Hell Difficulty Tutorial Chapter 795 - Your guys’ fault

“As if I would.”

“No need to get so worked up, Lady Greed. Shocked to witness such a response from you. Never figured you'd reveal your true form for something this trivial.”

“You’ve always been a tad slow, Elian.”

“How rude.”

The white orb floating above her palm bursts apart. A shower of identical light rains down on the base, halted by the golden shield. Yet now, its surface undulates and trembles.

Suddenly, part of the star's exterior freezes in place. Flares cease completely before writhing like living creatures, lunging into the portal that materializes among them. We're still distant, so spotting it means the size defies imagination.

Next to Ruby, the void rips apart. A slender fissure slices through space, unleashing endless torrents of fire. Crimson and amber blaze swirls around her, climbing fiercer, more chaotic. Her fiery hair rises on the surging warmth, fanning out sideways, clashing with the infinite darkness nearby.

An unseen strike slams the barrier, spawning cracks. A chunk of the golden shield begins melting, flowing downward like molten liquid.

“Think I won’t hit you for real, Elian? Fight back or get lost.” Ruby’s words echo through the chamber amid the chaos.

I try shifting but sense my actions frozen, mana flow blocked too. Meanwhile, Elian doesn’t glance over, “One of your foolish weapon experiments?” the Magi inquires, keeping his casual demeanor.

“Something along those lines,” Ruby replies. She waves her hand dismissively like swatting a pest, but the effortless gesture deflects an invisible assault too swift to track.

The next moment, a small puncture forms in the star, as though pierced clean through. Big enough to spot from afar. It seals shut swiftly, yet the impact lingers.

No chance I perceived that right, huh?

"Looks like your skill got an upgrade," Ruby sneers. "Might impress more if you hadn’t fueled that strike with your base."

"Been eager to try this for ages, and you handed the perfect chance. Still, results fell short of hopes. I’ll tweak it further though." Elian edges nearer to the dome’s glass. "Curious why you’d escalate like this. You never blew up before. What’s your aim with this..."

He trails off as the base quakes and blinding light engulfs everything briefly.

Light fades, Ruby vanished, view narrowed to a roiling wall of fire. Realization hits: the whole base teleported nearer the star. The one we’re plummeting toward. The structure creaks with a profound metallic wail echoing in floor and bones.

Elian stays unmoved. Hands already dancing, etching white runes into the air. Quick work rebuilds the golden shield, white rune networks sprawling across it. Shield assembles in vast hexagonal plates, joints blazing deep gold.

"Such a massive outburst shows inefficiency that tires me greatly." Elian sighs, eyes on the star, ignoring me.

Palm slams glass. Runes ignite, base lurches. Shakes violently next. Fine crack snakes across the dome glass.

Mana still sealed for me, but base’s momentum toward star overpowers all. Accelerating fast, golden shield scorching in spots.

Suddenly, after ages, motion returns to me.

Ruby absent, but voice booms from all directions. "This once, I’ll overlook it, Elian, spare your toy. But breaking rules demands payment."

"Rules never bothered you, Lady Greed," the Magi scoffs. Base eases under his command, halting fully. Invisible clash rages on.

“Wrong. I adore rules, specially when they benefit me.” Ruby chuckles, portal spawning beside me.

Something tells me Ruby planned this, so I snatch two fur hides from the seat and head to the center’s Eternal Fire Fragment blaze. Briefly consider grabbing it. Endure the agony momentarily, slip through portal for redhead’s aid.

But death certain. This fire fuses ten pure ones, none tutorial fakes. All authentic fragments, matching mine.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Thus, I seize a white wood log instead.

Magi stares in total disbelief, expression vanishing fast. "You struck me hoping to invoke vow’s conflict clause, wiping my memory of your trait."

Portal snaps shut. Gone the vast star-nebula void Ruby favors, replaced by closet-sized space. Star-like lights illuminate, blackness boundless yet walls pinch movements tight.

Squished inside with Ruby, bodies mashed together. Face inches away, revealing yellow eyes’ details, trait hints, cheek freckles.

“This is new. Evicted for rent issues?” I quip. Shift attempt only grinds us closer, forehead bonking my nose.

“Hilarious,” she growls. “Elian pulled that during exit. All he’s good for, pure annoyance.” Breath warms my cheek on exhale. Shoulder bumps, hair strand tickles face. Gap shrinks more.

“Well,” I mumble, “at least consistent.”

“Wondering,” she says after pause, locking eyes. “You irritate so much, why not incinerate you to nothingness.”

I blink, stunned. “That… overkill. Slightly.”

No reply, force shoves me tumbling onto familiar floor. Fur pelts and log tumble nearby. Check descriptions quick, annoyed they’re mere materials.

“Why just pristine rarity?” I question Ruby, now lounging behind table like normal.

“Most tutorial folks would weep for pristine gear.” Chair tilts back. “No dawdling. Hit system shop, grab Tutorial Stay Token. Unlocked it for you, should show.”

Tone grave, so I open shop, price stuns. “Half million shards.”

“Correct. Two-week Beyond Stay got you here, nine days left. Too much. Purchase, rush tenth floor, finish quest ASAP. No more details, that’s my max. You owe me yet again.”

Gaze into eyes briefly, buy token.

“What’s really happening?” I probe.

Table shields her sigh. “Your lot’s mess, as usual. Hoped time for Beyond quest, but tenth floor chaos exploding, worse incoming. Elian’s idiocy let me improvise, extract you.”

“More to it, I sense. Know you too well,” I rise, stare till smile cracks lips.

“Greed defines me. Sent to Elian expecting his move. Now leverage against Diligence threats for silence, snag long-coveted item from collection. Disappointed?”

“As if,” I huff. Nod at pelts, log. “Watch these awhile.”

“Done.”

“Oh, Ruby, by the way?”

“Yeah?”

“F-ant-astic work today.”

“Piss off.”

Seconds later, back on tenth floor. Empty zone, only sky communication arrays endless, detection tuned oddly narrow.

Adjust nose glasses, dart cityward. Nearing, bustle intensified, fleeing vibe. Ships, airships flee nonstop. Entry free, no blocks, array overcharged for defense.

Streets thicken with crowds. Masses cram gear into packs, bicker officials. Hovering orbs like guard drones skim low, scanning everywhere.

Yet half-ish ignore panic, carry on.

No delay, race to our tower. Floor reached, Maya admits surprised but unquestioning.

No query needed, she rushes, "Champion slain nearby days ago, Absolute returning planet-side. Those glasses, what gives?"

Answer dodged as Maya dismisses, voice spiking, "Word is goddamn Weredeer took out Champion."