Chapter 33 - 31: The Struggle
The dust from the fallen Golem Boss had barely settled when the chamber descended into an eerie silence.
Broken pieces of ancient stone littered the floor.
The remnants of the mercenary expedition stood among the corpses of their comrades, weapons raised despite their exhaustion.
Only three remained capable of fighting.
The Tier 6 leader. And his two Tier 4 warriors.
Victor’s eyes moved across the battlefield.
His expression remained calm.
Now. He stepped forward.
"Kael. Elena. Take the warrior on the left."
Kael immediately tightened his grip around his broadsword.
"Finally."Elena raised her staff.
"I’ll support you."
Victor’s gaze shifted toward Lyra.
"Lyra."Her silver eyes immediately settled on the remaining Tier 4 warrior."I’ll handle him."
The mercenary leader’s expression darkened.
"You children..."
Victor didn’t answer.He simply moved.
Kael’s broadsword collided violently with the Tier 4 warrior’s weapon.
CLANG!
The impact sent sparks flying across the chamber.Kael gritted his teeth as the older warrior pushed against him.
"Too slow."
The mercenary twisted his blade.
Kael was forced backward.
Before the warrior could follow up, Elena raised her staff.
"Strength Enhancement."A wave of magic enveloped Kael.His muscles tightened.His breathing stabilized.His movements became noticeably sharper.
The Tier 4 warrior immediately understood.
"A support mage."Kael charged again.
BOOM!
Their weapons collided.
This time, Kael forced the warrior backward.
His broadsword descended repeatedly.The mercenary blocked one strike.
Then another.
Then another.
Kael’s attacks were becoming increasingly aggressive. Too aggressive.
The warrior noticed immediately.
"You’re becoming reckless."
Kael didn’t respond.His breathing grew heavier.
His grip around the sword tightened until his knuckles turned white.Something inside him was changing.
Elena noticed it.
"Kael..."
She raised her staff again.
"Agility Enhancement!"Magic surged through his body.
Kael disappeared.The Tier 4 warrior’s pupils contracted.
Kael suddenly appeared at his side.
CLANG!
The mercenary barely blocked the sword.
"What..."Kael attacked again.His movements were faster now.More violent.
Less controlled.
The warrior’s expression became serious.
This boy’s physical ability is increasing.
He blocked another strike.
Then another.
But rather than continuing to fight Kael directly, his eyes shifted toward Elena.
The support is the problem.Kael’s strength had increased because of her.His speed had increased because of her.
As long as Elena remained behind him, Kael could continue fighting far beyond his normal limits.
The warrior made his decision.
He suddenly slammed his weapon against Kael’s sword.
CLANG!
Kael was pushed several steps backward.
The Tier 4 warrior immediately changed direction.
He lunged toward Elena.
Elena’s eyes widened.
"Elena!"
Kael turned.
But he was too slow.
The mercenary’s blade was already approaching Elena’s throat.
Then
Something inside Kael snapped.
His eyes widened.
His body moved before his mind could react.
BOOM!
Kael appeared directly between them.
His fist slammed into the warrior’s stomach.
The mercenary’s eyes bulged.
"Impossible!"
The impact launched him backward.
Kael stood between Elena and the warrior, breathing heavily.His eyes had turned crimson.
A strange, violent aura surrounded his body.
Elena stared at him.
"Kael..."
The berserk trait had awakened.
The warrior recovered and immediately raised his weapon.
"What are you?" Kael didn’t answer.
He charged.
Across the chamber, Lyra was already fighting her opponent.The Tier 4 warrior swung his weapon.
Lyra disappeared.The blade passed through empty air.
A layer of frost suddenly formed beneath the mercenary’s feet.
His expression changed.He jumped.
An enormous spike of ice erupted from the ground.
BOOM!
The warrior barely avoided it.Lyra appeared behind him.Her rapier flashed.
The tip struck his shoulder.
Frost exploded across his armor.The mercenary grunted and tore himself free.
"Annoying little.."
Lyra’s expression remained emotionless.
"You are in the way."
The warrior charged.His weapon swept toward her.
Lyra vanished again.
She moved through the shadows like a ghost.Every attack he made met nothing but air.
Then frost appeared around his ankles.Then his knees.Then his waist.
"Frost Prison."
Ice erupted around him.
The mercenary roared and shattered the first layer.But Lyra created another.
Then another.
His movements became slower.
His breathing became heavier.
He was stronger than her in raw power.
But Lyra wasn’t trying to overpower him.She was controlling the battlefield.
The warrior finally realized what was happening.
She’s gradually taking away every movement option.
He attempted to break through.Lyra appeared above him.
Her rapier descended.The warrior raised his weapon.
CLANG!
The impact forced him to one knee.His eyes widened.She’s this strong?
Lyra’s eyes remained cold.
"Sleep."
A wave of frost exploded outward.
The warrior’s body froze.His weapon slipped from his hand.He collapsed.Lyra turned toward Victor.
Victor was already fighting the Tier 6 leader.
The mercenary’s spear flashed toward his chest.
Victor twisted sideways.
The spear passed within inches of his body.
Victor stepped forward.
His fists were coated in dense black mana.
He punched toward the man’s ribs.
The Tier 6 warrior blocked with the shaft of his spear.
BOOM!
The impact shook his arms.
Victor immediately stepped inside the weapon’s range.
I need to stay close.
A spear was deadly at range.
But once Victor entered its inner range, the weapon became far more difficult to maneuver.
Victor threw another punch.
The mercenary twisted away.
His spear suddenly swept toward Victor’s head.
Victor ducked.
The blade passed over him.
He countered with a dark-coated fist.
The mercenary blocked again.
Then
BOOM!
A kick struck Victor’s chest.
He was thrown backward.
Victor landed on his feet.
His eyes narrowed.
He’s faster.
The difference between Tier 5 and Tier 6 was becoming obvious.
Even wounded and exhausted, the mercenary leader’s physical ability was superior.
The man raised his spear.
"You."
Victor stared at him.
"Where did you young ones come from?"
Victor smiled.
The mercenary’s expression hardened.
"You don’t belong here."
He lowered his weapon slightly.
"Turn around and leave."
Victor raised an eyebrow.
"I won’t pursue you."
The mercenary continued.
"Take whatever you’ve already found and leave this dungeon."
Victor suddenly laughed.
The warrior frowned.
"What’s funny?"
Victor wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You’re already half dead."
His dark mana began gathering around his fists.
"And you’re telling me to leave?"
Victor’s smile disappeared.
"I’m here to help you become fully dead."
He charged.
The mercenary’s spear flashed.
Victor dodged left.
Another thrust.
He ducked.
Another.
He stepped inside.
His fist slammed toward the warrior’s abdomen.
The mercenary twisted away.
Victor’s knuckles scraped across his armor.
The warrior retaliated.
Victor bent backward as the spear passed above his face.
He’s too fast.
Victor stepped back.
The mercenary followed.
"You are surprisingly strong for someone so young."
Victor’s eyes remained cold.
"So I’ve been told."
The mercenary suddenly disappeared.
Victor’s pupils contracted.
A kick slammed into his stomach.
BOOM!
Victor flew backward.
The mercenary didn’t hesitate.Mana began gathering around his spear.
Victor’s expression changed.
That technique again.
The same terrifying pressure that had destroyed the Golem Boss filled the chamber.
The mercenary’s spear began glowing with crimson energy.
His wounds opened slightly.Blood trickled down his arm.Yet his aura continued rising.
"I’m sorry, boy."
He pointed the spear at Victor.
"You chose the wrong opponent."
The crimson energy exploded forward.
Victor’s eyes narrowed.
Then
CRACK!
A massive wall of ice erupted between them.
The crimson attack smashed into it.
Ice exploded throughout the chamber.
Victor looked toward the source.Lyra stood several meters away.
Behind her, the defeated Tier 4 warrior lay motionless.
"Master."
Victor smiled faintly."Good timing." The mercenary stared at Lyra.
His expression changed.
"That attack..." He looked at the shattered ice.
His eyes widened.
"How did she stop it?"
That attack had been strong enough to destroy the Golem Boss.
Yet this girl had interrupted it.The mercenary tightened his grip.
Victor didn’t give him time to recover.
"Lyra."
"Yes, Master."
"Together."
Lyra nodded.
The two moved simultaneously.
Victor charged from the front.Lyra disappeared into the shadows.The mercenary swung his spear.
Victor ducked beneath the blade.Frost erupted behind the warrior.
He jumped away.Victor followed.His fist struck the warrior’s shoulder.
BOOM!
The Tier 6 warrior staggered.
Lyra raised her hand.
"Freeze."
Ice wrapped around his legs.
The mercenary roared.
His muscles flexed.
The ice shattered instantly.
Lyra’s eyes narrowed.
The difference in their strength was simply too great.
But she had accomplished what she wanted.
She had slowed him.Only for a moment.But that moment was enough.Victor appeared in front of him.His dark-coated fist came toward the warrior’s jaw.The mercenary blocked.
BOOM!
The impact pushed him backward.
Lyra attacked again.Frost spread across the ground.
The mercenary’s movements became restricted.
He shattered the ice.
Victor attacked.He blocked.Lyra froze his footing.He broke free.Victor struck again.
The three combatants moved through the chamber like flashes of light.
For the first time, the Tier 6 warrior understood the situation.
He wasn’t fighting a group of inexperienced academy students anymore.He was fighting two monsters who complemented each other’s weaknesses.
Victor’s close-range pressure prevented him from freely using his spear.
Lyra’s frost constantly disrupted his movement.
And neither of them showed any intention of backing down.The mercenary gritted his teeth.
"You two..."
Victor’s dark mana surged around his fists.
Lyra’s frost spread farther across the battlefield.
The Tier 6 warrior raised his spear.
His eyes hardened.The next clash would decide everything.