Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas knew there was no point in hiding and ordered the Kenkus to attack the fortress below. When the birdmen heard his command, they dashed down the hill before vanishing into the shadows, which made him think, 'These creatures are going to cause chaos.'

Following that, Nulia and Amethyst shifted into their human forms as he laid out the plan. ''Estelle, Artemis, you ladies will attack from the west,'' he said. ''Nulia and Grishna, you'll take the front, while Amethyst will strike from the south.''

The five women agreed before rushing off to play their part in the upcoming attack. Once they were gone, Atlas slung several Void Bombs into the fortress which the enemy weren't ready for.

Explosions rang out, and seconds later, an alarm rang out. During the chaos, the Kenku's attacked, killing the soldiers stationed on the walls. As the creature's blades slashed at the soldier's throats, others dragged them kicking and screaming into the darkness below.

Without wasting a moment, Atlas summoned the Void Golem King, who let out an angry roar that echoed across the landscape. The colossal stone behemoth emerged, towering over the battlefield, waiting for its orders.

''Destroy the defenses,'' he commanded.

The giant monster charged down the hill with unstoppable force, slamming its massive shoulder into the fortress walls. The impact was devastating, reducing the sturdy barrier to rubble in an instant.

Following that, the women attacked. Estelle's Steel Legion battled the defenders as she summoned them after Artemis threw her onto the wall. While this happened, the brunette took out the cannons that were targeting them.

Amethyst let out a screech that echoed across the landscape. Atlas watched as she cast Cosmic Blast at the front gate. The explosion tore the metal structure apart and sent debris flying everywhere.

The spell decimated the guards behind it, leaving only a few alive. She quickly wiped out the survivors with a wave of purple fire that washed over them like a tsunami. The last two women burst onto the scene like a furious storm, their presence crackling with power.

'Oh shit, they have grown strong,' he thought with glowing azure eyes.

Nulia's deafening roar thundered across the fortress, sending tremors through the stone walls. She scaled the fortress walls, her claws tearing through the spearmen that tried to stop her.

Atlas watched the soldiers turn into bloody chunks as she passed. At that moment, Grishna, in her Bloodborn Orc form, leaped onto the wall, her massive hammer raised high. She brought it down with crushing force, obliterating any nearby soldiers.

After seeing all this, Atlas got to work and summoned a swarm of Bloodhawks. The flying monsters flew out of a portal before descending onto the Achaemenids and tearing into their ranks.

With everything in place, he sprinted forward, calling out to Theo before leaping onto the creature's back. In one powerful motion, they soared over the fortress walls. A barrage of spells hurtled toward them, but he countered with a Void Barrage, each shot finding its mark.

The explosion lit up the sky in a beautiful blue glow. Atlas flew over the defenses as a wave of spells and arrows rained down on them. Theo quickly dived low and flew through the fortress's streets.

Atlas quickly jumped off the monster's back and landed in the middle of the enemy soldiers. He cast Void Wave, washed out from his body, and slammed into them before he started cutting through their armor.

Amethyst unleashed a piercing screech, momentarily stunning the soldiers surrounding Atlas and leaving them vulnerable to his strikes. Seizing the opportunity, he sprinted down a nearby street, unleashing a flurry of spells that annihilated waves of enemies in his path.

While doing this, he felt his mana topping up, which allowed him to summon the Void Ghouls that appeared from the azure portal. The creatures rushed forward and pounced on the shocked Achaemendians.

Thousands of empire soldiers fell to their attack while the Kenku's attacked from behind along with the women. Atlas was happy that he could finally take some revenge on the Achaemenids who had been attacking him for years.

Following that, the group continued attacking the soldiers until every enemy lay dead and the streets covered in blood. Atlas was sitting at a fountain surrounded by corpses. While resting, he ordered the monsters to throw the bodies into the Otherworld.

While he watched them do that, Grishna and Artemis appeared. Both women looked exhausted before collapsing next to him. Atlas smiled as he spoke. ''Looks like you two had fun.''

''You have no idea, darling,'' the green-skinned beauty replied, a sly smile curling her lips as she stretched her arms. ''This new form drains me, but I'm sure I'll grow accustomed to it soon enough.''

Atlas chuckled before pulling Grishna into a hug, which made her smile as she asked with a giggle, ''What are you doing? You're covered in blood, you silly man.''

He chuckled and hugged her even tighter, which the Orc woman accepted with a loving smile, ''I'm glad you're okay handsome, me and Arty were worried about you.''

Artemis returned to her normal form after crushing a few more defenses as she approached the square. Atlas smiled when he saw the brunette and used Void Step to appear in front of her and quickly scooped her into a princess carry.

''Ahh, what are you doing Atlas!'' she exclaimed as a smile appeared.

''Making sure you rest Artemis, now stopped wiggling around and let me pamper you,'' Atlas replied with a grin.

The brunette fell silent, sinking into his embrace with a contented smile as they sat together, the fortress ablaze behind them. Moments later, Amethyst descended with a heavy thud, shifting back into her humanoid form.

''I lit a blaze around the fortress which will stop reinforcements from approaching,'' she said in a tired voice.

Atlas put Artemis down and hugged the phoenix woman, who melted into his embrace as she spoke cheerfully. ''It always feels nice when you hug me, my love.''

Explosions reverberated through the air as Nulia and Estelle arrived at the square. The blonde warrior was covered in the enemy soldier's blood, while the Frost Bear woman staggered, clearly wounded.

He watched as the knight hurried to heal her companion. A radiant white light enveloped Nulia, mending her wounds and allowing her to transform back into her humanoid form as she exclaimed, ''I hate fighting in urban areas. The enemy always hides behind corners and stabs.''

Everyone laughed as Atlas stood up and spoke to the five women, ''You ladies head back to the Otherworld and rest. I'll loot the fortress before moving on.''

They nodded in agreement and kissed him goodbye before stepping through the portal he had opened. Turning his gaze to the largest building, Atlas made his way toward it, his steps echoing through streets stained with blood.

Upon reaching the Achaemendian command center, he paused briefly, surveying the carnage. With a wave of his hand, he summoned the Void Ghouls, commanding them to loot the fortress and strip it of any remaining resources.

Afterward, he made his way to the prison where the Shadowfang Royal Family was being held captive. The journey took him ten minutes through the war-torn streets. When Atlas arrived, he found the Void Ghouls standing vigil outside the entrance.

The moment they recognized him, they swiftly dispersed, leaving the way clear for him to enter. Atlas stepped inside and noticed a large group of people huddled in the corner while protected by four men.

The largest of the guards stepped forward with a low growl, his posture threatening. But as soon as his eyes locked onto Atlas, his expression shifted in surprise. He paused before shaking his head in confusion.

''Who are you, boy?'' the wolf man asked with shock lacing his voice.

''Lucky for you a savor, an old wolf woman sent me here to save you so she could heal my companion,'' Atlas responded while approaching the cell. ''I assume you're the Shadowfang Royal Family?''

The man slowly nodded as he spoke. ''And what do you get from rescuing us?''n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

''A healed companion and some allies in the north,'' Atlas answered before cutting through the cell's bars with a swift slash.

The metal slammed onto the floor as he entered and opened a portal to the Otherworld. ''Stand under this tree and I'll come create some tents with you. I'm going to the location the old woman told me before she vanished.''

Following this, the wary family looked at the azure portal before the man ushered them into it. Estelle and Grishna met them, who wouldn't let them in the treehouse just as Atlas followed behind.

Once inside the Otherworld, he closed his eyes and created a small camp for them with a well and a small garden. After that, Atlas spoke to the Shadowfang King, ''Stay here and recover. I will travel to your people alone.''

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