Chapter 78: I’m not bad either

The remaining four monsters abandoned all caution and started moving recklessly despite the countless attacks from the S-Rank Espers.

Survival had become their only concern!

Erick’s commanding voice rang out.

"Stop them!"

Immediately, the monsters found themselves surrounded once again.

But this time, they did not fight back.

They abandoned all thought of attacking and desperately tried to break through the barrage of attacks to escape.

Zephyr’s figure landed on the ground after killing the first monster. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but he barely paused before rushing toward another monster nearest to him. Its shape was somewhat like a spider.

The monster immediately targeted him, recognizing him as the greatest threat.

But before its attack could reach Zephyr, Erick suddenly unleashed a powerful skill.

A massive golden blade condensed from mana formed in the air. With thunderous force, it tore through the air and descended.

The next second, the spider-like monster’s body was cleanly cleaved in two halves, its murky blood splattering across the ground.

The sudden display left everyone around him shocked. None of them had ever seen Erick use such a powerful skill before! If he had such a powerful skill, why had he never used it earlier?! Even when they had entered S-Rank dungeons before and gone through life-and-death battles, he had never used it!

Of course, Erick had no intention of answering their questioning gazes.

His focus was on Zephyr as he chuckled, despite his face already being deadly pale from overexertion. This was the first time he had ever used almost ninety percent of his mana at once. Well, he wanted Zephyr to know that he could keep up with him.

That’s why he wanted to do his best.

Zephyr was so powerful.

Naturally, he couldn’t fall behind.

With an amused tone, Erick muttered.

"See, I’m not bad either."

Zephyr had clearly sensed what had happened. His eyes flickered. He had been the closest to the monster, so he knew it had been about to attack him. But before he could dodge, Erick had already killed it.

A few drops of its blood splattered onto his clothes despite his attempt to retreat. The moment it touched his skin, a sharp burning sensation spread across the affected area.

He immediately activated his healing skill, healing the irritation before it could worsen.

It seemed these monsters’ blood was not only foul-smelling but also highly corrosive.

Without giving it another thought, Zephyr rushed toward the next nearest monster.

This time, Erick appeared beside him.

Zephyr’s ear twitched at the movement.

He spread his mana to match Erick’s movements, only to suddenly sense something sharp appear in his hand.

Unlike him, the other S-Rank could see.

And they were all questioning their lives.

An exquisite white sword had appeared in Erick’s hand out of nowhere, and he raised it just in time to block the monster’s attack.

With a helpless sigh, Erick muttered.

"Hey, how do you still have mana?"

Zephyr didn’t answer. Instead, he suddenly leaped onto Erick’s shoulder and used it as a foothold to land directly on the monster’s body before shouting toward him.

"Retreat!"

Erick immediately moved back. The next second, he watched as familiar pitch-black energy enveloped the monster, which cried out in agony before vanishing completely.

Watching the scene unfold, Erick couldn’t help but laugh. For the first time in a long while, he felt the thrill of fighting again.

"This is what I call a real team fight!"

He suddenly glanced at the other S-Rank Espers, who were staring at him as though they no longer recognized the man standing before them. With curled lips, he mocked.

"Unlike some people who are only good at running their mouths."

The other S-Rank Espers: ???

They all wanted to know how the hell a sword had appeared in Erick’s hand! No, more importantly, how was he so much more powerful than he had always let on?!

What the hell was going on?! Had Erick been hiding his true strength all this time?

Just a while ago, he had been only slightly stronger than them! But now... it was as if his power had suddenly multiplied tenfold!

They were powerful S-Rank Espers too!

So why the hell did they suddenly feel so insignificant in front of these two Espers?

This was clearly unfair!

Even Sylvia and Ryan, who had been secretly looking for an opportunity to get rid of Zephyr, were shocked.

They knew Erick.

He was indeed powerful and famous...

But he had never been this powerful!

Exchanging a solemn glance, the two retreated for now. It seemed they wouldn’t be able to harm Zephyr this time around.

They needed to find another way!

Unlike the S-Rank Espers, Lucien, who had been watching the battle from afar, felt a strange mixture of melancholy and anger.

"Oh, Erick... So you finally decided to show your true power and many hidden abilities."

A bitter chuckle escaped him.

"You didn’t show even a fraction of this power when countless people were dying right in front of you in the original novel."

His expression turned strange as he watched Erick fight alongside Zephyr.

"And to think... it’s all because of Zephyr."

Lucien shook his head as he watched Zephyr and Erick effortlessly slaughter the remaining two S-Rank monsters.

There was a reason he had called Erick, the protagonist of the novel, a half-villain.

Erick was evil.

He sacrificed many people in the novel without even trying to save them, even when he could have.

Moreover, even until the very end, he had never once used his full power or revealed all the skills he had acquired throughout his journey. He fought half-heartedly, as though he had no real desire to save the world—as though he simply wanted to sit back and watch it burn until nothing remained.

But now...

It seemed things were finally changing.

Erick was willing to reveal his real power.

Lucien couldn’t help but complain.

"If he liked him so much... why did he not recognize Zephyr in the original story and just watch him die? If only he had saved him, perhaps I would have never left a bad review and ended up being dragged here!"