Hitman with a Badass System
chapter-945

The sound of breaking glass echoed across the dark sky as Michael's meteorite spell cleared out the horde of hell walkers. As Gaya stood there in awe, she noticed that the castle was suddenly much closer than before. Michael quickly grabbed her by the waist, and with a swift movement, they both leaped into the air. The wind rushed past them as they soared towards the castle gates.

As they approached the gates, Michael's eyes were fixed on the target, calculating their landing with precision. He angled his body and adjusted his speed, and just as they reached the ground, he landed with a light thud right before the castle gates.

When Michael landed before the castle, Gaya's eyes widened in shock and horror at the sight before her. The castle of the Ruler of Hell was a massive, foreboding structure with black stone walls that reached up toward the dark, stormy sky. The gates were made of iron and adorned with twisted demonic faces, and the courtyard was filled with strange, otherworldly creatures.

The air was thick with the stench of sulfur and brimstone, and the sound of screams echoed from within the castle's walls. The atmosphere was oppressive, almost suffocating, and Gaya felt like she was being swallowed up by darkness.

The castle was surrounded by jagged peaks and a moat of boiling lava, adding to the foreboding atmosphere. In the distance, the skies were dark and foreboding, with black clouds swirling and lightning flashing in every direction. There was no sun or moon or natural light to guide one's way. Instead, the only light came from the flickering flames that rose up from the molten lava rivers that ran through the realm.

The landscape was barren and desolate, devoid of any signs of life or beauty. The ground was rough and jagged, littered with sharp rocks and broken bones. As Gaya took in her surroundings, she couldn't help but feel a sense of despair and hopelessness wash over her.

She could hear the distant sounds of screams and cries of agony, reminding her that she was in a place of eternal suffering. As they made their way towards the castle gates, she could see twisted demonic faces carved into the stone walls and strange, otherworldly creatures lurking in the shadows.

The closer they got to the castle gates, the more Gaya felt like the darkness was closing in on her. She could see the twisted faces on the gates leering at her, and the air was thick with the stench of sulfur and brimstone.

Gaya couldn't imagine how anyone could survive in a place like this. It was a place of unspeakable darkness and horror, ruled by an entity of unfathomable power and malice. And yet, they had to enter the castle and face the ruler of Hell if they were to save Nightmare.

As they stepped through the gates and into the castle, Gaya could feel the weight of the darkness pressing down on her. The walls were lined with skulls and bones of all shapes and sizes, arranged in twisted patterns. The floors were slick with blood and littered with the remains of the tortured souls who had met their gruesome fates within these walls.

Despite the bone-chilling sight of the castle, Gaya found solace in the fact that she was with Michael, the god of darkness and her fiancé. Being by his side gave her an indescribable sense of comfort, even as they ventured deeper into the heart of hell. As Michael stepped onto the castle grounds, the wind picked up, sending chills down Gaya's spine. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and flashes of lightning illuminated the ominous sky, casting an eerie glow across the barren landscape.

As they approached the towering steel doors of the castle, Gaya couldn't help but feel a sense of dread building within her. The doors were adorned with intricate carvings of skulls, bones, and disfigured bodies, all of which looked like they had been twisted and contorted into grotesque forms. The door's surface was cold to the touch, as if it had been forged from the very depths of hell itself.

The floor was slick with blood and littered with the remains of what appeared to be tortured souls, and the air was thick with the scent of decay and brimstone. The flickering torches cast an eerie glow on the walls, making it seem as though the castle was alive with malevolent spirits.

The walls were made of black stone, and the floors were slick with what appeared to be blood. Gaya could see strange, otherworldly creatures lurking in the shadows, their eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.

The air was thick with the stench of sulfur and decay, and the only sounds that could be heard were the faint cries and screams of the damned. The flickering torches cast eerie shadows on the walls, and Gaya could feel the eyes of unseen beings following their every move.

Despite the castle's foreboding appearance, Michael continued onward with unshakeable resolve. Gaya held on to his arm tightly, taking comfort in his reassuring presence. As they navigated through the labyrinthine hallways, Gaya could feel her heart racing with every step they took.

The darkness seemed to swallow them up as they moved deeper into the castle's depths. Gaya could feel the weight of the castle bearing down on her as if it were trying to crush her very soul. The stench of decay grew stronger, and the sounds of suffering grew louder with every passing moment.

Gaya could feel her resolve starting to falter as they approached the throne room, where the ruler of Hell awaited them. But as she looked up at Michael's unwavering gaze, she felt renewed strength and determination. With Michael by her side, she knew that she could face whatever horrors awaited them in the depths of Hell.

As they made their way through the castle's corridors, Michael's eyes scanned their surroundings, taking in the macabre decor and the twisted artwork that adorned the walls. Gaya walked beside him, her hand gripping his tightly as she surveyed the gruesome surroundings with disgust.

"I can't believe this is real," she muttered, glancing at Michael. "Is this hell?"

Michael merely shrugged, his expression unreadable. "That's a good bet," he replied with eerie calmness in his voice.

Gaya shook her head, her eyes scanning the twisted tapestries that adorned the walls. "I wonder what awaits us in this castle. I have a bad feeling about this Michael,"

Michael remained calm, his gaze fixed ahead as they made their way through the darkened halls. "whatever or whoever it is, we will face them and get out of this place alive. I had seen enough deaths for one day" he replied.

As they approached the throne hall, Michael's pace quickened, his eyes fixed ahead. Gaya felt her heart race as they stepped through the doors, revealing the foreboding chamber beyond.

"You're not scared at all, are you?" she asked softly, her eyes fixed on the twisted tapestries that adorned the walls.

Gaya's voice trembled as she glanced around the twisted and gruesome surroundings. "This place is unnerving. The darkness, the lifeless bodies, and everything else... It's creeping me out," she murmured, her grip tightening around Michael's hand. "I sometimes wish I were the goddess of darkness like you so that I could be as fearless as you,"

Michael merely smiled, his gaze fixed ahead as they made their way through the twisted throne room.

"Darkness can be a source of fear for many, but for those who embrace it, it can be a powerful tool. Fear is natural, but it's what we do in the face of that fear that defines us. I choose to use the darkness to my advantage, to harness its power and overcome my fears. In the end, it's not the darkness that we should fear, but our own inability to confront it,

Finally, Michael arrived at the door to the throne hall and paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. Since he had begun to embrace the darkness within him fully, fear no longer held any power over him. Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and strode into the throne hall calmly and unwaveringly

The throne hall was a foreboding chamber filled with a pervading sense of darkness and malice. The walls were adorned with grotesque tapestries depicting scenes of torture and suffering, and the air was thick with the stench of sulfur and brimstone. In the center of the room stood a massive throne carved from blackened bones and adorned with the skulls of defeated enemies. The throne was surrounded by flickering torches, casting eerie shadows on the walls and illuminating the ruler of hell who sat upon it, a figure of immense power and malice.

Dagon's voice rang out as Michael and Gaya finally strode into the throne hall, "Took you long enough," he said, his tone dripping with malice and impatience.

When the words of Dagon echoed through the hall, Gaya caught sight of the ruler of hell, she couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine. He was an imposing figure, with jet-black skin, three blazing eyes, and a wicked grin that revealed rows of razor-sharp teeth. His four muscular arms hung by his side, each adorned with a different weapon, and a set of large wings sprouted from his back, twitching with excitement as he surveyed his guests.

Sitting upon his throne, which was carved from blackened bones and adorned with the skulls of defeated enemies, the ruler of hell was the epitome of power and malice. His eyes burned with a fierce flame, reflecting the fires of the underworld, and his face was twisted in a wicked grin that sent shivers down Gaya's spine.

Despite his formidable appearance, the ruler of hell remained calm and composed, his eyes fixed upon Michael as he approached.

As Michael and Gaya approached, the ruler of hell rose from his throne, towering over them with his massive frame. He surveyed them with a predatory gleam in his eye, his nostrils flaring as he breathed in their scent.

Gaya couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as the ruler of hell loomed over them. His presence was overwhelming and menacing. She knew that they were in the presence of a being of great power, and she could only hope that Michael was up to the challenge if things went south.

Although Michael felt no fear in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise upon seeing the ruler of hell for the first time. If the devil that Michael had heard about in stories had a physical form, it would be the man who sat on the imposing throne before him. Gaya, who had always been fearless, even cowered behind Michael at the sight of the ruler. She tightly gripped Michael's shoulder as they watched the ruler of hell slowly descend the steps. Each step he took seemed to shake the very foundations of the castle as if the ground beneath them was trembling in fear. As he approached them, Michael noticed that the ruler's eyes seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, and his presence was suffocating

As Michael and Gaya stood before the imposing figure of the ruler of hell, Dagon's deep voice reverberated through the throne hall. "Time does fly huh?" he said, his tone almost playful. "It feels like only yesterday you stood there at the same place you are right now and proposed an alliance with the ruler of hell."

Michael was taken aback, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of Dagon's words. "But five thousand years have passed," Dagon continued, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Michael was stunned. His previous self had reset the universe five thousand years ago, and he had assumed that everyone had been affected. But Dagon seemed to be an exception. Michael searched for any sign of deceit in the ruler's eyes, but found none.

"You are not affected?" Michael asked, his confusion evident in his voice.

"We were allies, and you made an exception, Michael,"

Michael's shock deepened as Dagon spoke his true name, a name that no one in the universe should have known. Michael's eyes widened as he realized that the ruler of hell had some knowledge that he should not possess. Gaya noticed the change in Michael's demeanor and squeezed his hand reassuringly, but Michael remained lost in thought, trying to piece together the puzzle before him.

Only Gaya knew his true name, and Michael had gone to great lengths to keep it that way. His mind raced as he tried to figure out how Dagon had learned his name, but he could find no answers unless his previous self revealed his name to Dagon for some reason.

"I have to give you credit, Michael. Five thousand years ago, you said you'd be here," Dagon spoke with a hint of amusement in his voice, his eyes fixed on Michael.

His tone was both mysterious and playful, leaving Michael to wonder what else Dagon knew. Michael couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he studied the ruler of hell. Despite his confidence, Michael knew that Dagon was not to be underestimated.

"What else did I say?" Michael took a step forward, his eyes fixed on Dagon's face.

Dagon's lips curved into a sly smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"That you will settle your debt to me,"