Hitman with a Badass System

After departing from Nithroel's safe house, Michael used a teleportation scroll gifted to him by Elidyr to arrive at the ominous Demon's Grave. The skies above the grave were a crimson red, creating an eerie atmosphere that matched the terrifying landscape. Michael's first objective was to locate the Queen's energy crystal and fulfill his promise to her. However, before he could do that, he had to ascend to the level 2 of Godhood, the demi-god level.

In the distance, Mount Hades belched volcanic fumes into the crimson sky. The forge beneath the mountain awaited Michael's return, but for now, he had a different destination in mind. To trigger a heavenly tribulation and attain demi-god level power, he needed to face extreme heat. Mount Hades, with its bubbling lava and scorching temperatures, offered the perfect opportunity.

Clad in his dark suit, Michael activated the powerful metal wings integrated into his armor. With a mighty flap, he defied the oppressive force of gravity and gracefully ascended into the crimson sky. As he soared higher, memories of his earlier arrival at the Demon's Grave resurfaced, when he struggled against the unyielding pull of gravity. Now, thanks to the enhancements of his armor, he effortlessly cut through the air, ascending towards the scorching summit of Mount Hades.

With each powerful flap of his metal wings, Michael soared higher into the air, getting closer to the scorching summit of Mount Hades. As he approached, waves of intense heat washed over him from the bubbling, lava-filled depths of the mountain. Despite his godly-powered body, he couldn't help but sweat profusely, feeling the intensity of the fiery environment.

Finally, Michael landed on the mountain's peak, his gaze fixed on the boiling, oozing lava below. He hesitated for a moment, contemplating the system's instructions to immerse himself in the lava. With a hint of sarcasm, he addressed the system, questioning its peculiar plan.

"Do you really want me to go into the lava? Did I do something to you?" Michael asked, a mix of humor and concern evident in his voice.

The system replied, [Your body needs to be tempered with each element in its most powerful form. First, the fire. This lava isn't the purest form, but it'll have to do for now. Now imagine the lava as a cool swimming pool and jump down.]

Rolling his eyes at the rather simplistic suggestion, Michael couldn't help but feel a mix of annoyance and amusement. "Imagine it as a swimming pool and jump down? That's your plan?" he scoffed, feeling the challenge ahead of him.

With the system's insistence, Michael braced himself for what was to come. He knew he had to trust the system, even if the idea of jumping into scorching lava seemed absurd. With a firm resolve, he reminded the system, "If I die, make sure to bring me back through the Project Phoenix."

The system responded in its usual nonchalant manner, [You are not going to die. Maybe get some burns. Nothing a healing potion can't fix.]

Though skeptical, Michael understood he had little choice. He removed his armor, setting it aside, and focused his power to store it safely within the system. Standing atop the building, naked under the ominous glow of the lava's fiery light, Michael's body bore the marks of his many battles, illuminated by the deep orange hues.

"Here goes nothing,"

Summoning his courage, he took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. With determination, he ran to the edge and, shouting, closed his eyes and leaped straight into the molten pit.

"FUCK!"

As his body made contact with the lava, an agonizing surge of pain coursed through him. It felt as if every nerve ending was ablaze, but before his mind could fully register the torment, he was enveloped by the searing liquid. The world around him became a hazy blur of intense heat and burning sensations.

**********************************

Inside the dilapidated castle, Andohr stood in disarray. His once noble and composed appearance was now replaced by torn clothes, disheveled hair, and bloodshot eyes, reflecting his inner turmoil.

Suddenly, a radiant light illuminated the castle, revealing the presence of Seraphine, the Goddess of Information. Her form, as always, was pure light, and she observed the state of the castle with surprise. Andohr, who was known for his calm demeanor, seemed agitated and distressed.

"I thought you would be celebrating, Andohr," Seraphine spoke gently, trying to understand the reason behind his turmoil.

"That motherfucker fooled me!" Andohr's voice thundered through the castle, causing the walls to tremble under the force of his anger.

"What do you mean? Your arch-enemy, the God of Darkness, is dead," Seraphine inquired.

"Then why can't I return to the realm of gods? The barrier is still intact!" Andohr's frustration was evident. For five thousand years, he had believed that the death of either the Dark Lord or Noah, the God of Light, would shatter the barrier separating the mortal realm from the realm of the gods, a barrier created by the previous Dark Lord.

In his current state of distress, Andohr was grappling with the shocking revelation that the barrier remained untouched, despite the Dark Lord's supposed demise. The uncertainty of the situation weighed heavily on him, and his emotions ran high, causing him to vent his frustration with a powerful shout that shook the very foundation of his crumbling castle.

However, to Andohr's disbelief, nothing happened as he had believed. The Dark Lord had supposedly been killed by his own brother, Noah, using the god-killing arrows, yet the barrier remained steadfast and unchanged.

"Maybe we don't fully understand the nature of the barrier," Seraphine tried to reason with Andohr, her voice calm and reassuring. "The Dark Lord was slain by the God of Light, Andohr. I witnessed the energy fluctuation and saw his body blown into pieces."

But Andohr's agitation was evident as he manically shook his head. "He couldn't have died. He must have faked his damn death. How else am I still here?" he questioned, his emotions in turmoil.

The idea that the Dark Lord had somehow orchestrated his own death to deceive everyone, including Andohr, gnawed at him.

"Don't freak out, Andohr. With the god of darkness gone, the pantheon can now investigate the barrier further," Seraphine said in an attempt to console him.

But Andohr's anger was overwhelming, and he roared with sheer might, shaking the castle to its core. "Enough!" he thundered, his frustration evident in every fiber of his being. "You promised that if I helped you fight Dagon to keep him at bay from reaching the realm of gods, you would seek help from the pantheon and free me from this wretched place. I have had enough of this. I want to get out of here right now!" Andohr shouted, his voice echoing through the crumbling walls.

As he roared, the time and space around him distorted, a testament to his power as the god of time and space. His anger was so immense that it caused the very fabric of reality to tremble. Time in the entire mortal realm seemed to freeze momentarily, feeling the strain of Andohr's overwhelming rage.

"Calm down, Andohr. You have waited all these years to see the Dark Lord's demise, and now your wish has come true. It's only a matter of time before we break the barrier," Seraphine urged, attempting to soothe him. She had anticipated that Andohr would be celebrating his long-awaited freedom, but instead, his frustration and restlessness were palpable. He had believed that the barrier keeping him trapped would shatter once either the Dark Lord or Noah met their end, yet the situation had not unfolded as he expected.

"Without the Dark Lord to anchor the barrier, it was only a matter of time before we find the rest of the seal bearers and kill them. I'm certain that once the seal bearers are dead, the barrier will crumble. Without the Dark Lord, it'd be as easy as plucking flowers to kill the seal bearers," Seraphine's words seemed to soothe Andohr's anger.

"Can you do me a favor, Seraphine?" Andohr turned around to face Seraphine's radiant light form.

"Anything for you, Andohr," she replied.

"Go to the goddess of wisdom and inquire about what would happen when a god dies," Andohr said with a grave tone.

"I don't want that slippery bastard to fool me once again," he added, his mind filled with killing intent towards his arch-enemy, the Dark Lord, also known as the God of Darkness.

"What are you thinking, Andohr?" Seraphine asked curiously.

"If we were to figure out what would happen when a god dies, we can truly know if the Dark Lord died or if that son of a bitch faked his death. But the only person who might possess such knowledge outside the pantheon would be your sister, the goddess of wisdom," Andohr explained with determination in his voice.

When Andohr mentioned seeking help from the goddess of wisdom, Seraphine fell silent. She and her sister weren't on great terms, and dealing with the goddess of wisdom's cryptic messages was always a challenge.

"You know how she is. I'm the goddess of information and her sister, but even I have a hard time decoding her cryptic messages," Seraphine said, her annoyance evident in her voice.

"We have no choice, Seraphine. If that bastard survived, he would never reveal himself. I know how he thinks. He will be striving to become even stronger as we speak. Once he reaches the DemiGod level, no one can keep surveillance on him. He will operate alone in the shadows. You have no idea what he is capable of when he's hidden. You and the entire pantheon would be walking with a target on your backs," Andohr warned, his voice filled with concern and urgency.

"Very well, Andohr. I will go talk to her. But if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath. She can be quite elusive," Seraphine sighed, acknowledging the difficulty of dealing with the goddess of wisdom.

"Honey, if the God of Darkness is alive, his next move would be to meet Dagon. We must prevent them from allying. Otherwise, you and the pantheon are as good as lost in the war," Andohr said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

The light surrounding Seraphine gradually faded away as she left the castle, returning it to its previous eerie look. Now alone, Andohr stood in the middle of the castle, his mind consumed with thoughts of how to confront and defeat the Dark Lord. However, for the first time in a long time, Andohr felt a sense of unease. He feared that he might be losing his edge in the ongoing battle against the elusive and cunning God of Darkness.