The unit advanced deeper into the corrupted city, their formation tightening as the ambient wrongness intensified with each passing kilometer.

Rey maintained his position within the group while his enhanced perception catalogued the escalating danger.

The spatial distortions were becoming severe enough that simple navigation required constant mystical correction. Buildings that appeared distant would suddenly loom directly ahead, while paths that seemed straight revealed themselves as spiraling impossibilities when actually traversed.

"Halt," Paladin Commander Seraphine ordered suddenly, her detection techniques identifying something that made her expression harden with concern.

The unit stopped immediately, weapons raised and mystical defenses activated.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Just oppressive silence broken only by the distorted sounds of the corrupted city settling around them.

Then Rey felt it—a mystical signature approaching from ahead, its power operating at scales that exceeded anything they’d encountered so far.

The Hollow Creature that emerged from the twisted shadows was fundamentally different from its lesser kin.

It stood nearly three meters tall, its emaciated form wrapped in what appeared to be plague-corrupted noble clothing that suggested it had been someone of importance before transformation. But most striking was its mystical pressure—dense, controlled, operating with focused intent that normal Hollow Creatures lacked.

This wasn’t mindless undead.

This was something that had retained intelligence through its corruption, perhaps even evolved beyond its original human limitations through prolonged exposure to the plague.

Rey’s enhanced perception analyzed it immediately: ’Close to Tier 5 Chaos Dweller equivalent in raw power. But the corrupted atmosphere amplifies its capabilities while degrading ours. And its vitality—the anti-life coherence sustaining it operates under rules that make it incredibly difficult to destroy permanently.’

"Fall back," Seraphine commanded, her voice carrying absolute authority. "All of you, retreat to a minimum safe distance. I’ll handle this threat personally."

The unit didn’t question the order—they could all sense the creature’s power, recognizing that normal Gold-rank Searchers would be a liability rather than an asset against this opponent.

Rey withdrew with the others while positioning himself where his enhanced perception could observe the engagement clearly.

This would be valuable intelligence—watching a high-level Paladin fight at full capability would reveal techniques and tactical approaches he might need to counter eventually.

Seraphine faced the advanced Hollow Creature with professional calm that suggested extensive combat experience against similar threats.

"Spirit Art, Inferno Technique, Sequence #3: Divine Conflagration!"

Flames erupted across the battlefield—not normal fire but holy-enhanced combustion that operated at temperatures sufficient to reduce stone to slag.

The technique’s execution was flawless, demonstrating mastery that came from decades of refinement.

"ROOOARRR!!!"

The Hollow Creature moved with speed that belied its emaciated appearance, dodging the initial assault with fluid grace. Where flames did contact its form, the corruption resisted—anti-life coherence providing defense against techniques that would incinerate normal undead instantly.

It counterattacked with claws that had been transformed into blade-like appendages, each strike carrying plague corruption that could infect even through protective equipment.

Seraphine met the assault with defensive technique that demonstrated why she approached Angel-tier capabilities.

"Order Art, Fortress Technique, Sequence #4: Absolute Barrier!"

Crystalline walls materialized around her, their structure representing perfect geometric order that the Hollow Creature’s chaotic corruption couldn’t easily penetrate. The claws struck the barrier with force that cracked stone beneath her feet, but the defense held.

Rey observed with cold calculation: ’She’s using Order Art as secondary affinity—rare for Paladins to develop multiple Arts to High Sequence levels. Shows exceptional talent and extensive training resources.’

His fascination with Order Art also deepened at this moment. After all, such an Art wasn’t used in the Nether Realm

The battle continued with escalating intensity. Seraphine launched coordinated assaults combining Spirit and Order Arts in ways that created synergistic effects:

"Spirit Art, Tempest Technique, Sequence #3: Heaven’s Judgment!"

Lightning descended from the gray sky, called by a technique that commanded natural forces with near-absolute authority. The electricity struck the Hollow Creature directly, billions of volts attempting to disrupt its mystical coherence.

But the creature adapted, its anti-life nature providing resistance to effects that operated on living tissue. It staggered but recovered, its mystical pressure actually intensifying as though the assault had somehow energized it.

"Order Art, Structure Technique, Sequence #4: Reality Anchoring!"

Seraphine imposed ordered rules on the space around the creature, attempting to freeze it in place through techniques that overrode normal physical laws. For several seconds it worked—the Hollow Creature found itself unable to move as reality itself constrained its actions.

Then its plague of corruption surged, wrongness overwhelming the imposed order through sheer conceptual opposition. Anti-life rejected structure, chaos dissolved order, and the creature broke free with renewed aggression.

The engagement had lasted five minutes, and Rey could see Seraphine beginning to show strain.

Not from depleted Ether—her reserves were substantial—but from the corrupted atmosphere degrading her technique efficiency while simultaneously amplifying the creature’s capabilities.

’This environment is specifically designed to favor plague-corrupted entities,’ Rey analyzed. ’Every technique Seraphine executes costs more Ether and achieves less effect than it would in normal conditions. Meanwhile, the Hollow Creature operates at enhanced capacity. If this continues much longer, she’ll be worn down through attrition.’

Seraphine apparently reached the same conclusion. Her expression hardened with determination as she committed to more powerful technique.

"Order Art, Dominion Technique, Sequence #2: Absolute Command!"

The High Sequence technique activated with force that made reality itself seem to bow in acknowledgment. Seraphine’s will imposed itself on the surrounding space, commanding it to reject the Hollow Creature’s existence through authority that transcended normal mystical combat.

The creature screamed—first sound it had made during the entire engagement—as the technique took effect. Its anti-life coherence struggled against imposed order, wrongness battling structure in conflict that made the ambient corruption visibly recoil.

For several seconds, it appeared the technique would succeed. The Hollow Creature’s form began destabilizing, its mystical pressure fluctuating as Absolute Command forced it toward dissolution.

Then it adapted again.

The plague’s corruption surged with intensity that suggested the creature had been conserving power, waiting for opponents to commit to decisive technique before revealing its true capabilities. Anti-life principle evolved in response to the threat, developing temporary resistance that allowed it to maintain coherence despite Seraphine’s overwhelming authority.

The Sequence #2 technique failed to achieve decisive victory.

Seraphine stumbled slightly, the technique’s failure and associated Ether expenditure taking visible toll.

Blood ran from her nose—a sign of mystical strain approaching dangerous levels.

Rey’s hand moved toward his own mystical reserves, calculating whether intervention was necessary.

’If she falls, the entire unit is compromised. We’d be forced to retreat or face annihilation. But revealing capabilities sufficient to defeat a Tier 5-equivalent threat would raise questions I’m not prepared to answer.’

He hesitated, torn between strategic necessity and maintaining his cover.

Then Seraphine reached for something at her waist—a small crystal vial containing liquid that glowed with divine light so intense it hurt to observe directly.

"Divine Artifact," Rey recognized immediately. ’She’s been holding it in reserve, waiting for the optimal deployment moment.’

Seraphine crushed the vial, its contents erupting across her form and weapons.

The divine light intensified exponentially, her mystical pressure surging to levels that actually pushed back the corrupted atmosphere.

"Spirit Art, Purification Technique, Sequence #2: Divine Sanctification!"

Enhanced by the Artifact’s power, the technique operated at scales that exceeded normal Sequence #2 limitations.

VWUUUUSH!

Holy flames engulfed the battlefield, not just burning but purifying—eliminating corruption at fundamental levels rather than merely destroying physical forms.

The Hollow Creature tried to resist, its anti-life coherence struggling against assault that operated on principles specifically designed to eliminate wrongness. But the combination of High Sequence technique plus Divine Artifact amplification exceeded its defensive capabilities.

It dissolved, not into ambient corruption but into purified Ether that dispersed harmlessly. Complete elimination rather than mere destruction—the creature wouldn’t regenerate or reform.

The divine light turned inward next, purifying Seraphine herself.

The plague corruption she’d accumulated during the engagement—minor exposure that would have required extensive treatment otherwise—burned away under holy power.

When the light faded, Seraphine stood victorious but clearly exhausted. The Divine Artifact had been a single-use consumption item, its power expended completely. And the combined mystical strain from Sequence #2 techniques plus Artifact activation had depleted her reserves significantly.

Rey nodded internally with satisfaction at his restraint: ’Good. I was patient enough to let her handle the threat independently. Intervention would have revealed too much too soon.’

Seraphine turned toward the unit, her expression showing professional composure despite obvious fatigue.

"Reform," she commanded, her voice carrying less authority than earlier but still sufficient for leadership. "That engagement depleted my combat reserves significantly. We’ll need to establish a defensive position and rest before continuing advance."

The unit gathered around her, relief evident on faces that had been preparing for disaster. The Paladin had proven her capabilities, and justified the Church’s confidence in deploying her as coordinator.

Then Rey’s enhanced perception detected new mystical signatures.

’T-this is—!’

Multiple sources.

Approaching from all directions. Each one carrying power similar to the Hollow Creature Seraphine had just destroyed.

’No,’ he realized with cold dread. ’Not similar power. Identical mystical signatures. These aren’t random encounters—it’s a coordinated assault.’

"Paladin!" one of the Searchers shouted, detection techniques confirming what Rey had already sensed. "Multiple high-power entities approaching! At least eight signatures, possibly more!"

Seraphine’s expression shifted from fatigue to horror as her own detection techniques verified the report.

Advanced Hollow Creatures emerged from twisted shadows on all sides—north, south, east, west, and the spaces between. Each one identical to the threat she’d just barely defeated through extensive resource expenditure.

Nine of them total, their combined mystical pressure creating suffocating weight that made breathing difficult even through protective equipment.

The unit was surrounded!

Trapped with no viable escape route, facing threats that would require everything Seraphine had just expended—multiplied ninefold.

The Paladin’s face showed an expression Rey had never seen from her before.

Absolute despair.

Her Divine Artifact was consumed.

Her Ether reserves depleted to perhaps thirty percent. Her Sequence #2 techniques unavailable due to cooldown periods. And she faced nine enemies that had required her full capabilities to defeat individually.

"Defensive formation," she ordered, her voice carrying a hollow quality that suggested she recognized the futility. "Protect each other. Die with honor serving the Five Ancients."

It wasn’t a tactical command.

It was acceptance of inevitable annihilation.

The nine Hollow Creatures advanced in perfect synchronization, their movements coordinated with intelligence that suggested unified controlling force rather than independent action.

The unit prepared for what they all recognized would be their final stand.

And Rey stood among them, his mind racing through calculations that offered no viable solution that wouldn’t completely compromise his cover identity.

’Shit! What should I do?!’