Xiandre's stomach growled as he trudged through the golden wasteland. He let out a heavy sigh, his steps slow and unsteady.
"Soon enough, I'm going to die from dehydration and hunger if I don't find water soon..." he muttered.
After what felt like hours of wandering, Xiandre collapsed to his knees. Before him stood a massive golden door, ornate and ancient.
"This... this must lead to the next floor," Xiandre said weakly.
He staggered toward the door, brushing away the dust that coated the ancient inscription meant to open it. Just as he was about to chant the phrase, his instincts screamed.
He dove to the side—just in time. A volley of golden arrows pierced the air, striking where he'd stood moments before.
He groaned. His body barely responded now. He was starving, dehydrated, and still bleeding from the previous battle. The makeshift bandages made from his necktie and uniform did little to stop the pain. He was moments from death.
A voice echoed from the shadows.
"Well, well, well..."
Xiandre turned. A figure stepped into the light—a tall demon clad in a golden coat, with horns curling from his skull.
"I am Mammon, ruler of the Floor of Greed in Hell," the demon introduced with a smug grin.
Mammon... A known figure in demonology and Christian lore. The embodiment of greed, the corrupter of men with wealth and desire... Xiandre thought grimly.
Mammon crossed his arms. "I must say, I'm truly saddened by what happened to Belphegor. He was slaughtered by the first person to ever climbed out the depths of Hell."
"And?" Xiandre growled. "What does that have to do with me?"
Mammon smirked. "Nothing directly. I just thought you should know—none of you truly understand the power of Hell's rulers."
"I don't care. Let me out of here," Xiandre snapped.
"Sorry. Can't do that."
"And why the hell not!?"
"You're a sinner, aren't you?"
"No! I was sent here—by Princess Millie!" Xiandre barked.
Mammon scoffed. "That princess claims demons are ruthless. But from what I've heard... she's not much different."
"I'm not here to chat. Open the damn door," Xiandre demanded.
"I said no. You're in our territory. Sinner or not, Hell is Hell."
"I was forced into this! I didn't ask for any of it!" Xiandre roared.
Mammon's expression darkened. "Forced or not... Hell is a place of eternal suffering."
His skin shimmered and turned gold. His eyes glowed green. He raised a golden crossbow and, without warning, fired.
Xiandre barely dodged, grunting through the pain. His strength was nearly gone. His body was a patchwork of wounds and bruises. Mammon closed the distance in an instant and landed a brutal kick to Xiandre's back, slamming him against the massive door.
Xiandre spat blood, crumpling to the floor.
Mammon raised his hand, summoning dozens of golden swords and launching them like missiles.
Xiandre rolled, staggered, and forced himself to move despite the pain.
"Devil Bin... kneel before me!" he chanted, voice cracking.
For a second, the world turned blue. Cracks spread through the air. But nothing happened. Mammon was unaffected.
Mammon appeared before him in a blur and punched. Xiandre raised his arm to block—only for it to shatter as Mammon's fist turned to diamond on impact.
Screaming, Xiandre fell back.
"Control the ground—block me with rocks!" he chanted desperately.
A wall of stone erupted between them, buying him seconds. He turned and ran, but his legs failed him. He collapsed again.
Mammon appeared behind him, seizing him by the neck and choking him effortlessly.
"You're tough... but not tough enough," Mammon said.
He summoned a diamond sword and rammed it into Xiandre's chest, piercing his heart.
Xiandre collapsed, gasping. Blood pooled beneath him. His vision blurred.
Mammon stood over him. "You lasted longer than most. Impressive... but still a waste."
Xiandre's breath slowed. His eyes faded to black. And then... nothing.
Mammon waited. And waited.
No soul emerged.
"...He's dead... right?" Mammon muttered, puzzled.
He leaned closer. No heartbeat. No breathing. Nothing.
"I can sense death... and he is dead," Mammon whispered, unnerved. "So why... hasn't his soul...?"
Minutes passed. Still, no soul emerged.
Mammon stood. "Maybe I missed it..."
He turned to search—then stopped. A presence. A dark aura surged behind him.
A whisper, cold as death:
"I order you... to die."
Mammon slowly turned. Xiandre stood—broken neck hanging, teeth sharpened into fangs, eyes pure white. A black mist engulfed him, eyes of unknown origin swirling across his body.
Mammon dropped to the ground—dead—without resistance, slain by the presence alone.
Xiandre returned to normal, breathing heavily. He was still injured, still bleeding—but standing.
[System Update]
Limit Breaker 1 Unlocked
User: Xiandre
Level: 100
Element: Controller
Tier Level: 100
Stats:
Strength: 100 (Max)
Speed: 100 (Max)
Defense: 100 (Max)
You have unlocked a hidden ability: Control everything that is under you.
"What just happened...?" Xiandre whispered, stunned.
He reached down and pulled the golden sword from his chest. Blood dripped—but he did not fall.
[System Notice]
A virus has been detected in your system. It is beyond our comprehension and cannot be removed.
"A virus...? What is this system talking about?" Xiandre muttered.
[New Chant Ability Example Unlocked]
(Heart to flame, mind to dust,
Crave my touch, offer your life to mine.)
"A new ability...? I killed Mammon while unconscious... That means... my body moved even after death."
He checked his pulse—nothing.
"I... I have no heartbeat... No breath. I'm dead. But I'm still moving."
[System Update]
You have slain Mammon, Demon Lord of Greed. 250 points added to all stats.
Level cannot exceed maximum (Level 100).
"That means... I'm now an undead," Xiandre muttered.
"I still don't know what happened after I lost consciousness and somehow killed Mammon, but if I have to guess, it probably has something to do with this so-called virus that's currently inside me," Xiandre exclaimed.
Xiandre glanced at the ground where Mammon had perished and noticed his golden coat still lying there.
He picked it up and wore it, covering the gaping wound in his chest. Then he took the golden sword that had been pierced through his heart and began walking toward the massive golden door.
His wound was still open, yet it slowly regenerated. His blood had turned black.
Xiandre glanced at the door and saw the chanting spell.
"Sa sumpa ng kasakiman at bigat ng ginto,
Tinatawag ko ang tarangkahan ni Mammon noong una't una.
Magbukas ka, magpakita sa utos ng kayamanan."
Xiandre chanted, and the door slowly opened.
"I have to go look for the others."
He stepped inside and was met with another long hallway.
The hallway's walls were made of gold, lit by torches burning with blue fire. The floor was made of diamonds.
Xiandre quickened his pace. He needed to hurry if he wanted to find the others alive.
Faster and faster he went—until he was running.
"I have no limit to stamina, no hunger, no need to eat or drink... Maybe being undead isn't so bad after all."
He dashed down the hallway and reached the next door. Without hesitation, he chanted quickly:
"Magbukas ka, magpakita sa utos ng kayamanan."
The door opened, and Xiandre burst in.
The room was burning hot. Lava, fire—everything blazed. The only safe place was the unburnt path leading to a staircase. Without pause, Xiandre rushed toward it.
He heard laughter again, just like before.
But this time, he didn't care.
He ran up the stairs swiftly.
At the top, three demons with scarlet tridents and red skin lunged at him.
Xiandre swung the golden sword he had taken from Mammon, slicing through the demons at the waist in a single swift motion. They fell dead instantly, and he kept running.
Until suddenly... he stopped.
His eyes widened in shock.
Right in front of him, Enman sat on the ground, cradling Heart's lifeless body.
Xiandre froze.
He finally found two of his comrades—only to see one of them dead.
"Enman!!" Xiandre shouted, running toward them.
As he knelt beside them, he saw Enman was barely alive. His head and nose were bleeding, his wounds severe. The heat had dried his blood, and his eyes were shut.
"No, no, no... You can't die on me now!" Xiandre cried.
"K-Kian... is that you?" Enman asked, eyes still closed.
"What happened!?" Xiandre demanded.
"The Demons from this floor... Just killed Heart..." Enman replied weakly, barely able to speak.
"Please... survive. Me and Heart got separated from Reden and Ink by the Demon Lord of Greed.
"I couldn't do anything... we couldn't do anything... We were no match. Ink was stabbed, but he still managed to flee. Reden went berserk and blew the entire ground apart... Heart and I managed to run to the next massive door..."
Enman's breathing grew shallow.
"So that was the earthquake that separated me and Amelia," Xiandre thought to himself.
"A-After we reached this floor... we were starving, thirsty... We were slowly dying. Then... we were ambushed by red-skinned demons with scarlet tridents. Heart was stabbed. I couldn't fight them off, so I carried her... ran... forced myself past my limit. Then I fell. My eyes... a burning debris hit them... I was hopeless... Please... K-Kian..." Enman sobbed, tears of blood pouring down his cheeks in agony.
Then, before he knew it, a sword pierced his chest.
Enman forced his eyes open, and smiled as he looked at Xiandre.
"K-Kian... you're pale... you're not human anymore, are you?" And with his last breath, Enman lost consciousness and died.
Xiandre slowly pulled the golden sword from Enman's chest and stood up.
"I'm sorry, Enman... but it was the only way," Xiandre said quietly.
He looked down at their bodies—Enman still holding Heart, even in death. It was a final show of love and loyalty.
"Rest in peace, Enman... It was the only way," Xiandre whispered.
Then, without looking back, Xiandre ran forward, continuing down the burning path.