Kelvin let out a low sigh, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared at the flickering glow of the Veil far in the distance.
"Don't get too excited about humanity having powerful individuals," he muttered, his voice laced with something between warning and resignation.
Hope's brows furrowed.
"Why?"
Kelvin turned his gaze to him, his expression unreadable.
"Because the Ashlands is not just some trial ground for us. It's a battlefield," he said. "And we are not the only players here."
Hope's stomach twisted at the implication.
"What do you mean?"
Kelvin exhaled slowly, as if bracing himself for what he was about to say.
"For every level of human power, the Ashlands has creatures that stand on equal footing," he explained. "The Veil doesn't just make us stronger. It also strengthens the horrors that lurk in this cursed place."
Hope swallowed. He had barely survived a single corrupted fiend, and that was only because of Kelvin's intervention. And now he was being told that there were even stronger monsters?
Kelvin continued, his tone measured and firm.
"The fiend I killed earlier? That thing had the same power level as an Awakened. It was nothing more than a weakling in the grand scheme of things. We call them Corrupted Fiends."
Hope felt a chill run down his spine. That thing was considered weak?
"But beyond them," Kelvin pressed on, "there are creatures far worse. Once you reach the level of a Master, you'll start encountering things called Sacred Beasts. They are to Ascended what Corrupted Fiends are to Awakened. Stronger, faster, deadlier. Some of them command hordes, others roam alone, but each one is a nightmare."
Hope clenched his fists, his mind trying to process what he was hearing.
"And it doesn't stop there," Kelvin added darkly. "When someone reaches the level of a Saint, they begin encountering the true rulers of the Ashlands—the Celestial Beasts."
Hope shivered.
"Celestial… beasts?" he repeated cautiously.
Kelvin nodded.
"By the time a creature reaches this stage, it's no longer just a mindless beast. It's something… more. Intelligence comes with power. A Celestial Beast is no different from a human in terms of thought, reasoning, and strategy. That's why we don't call them beasts anymore. At this stage, they are known as Corrupted Titans."
Hope's breath hitched.
"Titans…?"
"Yes. These creatures are so powerful that even Saints have to be careful when facing them. They don't just rely on brute force—they think, they plan, they scheme. Some of them have even gathered their own followers. To them, we are the invaders. And unlike the lesser creatures, Titans have a purpose… a goal."
Hope could hardly breathe.
"And if all of that wasn't bad enough," Kelvin went on, his voice now dangerously quiet, "there is one more level… the final stage of horror within the Ashlands."
Hope didn't want to ask. He already knew it would be something terrifying.
But he had to know.
"What could possibly be worse than a Corrupted Titan?" he forced out.
Kelvin met his gaze, his eyes dark.
"The Veil's ultimate monsters—the ones that stand equal to the Supremes themselves," he said. "They are beyond reason. Beyond mortality. Beyond anything we can comprehend."
He took a slow breath before finishing.
"We call them Demon Gods."
Hope felt his body go cold.
"Demon… Gods?" he echoed, the words barely leaving his lips.
"Yes." Kelvin's voice was grim. "They are the nightmares that make even Saints tremble. Only the Supremes can fight them on equal terms, and even then, it's not a guarantee of victory. The Demon Gods own the deepest parts of the Ashlands. Some say they were here before humanity even existed. Others believe they were once humans who transcended even the Supreme level and became something else. Something… wrong."
Hope's mouth was dry. He didn't know what to say.
"So, to summarize…" Kelvin said, glancing at the dark sky, "Corrupted Fiends for Awakened. Sacred Beasts for Ascended. Corrupted Titans for Saints. And Demon Gods… for the Supremes."
Silence fell between them.
Hope looked at the ground, trying to steady his thoughts. He had come to the Ashlands thinking it was just another fight for survival, but this… this was something else entirely.
The Veil wasn't just throwing people into hell.
It was preparing them for war.