Level Up: Voidwalker

Atlas and Nala were hidden above the bandit camp. He summoned his helmet while speaking, 'You go around and launch an attack when you see an explosion. Do you want more lions?'

He quickly checked the Dungeon Monster costs before summoning anything due to not having unlimited mana.

[Rank G: 125 Mana per summon]

[Rank E: 250 Mana per summon]

[Rank D: 500 Mana per summon]

[Rank C: 1000 Mana per summon]

[Rank B: 2000 Mana per summon]

[Rank A: 3000 Mana per summon]

[Sub-Bosses: 4000 Mana per summon]

[Bosses: 5000 Mana per summon]

'I can summon four Dreadmaw Lions to help us in the ambush,' he thought excitedly.

Following that, he summoned them only to feel weak, but Nala quickly ordered the lions to surround the bandit camp. The lions dispersed before downing a few mana potions and felt it returning to him.

'I can't wait to get a Mana Regeneration Skill,' he pondered while recovering.

Atlas let out a sigh of relief before summoning even more monsters to use in the ambush, which were four Savage Wargs that had appeared. The fearsome-looking creatures were happy to him and let out adorable noises.

He quickly stroked all of them while speaking to the monsters, ''We are ambushing some humans. After I launch my attack, you can eat once they're dead.''

The Savage Wargs watched as Atlas unsheathed his swords. He dashed toward the camp wall with speed and leaped effortlessly over it. In mid-air, he cast Void Infusion on his blades before using Void Step to appear in the center, which shocked the bandits.

Atlas quickly cast Void Bomb at one group, causing an explosion, which was the signal for the monsters. Loud, vicious roars echoed alongside creepy snickers from the Savage Wargs who rushed into the camp.

They charged the confused bandits just as Atlas started killing the men and women who couldn't react quickly enough. He saw the enemy getting pounced on or dragged into the nearby bushed while screaming.

His monsters ensured he was okay while slaughtering dozens of bandits before reaching their leader. Atlas smiled when seeing the man and quickly activated Call of the Void to summon Drax.

The portal opened behind the bandit leader as the Void Raptor King rushed out and attacked the man who managed to block it. When Atlas saw this, he dashed in before ramming Nightblade and Deepforge into the enemy's ribs.

He roared before cutting the man into two as the monsters finished the other bandits off, causing him to shout, ''Bring me their bodies!''

Then, Atlas took all their Adventurers Cards and all coins before his summons started eating. He sat down on a nearby stone and noticed nothing personal while going through their belongings.

He found several hundred silver coins, fifty gold coins, and a bunch of gems, which he threw into storage. It took the monsters an hour to eat before Atlas gathered them like confused sheep.

Following that, he spoke to the creatures with a stern voice, ''You guys will stay behind me and do not attack anyone on the road! I will never summon you or your kind again if you do.''

All the monsters agreed with a howl or roar before they took off to find the Slavers in the south. Atlas wanted to hit the bandit leader last so he could do it at night and sneak around their camp like an assassin.

Riding atop Nala, they sped across the Nubian landscape, leaving travelers stunned. At first, the sight of the powerful monsters startled onlookers, but when they realized the creatures were tamed, their shock turned to awe.

After searching for an hour, Atlas and the monsters couldn't find any Slavers, causing him to grow annoyed. He started counting the remaining creatures: Nala, two Dreadmaw Lions, and three Savage Wargs.

Atlas then got an idea and summoned four Razorwing monsters from the Moonshade Grotto Dungeons. They looked like angry eagles with dark feathers that landed around him, staring into his eyes with their red ones.

He pointed up and ordered the flying creatures, ''Find any groups that have captured people and report back to me.''

When the Razorwings heard this, they let out several screeches before soaring into the sky as Atlas relaxed against Nala, whose voice sounded in his mind, ''Master. Thank you for allowing me to aid you.''

Atlas turned to the lion with a smile while stroking her soft black fur, ''You're welcome, Nala. You have been good company since I summoned you.''

The lion got visibly happy as she jumped up, causing Atlas to fall back as she jumped on him. He was laughing, but the lion pinned him down before licking his face while purring, causing him to accept his fate.

He noticed the Razorwings returned one by one and informed him of several Slaver caravans nearby. Atlas smiled when hearing this. He quickly jumped on Nala's back before the lion started sprinting.

While this happened, the other monsters followed behind as the flying creatures led them to the first caravan, which they washed over like a lethal tidal wave of teeth and claws. He used his blades to deal with the remaining guards.

Once they were all dead, Atlas ordered the monster to guard him while he freed all the captured people who were grateful before rushing toward the nearest village. When he saw this, he sent the Razorwings with them.

Following that, Atlas went after the remaining Slavers, and thanks to his monsters, they were quickly wiped out without much hassle. He realized that he only had Nala, and she even needed rest.

He went to send her back to the Dungeon Realm, but the lioness resisted and took him south to deal with the last one before resting. After another hour, they appeared on a cliff overlooking a hidden cove that looked like a city full of pirates and outlaws.

'Wow. That will be full of treasure,' Atlas thought with a greedy smile as he dismissed Nala to rest.

Once the monster was gone, he scanned the surroundings and noticed he could sneak down the side of the cliff. Without wasting any more time, he climbed down the rockface while looking out for any guards.

Soon enough, Atlas made it to the edge of the city, where a cave led deeper into the cliff. He readied his blades before approaching the closest building, only to hear a group of men cheering and celebrating.

Atlas peeked in and saw four men sitting around a table playing cards as a woman lay battered and beaten to the side. He kept low and readied a Flashbang Bomb before throwing it into the room, catching one of the outlaw's attention.

The man jumped up as it quietly exploded and blinded everyone. Without any mercy, he rushed into the place and started stabbing them like an evil gremlin. Minutes later, the four men lay dead, and Atlas was standing in front of the woman.

She gazed up at him with dead eyes as she spoke in a weak voice, ''Kill me, please. Help me join my husband in the next life.''

Atlas nodded in understanding, his heart heavy. With a whispered apology, he ended her suffering. "I'm sorry you endured this, but go now, be with your loved one. I hope your next life brings you peace."

Steeling his resolve, he vowed to hunt down as many of the scum as he could. Moving silently, he crouched low and ascended the stairs, bristling with rage as the sound of more women in captivity reached his ears.

He showed no mercy, cutting down everyone in the house—outlaws and broken souls alike, each kill weighing on his conscience. Once the grim task was done, Atlas slipped back downstairs and unleashed an Inferno Bomb, setting the building ablaze.

With the fire roaring behind him, he vanished into the shadows and continued killing the scum he found on the outskirts of the city before moving on.

***

''Put that damn fire out!'' a large man shouted in anger as they rushed toward the whorehouse where the captured women were trained.

The Ironhold Lord named Danton was a renowned bandit and pirate who raided Nubian and Graecorian Merchants at the behest of the Achaemenidians, who paid him well. Their gold allowed him to build the strongest Outlaw Faction, which consisted of thousands of scum that he united.

Danton stood watching the flames consume the infamous Ironhold brothel, his expression unreadable. His second-in-command appeared at his side, speaking in a nervous tone. "My Lord, dozens of men and women are turning up dead. We can't trace the culprit, but the lone survivor... called it a Shadow Demon."

His eyes narrowed as the firelight flickered across his face, casting long, ominous shadows. Without replying, he turned and headed back to his stronghold while muttering, ''I shouldn't have fucked that Necromancer bitch. I knew she would have cursed me.''

The city was locked down, and Ironhold Castle was secured with extra soldiers and weaponry. Danton continued to receive reports that the outposts and scouts were being silenced.

[Drop some powerstones, comments, and gifts to help the novel grow; I appreciate all the support you can give]