Among the army of Armored Skeletons that greeted Elayne and Rose on their way to rescue their friends, a gigantic, four-meter-tall Skeleton wearing black armor and holding into a gigantic axe claimed to be nothing else but a Death General.
"Welcome to the Labyrinth of the Dead, mortals! I am Gustaf, the Death General of War! Face me!"
Elayne had only heard a bit about Death Generals, but they were extremely powerful Undead that directly served the Demon King of Death, Thanatos. Amongst them, there was Phantasmos. But of course, there should be many more.
However, Elayne never expected Phantasmos to somehow bring more Death Generals to Earth through the Dungeon itself! Although… something slowly began to feel strange.
"How were you even able to get here?!" Elayne asked angrily, pointing her weapon at the skeleton unleashing a strong aura of death. "It should be impossible, only Phantasmos was said to have come to Earth…"
"Huh?" Rose felt confused. It seemed that Elayne knew more than she had explained her beforehand.
"Heh, you're not that sharp." Laughed Gustaf, his enormously tall body started exuding an even stronger aura. "Can't you realize?! This Dungeon, the "Gate" that you humans call it is merely an in-between, a connection between Earth and Arcadia! This means that even we, who live in the other side can step in! Buahahahaha! And now, it is your end, World Tree's Incarnation!"
"So Dungeons are a connection- Huh? World Tree Incarnation?" Asked Rose, feeling even more confused. "And that world… the one where you monsters come from is named Arcadia?! Why are you invading our world?!"
"Isn't it obvious? Because your world is ripen with delicious souls and millions after millions of human lives! Unlike Arcadia where human populations are much less, this world is brimming with so many human souls it is ridiculous!" Laughed Gustaf. "I shall feast on your souls! Enough talking! If you want to live, fight me and win!"
FLAAAASH!
Gustaf unleashed a powerful Death Knight Aura, as his entire body began growing even stronger. His white bones turned completely black and his aura became phantasmal and terrifying. His black axe started unleashing a phantasmal flames aura as well, and his small squadron of Undead Warriors were not like the ones they fought before, much stronger and intimidating than normal ones.
"While normal Skeletons would be like F Rank or E- Rank, those Skeleton Warriors are easily all D Rank! And this guy… He's probably as strong as a B Rank monster! He should be as strong as A Rank though. Is he weakened due to coming to a place that is between both worlds? Much like Phantasmos was very weakened on Earth!" The Great Spirit analyzed, telling everything to Elayne.
Rose quickly prepared herself for battle and jumped ahead of Elayne with her Crimson Wolf Familiar. She quickly took out her gun but realized it had very few bullets now. These were specially made to kill monsters and she ended wasting them on that spirit that spooked her…
However, she had drank a lot of blood from Elayne and felt brimming with a lot of energy. She took out a small crimson knife decorated with rose-like shapes on its golden handle, as the Cursed Weapon started absorbing her Blood Energy, an unique power Vampires and Dhampirs could wield produced by drinking blood.
"Elayne! Stay behind me. You're a magician and a civilian so it is my duty to protect you. Despite how I look, I am very hardy." Rose smiled defiantly, as the giant black skeleton, Gustaf the Death General of War moved forwards!
"RAAAAAHHHH [Phantom Axe Slash]!"
TRUUUUUMMMMM…!
He slashed the empty air with his giant black axe, unleashing a slash made of phantasmal power that quickly impacted Rose with all of its strength!
CLAAAASH!
"T-This is…!" Rose gritted her teeth, finding the power of Gustaf's first attack already overwhelming.
BOOOOOOMMMM!!!!
"ROSEEE!" Elayne panicked, rushing towards Rose only to be surrounded by the six D Rank Skeleton Warriors serving Gustaf.
"Don't interrupt our fight, Incarnation!" Said Gustaf. "She's not dead yet! For now, play around with my boys, keheheh…" Laughed Gustaf, finding Rose just fine as the smoke of the explosion dissipated.
"Didn't I said I was hardy? Leave this to me." Rose smiled back at Elayne, giving her a wink. "Beat the skellies meanwhile!"
"Ugh, fine…!" Elayne said, as she saw Rose and Gustaf clash once more. Her movements were extremely precise and rapid, while her crimson dagger unleashed countless cutting attacks that unleashed slashes of crimson energy.
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLAAASH!
However, Gustaf was equally tanky, easily parrying her blows with his large black shield or his giant axe. He was enormous, fighting Rose it seemed as if a person was fighting a small cat. Noneteless, the little cat had a dog to help her.
"GROOARR! WOOF!"
CRAAASH!
A giant wolf-like head made of Blood Energy surged from Rose's aura in the least expected moment, biting through Gustaf's shield and tearing it apart easily, and then slashing against him with his sharp claws!
SLASH! SLASH! SLAAASH!
TRUUUM…!
Gustaf had to step back due to the overwhelming burst of attacks, if he had a face he would be smiling though, the bastard was enjoying the moment of thrill.
"Hahaha, incredible! So you have a Familiar, huh? Well, it could be said the same for me." Laughed Gustaf, as his soul began waving around, thousands of other souls he had eaten emerged as countless ghosts, swarming Rose and her Familiar!
FLUOOOOSH!
"Shit, this bastard…!" Rose felt that each touch from these ghosts drained a bit of her Life and Mana. "Fuck… OFF! [Blood Storm]!"
BOOOOOOOOMMMM…!
Meanwhile, as Rose and Gustaf fought intensively, Elayne was unable to join in the fight because she was being constantly attacked by six D Rank monsters at once.
"The World Tree Incarnation! Her soul must be delicious!"
"Get her!"
"She must be weakened after fighting Phantasmos' lackeys before coming here…!"
"GYAHAHAH, YOU'RE DONE FOR!"
A Skeleton Warrior leaped over Elayne, getting right into the position she needed, as she swung her Shovel Staff and blew him into bits.
"[Spiritual Explosion]!"
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
"H-Huh?!"
CLANK!
The other Skeletons dropped their lower jaws in shock.
