Chapter 84: Double Dungeon Incident (4)

Thirty minutes.

That was how long they had been fighting.

Thirty minutes of steel, Essence, blood, and exhaustion.

Twelve Death Knights had fallen.

And somehow, the group was still alive.

Barely.

Eden stood in the middle of the enormous hall, breathing heavily as sweat trickled down his face. His Aura Blade flickered around his hand, its once-solid purple glow now unstable and thin.

His Essence was running low.

Not dangerously low yet.

But low enough that he could feel the difference.

Beside him, the gray-haired B-Rank supervisor leaned against his weapon for support. His breathing was ragged, and blood ran down one side of his forehead.

The four D-Ranks were in even worse condition.

One was sitting on the ground, desperately trying to recover his breath.

Another had dropped his bow entirely because his hands were trembling too badly to draw another arrow.

The woman who had been keeping the group’s abilities enhanced was pale, her entire body trembling from Essence exhaustion.

The spear user was leaning against his weapon, staring blankly ahead.

They had fought twelve A-Rank creatures.

Twelve.

And yet, there was no end in sight.

"More."

The supervisor’s voice was quiet.

Everyone looked toward the darkness.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hall.

Then dozens more followed.

The darkness seemed to move.

Eden’s expression darkened.

At least fifty.

Probably more.

The supervisor tightened his grip around his weapon.

"Everyone..."

Nobody answered.

They already knew.

There was no way they could fight another fifty.

Not like this.

One of the D-Ranks swallowed.

"We’re... going to die."

"Don’t say that," the woman muttered.

"I’m just being realistic."

The supervisor looked at them.

"We still have options."

Eden almost laughed.

’Oh, do we?’

He glanced at the approaching army.

Then at his exhausted teammates.

Then at the supervisor.

His mind immediately went to two people.

Obsidian and Sylvia.

Eden clenched his teeth.

He had sent Obsidian out to raid Gates alone.

Sylvia had gone with him to supervise.

Normally, that would have been the perfect arrangement.

Obsidian could slaughter entire Gates without breaking a sweat, while Eden received the experience from his kills.

A flawless training method.

Except right now, Eden desperately needed him.

Obsidian could have bought them time, while Sylvia could have come up with a plan.

But just when he needed them most, they were gone.

"Idiot..."

He muttered under his breath.

The supervisor glanced toward him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Eden stared at the approaching Death Knights.

’I should’ve brought them.’

There was no way for Eden to contact either of them.

He had no choice but to deal with this himself.

Another Death Knight emerged from the darkness.

Eden raised his Aura Blade.

His body felt heavy.

’Think.’

There had to be something.

Something he was missing.

The creatures were A-Rank.

That much was obvious.

They had the physical strength, Essence output, and combat ability of A-Rank beings.

Yet...

Something hadn’t made sense since the beginning.

Eden narrowed his eyes.

’Wait.’

He looked toward the twelve corpses scattered throughout the hall.

His expression slowly changed.

Something is wrong.

He looked at the D-Ranks.

Then at the supervisor.

Then back at the corpses.

His thoughts began connecting.

They’re A-Rank.

They had fought twelve.

Even one A-Rank creature should have been enough to push a D-Rank to the absolute limit.

Defeating one should have provided a ridiculous amount of experience to the entire group.

A D-Rank could potentially gain several levels from a single kill.

"How many levels did you gain?"

Everyone stared at Eden.

The spear user blinked.

"What?"

"Your level."

"I..."

The young man hesitated.

"I haven’t checked."

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

"Check."

Everyone hurriedly opened their Status.

A few seconds passed.

The expressions on their faces changed.

"I didn’t level up."

"Neither did I."

"Me neither."

The woman looked confused.

"I haven’t gained a single level."

Eden looked toward the supervisor.

"And you?"

The old man stared at his status.

His face became serious.

"Nothing."

Silence.

Eden slowly lowered his Aura Blade.

"...Exactly."

The supervisor frowned.

"What are you thinking?"

Eden looked at the approaching army.

"Those things aren’t Death Knights."

Everyone stared at him.

"What?"

The supervisor’s expression hardened.

"We’ve been fighting them for thirty minutes."

Eden’s gaze remained fixed on the creatures.

"That’s the problem."

He pointed toward one.

"If those were actually A-Rank Abyss Creatures, we would’ve received experience."

The supervisor’s expression changed.

Eden continued.

"Not just a little. A lot."

He looked at the four D-Ranks.

"You should’ve leveled up significantly from killing even one of them."

Then he pointed toward the corpses.

"We killed twelve."

Nobody spoke.

"And not a single one of us gained even one level."

Eden’s voice became colder.

"That isn’t possible."

The supervisor stared at the creatures.

"Then what are they?"

Eden’s eyes moved toward the enormous purple statue at the far end of the hall.

"I don’t know yet."

He raised his Aura Blade.

"But I’m going to find out."

The supervisor immediately shook his head.

"Don’t do anything reckless."

"Too late."

Eden stepped forward.

"I need you to clear a path."

The four D-Ranks looked at him like he had lost his mind.

"A path?"

"Straight ahead."

Eden pointed toward the Death Knights.

"I’m going through them."

The supervisor grabbed his shoulder.

"You’re exhausted."

"So are you."

"That’s exactly why you shouldn’t—"

Eden looked at him.

"Fighting them is pointless! We might aswell just kill ourselves if that’s what you’re suggesting."

The supervisor hesitated.

"I might just get us out of here if I’m right."

"And if you’re wrong?"

Eden gave him a tired smile.

"Then I’ll die."

The old man stared at him.

"...You really are insane."

Eden pulled his shoulder free.

"Now move."

The supervisor gritted his teeth.

"Everyone! Open a path!"

The remaining D-Ranks immediately raised their weapons.

Their Essence was almost depleted.

Their bodies were exhausted.

But they obeyed.

The first Death Knight charged.

The spear user intercepted it.

The supervisor slammed into another.

The woman unleashed the last fragments of her enhancement ability.

Arrows flew.

Steel clashed.

For a brief moment, a narrow opening appeared.

Eden didn’t hesitate.

He sprinted.

Straight through.

A Death Knight swung at him.

Eden ducked.

Another thrust its blade toward his chest.

He twisted sideways.

A third tried to intercept him.

Eden activated Burst-Step.

His body blurred.

He passed between them.

None of them mattered.

He didn’t attack.

He didn’t stop.

He simply ran.

Straight toward the enormous purple statue.

’Come on.’

The statue stood motionless.

Thirty meters tall.

A massive Death Knight carved from purple stone.

Eden could feel something emanating from it.

’So you’re the source.’

He reached the statue.

It didn’t move.

Eden jumped before using Burst-Step to reach it’s neck.

His Aura Blade extended.

He swung upward.

The purple blade sliced through the statue’s neck.

Then the head fell.

It struck the ground with a deafening crash.

As it did, the world around him began to change.