Then let’s resume—Ryo’s voice echoed coldly, a dark smirk tugging at his lips.
Belicus’s eyes widened in sheer dread.
“Let’s heat up the damage,” Ryo muttered, and then whispered a phrase that carried the weight of death itself.
“Lanceae Mortis.”
The sky turned dark—a thousand black spears materialized above, spiraling slowly at first… then faster… and faster… until they roared like a vortex of screaming souls.
“Spin,” Ryo commanded.
“Spin like drills…
Spin fast enough to pierce your flesh—
And tear apart your soul.”
The air shook as the spears spiraled with hellish velocity, shrieking with the sound of tortured metal and wrathful spirits. Belicus couldn’t even scream anymore—his mouth hung open, silent, breath stolen by pure terror.
“Have a taste,” Ryo said coldly, his voice dripping with merciless delight.
One of the spiraling spears suddenly broke formation—and dove straight down.
SHRRRRK!
It drilled into Belicus’s shoulder, black energy swirling violently around the wound. The orc lord’s body convulsed. A sound escaped him—not a roar, but a shriek, a broken scream of something far beyond normal pain. It was suffering in its purest form.
The spear twisted deeper, grinding against bone, while the spell Doloribus intensified the agony a thousandfold. Belicus’s eyes rolled back, veins bulging, breath stuttering as the pain consumed his entire body.
Ryo didn’t even flinch.
He watched—cold, calm, cruel.
“That's only one,” he said. “Let’s see how many it takes before your mind breaks.”
Ryo turned his back on Belicus, footsteps slow and deliberate.
Behind him, the thousand dark spears hovered in the air—spinning, each one like a cursed drill humming with violent energy.
Then—his finger flicked.
The sky screamed.
All at once, the spears launched forward like a swarm of death. They pierced, drilled, and tore through Belicus’s flesh, each impact followed by a horrifying shudder from the orc lord. His body twisted, convulsed, and arched as the pain—multiplied a thousandfold by Doloribus—ravaged his nerves.
No words came from his throat. Just a ragged breath. A mute, trembling horror.
Ryo didn’t look back.
He just muttered, “Hell's not enough for you.”
As Ryo stood, his gaze fixed on Belicus, the air around him grew heavy with ominous energy. He clenched Manus Daemonium with intent, his arm trembling with the power beginning to gather in his palm. His fingers curled tighter, and he whispered low enough that the winds themselves might have heard him: “Exert 10% of your power, buddy.”
Suddenly, his forearm was enveloped in a crackling black lightning that arced and danced like a storm, wild and untamed. A deep blue aura spiraled up his arm, a maelstrom of destructive energy, and crimson flames flickered to life around his wrist, licking the air in fiery anticipation.
The tension in the air was palpable, as if the very earth beneath him trembled at the surge of power being unleashed.
Ryo’s muscles tensed. With a mighty thrust, he swung his arms wide, and in a moment, a massive black hole manifested in the palm of his hand. It grew, rapidly expanding, its pull felt in the very marrow of his bones. It was a void, a tear in reality that consumed everything in its path—a darkness so absolute that even the light hesitated to approach it.
"Collapse... into the void from which light dares not return," Ryo's voice was cold, like the first breath of winter, as the words slid from his mouth with the force of destiny itself.
D?rgaloth.
The black hole surged forward with unimaginable speed, swallowing everything in its path, a ravenous force of nature aimed at Belicus. The ground beneath the orc lord cracked open, fissures splitting apart as the pull of the void grew stronger.
Belicus, helpless to resist, was yanked toward the center of the attack. His body screamed with agony as he was slowly consumed, the edges of his form dissolving into the inky darkness, his movements futile as the black hole tore at his very soul.
The earth itself began to writhe in pain, cracks spreading like veins beneath the surface as the very fabric of the world began to fracture under the weight of D?rgaloth’s hunger.
Then, with a deafening explosion, the black hole's power reached its peak. The earth erupted outward in a violent shockwave, the explosion obliterating everything within its radius. The very landscape vanished, devoured by the void, leaving only the remnants of destruction in its wake.
The air was thick with the aftermath, the world still trembling from the sheer force of what had just occurred.
Ryo stood alone, his body relaxed now, the power from Manus Daemonium still crackling faintly in the air. There was no sign of Belicus. No remnants of the orc lord, only the lingering echo of his obliteration.
Ryo’s eyes swept across the desolation he had wrought, his expression unreadable. A brief moment of stillness passed, and then—
System Notification: D?rgaloth has consumed the target. Belicus has been erased from existence. 10% power of Manus Daemonium utilized.
Ryo's lips curved slightly into a faint, cold grin.
"Guess that’s the end of that," he muttered, turning away from the chaos and destruction, his steps echoing through the silence left in the wake of his overwhelming might.
The world might have trembled, but Ryo... he walked on, unshaken.
As the smoke settled and the scorched earth quieted beneath their feet, Raze stepped forward, brushing some ash off his shoulder and letting out a low whistle.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
“Damn…” he muttered, looking over the devastation. “Don’t worry, I’ll report this to the guild hall back in Seoul. I’ll tell them I found a Rank S right here in Brightport.”
Ryo turned his head slightly, a smirk forming on his lips. “You just want the attention… or the fame, right?”
Raze blinked—then cracked up. “Caught me!”
Both of them laughed, not the forced kind, but the kind that came from surviving something insane together.
In the distance, the wind carried the faint smell of smoke, but for a moment, everything felt… lighter. The weight of battle gone, if only for now.
System Notification:
New Bond Formed – "Brothers in Flames"
+10 Team Synergy Bonus (Raze + Ryo)
Ryo raised an eyebrow at the notification. “System’s getting sentimental now.”
“Guess even it couldn’t ignore how badass that was,” Raze replied, grinning.
The two walked off side by side, leaving behind the ruins of Belicus and the beginning of a legend.
Inside the A-Gate, Busan, South Korea
Seraphine moved gracefully among the group of A-rank hunters she was guiding, her sword sheathed at her side but ready. The tension was thick — everyone alert for any sign of danger.
Her gaze flicked over the hunters, their focus razor-sharp. Just as she was lost in thought, a monstrous roar echoed nearby.
The group froze as a monstrous creature burst from the shadows, charging straight at them.
Seraphine drew her sword in one fluid motion, eyes blazing with determination.
“No worries. Do what you do best. I’ve got your back,” Seraphine commanded calmly, her voice steady but sharp.
The A-rank hunters moved like a well-oiled machine—each one seamlessly complementing the other. One hunter lunged forward, slashing at the monster’s leg, while another followed with a precise arrow shot to its eye. Another hunter swept low, tripping the beast just as it staggered.
The coordinated attacks flowed flawlessly, a deadly dance of sword, bow, and magic. The monster roared, staggered, but the hunters pressed on relentlessly.
Suddenly, the beast slipped past their formation, snapping at one hunter’s side. Reacting in a flash, Seraphine raised her hand, pointing her fingers sharply.
A crackling bolt of lightning sparked at her fingertip, shooting straight and true toward the monster’s face. The electric strike hit with a sharp crack, knocking the creature back and making it twitch violently.
“Stay focused!” Seraphine commanded, eyes locked on the beast as the hunters regrouped.
The hulking Rock Goblin stomped forward, its thick, stone-like skin shimmering with hardened defense. Each step caused the ground to tremble, but its movements were slow and deliberate—an armored behemoth weighed down by its own bulk.
“Remember, it’s tough but slow. Focus on dodging its strikes and wait for an opening,” Seraphine instructed, her voice calm and precise.
The three A-rank hunters nodded in sync, positioning themselves with practiced grace.
The first hunter feinted a swift slash to the goblin’s right side, forcing it to raise its massive arm in defense. In that instant, the second hunter dashed under the goblin’s guard, delivering a powerful stab into a small gap near its knee.
The goblin howled in frustration, swinging wildly. The third hunter seized the moment, leaping onto the beast’s back and expertly driving a dagger between two rocky plates.
Their attacks flowed like water—fluid, seamless, and deadly—each move perfectly timed to exploit the creature’s momentary vulnerabilities.
Seraphine watched intently, her eyes narrowing, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
After enduring the relentless barrage from the three hunters, the Rock Goblin’s eyes burned with fury as it entered a frenzy state. With a deafening roar, it slammed its massive fists onto the ground, sending shockwaves that knocked the three A-rank hunters off their feet.
The beast charged at one of them, its jagged claws aimed to crush, but Seraphine was quicker. She slammed her shield forward, parrying the deadly blow with a resounding clash.
I’ll never let my guard down again, she thought, recalling the painful lesson of Shikavas. I know my weakness now—I must balance attack and defense.
Keeping her shield raised, she skillfully stepped back as the Rock Goblin staggered, losing its balance from the failed lunge.
“Now!” Seraphine commanded sharply.
The three hunters regained their footing and unleashed a coordinated surge of magic. Flames, ice shards, and crackling lightning shot forth, converging on the staggered beast in a dazzling display of elemental power.
The Rock Goblin howled, struggling against the overwhelming assault as Seraphine’s sharp eyes tracked every move, ready for what came next.
Seraphine’s voice rang out sharp and commanding, “Buff yourselves and your weapons—focus all your strength on the head. One precise strike!”
The three A-rank hunters nodded, a shimmering aura enveloping their bodies and weapons. Their blades gleamed brighter, crackling with enhanced energy as they moved with lethal precision.
With perfect timing, they lunged together, their weapons converging on a single spot atop the Rock Goblin’s head. The combined force sliced through the hardened defense like a razor, severing the beast’s head cleanly.
The massive body collapsed with a thunderous crash, the battlefield falling silent except for their heavy breaths.
Seraphine’s eyes narrowed, a fierce glint of satisfaction shining through. “Good. That’s how you turn defense into victory.”
After the battle, Seraphine nodded. “Rest first. Before we face the boss, even a little energy regained can make all the difference.”
The three hunters settled down, their bodies relaxing in the warm afternoon sun, eyelids growing heavy.
Seraphine’s eyelids fluttered shut, drifting into a vivid daydream. In the warmth of a dimly lit room, she and Ryo were tangled together on a soft bed, the heat between them growing with every breath. His hands moved possessively, tracing the curves of her body, while her fingers gripped his broad shoulders as waves of warmth pulsed through them.
The room echoed with quiet gasps and whispered names, their bodies moving in a desperate rhythm—close, intense, and impossible to ignore. Shadows played over their skin, the world outside fading away until only the two of them existed.
Suddenly, Seraphine’s eyes snapped open. Her cheeks burned fiercely, breath coming fast. “What the…?” she muttered, heart pounding as she blinked away the lingering heat of the dream.
As Seraphine sat up, still trying to cool her cheeks with the back of her hand, one of the A-rank girls stirred beside the campfire and stretched with a yawn.
“Ma’am?” she asked groggily, rubbing her eyes. “You okay? Your face is red. Did you… dream something?”
Seraphine nearly jolted, eyes darting away. “W-What? No. Just... the heat,” she muttered, clearly flustered.
The girl smirked. “Ohhh, I’ve seen that look before. If you dream of someone like that, it usually means something, y’know?”
Seraphine narrowed her eyes, but the girl leaned in closer with a mischievous grin and whispered, “They say those dreams mean your heart’s already picked someone. Even if your brain’s too proud to admit it yet.”
Then she winked. “Was it someone tall and mysterious by any chance? Maybe... someone holding a big dark sword?”
Seraphine turned away with a huff, hiding her face. “Go back to sleep.”
The girl giggled, flopping back onto her makeshift bed. “Sure, sure. But if he shows up again in your dreams... maybe you shouldn’t wake up.”
Meanwhile, back in Brightport—
Ryo sat beside Raze on a wooden bench outside a small convenience stall, both holding icy drinks against the early evening sun. The breeze was calm, the streets lively, and for once, there was peace.
“Man, after all that, this cold drink hits different,” Raze muttered, chugging half the bottle before sighing.
Ryo leaned back casually, sipping his drink through a straw when—
“ACHOO!”
He sneezed so suddenly he nearly dropped the bottle.
Raze blinked. “Yo? Bless you. That was violent.”
Ryo narrowed his eyes, scanning the air like it had betrayed him. “That was weird… I don’t even have a cold.”
Raze raised a brow, smirking. “Hah. Must be someone thinking about you. Maybe dreaming about you.”
Ryo rolled his eyes. “Please. No one's that unlucky.”
Raze chuckled. “You sure? What if it’s someone dangerously into swords and lightning?”
Ryo paused, then muttered under his breath, “Storm Valkyrie…”
Raze just grinned wider, nudging him. “Told you.”
Ryo scoffed and waved a hand dismissively.
“Nah,” he said flatly, sipping again. “That’s impossible.”
Raze leaned forward, grinning like a fox. “You keep saying that, but every time I mention her, your ears twitch.”
“I don’t have twitchy ears.”
“You do. Emotionally.”
Ryo sighed, staring off into the sky. “She’s a Valkyrie with thunder in her veins. I’m just… me.”
Raze smirked. “Yeah. You. The guy who just erased an SS-class monster like it owed him money.”
Ryo didn’t answer. But the way his thumb lingered against the condensation on the drink bottle—just a second longer—said everything.
What was your favorite moment in this chapter?
