The barrier shattered like glass. For a second, everything went quiet. Then Null stepped through the archway and disappeared. The air in the Ghoul's Larder suddenly felt heavier, like the walls were holding their breath.
Anya didn't move. She just stood there, staring at the spot where he'd been. Little bits of magic still floated in the air like dying fireflies. She reached out and let them run through her fingers.
He really did it.
No one had ever broken one of the Master's seals before. The dungeon itself said it was impossible. But that human—Null—with his calm voice and strange fire in his eyes, he just… erased it.
Something strange moved in her chest. It felt small and warm and kind of painful. Hope.
She pressed her hand to her heart and whispered, "Please… be safe."
The dungeon groaned, deep and ugly, like something huge was waking up. Shadows started sliding back over the walls. Anya quickly wiped her eyes and forced her face blank again. If the Master found out she helped someone escape, he wouldn't just punish her. He'd eat her.
But still… as the last bit of the barrier's light faded, a tiny smile showed up on her lips. For the first time in forever, she didn't feel alone. Someone had made her a promise.
On the other side, the world spun like it got torn in half. Null stumbled out, boots crunching on something dry and sharp.
He blinked. Then his eyes went wide.
He wasn't in a forest. Not a field either. Nope. He was standing in what looked like hell. The ground was black and cracked open, glowing red underneath like it was bleeding lava. Smoke drifted everywhere. The air was so hot it hurt to breathe.
A system window popped up.
[You have entered: The Scorch-Scarred Wastes]
[Region Type: High-Danger Zone]
[Recommended Level: 35–50]
[Environment: Fire-Aligned / Volcanic Wasteland]
"Great," Null muttered, already sweating. "I escape one death trap just to land in another one. Perfect."
He opened his map, but it was just static. A big blinking question mark.
"Cool. Totally lost," he sighed. "Classic."
Still… danger meant EXP. And he needed that. Badly.
He clenched his fist. "Alright, Stella. Time to work."
A warm golden light appeared beside him and turned into his dragon. Stella shook her little body, scales shining in the orange haze, and made a low annoyed noise.
"Yeah, I know," Null said with a tired grin. "It sucks. But if it moves, we burn it."
Stella chirped like she agreed.
Then the ground started shaking. A huge crack split open in front of them and a massive snake made of rock and fire exploded out, screaming like metal scraping against metal.
[Blazing Rock-Serpent – Level 40 (Elite)]
"Level forty?!" Null shouted. "Yeah sure, no warm-up or anything."
The serpent lunged. He dove to the side just in time, feeling heat scorch past his face.
"Alright, let's dance!" he yelled. "Stella—go!"
He pulled up his energy and felt that rush again.
"[Divine Charge]!"
He shot forward like a golden streak, smashing into the serpent's side. Cracks ran through the monster's molten armor, sparks flying everywhere.
"[Dragon Slash]!"
The blade carved through it in a flash of gold, cutting deep. The monster shrieked, its fire sputtering. Stella flew up, wings glowing white-gold, and opened her mouth.
What came out wasn't normal fire. It erased the serpent's flames completely. The creature twisted and screamed as its body started breaking apart.
"Now!" Null yelled, lifting his sword. Light gathered along the blade until it hummed.
"[Judgement Strike]!"
The strike hit like thunder. A flash of gold—then silence. The serpent's head was just gone, turned into black ash that scattered on the wind.
Null dropped to one knee, panting. "We… actually did it." He laughed, a little shaky. "Took down a level forty."
Stella landed beside him and gave a proud growl, tail flicking.
The next few hours were pure hell.
Real, burning, sweaty hell.
Ash Golems crawled out of the dirt. Lava Hounds chased them through cracks. More fire-serpents tried to jump him from underground. But Null didn't stop. Every fight, he got a little better. His swings hit cleaner, his dodges sharper.
He figured things out. How to use [Divine Charge] for dodging instead of just rushing in. How to line up [Dragon Slash] so it hit weak spots. And Stella—she was growing fast too. Her flames burned hotter, and she started using her claws and tail like a real fighter.
She wasn't just a summon anymore. She was his partner.
Hours later, a bright golden light wrapped around them both. The heat and fatigue faded away as a message appeared.
Level Up! You are now Level 23!
Null grinned weakly. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
He checked Stella's window next.
[Stella – Dragon Heir]
[Level: 23]
[New Skills Unlocked!]
[Sun Blast] – Unleash divine fire that burns enemies over time.
[Dragon's Crush] – Breaks heavy defenses and stuns targets.
"Look at you," he said with a grin. "You're turning into a real monster yourself."
Stella puffed her chest proudly, her scales glowing bright.
By the time the twin suns started sinking, the sky looked like fire and blood. Null sat down on a big chunk of rock that wasn't melting, sword across his knees. Stella curled up beside him, glowing faintly in the dark.
"This place is too quiet," he muttered. "Feels like something's watching."
Stella lifted her head and stared into the dark, growling softly.
"Yeah…" he said. "I feel it too."
They stayed like that for a while. Somewhere out there, something huge moved, just enough to make the ground tremble.
"Whatever it is," Null sighed, stretching his arm, "that's tomorrow's problem."
Stella made a tired chirp and closed her eyes again.
Null leaned back, staring at the red glow in the distance. He thought about Anya, still trapped down there, still believing in that promise.
"I'm coming back for you," he said quietly. "Just need to get stronger first."
The wasteland stayed quiet. Only the cracks in the ground glowed faintly around them.
Null closed his eyes, sword still in hand.
Tomorrow, he'd keep fighting.