Adventure World Online (AWO)

Chang Long gaped at the system message in disbelief. She stared at the Spirit Shop owner, who was now cheerfully standing inside the shrine—now transformed into a talisman stall. She was not quite sure what to make of it. What could one use talismans for in Hell Dungeon—warding off ghosts? Sticking one on a beast's forehead to paralyze it? The Spirit Shop owner seemed to catch her expression and beckoned her over.

"Don't worry. The 15-meter radius around this stall is now a safe zone."

He reassured her when he noticed she was concerned for Hisa-chan. Hearing that, both Chang Long and Hisa-chan walked closer, curiosity piqued.

"So what kind of talismans are you selling, Shop owner?"

Chang Long asked with interest.

"You know how that Hell Dungeon has multiple floors, right? Each floor's huge, crawling with beasts. You might run out of food or medicine, and the more you carry, the heavier your bag gets. That's why I decided to open a talisman stall right here. Look, I've got healing talismans (for restoring health and mana at the same time) fatigue recovery talismans, strength booster talismans (for melee attack buffs), power booster talismans (for magic attack buffs), lunchbox talismans, and even elemental infusion talismans."

The Spirit Shop owner beamed with pride.

"Wait, what's lunchbox talismans?"

Chang Long furrowed her brows, clearly baffled. Hisa-chan looked just as confused.

"That's a talisman that makes the beast you're fighting drop a lunchbox. That way, you won't have to worry about food shortages anymore."

"Who would want to eat a lunchbox that drops from a Hell Dungeon beast?" Chang Long muttered, her expression one of visible dread. She imagined the horror of what that lunchbox might look like.

"Don't be so quick to judge. Sure, the contents vary depending on the beast, but I guarantee they'll appear in a sealed, proper lunchbox—tasty and safe. Don't believe me--try one for free."

The shop owner handed her a lunchbox talisman confidently.

Still uncertain, Chang Long took the talisman. The shop owner said she could use it free of charge and explained how to use it: hold the talisman between both palms and say, "Activate Talisman." The talisman would dissolve into light and enter her body. Each type had different effects. The lunchbox talisman lasted for about 30 minutes, during which every beast she fought had a chance to drop a lunchbox.

Hisa-chan laughed at the look on her face. Chang Long remained skeptical, even as the Spirit Shop owner insisted the bento would not be as horrifying as the beasts themselves. She rolled her eyes, bid the shop owner farewell, and hurried back to Devi-chan and the others, who were still busy dealing with waves of beasts. Before she could even reach them, a surge of Kitsune's blazing fire became visible from afar.

Devi-chan's group had followed the path cleared by the beasts fleeing Kitsune's fire—and coincidentally met up with Chang Long. They regrouped at the talisman stall. Killer and Murder were especially excited, bombarding the shop owner with questions and buying all kinds of talismans.

Chang Long agreed that the talismans were quite interesting—and a necessary investment if she hoped to reach Lucifer.

What especially thrilled Killer and Murder about the talismans was the weight efficiency. Even if they carried the same number of talismans as they did crystals, the talismans were almost half the weight. Plus, they could carry twice as many—one pouch that could hold fifty blood crystal jars could instead carry one hundred healing talismans. And unlike crystals that could restore only just health or mana, the healing talismans restored both at once.

After shopping and resting up, Chang Long's group resumed their assault on the beasts and eventually defeated the required number. But still—no sign of the path to the fourth floor appeared. They exchanged glances, realizing that there had to be one more beast type they had not encountered yet. What was it, and why had it not attacked, was something they still did not know. Their question was answered when a deep, thunderous bell rang out. The clanking of heavy metal footsteps echoed across the stone floor—and everyone turned to search for the source.

Within the remains of a crumbling tomb monument, a partially ajar door was suddenly blown clean off its hinges. Gleaming suits of armor reflected flashes of lightning in slick, polished surfaces. Red shoulder capes fluttered in the wind. Every knight raised their sword to chest level in unison, forming a striking and majestic tableau—like a battalion marching to reclaim a lost throne. Except for one detail: beneath those stately suits of armor were only skeletal remains of the long dead.

"Blood Knight Beast, Level 63. Prepare to engage."

"Ooh, now this is more like it,"

Anya said with a smile, admiring the knight's splendor.

"Huh! What do you mean, more like it, Anya?"Killer asked, glancing her way with confusion. Brownie looked just as curious, tilting his head as if to ask, if she was into knights or something--praising them so overtly.

"Well, for once, the name and appearance aren't totally repulsive like the other beasts. Makes them way more bearable to fight."

The fairy girl replied with a grin. Brownie let out a relieved sigh, which made the others chuckle at his reaction.

"True. After all the gross things we've seen, this is practically a breath of fresh air."

Chang Long added with a soft laugh, clearly agreeing.

"Alright, let's take them down—before the disgusting ones respawn and slow us down again,"

Devi-chan said, clapping Murder on the shoulder to send him into battle. Apparently, he clapped too hard, because Murder stumbled forward straight into a Blood Knight's sword.

"Mur!"

Killer shouted, alarmed. But Murder twisted his body, dodging and promptly kicking the knight's body straight into Killer, who looked quite shocked but seemed to have been expecting that exact move.

"Well, this bunch shouldn't cause too much chaos. Let's clear them out so we can move on to the next floor."

Chang Long ordered, and everyone charged into battle. This fight was far more enjoyable than the last—the chaotic swarm of cursed angel statues, skeletal warriors, and eel beasts had been overwhelming, hard to fend off, and creepy. Those slimy white eels in particular had made Anya physically shudder when they tried to slither up her legs.

"Absolutely not. No way I'm letting those things respawn first!"Anya declared defiantly, earning laughter from the group who remembered just how rattled she had been earlier. Though Chang Long and Hisa-chan did not catch the full context, they could guess the fairy girl and the white eels had not exactly become friends.

The Third Gatekeeper was a hulking figure, black as coal, his muscular frame stitched together with thick seams. Both arms were crossed over his chest, and in one hand he held a massive battle axe—more than capable of cleaving one of them clean in half. He stood utterly still as the party approached. Everyone kept their eyes on him warily. There was something too still about him, too patient. Even as they entered his striking range, the Gatekeeper did not move a muscle.

Fwoosh.

BOOM!!

The giant axe came down on them with terrifying speed, smashing the ground where they had stood just moments before. The sheer force of the blow cracked the stone earth wide open.

Chang Long and her companions dodged just in time, but the impact made their spines tingle. The Gatekeeper's prowess was expected from his enormous body—like a living titan—but his speed was far beyond what they anticipated. In that split second, someone could have easily lost their head if they were not quick enough.

"H... He's fast!"

Anya grumbled in horror. She had barely dodged in time. If the beast struck like that again, she was not confident she would escape the next one.

"Third Gatekeeper. Open the path to the next level for me— Now."

Chang Long stood firm, facing the towering figure before her and issuing a direct command. The Third Gatekeeper's hollow eyes locked onto hers. Its wide nostrils flared as it sniffed the air, then suddenly it let out a thunderous roar—so loud and deep it sounded like a mountain crumbling into ruin.

"Whoa! What's with this guy? That roar made it sound like he just saw his worst enemy. Isn't our liege supposed to be his master!"

Devi-chan yelled, covering his ears with both hands.

"My liege, watch out!!"

Hisa-chan shouted over the enemy's outcry, warning Chang Long—who stood within striking range of the gatekeeper. As the Gatekeeper raised both enormous axes high overhead—still roaring as it prepared to bring them down upon her. Chang Long's eyes widened. She lifted the Sovereign Sword just in time to meet the blow.

CLANG!!

The resulting impact was massive. The ground beneath Chang Long's feet shattered into a crater, like a meteor strike. She gritted her teeth, trying to push back against the crushing force of the gatekeeper. Her arms trembled violently, and her knees buckled under the pressure. The sheer magnitude of the clash made it impossible for anyone to rush to her aid. The rest of the group sprang into action instead—trying to draw the Gatekeeper's attention away.

Devi-chan and Hisa-chan leapt high into the air, targeting the seams on the beast's stitched-together arms. Killer and Murder went for its legs. Kitsune, Flatear, Anya, and Brownie provided support. Sensing danger, the Gatekeeper pulled back both axes, forcing Chang Long to collapse to one knee. Then, with its arms crossed, it unleashed a swing toward the ghosts.

"Hisa-chan! Devi-chan!"Chang Long cried out as the two were sent flying. Luckily, they were not injured—unlike the horde of beasts lurking just outside the beast king's radius. Hisa-chan, recovering mid-air, unleashed his Constant Blade, slicing through beasts in an instant before landing atop their remains.

Devi-chan, managing to stabilize himself, spun into a vortex and tore through the mob like a drill, reducing the beasts to flying chunks. Both immediately rushed to check on Chang Long, assuming she had to have taken serious damage from the earlier attack.

The young woman used the sword to brace herself and push back to her feet. Her eyes remained locked on the Third Gatekeeper, who was now locked in combat with the twins and her pets. She could feel a deep, seething hostility with startling clarity—just enough to suspect a rebellion might be brewing. This mission was probably not as simple as the ferryman, Fierik, had claimed.

The Gatekeepers might still recognize her aura—but they turned a blind eye. In fact, they were outright attacking her without fear. If her suspicion was right, this could only be the doing of Lucifer, the beast who sought to overthrow the Reaper King and take control of Hell Dungeon.

"My liege, what are you thinking?"

Devi-chan asked, noticing the look on her face.

"I'm thinking, we've finally hit the real wall,"

Chang Long replied, turning to him. Hisa-chan moved to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder, and tried to cheer her up.

"No matter what, you still have us. We'll fight by your side to the very end."

Chang Long smiled at his words, then turned her gaze back toward the battlefield. The twins and her pets were doing everything they could to hold back the Gatekeeper, even though their levels were no match for him. Their determination reignited her resolve. No matter how slim the chances of reaching Lucifer's hidden chamber—no matter how slim the chances of winning—she could not walk away from the quest now.

Chang Long activated Mystic Gust, launching herself straight toward the Gatekeeper, who had turned into a rampaging war machine. She slashed the Sovereign Sword in a wide arc—hitting the third gatekeeper with all her might.

Slash—

Thud. Thump. Thud. Thump.

A cry of agony tore through the air. The Gatekeeper's forearms—everything below the elbows—were severed and hit the ground, taking both of his giant axes with them. The wounds ignited with black flame, rapidly consuming both the severed limbs and the weapons. He collapsed to his knees. To everyone's shock, tears streamed down his cheeks as if the torment were unbearable. The Gatekeeper's mouth opened slowly, forming words that shook the entire group.

"M... My Li... Liege"

He was trying—desperately—to declare his loyalty. But something inside him snapped. His aggression surged back. Though he could no longer wield his axes, the real threat was just beginning as his worst attack seeming was not the relentless streams of axe blows.

Still ablaze with dark fire, he rose again. He did not seem to care about the pain from the punishment. Then—he opened his mouth, body heaving as if preparing to vomit. A thick stream of pitch-black liquid gushed out from its mouth.

It looked like black molten lava, so hot that it could melt a big stone in a blink. The party dove out of the way, escaping the hellish fluid sprayed from the gatekeeper's mouth. The liquid pooled around him, forming a ring of lethal magma. Now, he could not reach them—and they could not reach him.

"Well, that's annoying."

Anya muttered in frustration.

"What do you mean, Anya? Why's it so bad?"

Brownie asked from her shoulder.

"This is clearly a stall tactic. And honestly, I don't want to stick around this gloomy pit any longer than I have to."

Anya replied with displeasure. Everyone immediately understood.

To descend to the next level, they needed the permission of the Gatekeeper—and a key fragment from each of the twelve. These fragments had to be combined into a key to unlock Lucifer's Chamber.

"Third Gatekeeper. Show your loyalty and open the path. Hand over your key fragment—now!"

Chang Long barked the command with authority. The Gatekeeper recoiled. He struggled to control himself under the direct order.