The Author's POV

"Ren, stay back."

Extending his hand towards my direction, Waylan pushed me back. His piercing, ice-cold gaze indifferently scanned Durara who was standing opposite him.

Holding onto a wooden staff double her size, a red orb deeply embedded at the very top of it. A soft, misty red hue shrouded the area around the staff, creating a mysterious feeling.

A heavy tension enshrouded the hall as both sides were locked in an intense stare-off.

WIIIIING—!

In a smooth motion, Waylan took out his broadsword and pointed it in Durara's direction.

Comparing the pressure he was giving off to Durara's, I could tell that he was weaker than her. In fact, it wasn't even a close match as his aura was swiftly getting suppressed by her.

Waylan also seemed to know this fact as a never-before-seen look of seriousness marred his face.

Without wasting any time, he channeled what little bit of mana he had recovered in his body towards the tip of the broadsword.

'…His psyon control is leagues above mine.'

I thought to myself as I observed him from the side.

From how he managed to freely control the psions to reach a certain point of the broadsword unimpeded, I could understand just how capable Waylan was.

But as Waylan was getting ready to fight, contrary to his expectations, Durara's attention wasn't directed toward him or Ultruk, who had still not made a move and was quietly observing Durara.

Her attention was in fact directed towards me. Durara mouthed slowly, in a tone I couldn't quite place my finger on.

"This familiar aura…"

Her chilly voice traveled through the ears of everyone present as my face couldn't help but change slightly.

Durara's expression turned from ice-cold to gloomy as her eyes that contained a faint black light shone even more fiercely. Her mind was slowly processing everything happening before her.

Seeing that she was slowly figuring things out, raising my hand, I waved in her direction, in an almost mocking manner.

"Hi."

Having been paying close attention to me for the past week or so, she was already familiar with my aura. Although I could hide it, I didn't feel the need to do so anymore.

She had already figured out what had happened so there was no longer a need.

Karl's role was done. He was no longer needed.

Might as well piss her off to disrupt her mentality.

"…It can't be. N-No, it cannot be possible…!"

Upon seeing me wave my hand in her direction, it finally dawned on her. A look of absolute shock and betrayal appeared on Durara's face as she tightened the grip on her staff.

But it didn't take long for her to calm her emotions down. Her face returned to its usual cold and indifferent one. However, everyone in the room could feel the tangible bloodlust exuding from her body.

She was angry.

'What a bummer…'

Seeing that my taunt did not work, I felt that it was a bit of a pity.

to provoke her into doing something stupid out of

no such

finally get what you guys did. Clever

the very air as a palpitating and almost suffocating feeling blanketed

VUAM—!

suddenly sprang out from behind her small

more, Durara glared in my direction, directing the murderous aura revolving

will pay for what you've

out loud, her aura bursting forth in my direction like an unstoppable tsunami. Opening its mouth, the illusory skull shot in my direction

"Stay back, Ren."

direction of the skull. Though the palm looked just like an ordinary attack,

a tangible reflection of Durara's bloodlust, a small white glow enveloped Waylan's

formed and the skull split apart as though it was made out of water. What followed after was a

"Hmph."

attack had not worked, Durara snorted. She then proceeded to tap her staff on the

Crack! Crack!

moment her staff touched the floor, everything beneath her feet completely shattered apart, revealing the

tiles of the floor slowly rose in the air around her,

of mana suddenly materialized around Durara, surrounding her completely. She raised her staff in

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

ball of energy materialized in front of Durara as she pointed the staff in my direction. The ball then proceeded to

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

suddenly froze. Then, in unison, it agglomerated towards the ruby placed on top of the

in a matter of seconds. By the time the mana had completely converged on

happening, the dozen or so duergars weren't standing still. Aiming their weapons in

a threatening energy expanded from

grave look, Waylan looked to his

you handle

it to

defending against Durara's attack. Although he could feel

how it looked to

ticked by, the energy gathered at the

longer quantify the power radiating from her

"Huuuuarg!"

voice resembled the furious cry of thunder as it reverberated throughout the hall,

from the area around his foot. His calf muscles tensed, revealing thick veins that threatened to pop out of

doing, Durara's eyes became even colder. The enormous energy

revolving around her merged together to form an even larger, inconceivable mass of destructive

gazes to harden. However, Ultruk, who was standing at the front, did not dodge. Releasing the built-up energy in his calves, his body tore through the air at an extremely terrifying speed. Holding onto

was no problem for him. Intensifying his grip on

thick red light surged from the tip of the axe and ruthlessly smashed

BANG—!

forced backward. A bright light shot outwards, and everything close to the epicenter of

pushed even further back as a result

for me, I had Waylan for support. A thin shield enveloped the two

"Ugh…!"

to the attack, I could see Waylan struggling to diffuse the aftershocks of the

Waylan's face

is not a fight I can interfere with…" he silently

witnessed the exchange that just took place, Waylan realized that

each rank grows as one gets closer to the