The road twisted into a rising spiral of blackstone and rusted metal, glowing with crimson veins that pulsed like a beating heart. The sky above them burned—not with sunlight, but with flames. A new world welcomed them.
Or rather, it warned them.
The system alert came not with a tone, but with a distant, hollow scream that echoed across their minds:
---
[Welcome to World 4: Skarathrax - The Infernal Skies]
World Type: Demonic Dominion (Tier 3, Level 2)
Current State: War of Succession
Objective: Cross the sky-bound continent and reach the Stormheart Gate before the Infernal Convergence
Optional: Forge contracts, lead a rebellion, or become a demon general
Warning: Deals made here are binding. Souls are currency. Regret will not reverse the pact.
---
Their vehicle—a fused monstrosity of Cycle, Rickshaw, and makeshift armor—shuddered beneath their feet. Skyships circled in the clouds above, bound by chains to demonic creatures with wings of bone and engines spewing green fire. Below, floating islands cracked and reformed endlessly, held aloft by dark magic.
> "This isn't a world…" Jayce muttered. "It's a battlefield with no ground."
Lian checked the map. The Stormheart Gate was hundreds of kilometers away—across a battlefield of demonic airfleets, cult towers, and soul-storms that could erase a man's existence without leaving ash.
And then came the first challenge.
A skyship—rusted, broken, but still flying—descended from above. Aboard it stood a demon with a cloak of stitched faces and a voice like splitting stone.
> "Who rides the roads with no flag, no bond, no blood price paid?"
A contract scroll appeared in the air:
---
[Infernal Offer - The Face-Stitcher, Count of Unmarked Skulls]
Protection across three islands
1,000 coin advance
3 passengers gifted infernal weapons
In exchange: 2 souls to be claimed after this world ends
Refusal: Marked as prey by the Stitcher's Fleet
---
Boom looked at the others. "Do we sell pieces of ourselves to survive… or fight an air war against a fleet of demons?"
Melia stepped forward. "What if we make a third option?"
Jayce grinned. "Make a deal... and then break it. I like it."
Lian didn't smile. He stared into the firelit sky, eyes cold. "If we're going to survive this world, we're going to need allies who don't want our souls."
They refused the contract.
The demon howled—and the battle began.
---
Skies of Fire: Air Battle Begins
The Rickshaw's engines screamed as they launched from the road, soaring onto a platform held together by magic and prayer. Cannon fire erupted from the skies as dozens of lesser demons dove toward them, flinging molten spears.
Lian took the front, swerving mid-air, pulling sharp spirals that threw several enemies off balance.
> SLASH!
Boom leapt from the vehicle with a blood-forged chain-blade, carving two winged demons in half as he roared mid-descent, catching a glider to swing himself back onto the cycle.
Jayce laughed as his Golden Ice Cream Truck peeled from the side, projecting a holographic clown face that blinded enemies with a flashbang-style flare. A mounted turret emerged from the roof, firing silver-coated bolts with comedic sound effects.
> "Eat sprinkles, suckers!"
But then the Stitcher descended personally.
His blade was silent. His movement, blurred.
He appeared behind Melia in a flash—ready to cut her in half.
But Lian caught the blade.
And screamed.
Blood poured from his hand as the sword bit into flesh—but didn't sever it. Lian's aura flared.
> [Talent Triggered: Coin Multiplier - Emergency Backup]
Convert 1,000 coins to physical energy: Temporarily raise all stats by 50% for 1 minute.
He exploded into motion. Their blades clashed again and again—until finally, with a snarl, Lian slammed the Stitcher into the side of a floating tower, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.
---
A New Ally
As the group limped to the next island, they found her.
A lone figure seated atop a pile of demon corpses, sipping tea.
> "Took you long enough," she said without looking up. "I'm the rebel general of this world, technically. I was waiting for you."
Name: Astra Ves Karal
Title: Defector of Flame
Talent: Demonic Insight (Can read and rewrite contracts mid-battle)
Fate Path: World Wound Bearer
> "I know how this world ends," she said. "I lived it once. Lost everything. This is my second run."
> "You're a regressor?" Lian asked.
She nodded. "And this time, I'll win."
---
End of Chapter 59