Level Up: Voidwalker

''Interesting, I've heard of something like this before,'' Atlas said as they traveled toward the city; he brought up something else. ''If you like, you can call me Azhar'Zul.''

Grishna nodded, "Okay, Azhar'Zul." However, her eyes widened as she grasped his shoulders and asked, "Isn't that the name revered by the Saharaelian Desert Fighters?"

Atlas shrugged, ''That's what Amethyst told me before we were separated,'' he answered.

After talking to Grishna, Atlas picked up the Arzuros and introduced her, ''This little demoness is Lilith. We've been traveling together since I found her.''

Grishna's eyes widened in shock as she spoke, ''That's a Jungle Devil! Why is she following you around?''

When Lilith heard the woman's words, she growled, causing Grishna to hold up her hands, ''Don't have a stab at me; that's what the people call ya! I didn't come up with the name.''

Atlas chuckled at Lilith, who climbed onto his shoulders while scanning the road they were on. He quickly introduced the Arzuros, ''This is Lilith. I found her in the jungle, and we became friends after she kept attacking me.''

The orc girl started laughing before asking another question, ''Where did you come from Azhar'Zul?''

''I came from the Echo Isles to the north, but me and Amethyst were captured by Slavers and put on a ship sailing to Slavers Bay until a Kraken attacked us,'' Atlas said while the two dodged a merchant caravan.

''Then why were you in the Darkheart Jungle? It's a dangerous place that most people don't travel through,'' Grishna questioned.

''I washed up there,'' Atlas replied while scanning the landscape. ''I was trying to find my friends, but they were lucky and could fly away from our meeting spot just as a Monster Wave hit the mountain they were on.''

Grishna nodded in understanding, ''What do they look like? Your friends, I mean?'' she asked.

''One wears a blindfold and has beautiful purple hair, and the other has brown, but she's older than us,'' Atlas answered as he spotted a city in the distance.

He was taken aback and stopped walking as this was his first time seeing a living city, not a dead one like Wildwood Port. This one sat on the jungle side of the river but was protected by a massive wall at least ten meters tall.

The city beyond reminded Atlas of the Western medieval cities he saw in the history books back on Earth, but this one had a fantastical look as white and blue banners hung from the wall.

Atlas could even make out the giant cannons sitting atop the wall as specks traveled along it. Grishna soon noticed he wasn't moving and asked with a concerned expression on her pretty face, "Is everything okay, Azhar'Zul? Have you sensed any monsters?"

The Orc woman whipped out a dangerous-looking spear, causing Atlas to laugh and shake his head. "No, it's just my first time experiencing such a city Grishna."

Her confused expression grew, and she looked unexpectedly adorable. While the two of them stood there, it gave him enough time to examine the woman closer. Atlas had to admit he loved everything about her; she had a bob cut of jet-black hair that framed her striking features.

Grishna's piercing green eyes captivated him, and they held a mesmerizing depth. Her facial features were impeccably carved, each contour emphasizing her charm and strength. He had to admit she looked like an Olympic athlete with a warrior figure.

Atlas admired the sculpted muscles beneath her smooth, emerald-toned skin, which reflected power and grace in every movement. He noticed she was clad in leather armor that covered all her vulnerable parts — her torso, arms, neck, thighs, and shins.

The armor sat atop pants resembling leggings that hugged her muscles, paired with a modest shirt. Atlas thought, 'First a Phoenix girl and now a beautiful Orc, what's next, a supermodel Tiger?'

He laughed to himself, causing Grishna to shake her head, ''What do you mean the first time? Didn't you say you're from Thalassia?''

Atlas continued walking when Lilith licked his face before jumping off his shoulders and went off hunting. While traveling down the road, he replied with a smile, ''It doesn't matter for now. We can look for the girls, but then I want to sign up as an adventurer to go to a normal dungeon.''

''Normal dungeon? What do you mean?''

''When I was in the jungle, I was caught by the Wild Human but managed to escape but then fell into a hole which led to a swamp dungeon,'' Atlas commented. ''I fought my way through it, but it was a nightmare.''

Grishna's eyes widened, ''You must have found an undiscovered Level one dungeon,'' she said excitedly.

Atlas chuckled, but his amusement faded when he noticed Lilith staring intently into the jungle, growling. Following her gaze, he saw the trees in the distance rustling. "Is that a Monster Wave?" he asked aloud.

She turned around, her expression shocked. "I think it's a wandering Titan. We won't make it to the city, but we have to find cover before it arrives."

Atlas nodded in agreement and wasted no time. He started running down the road, where merchant carriages were already speeding towards the walls, seeking the same refuge. Lilith rushed toward the jungle, but he scooped her up.

She struggled, but Atlas scolded her, ''Stop it, Lily! That's a Titan, not a random jungle monster, and we must find somewhere to hide.''

While running, Grishna called out in relief, ''Azhar'Zul! A bridge is coming up; we can hide there until the Mayor deals with the monster.''

Atlas followed the orc woman swiftly, ducking under the bridge alongside half a dozen others seeking shelter. He sighed, settling down briefly, but curiosity drove him to peek out. From his vantage point, he could observe the jungle beyond and the hurried carriages crossing the bridge.

Suddenly, a tree soared through the air, crashing dangerously close. Atlas instinctively ducked as splinters sprayed out, peppering the surroundings. When he dared to glance up again, his eyes widened.

A colossal spider emerged from the jungle's depths, sending a chill down Atlas's spine. Despite his fear, he didn't hesitate to employ Void Sight.

[Titanfang Tarantula]

[Rank: Titan - 20000 Exp]

'Oh god! How many Titans are there,' Atlas thought before turning to Grishna, holding a spear in her right hand while messing with a metal marble in the other.

He shook his head before questioning, ''How many Titans roam Astoria? And are they all hostile?''

Grishna shook her head, ''No one knows how many there are Azhar'Zul. But they come from chasms and ravines that lead to the Underworld.''

Atlas was about to speak, but Grishna touched his lips as she whispered, ''The Titanfang is approaching the city. Stay quiet as it will hear us thanks to its extraordinary hearing.''

He nodded solemnly, then returned to the Titan rampaging nearby. It had already crushed a helpless carriage under its colossal weight. Watching the destruction unfold, Lilith struggled to break free from his embrace.

"Stop it, Lily! You can't fight a Titan! And if you try to escape, I won't chase after you like I did before," Atlas exclaimed urgently.

Lilith ceased her struggle, sensing the sincerity in his words. She realized he genuinely cared for her. Without hesitation, she clung to his body, playfully nibbling his neck, causing him to shiver involuntarily.

Grishna chuckled at the scene before her, remarking casually, "She truly cares for you, Azhar'Zul. This is the first time I've seen a Jungle Devil refrain from attacking something."

Lilith growled softly at the comment but quickly resumed nibbling on Atlas's neck. He responded with a hint of amusement, "I'm honestly surprised. We did clash when we first met. I think I inadvertently took over her territory, and she wasn't too pleased about it."

As Atlas continued speaking, Grishna suddenly yanked him back just as the destroyed carriage collided with the bridge. She swiftly cautioned him, "The Titanfang is near! Stay low."

He nodded, but before they could react, a hairy spider leg emerged next to the bridge, eliciting screams from bystanders and drawing the monster's attention. Atlas and Grishna braced themselves for a fight when, suddenly, a whistling noise cut through the chaos.

Grishna's eyes widened in realization. She grabbed Atlas and cast a protective spell, enveloping them in a shimmering metal shield. "Ironclad!"

Explosions erupted all around them, throwing the area into further turmoil. Terrified people scrambled into a nearby pipe for cover, while others, unfortunate enough to be caught out in the open, were burned by the firestorm that erupted.

The Titanfang screamed in pain but rushed toward the city as the defenders fired even more mana shells at it. Grishna dismissed her shield as the two dropped to the ground. Atlas spotted some people walking out of the pipe, looking shell-shocked.

Lilith jumped off him and sniffed the area before chirping at him. Atlas looked in the direction she was pointing as a being appeared above the Titan. When Grishna saw this, she spoke in awe, ''It's the Everglade's Supreme Master. Watch it destroy the monster.''

Atlas gazed towards the figure and observed as they unleashed a powerful spell. An ominous red beam descended from the sky, striking the Titanfang Tarantula and eliciting hisses of agony from the creature.

The Titan's body trembled, but in an instant, the newcomer materialized before it and delivered hundreds of punches. The spider's tough carapace fractured under the onslaught until it erupted in a burst of debris.

While this was happening, Lilith went crazy, causing Atlas to look toward the jungle as an army of man-sized spiders rushed toward them. His eyes widened in shock before he turned to Grishna, ''A Monster Wave!''

The orc woman nodded and warned everyone to run toward the walls while the defenders and Supreme Master covered their retreat, but that's when Atlas saw several webs flying in their direction.

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