Rise Of The Death Monarch

Dante and Luna continued traveling toward the mountain. After several days, they reached the base. It was covered in a massive jungle, and a swamp covered the right side of the road, stretching into the distance. While standing at the edge, the wolf woman stopped beside him. ''Not long now, we'll get you healed and ready for the coming chaos.''

''Hope so,'' he replied, gritting his teeth thanks to the pain shooting from his leg to his head. ''This is getting too much now, I need to find an Anti-Light shield.''

''We will, can't have you injured any more,'' she reassured, blue eyes glowing with confidence.

They left the swamp behind and stepped into the suffocating green of the jungle. The canopy sealed the sky, weaving shadows through the undergrowth. The air was thick, alive with the drone of insects and the rustle of unseen creatures slithering away from their presence.

Dante pushed aside a curtain of vines, his injured leg dragging a fraction slower with each step. Every crunch of roots under his boots sent sharp sparks of pain racing upward, but he forced his breathing steady. Luna's ears twitched, forcing her to stop, tilting her head toward the gaps in the canopy.

''Wait,'' she whispered.

Her eyes narrowed, catching a flicker of movement above the treetops. Through the swaying leaves, he caught sight of it too, something large cutting across the sky, its wings beating heavy gusts that bent branches below. The silhouette circled once. ''It's coming straight for us,'' Luna growled, hand tightening on the hilt at her side. ''Get ready.''

Without waiting, Dante pointed a finger at a large vulcher swooping down on them and cast a Death Blast in its face. The red flames erupted outward and burned the monster to ash before scattering on the wind. More beasts appeared only to die seconds later, allowing him to cast Death Eyes on the last survivor.

[Blood Vulcher - E Rank]

''Stupid pigeons,'' he muttered.

Following that, the couple continued through the jungle until his senses screamed at him. He stopped Luna from moving forward, surprising the older woman, whose blue eyes narrowed. ''What's wrong, master?'' she asked.

''The ground is a lie.''

She was confused, but Dante picked up a stone and threw it on the green path in front of them, only for a loud splash to echo out. The wolf woman growled at the revelation as he explained. ''The swamp is alive, it radiates death and uses the beasts inside to hunt others.''

He waved his hand, and the Death Giant appeared. The massive humanoid stood at 18 feet tall and was built like a tank, thanks to his magic powering the creature to new heights. When the monster knelt, he ordered. ''We'll ride your shoulders while you travel through the water. No one will bother you thanks to your size.''

The giant grumbled and lowered itself even more, allowing the duo to climb aboard as it stepped into the dark water. Seconds later, the swamp pressed in around them, thick with mist and the tang of decay. From their spot on its shoulders, the world looked both smaller and more dangerous.

Gnarled trees reached like skeletal hands from the murky water, their reflections wavering in the ripples. Every shadow seemed alive, twitching with the movement of unseen predators beneath the surface. The wolf woman gripped tightly, her claws digging into the rough, stone-like skin, her ears swiveling at every distant splash.

Dante leaned slightly forward, scanning the horizon, his eyes catching the faint shimmer of movement just beneath the water's surface. ''Keep your balance,'' he warned, his voice low but firm. ''The swamp will try to shake us off.''

The giant plodded forward, each step sending ripples across the surface. Logs and half-submerged creatures bobbed helplessly in its wake. From this height, even the swamp's residents seemed minor, until a long, spindly limb shot out from the water, brushing against its leg.

Moments later, the creature grunted, stepping aside, and Dante was on edge. ''This place, it's hunting us,'' the wolf woman muttered, her tail flicking nervously. ''It knows we're not supposed to be here.''

Dante's jaw tightened. ''Then let's make sure it regrets ever noticing us.''

He scanned ahead, eyes narrowing at a cluster of shadowy forms moving just beneath the surface, waiting, circling. The giant's pace didn't falter. Its sheer size was a weapon. But every step felt like a gamble, the water shifting, every splash a reminder that one wrong move could plunge them into the swamp's hungry depths.

From above, the mist swirled like living smoke, hiding things that would have terrified them on the ground. Yet he felt a grim thrill: they were riding a titan through death itself, and for the first time, he thought, maybe survival was within reach, if only they could stay atop the giant long enough.

Dante's eyes narrowed as he scanned a passing shadow using Death Eyes.

[Swamp Drake - A Rank - Ambush Predators]

His eyebrow rose before he turned to the giant. ''Grab one of the monsters that pass by your feet.''

The monster grunted, and its big hand plunged into the dark water, pulling out a massive crocodile-looking beast, but it looked horrifying, with spikes over its back, a head as long as its body. Without thinking, Dante cast Death Bolt that pierced through the creature's skull, sending blood splattering all over the nearby trees.

When the Death Forest Giant saw this, it went to panic at the sudden magic, but he calmed it down. ''Don't worry, bring the body closer.''

It did as he asked, and when the Swamp Drake was close, he cast Arise at it. His death magic seeped out, entering the monster's body and transforming it into something better, stronger, and much bigger. Once it was done, the giant dropped it into the water, and now it was twice its previous size.

[Death Drake - S Rank]

Dante got excited at that, causing Luna to look at him with a curious gaze. ''What's wrong now? It's a swamp monster.''

''It went from A Rank to S,'' he revealed. ''Growing stronger thanks to my mana.''

The older woman's eyes widened, surprise flickering across her face, then hardened into a gleam of excitement. ''Excellent,'' she said, her voice low but hungry. ''If we can harness stronger monsters, we could grow your army into a force that rivals the western empires. An unstoppable power that will make humans tremble at our name.''

Dante agreed, but a loud crashing brought his attention to the water below as the Death Drake was killing its previous kin. Blood floated to the surface alongside nine other beasts, causing his red eyes to glow with greed as he cast Arise on all the Swamp Drakes, bringing them into his army.

The red mana rushed into the bodies, transforming them into A Rank creatures instead of their previous B. When Luna saw this, she was impressed and beamed as the crocodiles led by the massive S Rank trekked through the swamp. While on the journey, large monkeys tried throwing fruit at him, but several Wendigos killed them, devouring their corpses.

[Tree Bastards - E Rank - Annoying creatures, kill them all]

Dante chuckled at the notification's words. He didn't want such monsters if Marzenna hated them. Luna looked shocked at the death of the strong beasts. She turned to him, asking. ''Why don't you bring them back?''

''They're pests and E Rank,'' he answered. ''I have no interest in converting every monster I see.''

Following those words, he pointed at the Death Drakes. ''These things will help me hunt along the trade roads. I can use them to kill or lure humans into my traps.''

When the wolf woman heard this, her eyes widened, but soon a smile appeared. ''Always thinking ahead, master. You've gotten smarter with this new handsome body.''

Dante felt a shiver run down his spine, a smile crossing his face. ''Thank you, Luna. It's good to have you back in my life.''

She beamed, her excitement barely contained, and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. The Death Forest Giant continued its steady march through the swamp, a living juggernaut cutting a path through the dark waters. Around them, the Death Drakes lunged at anything daring to approach.

Dante watched as several beasts were shredded and devoured by the giant crocodile leader, its newfound S-Rank power turning every encounter into a one-sided massacre. Each strike was decisive, its sheer might tipping the balance entirely in their favor. By the time the duo reached hard ground, nothing attacked them again.

The giant let them down before being sent back to the Domain, as Luna commented. ''Looks like our journey to the Death Witch will take some time; more storms will hurt the jungle thanks to the northern winds bringing them here.''

''Fuck, let's find a place to camp until it passes,'' he replied.

Following that, Dante summoned the Creepers, sending the humanoids into the underbrush to search for a safe place for them.