CHAPTER 36: IT DOESN’T MATTER, I’LL KEEP FIGHTING

[System Quest Complete - 4000 Death Points]

Dante was surprised at the notification, but more when seeing what Bella had become; she wasn’t that different, apart from being even more beautiful than she already was. He shook his head and spoke. ’’Looks like you’ve grown even stronger, Bel, at least you won’t be killed easily.’’

’’Is that your way of telling me you like it?’’ she teased.

He narrowed his eyes as Mary giggled. ’’Well, I’m sorry for my behaviour, seeing what you went through clears up a lot of doubts,’’ she revealed.

’’What do you mean, woman?’’ Dante growled at the Death Wraith. ’’You’re still in my bad book for your mischief.’’

She flashed a warm smile as the trio began their drinks. His gaze drifted back to the Death Bird, still aboard the Darkmoore ship, now easing into the dock. As soldiers prepared to disembark, he spotted hundreds of Ghouls swarming the port. Surprised, he sent a message to Sulla. ’’Weren’t all the undead sent to the other cities?’’

The Death Lich appeared in a dark mist and bowed. ’’No, my lord. I kept a small amount of Ghouls here in Dreadport in case the kingdom sent another force, which was a good call in my opinion.’’

’’Good,’’ Dante replied, grinning. ’’Now let’s watch the show unfold, it should be good.’’

Following that, he used his mana to create a screen so Bella, Mary, and Sulla could watch as he drank some wine. The Death Bird crowed above the ship, but none of the human paid it any attention as they formed up into a shieldwall before stepping off the boat as their commanders shouted orders.

Dante watched as the Ghouls silently rushed through the streets. Once they were close, one of them let out a shrill scream and pounced at the soldiers, who panicked at the suddenness of the attack. The creatures landed in the middle of a group and quickly sliced them up using their claws.

Blood flew everywhere as more undead attacked, causing the Darkmoore soldiers to retreat to the ships. He chuckled at the sight as dozens of men and women died under the claws of the creatures Sulla left in the city. The Ghouls killed the remaining humans on the docks before they managed to get away.

While watching this, someone poked him, causing Dante to come out of it to see Mary standing there, grinning as she asked. ’’Are we together then?’’

’’No,’’ he answered. ’’Because I said you have a chance doesn’t mean we’re together. That comes in time if we get on.’’

’’Look at the Death Monarch sharing wisdom with his underlings,’’ Bella teased from the side.

’’I’m not rushing into another relationship like I did with that cunt Ashley,’’ Dante growled in anger. ’’I’ve learned my lesson and will live my life until something comes along.’’

When the two young women heard this, they nodded in agreement, remembering what he went through 200 years ago. Moments later, Sulla reappeared after checking on the city. ’’My lord, the Ghouls will keep the enemy at bay, but we need to move. There are a few A Rank Hunters in the crowd.’’

Dante’s eyebrow rose, but he agreed before leaving the Domain, followed by the Bloodraven Knight, giving the undead a questioning look, causing Gilbert to explain. ’’We come to the understanding that three of us can’t follow you around, so we decided that we’ll take turns protecting you.’’

’’What? I swear you better not turn into Henry or Raoul,’’ he warned. ’’I’m low-ranked, yes, but I have years of experience under my belt.’’

Gilbert bowed his head, causing Dante to sigh as he left Dreadport behind just as the Ghouls held back the Darkmoore forces. By the time they entered the Dark Forest, vanishing into the darkness and losing the A Rank Hunters.’’

Some time later, he looked at the knight and asked. ’’What are hunters? They weren’t a thing when I was alive.’’

’’Being who hunt down evil for the Light Goddess Gaia,’’ Gilbert responded. ’’She rose to prominence about 100 years ago when an S-ranked adventurer was rewarded by her, bringing her even more followers.’’

’’Another damned goddess,’’ Dante hissed. ’’They were always doing that shit back in the day, hoping to get even stronger but could never reach Gold Rank.’’

’’Gold Rank?’’ Gilbert muttered.

’’Yes, I was the only person able to achieve it,’’ he explained, stepping over a fallen log. ’’Do they not have it anymore?’’

’’No, my lord. The strongest rank one can get is Platinum, but no one’s managed to get it yet,’’ the undead revealed. ’’It was changed just under 200 years ago.’’

Dante nodded as they passed through a dense part of the road. A sudden rustle in a nearby bush snapped his attention. He signaled the Death Wolf Leader to eliminate the source, only for a dozen Goblins to burst out, scattering in every direction. Irritated by the creatures, he unleashed a volley of Death Bolts, cutting them down in seconds.

Moments later, a click was heard in his mind as he just ranked up and felt his power increase, checking his new status.

[Level Up: 87102]

[Experience: 100/15,000]

[Rank Up: ED]

[MANA: 287288]

[HP: 251252]

[STR: 305306]

[DEX: 314315]

[INT: 247248]

[CHA: 136137]

[Death Points: 34007400]

’Looks like my stats are not rising as fast, but it doesn’t matter, I’ll keep fighting,’ he mused.

Following that, Dante continued traveling through the forest for hours, only for Mary to appear in her Wraith form and warn. ’’Powerful adventurers are coming up the road, they’re a mile away.’’

’’Get into the Domain and let me sneak past them,’’ he ordered. ’’I don’t want to get caught out by strong enemies.’’

Gilbert tried to protest; he waved his hand, sending the Bloodraven Knight back to his realm alongside Mary before slipping into the underbrush. He wrapped his cloak around him to blend in with the dark foliage. Moments later, a ninja-looking person appeared just don’t the road, scanning their surroundings.

Dante used Death Eyes on the stranger to see what rank they were.

[A Rank Human - Scout]

’Oh strong,’ he thought. ’If she’s A Rank then the others will be and that’s bad odds for me.’

When the scout vanished, four other figures appeared, trekking toward Dreadport, and Dante scanned them all.

[A Rank Demi-Human - Warrior Mage]

[A Rank Human - Hunter]

[A Rank Elf - Hunter]

[B Rank Human - Mage]

Stunned by the overwhelming power of the A-Ranks, each capable of defeating him, he retreated deeper into the forest to get away from them. An hour later, as the sun began to set, he rose and headed south to confront a wolf. But when rain started to fall, he leapt into the Domain for cover.

Dante stepped into the treehouse only to see Bella cleaning everything while Mary was curled up on the bed. He chuckled, catching the elf’s attention. She smiled. ’’Welcome back, Dante. I was just getting rid of some of the dust.’’

’’Thank you, but it’s not necessary,’’ he replied, sitting down and putting his feet up. ’’Magic does it every so often, part of the Domain, I guess.’’

Bella waved him away, smiling. ’’Rubbish! I love cleaning and will do it while I’m here. I don’t want to go into that damned forest. It’s a nightmare.’’

Dante began laughing, waking up Mary, who stretched while letting out a big yawn. ’’What’s going on?’’

’’Just resting while powerful enemies search for me,’’ he revealed, leaning back.

’’Not going to fight them with the Death Knights?’’ she asked, standing up and wrapping his cloak around herself.

’’No woman,’’ he answered, closing his eyes. ’’Do you think I’m stupid? I’m strong but not that strong, yet.’’

Soon enough, Dante fell asleep thanks to the excitement of the day, and while sleeping, Mary went to see her family as Bella explored the Domain. Undead roamed the land or stood still waiting for orders from the Death Monarch. By the time he woke up the next morning, he spotted the blonde Elf curled up in bed, letting out adorable snores.

Dante got up and stretched his body, only for several cracks to echo out before he left his realm. When he reappeared in the Dark Forest, the sun had risen, leaving darkness covering everything, causing him to summon the Death Wendigos who circled him in a protective ring as he started walking.

Many beasts tried to attack, but either he or the monsters killed them without much effort. Blood stained the forest floor as he made his way south while fighting any creatures he could find. After some time, he reached a river that cut through the trees, creating bushes on the banks.

’’How can I get across?’’ Dante mumbled. ’’Looks like there’s some kind of monsters in there?’’

He used Death Eyes to scan the dark water, only for a notification to pop up, surprising him.

[Dark Piranha - D Rank]

’Oh monster fish!’ he mused, intrigued by the creatures.