Hero of Darkness

As the Hero's Party ventured deeper into the peninsula of Babylon, they encountered an array of strange inhabitants. The region was teeming with formidable monsters, each at least at the Lord Rank, possessing strength comparable to Area Bosses in the real world.

Some of these creatures even rivaled the final bosses found in low-tier dungeons, making their presence in this realm even more daunting.

The landscape of the peninsula was a breathtaking sight to behold, filled with serene and dense natural wonders. Towering trees, cascading waterfalls, and majestic peaks adorned the land, creating a picturesque view for the adventurers.

However, amidst this beauty lurked danger, as the skies were crowded with bird-like creatures, some of which were formidable High Lord rank predators, capable of posing a significant threat to unwary travelers.

Adding to the mystique of the realm were floating meteorites made of crystals, seemingly scattered across the skies. These were not ordinary crystals but appeared to carry a unique elemental essence within their core.

Some emitted an aura of light, while others exuded an aura of darkness, indicating the presence of highly dense elemental mana. The significance of these crystals and their elemental attributes was yet to be fully understood, but their existence added an enigmatic and otherworldly aspect to the already fascinating landscape of Babylon.

As the party continued to navigate through the ever-changing landscapes of the God's Domain, Speki, the Fire Summoner, remarked on the unique nature of the realm.

"It's just like we were informed, this place is a condensed part of all elements of reality."

The God's Domain indeed exhibited a fusion of various elements, a manifestation of the extraordinary power and mystique that surrounded them.

"The problem is the trial itself. There is no record of it.

No one was able to record using any artifacts, and even those Heroes and their party members who completed them do not remember after returning from Babylon."

Maximus, the leader of the group, added his insights regarding the trial they were about to face.

The lack of any recorded history or memory concerning the trial was a troubling mystery. It heightened the tension within the party, knowing that they were venturing into uncharted territory, with no knowledge of what awaited them.

"I wonder what kind of trial we will face." Rolakan, the mage, voiced the curiosity and concern shared by all.

The question hung in the air, leaving the group with a sense of uncertainty and apprehension. The unknown nature of the trial only added to the weight of their responsibility and the unpredictability of the God's Domain.

With Maximus taking charge, the party of adventurers moved through the dense jungles of the God's Domain. Even though their powers had been suppressed to the Semi-Saint level, their bloodlines and passive abilities still proved valuable in their team formation.

"Svana, you know what to do."

Svana, the feline assassin, nodded in acknowledgment, understanding her role within the group. Her abilities as an assassin would prove handy in scouting and reconnaissance.

"Vikaat, cover the air. But don't fly too high. Use the trees and terrain to find a way for us to head forward while detecting enemies."

Vikaat, equipped with the advantage of flight as a Tengu spearman, acknowledged Maximus's instructions. He would use his keen senses and aerial advantage to scan for potential threats from above.

"Pokawar, Xavolees, and Borat will move in one group while covering our left."

The trio of warriors formed a formidable ground force, each with their unique strengths and abilities. Together, they would act as the vanguard, leading the way through the treacherous terrain.

"Atreus, Conan, and I will move in a different group and cover the right side."

Maximus, Atreus, and Conan formed another group, leveraging their respective skills to navigate the challenges that lay ahead. Atreus, with his identity as the Hero of Darkness concealed, would play a pivotal role in this endeavor.

"Speki and Rolakan will stay in the middle and provide support if either of the sides encounters enemies."

Speki and Rolakan took up their positions in the middle, ready to support either group as the need arose. Their magical prowess and support abilities would be crucial in bolstering their companions during skirmishes.

With each member knowing their designated roles, the party moved with purpose and coordination through the lush jungles. Maximus's strategic command ensured that they maximized their effectiveness as a team while staying alert to potential threats.

"And remember, our objective is to pass through quietly and inconspicuously.

We are not here to wage war on the inhabitants of this realm."

Maximus gave out his final command as team leader.

Maximus, as the team leader, displayed his strategic prowess by dividing the Hero's Party into specialized groups to maximize their strengths and cover their weaknesses.

He assigned Svana and Vikaat, the assassin and Roc descendant capable of flight, respectively, for reconnaissance tasks. Their unique abilities made them ideal for scouting and gathering information on potential threats.

To maintain a strong defense, Maximus split the powerful fighters into two groups, positioning them on the left and right sides of the formation.

This ensured that they could swiftly respond to any attacks from either direction. Meanwhile, Rolakan the mage and Speki the summoner were placed in the middle, ready to provide support and assistance to either melee group if needed.

One crucial reason for this unconventional formation was the absence of a healer or priest in their party. Recognizing this weakness, Maximus devised a strategy to compensate for their lack of healing abilities.

By creating a formation that allowed for quick and effective communication between different sections of the group, they could respond swiftly to any threat and protect each other in times of attack or ambush.

Kahn fully approved of Maximus' strategic setup, not just because it covered their weaknesses, but also because it cleverly created an illusion of vulnerability to potential enemies. The formation gave the appearance of an exposed rear, tempting any hostile entity or group to see it as an opportunity to strike and bring down the entire party.

However, what the enemies didn't know was that it was a carefully orchestrated deception that would lead to their own demise. Unbeknownst to them, the two mages in the middle were silently casting barriers and spells using their mana.

These hidden actions allowed them to leave tracking formations that would detect any ambush coming from the rear. As a result, both sides of the formation would be quickly alerted and prepared to support the center in the event of an attack.

In essence, the Hero's Party had laid a clever trap, using their apparent vulnerability as bait to lure in their enemies. But little did those enemies know that they were walking into a well-prepared defense, and any attempt to attack from the rear would be met with swift and decisive retaliation from both flanks.

The strategic brilliance of the formation not only covered their weaknesses but also turned their supposed vulnerability into a strength. It showcased the expertise and adaptability of the Hero's Party, making them formidable opponents in the dangerous and unpredictable realm of Babylon.

[Just like my master, Maximus is indeed qualified to lead a platoon of soldiers.

I heard he was a lieutenant in the army in his original world. His setup that looks shoddy and full of openings is actually very versatile and instead of weakness, it's acting like a bait to lure enemies in a way Maximus wants them to react.] he thought.

Kahn approved this because he too had similar experiences with his subordinates when they fought as a team, although on very rare occasions.

Hence, this battle formation was very carefully created for their specific party.

As the group continued their cautious journey through the unfamiliar and treacherous realm of Babylon, they made excellent progress while skillfully avoiding any unnecessary confrontations with the formidable monsters that roamed the area.

Using their artifacts as communication devices, they stayed in constant contact, keeping each other updated on their movements and any potential threats.

After nearly half a day of steady progress, the Hero's Party decided it was time to take a break and set up a temporary camp. However, they were well-prepared and did not resort to traditional campfires or tents that might attract unwanted attention.

Instead, they used their unique abilities and resources to create small igloo-like shelters constructed from sand and mud. These makeshift structures were properly insulated and provided protection and comfort without drawing undue notice.

Within these temporary shelters, various artifacts were utilized to provide essential amenities. Small devices for lighting, heating, and even water creation were activated using their mana cores, making the camp both practical and inconspicuous.

To ensure their safety, Speki and Rolakan employed their expertise to create formations and barriers that masked their presence from the surrounding environment. These illusions concealed their settlements and made it nearly impossible for hostile creatures or beings to detect their auras or even their bodily scents.

The decision to halt their journey at night was not due to fatigue but rather a wise precautionary measure. The realm of Babylon was full of unknown dangers, and attracting attention from hostile creatures or other entities could be disastrous.

By remaining hidden and vigilant, the Hero's Party ensured they could continue their journey without unnecessary disturbances, increasing their chances of successfully navigating the realm and reaching their objective safely.

But despite their great efforts, someone was watching them from the shadows while even someone like Kahn hadn't been able to notice their presence for some unknown reason.

What they didn't know that their moment of respite…

Was actually the opportunity this enemy was waiting for.

CrimsonWolfAuthor :

Everyone, with a heavy heart… I am announcing a temporary 1 month hiatus for the .

Pardon my trashy English here. I don't even feel like writing this but doing so for the sake of informing all the readers.

The main reason for the hiatus is my physical and mental health issues.

Recently, I have been struggling a lot with my personal life affairs and my mood has been in constant flux of depression and anxiety.

I will not play a victim here since I'm aware that some of them were caused due to my own lifestyle choices such as bad eating habits like junk food and things mixed with a lot of sugar and stuff.

Also, I have been heavily addicted to social media where most time of my day gets wasted on Instagram and YouTube while I keep scrolling through Reels and Shorts for hours without stopping for absolutely no reason.

My dopamine receptors are completely fried and even writing chapters or creating anything new does not meet the mark anymore.

My exercise routine is nonexistent at this point and one day, I just woke up at 4 am with a question…

'What the hell am I doing with my life?'

Currently, although I have become able to support myself financially, overcoming the nightmare of unemployment that I lived during the entirety of Covid 19 era… I severely lack a lot of things in life which make me happy or give a purpose to my entire existence at this point.

The recent drop in quality of writing and even chapters where I end up repeating same stuff in multiple paragraphs and retell the same plots again and again has also come to my attention.

Because while writing them, I was doing it with a completely absent mind like a robot with no emotion doing something automatically with no heart or consciousness invested in it.

It took me like a month just to realize how messed up my life has become where I keep wondering if I'm even in control of my own body, mind and emotions.

Hence, I need a break and a complete detox from social media, internet and writing to reform myself.

I plan to focus on reading actual hardcopy books, meditate and even join a gym again just so I could return to my peak and resume work properly that has actual substance to it instead of just writing chapters for the sake of it.

So I hope the readers can be understanding of my current predicament.

See you next month.