---
The golden road cracked ahead.
Three paths had opened after the battle against Selene and Kai.
Each one was bathed in a different aura.
The left road shimmered with holy light, too bright to even look at.
The right road was overgrown with wild vines and beast roars echoing in the distance.
But the center road...
...it bled darkness.
Black flames licked the road.
Twisted shadows moved even without light.
The air itself seemed to scream.
Above the center path floated a broken sign:
> [ Road of Eternal Damnation — Demonic Invasion World ]
Warning: Survival chances below 25%.
Rewards: Mythical Tier & Above.
---
Tough Choice 1: Which Road to Take
Lian stood in front of the three choices, heart pounding.
Behind him, Jayce whistled, "Holy... If I didn't know better, I'd say the middle one is the 'Fun' door."
Demist looked grim.
Elric, even more so.
Elric spoke first:
"If we take the middle path, there's no guarantee we survive.
We could lose someone permanently."
Demist added, voice rough:
"But if we survive... We'll be able to fight even monsters like Kai easily."
Everyone turned to Lian.
As the leader, the final decision was his.
Lian looked once more at the burning road.
His blood boiled with excitement.
"If we want to be the best..." he said, voice steady,
"Then we have to gamble everything."
He pedaled forward.
Into the darkness.
---
[You have chosen: Road of Eternal Damnation]
[Demons stirring… Battle rating: Extreme.]
[System Buffs Deactivated for Entry. Good luck.]
---
Arrival: Demonic Invasion World — Inferna
---
The world itself was on fire.
Red skies, broken black cities, endless hordes of monsters crawling over the ruins of civilizations.
The team materialized inside what was once a giant city — now reduced to ash and skeletons.
A massive blood-red moon hung overhead, pulsing with an unnatural heartbeat.
> [ World Rank: Tier 3 — Level 5 ]
[ Warning: Enemies will constantly evolve based on your victories. ]
---
Mission Updated:
Main Quest: Survive Until Reinforcement Portal Opens.
Duration: 1 Year.
Sub Quests:
Defend a stronghold.
Save remaining survivors (optional).
Hunt Demon Generals to weaken the invasion.
Resist the Corruption Effect.
Penalty for Failure: Permanent Death.
---
First Trial: Corruption Waves Incoming!
---
The team barely had time to breathe before the first event hit.
From the shattered ground, creatures emerged.
Corrupted Beasts — massive wolf-like monsters with four eyes, burning fur, and jagged black claws.
Worse yet, corruption began seeping into the air, trying to invade their bodies and minds.
Demist staggered, gripping his axe.
"System says if we're corrupted too much," he grunted, "we'll turn into monsters ourselves."
Jayce spun his slingshot, forcing a grin. "So basically, no getting scratched, no losing your mind, no dying horribly.
Simple rules."
Elric whispered, voice shaking: "And if one of us falls... we may have to kill them."
---
Battle: 1st Corruption Wave
---
Corrupted Wolf Leader (Mini-Boss)
HP: 20,000
Special: Inflicts Madness with every bite.
Weakness: Heart Core exposed during rage mode.
---
They clashed.
Jayce fired explosive shots, blowing off chunks of corrupted flesh, but the beasts regenerated unless burned completely.
Demist fought two at once, his axe glowing faintly with anti-corruption enchantments — but even he was slowing down.
Elric formed protective domes, shielding them from poison blasts, but cracks formed quickly under pressure.
And Lian?
He upgraded his Photon Cycle into Battle Mode.
> [ Photon Cycle — Battle Gear Form Unlocked ]
Twin Blades attached to wheels. Boosted impact force by 300%.
He drove directly into the pack, slicing wolves in half with deadly precision.
The mini-boss howled, causing an earthquake that threw everyone off balance.
One corrupted wolf bit into Jayce's shoulder.
> [ Corruption Level: 10% ]
"Shit!" Jayce yelled, staggering back.
---
Tough Choice 2: Save Jayce — or Prioritize Killing the Boss
Elric shouted:
"If Jayce's corruption crosses 30%, he's lost forever!"
Demist roared:
"But if we don't kill the leader NOW, we all die here!"
Lian had seconds to decide.
His brain raced.
(Save Jayce first → Risk total wipeout.)
(Kill Boss first → Jayce might be permanently corrupted.)
He bit his lip — then made the call.
"DEMIST, HOLD THEM!"
"ELRIC, SHIELD JAYCE!"
"I'LL SLAY THE LEADER!"
He launched himself forward with every ounce of strength.
The Photon Cycle roared like a beast.
He slashed through minions, weaving left and right through waves of corrupted claws.
The Wolf Leader opened its mouth for a final shriek.
Lian activated Phase Through —
appearing inside the beast's chest cavity —
and detonated his twin Photon Blades at full power.
BOOOOM!
The Wolf Leader exploded into black mist.
---
> [ Mini-Boss Defeated! ]
[ Corruption Wave 1 Cleared! ]
---
Elric managed to suppress Jayce's corruption back to 5% using emergency purification kits.
They lived.
But the victory was hollow.
Demist fell to one knee, panting.
Jayce sat down heavily, coughing black blood.
Elric clutched his head, his mana almost empty.
They had survived… but barely.
And Lian knew.
This was only the beginning.
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End of Chapter 30
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Next Chapter: Chapter 31 — The Demon General's Summoning Ritual
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