"This is the best," Peak Sword said sincerely.
He hesitated, then scratched the back of his head. "Honestly, I don't think granting you access to a single Hell Gao raid is enough in exchange for this."
Alan waved it off. "Then how about I raid it with you?"
Peak Sword blinked. "Huh? Didn't you want to solo it?"
"I do," Alan replied calmly. "But I don't like losing. If things go south, I want a way to step in and stabilize the fight."
Peak Sword considered it for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
He looked back at the sword and added, "Regardless, I'll still buy this. I'll pay fifty percent of the market price. The remaining fifty percent will count as the fee for using the Hell Gao dungeon."
Alan shrugged. "That works."
A day later, Alan stood before the entrance of the mountain cave.
Jagged stone framed the opening, and waves of scorching heat rolled out from within, distorting the air. Even with his newly crafted armor, the oppressive temperature was unmistakable.
This was it.
The lair where Hell Gao slept.
"Hell Gao will appear any moment now," Peak Sword said, tightening his grip on his sword.
Alan raised a hand, stopping him. "Don't forget—only help me when I truly can't handle it anymore."
Peak Sword nodded without argument.
Suddenly, the once-silent cave began to rumble.
The ground cracked as fiery stones erupted from the floor. Flames burst forth, licking the cavern walls as the temperature soared.
"The fire stones are here… he's coming," Peak Sword said grimly.
Alan nodded and drew his weapon.
It wasn't Dainsleif.
Instead, a cold-blue blade shimmered in his hand—the Frostlight Orc Chief Sword. It wasn't a boss drop. During his countless attempts farming the Orc Chief, Alan had obtained its production method from the shaman boss and crafted it himself.
Cold mist spilled from the blade, sharply contrasting the inferno around them.
Then, a system message echoed through the cave.
[ Hell Gao, Master of Hellfire, has appeared. ]
"Hahahahaha—! I am back!"
The demon's laughter shook the cavern.
His blazing eyes swept over the two figures before him.
"Oh? This time, only two humans?" he sneered, gaze locking onto Peak Sword.
"Human… where is your army that I wiped out every time?"
Peak Sword clenched his sword tightly.
His guild had challenged Hell Gao six times—and failed every single time. But now, with a new weapon in his hands, he was eager to test it. Still, he restrained himself.
This was Alan's fight.
"You are Hell Gao," Alan said calmly, stepping forward, "the one who was sealed by Sword Saint Muller."
The air exploded.
"How dare you speak that name in front of me!" Hell Gao roared.
Flames surged as a long staff materialized in his grasp, its head ending in a twisted, cursed blade. He swung it straight at Alan, the heat distorting the air itself.
'I can't let it hit me, or I'll get the burn debuff,' Alan thought.
He stepped sideways at the last instant. The staff grazed past his face, fire screaming by his cheek. Alan raised his sword and parried, sparks and frost colliding violently.
Then—he spun.
"Supreme Swordsmanship: 1st style"
Alan launched himself upward, body twisting midair as he unleashed a single slash , It tore through the air with momentum of splitting the sky, carving straight into Hell Gao's torso.
[ You have dealt 100,897 damage to the target. ]
"Tch… so much resistance," Alan clicked his tongue.
Not even ten percent.
It was first time Alan faced someone whose health he can't take away in big chunks. It will be fun and long fight, Still Alan smiled as he looked forward to it.
Halfway through his descent, his aura surged.
"White Lion's Roar."
A pressure like a lion's wrath exploded outward.
"Don't test me with petty attacks!" Hell Gao snarled.
He slammed his staff into him sending him flying and crashing.
[ You have received 3,908 damage. ]
Alan skidded across the stone floor, his boots carving shallow grooves—but he didn't panic.
"He wasn't stunned…" Alan muttered.
This was the first time White Lion's Roar had failed to stun its target. Still, the buff had activated properly—his attack power and defense surged sharply.
Alan smoothly switched back to the Frostlight Orc Chief Sword and rushed toward Hell Gao without hesitation. Thanks to his fire-resistant armor, he didn't need to worry about the ambient hellfire scorching his body.
"Hell Rise!" Hell Gao roared, slamming his staff downward.
A pillar of fire erupted toward Alan—
—but Alan twisted aside with precise footwork.
"Spell Sword."
His blade flashed.
[ Your next strike will deal 150% of normal damage. ]
"Pagma Swordsmanship: Link."
A chain of thirteen consecutive slashes exploded forward, each one flowing seamlessly into the next. Steel and frost carved into Hell Gao's massive frame, forcing the demon to stagger backward, molten blood splashing onto the cavern floor.
Hell Gao snarled and swung his staff wildly.
Alan slipped inside the arc of the attack.
Now.
This was the plan from the start.
Ignoring the demon's torso, Alan shifted his stance and targeted Hell Gao's right leg.
Slash.
Slash.
Slash.
The Frostlight Orc Chief Sword glowed faintly as its special effect activated.
Frost Rupture.
The blade struck the same point repeatedly, freezing cracks spreading across the demon's leg.
Although the bone didn't break, the damage accumulated rapidly.
[ Frost Rupture has been triggered. ]
[ Target's movement speed reduced by 50% for 30 seconds. ]
Hell Gao bellowed in fury as his stance faltered.
Alan's eyes sharpened.
There—his balance is off.
He continued attacking the weakened leg relentlessly, each strike landing with ruthless precision. Frost spread further up Hell Gao's limb, flames sputtering and destabilizing.
"Persistent insect!" Hell Gao roared, slamming his staff into the ground again.
But this time—
Alan was already moving.
Like a white blur, he circled behind the demon, sword raised, exploiting the opening he had created and continued attack the single leg at each oppurtunity.
The moment Frost Rupture reached its limit—
Crack.
Hell Gao's entire right leg shattered in a violent burst of ice and hellfire.