Level Up: Voidwalker

The Scalebreaker Matriarch reared up and slammed into the ground in a show of strength, but the Frostbear charged forward. As she got closer, another monster appeared, causing Atlas to order them,

'Do not kill her! She's under the control of my enemy. Lock her down, and I will help her.'

When the creatures heard this, they agreed and started fighting Nulia. Cera and Tyson tied her down, and a loud screech echoed across the otherworld. Raymond dived down and clamped the Frostbear in his talon.

Nulia couldn't move as the Stormeagle was too strong for her. She raged but was forced to stay still. When Atlas saw this, he spoke to them,

'Bring me close to her; I need to get the Chaos out of her.'

They agreed, and Tyson scooped his broken body in his mouth before taking him to the angry bear and placing him down so she wouldn't bite him. Atlas coughed up even more blood as he put his hand on her giant body.

He started sucking out all the Chaos energy that was destroyed as soon as his void mana touched it. Minutes later, Nulia stopped thrashing around before she collapsed, causing Atlas to sigh as if it were all gone.

Following that, he collapsed as the pain was too much, and all he heard was the faint screaming of the women rushing toward him. That's when Estelle and Artemis arrive at the scene and stop short when they see the monsters.

The creatures hesitated, gazes fixed on the two women until the Scalebreaker Matriarch unleashed a thunderous bellow. The roar sent the monsters scattering, clearing a path for Estelle.

She hurried to Atlas's side, but when she reached him, a gasp of horror escaped her lips. His left eye was destroyed, and the flesh on that side of his face sliced open to the bone. The sight made her stomach twist in disgust.

Though his armor was slowly mending itself, it revealed deep, brutal slashes across his body, blood seeping from the wounds. Estelle's hands trembled as she took in the extent of his injuries, her heart pounding with fear and desperation.

''This is bad, Estelle. Can you heal him?'' Artemis asked as her brown eyes couldn't stop staring at his broken body.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Without saying a word, the blonde began praying, her voice soft but urgent, before casting '

Healing Light

.'

A warm glow enveloped Atlas, and though some of his wounds began to close, not all could be healed. Exhausted, she lowered her hands as the spell faded. Just then, Grishna and Amethyst appeared.

The younger woman, panic written across her face, rushed to them. Her eyes widened in fear as she took in the sight of Atlas. ''Is he still alive? Tell me, Estelle!'' she demanded, her voice trembling with desperation.

Read latest chapters at empire

''Barely, he's holding on, but we need to get him back to the treehouse and find stronger health potions to try to beat the infection that's taking hold of his body,'' Estelle said as a bright glow emanated from Nulia.

The Frostbear woman returned to her humanoid form, looking horrified, heartbroken, and desperate. She turned to the four women with tears in her blue eyes, ''I didn't mean it! Chaos infected me, but Atlas freed me from it.''

Grishna ignored the frantic voices around her, her fury blazing as she marched straight toward the Frostbear woman. Without hesitation, she threw a solid punch at Nulia's jaw, the impact echoing as her head snapped to the side.

''You nearly killed him! You brutalized our husband!'' Grishna roared, her voice thick with rage.

She raised her fist to strike again, and Nulia stood there, ready to take it. But before Grishna could land the next blow, a weak, strained voice broke through the tension. ''Don't hurt her...'' Atlas managed, his voice barely above a whisper. ''Chaos infected her body... it's gone now.''

Though he was fading, he still lifted his head, his one remaining eye opened as he defended Nulia, who couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze. ''Come here,'' he said softly, his voice filled with compassion and exhaustion.

Grishna, still seething, grabbed the Frostbear woman's arm and roughly dragged her toward Atlas, throwing her down at his side. Nulia stumbled but didn't resist. With Estelle's Healing Light, Atlas raised his hand weakly and gently cupped Nulia's cheek.

''It wasn't your fault,'' he whispered, his voice filled with kindness despite the unbearable pain. ''Don't hold it against yourself. Take the others and head north. Find me the Healing Frost Plant... it will help me recover.''

Nulia finally looked at him, her eyes filled with guilt and uncertainty, but she nodded, knowing his words were her only salvation from the weight of what had happened, ''I'm sorry, Atlas. I will spend my life making it up to you.''

He gave her a weak smile and whispered, ''Come close if my face doesn't scare you.''

When Nulia heard this, she shook her head and rebutted his comment, ''You don't scare me; you never could.''

She moved close, and Atlas grabbed her before dragging her closer and kissing the shocked woman, but when she felt her mana rushing into him, she returned to kiss, which surprised the others.

Grishna opened her mouth, rage still simmering, but Estelle gently touched the Orc's shoulder before she could speak or move.

''He's forgiven her,'' Estelle said softly, her voice calm yet firm. ''You heard Atlas—Chaos did this, not her. They spent years together, and the two care about each other.''

Grishna's fists loosened slightly, her anger slowly giving way. She glanced between Atlas and Nulia, seeing their unspoken bond, and let out a heavy sigh, her fiery temper cooling, though not fully extinguished.

"I still don't like it; she could have killed him!" the Orc woman said as Artemis and Amethyst nodded in agreement.

Estelle sighed before explaining, ''They had been trapped in the Chaos Realm for years. Some had hidden inside Nulia and waited for the perfect time to attack; those vile creatures hate Azhar'Zul as he is their weakness.''

''There was that one being we met years ago; he wanted to wait until Atlas was stronger so he could eat him,'' Amethyst said while staring at him.

Following that, the phoenix woman approached the two as Nulia stood up and yelped when seeing Amethyst standing there. The Frostbear woman shook her head before speaking, ''I'm sorry for what I did. When he managed to hit me with Void Smash, it activated the Chaos Energy inside, causing me to go into a wild frenzy.''

''It won't happen again?'' Amethyst asked Nulia with narrowed eyes as she noticed the woman's mana was again normal.

The brown-skinned woman nodded, ''I unlocked a skill that helps shield me from Chaos Energy,'' she explained.

Amethyst kept staring at her before questioning, ''Do you love him? And be honest.''

Nulia's brown cheeks went dark, but she still answered, ''I do. He is a good man and would make a brilliant husband, but I don't think I deserve the title of wife after what I did to him. I disfigured him and ruined his handsomeness.''

''Stop being stupid; we will get him fully healed,'' the phoenix replied with a smile. ''I'm sure he doesn't hold it against you.''

After that, the women rallied around Grishna, who scooped him into her arms as she spoke in a heartbroken voice, ''Don't worry, husband. We will make sure you're fully healed and back to your handsome self.''

He let out a strained chuckle, but it quickly faded as darkness overtook him, and he fell unconscious. The women rushed to carry him back to the treehouse, where Atek rested in Atlas's room.

Grishna carefully placed him in bed, and as soon as he was settled, the Frostfang Tiger shrank in size and leaped onto the mattress. Atek nudged Atlas gently with his head before curling up and resting beside him.

The Frostbear woman watched the scene unfold, her heart heavy with guilt. She stepped closer, her voice soft and apologetic as she stroked the little tiger, ''I'm sorry for hurting you.''

Atek nudged against her hand, and a smile broke across her face. Artemis watched the moment and commented, ''It seems he has forgiven you. You're a lucky lady, Nuli.''

Nulia's smile faded, replaced by a somber expression. ''I know I don't deserve them both,'' she said, her voice laced with sadness. She shook her head. ''But I will retrieve the plant he needs to heal. Amethyst can come with me; she can fly, making things easier.''

After that, the women entered the living room after ensuring Atlas was fine, but Grishna stayed behind while removing his armor and clothes. When the Orc woman managed it, she was beyond shocked.

His body was covered in large slice wounds that clotted with blood. She lifted the covers and checked a particular part of him that she hoped, ''Oh goddess, there's not one spot not free from cuts, but at least the monster is fine.''

Once Grishna finished that, she leaned over and kissed him before leaving the room to speak with the others.

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