The Demon Castle... are there demons inside..." Natsuki Subaru looked at the key in his hand, a fiery fighting spirit glinting in his eyes.
"Then let me see just how tough this Demon Castle really is. No matter what fiends or monsters are hiding inside, I'll defeat them all!"
"Now... enter the Demon Castle!"
As the thought crossed Natsuki Subaru's mind, the key suddenly erupted with a blinding red light. The glow was so intense that it momentarily dispelled the shadows in the forest, dyeing the surrounding trees with a blood-red sheen.
The space before him began to twist and tear, emitting a grating hum. A massive stone gate covered in ancient runes materialized out of thin air.
The gate stood five meters tall, its surface carved with ferocious demonic reliefs. Every detail was so vivid that the eyes on the carvings seemed to be watching the intruder, silently warning of the danger that lay beyond.
"However... this hellish atmosphere really does suit the name 'Demon Castle'."
Natsuki Subaru surveyed the burning ruins around him and couldn't help but sigh.
"Speaking of which, this dungeon is ridiculously spacious! This isn't just a dungeon, it's like they crammed an entire city in here. Truly befitting the Demon Castle, they really went all out."
The previous dungeons he had entered were mostly caves, palaces, or labyrinths, but the burning city before him was vast, its architecture bizarre yet magnificent.
Furthermore, two blood-red suns hung above the city, casting an ominous light that dyed the entire space a sinister crimson. Compared to the previous dungeons, this place was on a completely different level.
"If the previous dungeons were beginner-level instances, then this Demon Castle is undoubtedly an advanced one."
Natsuki Subaru recalled the few dungeons he had explored before, and his expression grew solemn.
"Also... the magical pressure here is significantly stronger. It seems I'll have to be much more careful."
As he said this, Natsuki Subaru's gaze finally settled on what lay ahead. There stood a massive city gate, bound by layers of enormous flaming chains, as if to prevent anyone from entering, or perhaps to seal something inside from getting out.
"Is this the entrance to the Demon Castle?"
With that, Natsuki Subaru walked steadily forward and inserted the key into the lock.
—Click!
With a crisp mechanical sound, the stone gate slowly opened. Behind it was a churning black vortex that pulsed with a heart-stopping energy, clearly leading to another, completely different world.
"Let's go!"
Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath, stepped into the vortex with a determined stride, and his figure was instantly swallowed by the darkness.
[Notification: You have entered the Demon Castle.]
[Notification: The time flow ratio between the main world and the Demon Castle is 1:10.]
[Notification: You cannot leave the Demon Castle. You must either kill the lord or use a Return Stone.]
"I'm in... So this is the inside of the Demon Castle?"
When Natsuki Subaru's vision refocused, he found himself in a space that defied imagination. Spread out before him was a colossal city, engulfed in raging flames.
Countless massive chains crisscrossed the void. These chains were even thicker than his waist, binding the entire city like giant pythons, as if imprisoning some terrifying existence.
"So this is the Demon Castle dungeon? It's even more over-the-top than I imagined..."
Observing his surroundings, Natsuki Subaru raised an eyebrow slightly. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by eager excitement.
This Demon Castle dungeon was certainly unique, completely different from any of the dungeons he had entered before.
As far as the eye could see, flames leaped from broken walls and ruins. The charred skeletons of buildings cast twisted shadows in the firelight. The air was thick with the heavy scent of sulfur and ash, and inhaling it brought a distinct burning sensation that made one instinctively hold their breath.
"Cough, cough... The air quality in here is pretty terrible." Natsuki Subaru waved away the smoke and dust in front of him.
"It's almost like taking a stroll inside a volcano."
"The atmosphere here is really oppressive." Natsuki Subaru moved forward while remaining vigilant of his surroundings.
"It's not just the smell of sulfur in the air, but also the heavy scent of blood and... the stench of death."
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Natsuki Subaru stopped, sharply sensing a hint of danger.
"Something's approaching... and it's fast!"
In that very instant—
"ROAR—!"
A deafening roar came from ahead. The sound contained such ferocious power that it made the surrounding flames waver, and even the ground trembled slightly.
A massive, three-headed monster leaped down from a towering city wall, its enormous body tearing through the air and kicking up a fierce wind. It landed heavily in front of Natsuki Subaru, raising a cloud of ash and sparks that completely blocked his path. The impact cracked the ground beneath it.
The monster's three heads opened their cavernous mouths simultaneously, revealing sharp fangs like those of a horse, and its six eyes glowed with a savage red light, fixed intently on the intruder before it.
Its body was immense, with bulging muscles covered in dark red scales that glinted like metal under the crimson light. Its thick tail whipped against the ground like a steel lash, leaving deep grooves and sending up sparks with each swing.
Above the monster's heads floated a line of glaring, blood-red text:
[Three-Headed Hellhound, Cerberus!!!]
"Cerberus, the Three-Headed Hellhound... A deep red-level monster?"
Natsuki Subaru looked up, a slight chill running through him.
The System categorized the danger level of dungeon monsters by color. White meant a low threat that could be handled easily. Orange indicated an evenly matched opponent that required caution, with the outcome often being a fifty-fifty chance.
But deep red signified a fatal threat. An enemy of this level was far beyond his current capabilities, and a single mistake could be fatal. Usually, a deep red marker only appeared when encountering a dungeon's lord-class monster.
"Heh... To think I'd run into a deep red, lord-class monster right after entering."
Natsuki Subaru looked at the hellhound and chuckled, but a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.
"They really think highly of me. But that's just fine. If I kill this thing, the experience points must be substantial, right? I might even level up once or twice."
After all, the opponent was practically a dungeon lord. If he could kill it, the rewards would surely be enormous.
"ROAR—!"
One of the hellhound's heads spewed scorching flames, sending a wave of searing heat rushing toward him.
The other two heads let out low growls, and all six scarlet eyes glinted with a bloodthirsty, savage light, locked firmly on Natsuki Subaru.
"Bring it on!"
Natsuki Subaru looked at the hellhound, and with a flick of his wrist, Kasaka's Venomed Dagger appeared in his right hand. The blade shone with a cold, sinister light under the crimson glow.
"Let's see how strong the legendary watchdog of hell really is. I hope you don't disappoint me!"
This time, he didn't summon his Shadow Soldiers.
Since there was only one enemy, Natsuki Subaru was confident he could handle it alone. Besides, he wanted to use this opportunity to hone his combat skills and test the limits of his current strength.
"Tch—!"
Natsuki Subaru pushed off his feet, vanishing from his spot in an instant, leaving only a faint afterimage behind.
In the next second, Natsuki Subaru's figure appeared like a phantom directly above the hellhound, his Kasaka's Venom Fang slashing down with a sharp whistle.
"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"
Like a black bolt of lightning, Natsuki Subaru moved rapidly around the massive hellhound. The dagger in his hand, moving at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, slashed viciously toward the hellhound's neck, back, legs, and other vital areas...
However, all the wounds on the hellhound's body healed at a visible rate. Skin and tissue reconnected in an instant, and in a flash, it was as good as new, as if it had never been injured at all.
"ROOOAR!!!"
Far from showing any pain, the hellhound became even more ferocious and savage. Its three heads reared back simultaneously, opened their cavernous mouths, and spewed scorching flames that painted the surrounding space crimson, their terrifying presence suffocating.
"Hmph, so it can breathe fire?" After two quick slashes, Natsuki Subaru immediately retreated, narrowly avoiding the searing flames rushing toward him.
"Three heads breathing fire at once, isn't that cheating?!"
"I can barely do any real damage..."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Natsuki Subaru's eyes. He performed a nimble backflip, landing steadily twenty meters away, putting a safe distance between himself and the hellhound.
"Even with the effect of the 'Lone Wolf' title, it's still like I'm just scratching an itch for it? And its recovery speed is just way too fast!"
Natsuki Subaru stared at the hellhound, which had healed in the blink of an eye. His brows furrowed deeply, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of alarm.
The wounds on the hellhound's body were visibly writhing and closing. New flesh knitted together, and in an instant, it was back to its original state, without even a single scar left behind.
_____
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