As they emerged from the portal, they were greeted by the true landscape of Hell. Gruzhnil and Sherubiel had already witnessed scenery like this during the portal infiltration on Planet Grohn. Mendicore had come here many times before to conduct research for the whereabouts of Ruciphar. David stared it as his entire existence had been formed from this realm. Only Glynpatra was frightened, as it was her first time experiencing the oppressive atmosphere of Hell. She even clung tightly to her adoptive uncle the entire time.
David took out the military compass that he had obtained after his wife found it on the bed, only later realizing that he had caught it when reality in the Primordial Plane collapsed. He held up the compass, and its needle settled firmly in one direction.
"We move."
Everyone nodded and followed David. After walking for some time, they suddenly encountered a horde of monsters blocking the path ahead, consisting of humanoids, hellhounds, and minotaurs.
"Lord David! What should we do??? Gheuls, Lychounds, and Judgementors are about to attack us!" Mendicore said in panic.
David kept walking, stared fiercely at the monsters, and let out a thunderous growl. The monsters of Hell immediately fled after hearing it. Everyone stared in amazement and felt safe standing beside him.
Throughout their journey, they encountered many more monsters, and David merely growled each time to drive them away. Mendicore reminded everyone of the monsters' names from The Mayhem: the giant lizard Sauroth, the giant bird Pterodoth, Spectres, Desecrators, and Lamentors. Mendicore also explained that in Hell, their metabolism became extremely slow, so they would not easily feel hungry or thirsty. David remained silent as he continued walking in the direction indicated by the compass.
After traveling for a long time, they suddenly noticed a flying monster approaching them from the distance. It resembled a spectre, but it was far larger, with curved horns and its body engulfed in purple flames.
"MYYY LOOORRDD...!!! SO YOUUU'VE FINAALLYYY ARRIVEDDD HEREEE...!!!" the creature called out. Everyone was startled that the creature could speak so directly.
David, however, reacted differently. He became furious, summoned his shotgun, and aimed it at the purple demon.
"W-WAITTT, MYYY LOOORRDD...!!! I have no intention of attacking Your Lordship's companions! I thought the one arriving was Johann because I recognized his aura, but it turns out it's Lord Hellraider who's here now!" the creature said as it stopped in midair.
They were even more shocked when the demon mentioned Johann's name, but David kept his weapon trained on it.
"Don't you dare mention that name! You're trying to deceive us! Get out of here! Or I'll destroy you right now!" David enraged.
"P-Please wait again, My Looord...!!! Allow me to introduce myself! I'm Banasphate. I accompanied Johann before. He once defeated and imprisoned me inside a glass sphere. Johann was also the one who often spoke about you, Lord. When you were about to destroy Johann in Myslyn's palace, I was suddenly separated from him and freed from that glass prison. I believe Lord Hellraider come here to search for Johann again. Please allow me to guide you through the realm of Hell!" Banasphate pleaded.
David frowned, as though recalling that incident.
"What should we do, Lord David? Honestly, I still don't trust what this demon is saying. I'm worried it will betray us later..." Gruzhnil said.
David looked at Gruzhnil before glaring back at Banasphate. Suddenly, he remembered that name from the time Johann had tried to stop him from killing Ruciphar.
"If you betray me in the slightest, I won't show you mercy for even a second!" David warned.
"I-I swear completely, My Lord! I'll help you all reach to that destination!" Banasphate pleaded.
David lowered his shotgun, put it away, and continued walking. Banasphate repeatedly thanked him for allowing the demon to accompany them.
"My apologies in advance. Lord Hellraider's name is Lord David? May I call you by that name, Lord?" Banasphate asked. David merely glanced at the demon before looking forward again. Banasphate thanked him once more.
"So your name is Banasphate. I used to occasionally see you from a distance behind the other armies of Hell," Mendicore said.
"HEY! Show me a little more respect! I'm older than you! And I often saw you hiding behind those angel armies! Where's your leader now, the one who never stopped chasing Ruciphar???"
"You mean Archangel Marsiel? He has completely merged into Lord David's body now," Sherubiel replied.
Banasphate stood there with mouth agape before lowering the demon's gaze toward David. He gave no response at all.
"That demon acts so arrogantly in front of all of us, but it's only afraid of Lord David, Uncle..." Glynpatra whispered. Gruzhnil simply nodded.
"HEYYY!!! I can hear what you said...!!! If you want to know, Johann never mocked me like that!" Banasphate glared at Glynpatra in annoyance. She mocked the demon back by silently mouthing words.
After they had walked for quite some time, they were startled as the thunder in the clouds grew larger and more frequent. Suddenly, above the vast blanket of clouds, the silhouette of a gigantic serpent-like creature slithered across the sky, its body enveloped in golden light. Everyone stopped to stare at the terrifying sight.
"U-Uncleee!!! W-What's thaaat??? That creature is even more terrifying than an Arch-Licoth!!!" Glynpatra shivered and held Gruzhnil's arm tightly.
"But that creature seems to have two pairs of legs! I've never seen an Arch-Licoth with legs!" Gruzhnil replied.
"Ohhh nooo...!!! The Great Guardian has appeared before us...!!!" Banasphate cried out, no less terrified than the others. David merely stood there, glaring at the silhouette.
Then the creature's head emerged from behind the clouds. It resembled an oriental dragon. It descended directly toward David's group. The dragon was enormous and incredibly long, its entire body, including its scales, colored crimson. Its head bore a pair of long, branching black horns. Yellow flames blazed continuously from its eyes, nostrils, mouth, and along its entire back. Its pair of whiskers stretched nearly half the length of its body. Just as Gruzhnil had said, it possessed two pairs of legs—in front and back of its long body—each tipped with huge razor-sharp claws.
The dragon slowly landed, lowering its head before them. While everyone else trembled in fear, feeling insignificant compared to its immense size, David continued glaring at it without flinching.
"My Lord... It has been a long time since we last met. Do you still remember me? I'm Turgash. We fought each other three times before..." the dragon said, its voice that of an old man amplified into a mighty rumble.
"Lord David! That's Lord Turgash, Ruciphar's right hand! Don't recklessly accept any challenge from him! He could flatten the entire realm of Hell by himselfff...!!!" Banasphate warned. Once again, David only glanced briefly at him.
"No, and I won't fighting you. Move aside if you have no intention of helping me!" David said firmly.
"Very well, Lord, if that is your wish. However, I can sense that you are searching for someone. I have seen that person here before."
"W-Wait a minute! Then Lord Turgash knows Johann??? Could it have been you watching both of us back then???" Banasphate asked curiously.
"Yes. He was the only other human capable of surviving here alone after Marsiel's wife. But after everything that happened, I came to understand that he was no ordinary human and shares a profound connection with You and with all the other realms."
David walked closer to Turgash. "If you know where he is, take us there!"
"I will help you, Lord. Climb onto my head now."
Gruzhnil approached him. "Lord David, is this safe? Look, his body is covered in flames! We may not be able to survive anywhere near him!"
"There's no need to worry. I've already adjusted the flames of my body to suit your presence." Turgash reassured.
David immediately leaped through the air onto Turgash's head, followed by Banasphate. Mendicore created a portal leading there as well, and the others reached the dragon through it. Once everyone was aboard, David checked his compass once more.
"Take us southeast!" he ordered.
Turgash slowly rose into the air and flew in the direction indicated by David's compass. The others were busy observing the landscape of Hell below, filled with countless monsters and entities, including hell knights. They all stood silently and bowed as Turgash flew overhead. After some time, a rather large palace came into view. David instructed the dragon to land near it.
"Ahhh... This is the place where Johann and I parted ways afterward..." Banasphate reminisced.