Level Up: Voidwalker

Chapter 213 Desolate Landscape

Atlas watched as the Thalassians, Aethyrians, and orc battled against the Achaemenidians who were beating them. Without wasting any more time, he cast several Void Bombs and started sending mana into the spells.

'This will send them reeling before I launch my attack,' he mused excitedly.

They grew powerful and unstable, but Atlas sent them slicing through the air before crashing into the horde of enemies. Explosions rang out, causing chaos among their ranks. He downed a few mana potions to top up his pool.

'I feel much better. Let's bring some friends out for the fun.'

After that, Atlas summoned as many Dreadfiends as possible, totaling forty creepy-looking humanoids. He ordered them to attack the Achaemendians, who were taken by surprise as the creatures lunged at them.

The Dreadfiends crashed into the enemy lines and tore apart the shocked soldiers. Then, Atlas rushed down while summoning Nala, who stuck close as he used Void Step to crash into a large knight-looking man.

He thrust his blade through the soldier's neck before he jumped to the side while casting Void Arrows that punctured the Achaemenidian armor. Dozens of soldiers dropped, which boosted the defender's morale.

Following that, the Dreadfiends tore a hole through the enemy army, allowing Atlas to rush through while cutting down so many Achaemendians who tried to stop him. Nala followed behind and used her claws to kill.

When Atlas closed in on the defender lines, a large man blocked his path, causing him to skid to a stop. He looked at the man before narrowing his eyes while using Void Sight to figure out his rank.

[Marcus Hammerheart]

[Level: 450]

[Rank: Master]

'Special forces, maybe? It doesn't matter. They will die anyway,' he thought before shrugging. Atlas swiftly dashed toward the man wielding a massive hammer, narrowly dodging the incoming swing.

He ducked low, aiming a slash at the man's ankles. In response, the Achaemenid leaped over the strike, forcing him to retreat just in time as the giant slammed his weapon into the ground.

Atlas started paying more attention and struck the man around his legs, causing them to shake just as Nala lunged at him. The knight was taken by surprise and crashed to the ground.

The Dreadmaw Lioness lunged, attempting to bite the man's throat, but he struggled to hold her back. In his distraction, he failed to notice Atlas closing in. With a swift motion, Atlas stabbed through the man's helmet, blood exploding from the back of his head.

Without hesitation, Atlas leaped onto Nala's back just as she surged forward, her powerful muscles propelling them away from the chaos. Meanwhile, the Dreadfiends held the enemy army at bay, buying them time.

'These creatures are useful,' he mused. 'Maybe they'll grow stronger over time?'

As they fled across the battlefield, the defenders regrouped and charged at the Achaemenidians, determination lighting their eyes. They ignored Atlas as the lioness leaped over the river and landed with a thud.

He turned around to see the battle erupt again; Atlas smiled before summoning more Dreadfiends and ordered them to kill as many Achaemenids as possible. Following that, Nala continued running across the desolate landscape.

Farms burned in the distance, casting an eerie glow over the landscape as more bodies littered the road. Empire troops lay alongside Alliance soldiers, their lifeless forms piled up to one side.

The scene made Atlas think while glancing around, 'Did the defenders retake this part?'

Atlas scanned his surroundings, noting the bodies strewn about in various states of decay. 'Some look months old while others have been dead for a few days,' he pondered while glancing around.

Shaking his head, he pressed on, confronted by scenes of death and destruction at every turn. They navigated through burning villages and battlefields littered with the fallen, where scavengers picked at the remains of dead soldiers.

'The empire is causing so much chaos,' Atlas wondered. 'It looks like the Alliance will lose this war which means the Achaemenidians will surge north.'

Nala continued their journey until the sunset, prompting Atlas to instruct her to find a place to rest for the night. Hours later, they settled on a mountain ledge that offered a stunning view of the vast forest below.

'Valoria is beautiful,' Atlas thought with a smile. 'I can't wait to see the north.'

As darkness descended, the air was filled with the echoes of monster roars and howls that reverberated through the trees. In response, Nala let out a fierce roar of her own, a powerful sound that echoed across the forest.

'I wonder what creatures are lurking in the darkness below,' he mused while eating chocolate.

Atlas set up his tent before settling down for the night. Much of his journey north had been like this—traveling with Theo or Nala, then resting amid the chaos surrounding him. Weeks had passed since he set out, and now he was nearing the wolf kingdoms.

He attempted to contact Amethyst throughout his travels, but the Lover's Band remained unresponsive, leaving him frustrated. Atlas continued until he found himself in a mountain town, the last settlement, before reaching the city, where the girls awaited him.

'It feels like somethings blocking them from contacting me.'

The town was called Mountainholm, and explorers used it as a home base for exploring the Northern Wastes. Atlas was looking for some food to restock his Dimensional Storage before leaving this place.

'Why do people look so angry here?' he pondered while walking down Main Street looking for a decent food stall.

Soon enough, Atlas came across a stall selling meat skewers, the mouthwatering aroma drawing him in. He approached the stall and saw an old man standing behind the counter, patiently waiting for customers.

As Atlas neared, he removed his helmet and smiled, "Can I please get two hundred meat skewers?"

Surprised, the old man raised an eyebrow but got to work, preparing the large order. As Atlas watched the skewers cooking, another irresistible aroma caught his attention. He followed it to a nearby stall selling meat buns and dumplings.

'These smell delicious; I'm glad I bought enough of them.'

His stomach grumbled loudly at the sight, and he ordered two hundred of each without hesitation. The owners, clearly taken aback by the massive order, exchanged surprised glances but quickly agreed, eager to fulfill his request.

Following that, Atlas grabbed the meat skewers when they were finished and paid a few gold coins before returning to the last two orders. Once all the food was collected, he left Mountainholm as the guards would lock the town down due to an incoming winter storm.

'This place is gloomy and the people look angry,' he thought while glancing at the dark building that led to the northern gate.

Smoke came from the chimneys as children played on the streets, only to scatter when Atlas closed in on the gate. People watched him pass by as he had all his armor on, causing them to grow curious.

A few minutes later, he appeared at the northern gate and tried to walk out but was stopped by the guard, ''Where are you going, little adventurer? It's dangerous in the White Waster,'' one of them revealed.

Atlas stared at them before responding, ''It's fine. I'm heading to Northreach City, where my party is waiting.''

The guards looked conflicted but nodded while opening a man-sized door that would let him leave Mountainholm. Atlas continued traveling while eating meat buns before coming across a crossroads.

Hours later, Atlas was walking through a tight mountain pass when he came across a trade caravan camped off the side of the road. As he got close, he noticed it was ransacked, and blood covered the ground.

'What happened here?' he pondered while glancing around.

Large man-like footprints littered the ground, along with the patches of blood staining everything around him. He was confused but knew monsters were attacking the people; shortly after that, he started looting everything.

Atlas pocketed the coins and continued down the mountain road. He summoned Nala, who immediately warned him, "There's a powerful monster lurking, Master. We need to get out of here now."

Before he could react, a sudden woosh filled the air. In the blink of an eye, a massive bird swooped down and snatched him up, lifting him high into the sky. Panic surged through him as the creature soared over the mountains, far from any chance of escape.

The ground beneath Atlas fell away as his mind raced, desperately searching for a plan. With no time to spare, he thrust his blade into the monster's foot, but the steel merely glanced off, unable to pierce its hide.

He pointed his hand at the creature's underbelly before casting Void Bomb. An explosion erupted, causing the monster to let out a pain-filled roar before dropping him, but the rough wind swept him along.

Atlas plummeted through the air, his heart pounding, but he held off, waiting to cast Void Step and break his fall. As he fell, the bird-like monster swooped down. Without hesitation, he began casting Void Barrage, aiming directly at the creature.

The azure projectiles sliced through the air before peppering its torso, causing it to veer off course, but it managed to clip him with its beak.

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