Leveling From Hell

Time had crept far past midnight.

Inside the inn, silence wrapped around the modest room. The candle at the corner of the table had already gone out, leaving behind only a faint ember on the nearly spent wick.

Darkness swallowed the space, broken only by the dim silver light of the moon slipping through the cracks of the wooden window.

On the large bed, Seraphina and Puff were sound asleep. Seraphina's white hair spread across the pillow, her face serene, chest rising and falling in a calm rhythm. Puff, as usual, was curled up in Seraphina's embrace, her small body buried beneath the blanket, her ears twitching occasionally as she let out a faint, sleepy snore.

But Arzael was not asleep.

He sat on a chair by the window, leaning back, eyes fixed blankly on the world outside. The moon hung high, pale silver scraping across the glass rooftops of Valiant. The night air was cool, yet inside his chest churned a storm he could not quiet.

At last, he whispered:

"Lesser Wrath, come."

[-500 Soul Shards]

The space before him shuddered. The air rippled like boiling water. Jagged cracks of black split open, like a shattered mirror. From those fissures seeped the stench of brimstone and a breath of hellfire.

A small creature, its body wreathed in bubbling lava, crawled out slowly. Tiny wings twitched at its back, its eyes glowed red, and its mouth opened to reveal rows of needle-sharp teeth. A lava imp.

"Skrhreeoo—!"

The shrill screech stabbed his ears.

Arzael moved his hand at once, severing the contract. The rift snapped shut with a sharp pop, swallowing the imp back into Underworld Layer 1. The consumed Soul Shards instantly returned.

Silence reclaimed the room.

"What a damn noisy voice," Arzael muttered under his breath.

Puff stirred in her sleep, her ears flicking. "Boss… why's it so noisy…?" Her voice was weak, half-dreaming, still caught in slumber.

Arzael turned toward her, tone even. "It's nothing. Go back to sleep."

"Mmm… okay…" Puff slipped back into dreams instantly.

Arzael went quiet again. Thoughts churned in layered circles.

'Good. The system can be tricked. If the demon I summon is about to die, I just pull it back. That way, Soul Shards aren't wasted.'

His gaze rose to the ceiling.

'Authority of Layer 1… could that be enough to defeat The Ruler?'

The memory of that battle in the Underworld resurfaced. When the Ruler awakened in his second phase, Arzael hadn't even seen the movement. In less than a second, his head had been separated from his body.

So fast. So absolute. So overwhelming.

Even though he now had the means to summon Guardians and Archdemons, the gulf between him and that being was still too vast.

'I won't enter Layer 1 yet… not now.'

Finally, Arzael closed his eyes, letting himself drift into sleep.

...

One Week Later

The capital of Valiant roared with life.

Hundreds of carriages lined up neatly in the central square. The morning sun caught on the glass windows of tall buildings, scattering reflections of blue and gold in every direction.

Banners of the Valiant Alliance snapped proudly in the wind, greeting the adventurers, nobles, and hopeful candidates for the Hero Association Academy exam.

The city had become a sea of people. Merchants shouted their wares, horses whinnied, carriage wheels groaned as they rolled forward.

Arzael, Seraphina, and Puff made their way through the crowd. They had been ready since dawn. But before heading to their assigned carriage, they stopped by the Valiant Guild.

Inside, the familiar receptionist with chestnut hair was nowhere to be found. Instead, the one who greeted them was a large, scarred man, the guild master who had fought Arzael just a week prior.

Grokk.

"Well, well. Welcome back, our new Rank-S adventurer," Grokk rumbled with a teasing grin, his voice heavy but warm.

Arzael smirked faintly. "Still alive, old man? I thought you'd be dead by now."

Grokk only roared with laughter. "Hah! Sharp tongue as always, boy."

Moments later, Celia appeared, the long-haired elf, her green locks flowing, eyes both sharp and playful.

"Oh, you're still here?" she called, waving lightly. "The carriages are almost leaving, you know~" She shot Arzael a mischievous wink.

Puff hopped onto the counter. "Hey, Miss Celia! Have you seen Alicia? She said she'd come with us!"

Celia chuckled. "She's already boarded a carriage."

"Then let's go. We'll catch up with her later," Arzael said curtly.

Seraphina nodded, and Puff leapt back to Arzael's shoulder.

Before they left, Grokk raised a scarred hand in farewell. "Don't forget us, boy."

Arzael glanced back, a faint smile tugging his lips.

The square was jammed with carriages, over one hundred and fifty of them, lined in long rows. Arzael's ticket bore the number 75, set right in the middle.

Unlike the common carriages, numbers 60 to 90 were designed as premium: larger, trimmed with gilded carvings, drawn by sleek, black, muscular steeds.

Soon they reached Number 75. "This one's ours," Arzael said, handing the ticket to the guard.

The door opened. The moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. Plush velvet seats, a polished maplewood table, and crystal lamps glowing faintly overhead.

But what made Arzael pause were the two figures already seated.

Princess Chitara, golden hair cascading down her back, gazed out the window. Beside her stood a woman with blue hair, her lean, disciplined frame radiating strength, eyes sharp as blades.

"Enter," Chitara said flatly, not turning.

Arzael frowned faintly, but stepped in with Seraphina. Puff clung to his shoulder.

Once seated, he spoke without hesitation. "So, you arranged things so I'd end up here, didn't you?"

Chitara flinched. 'How could he know?!' she thought. But before she could answer, the blue-haired woman spoke.

"Princess Chitara requires additional protection. Especially with two Rank-S adventurers here." Her voice was firm, unwavering.

Arzael nodded slowly. "I see. I don't mind." Inwardly, he considered it a blessing. The road to Hero Haven was long, premium travel was a clear advantage.

Silence hung for a while, until Chitara crossed her arms, still looking away. "You must already know. I am Chitara. And this is Lena, my personal servant. She will also be taking the Academy exam… and protecting me."

Lena bowed slightly. "It's an honor to meet you."

"Arzael," he replied simply. "This is Seraphina. And this bunny—"

"I'm Puff! Nice to meet you, Princess!" Puff interrupted loudly, bouncing on Arzael's shoulder.

"Eh—?! The bunny… speaks?!" Chitara's eyes widened.

Lena's gaze sharpened. "A Magical Beast, then."

Seraphina gave a quiet nod, confirming it.

Chitara studied them a long while before asking hesitantly, "Then… are you two, Arzael and Seraphina… siblings?"

"No." Arzael's answer was instant, flat.

"What? No? But you look so alike. White hair, red eyes, pale skin—"

Puff clapped her tiny paws together with a mischievous grin. "They're lovers, you know!"

Chitara's expression cracked. Her cold composure faltered, her brows knitting faintly. There was a trace of disappointment in her face, quickly masked.

The crack of whips, the rumble of wheels, the barked commands of soldiers. The convoy of hundreds of carriages began to move out through the gates of Valiant.

On both flanks, ranks of mounted soldiers marched in tight formation, their armor gleaming beneath the sunlight. Nobles' carriages were granted extra protection, but the discipline of the entire line was unwavering.

Puff leaned forward, her fluffy tail swishing. "Oh, Princess—didn't you say goodbye to your father?"

Chitara glanced aside. "I already did. At the castle earlier."

The Valiant Alliance was a nation built on unity. There was no absolute monarch. Her father, Thorne del Leuvi, was merely the Warden of the State, not a supreme ruler.

Arzael listened with half-lidded eyes, his mind already calculating.

The first day passed smoothly. The convoy rolled across sweeping plains, forded rivers, and pushed into shadowed forest paths.

Night fell.

The line halted in a wide clearing to rest. Valiant soldiers lit torches, raised small tents, and kept steady watch. The air was filled with the chirping of crickets and the cool rush of night wind.

Inside the carriage, Seraphina had fallen asleep, Puff nestled comfortably in her arms. Chitara too was slumbering on the plush sofa, while Lena sat cross-legged, eyes closed yet clearly awake.

Only Arzael remained sleepless.

He sat by the window, staring outward. The cold night air brushed his face. But then—

Something was wrong.

His eyes narrowed. A faint aura, barely there, lurked far beyond the tree line.

An unknown presence… watching the convoy.