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.

stupid out of anger, we could've used

no such

what you guys

her words chilled the very air as a palpitating and

VUAM—!

was then that a murderous aura suddenly sprang out from behind her small body, in the form of an illusory red

her grip on the staff, even more, Durara glared in my direction, directing the murderous aura revolving around her body towards where I

will pay for what you've

in my direction like an unstoppable tsunami. Opening its mouth, the illusory skull shot in my direction at

"Stay back, Ren."

a regular palm in the direction of the skull. Though the palm

skull, which was a tangible reflection of Durara's bloodlust, a small white

me, chopping his hand down, a large gap formed and the skull split apart as though it

"Hmph."

small attack had not worked, Durara snorted. She then proceeded to

Crack! Crack!

floor, everything beneath her feet completely shattered apart,

slowly rose in the air around her, encircling her

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

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

seconds, a powerful ball of energy materialized in front of Durara as she pointed the staff in my direction. The ball then proceeded to levitate

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

suddenly froze. Then, in unison,

the time the mana had completely converged on top of the staff, a second had passed and one more ball appeared in

duergars weren't standing still. Aiming their weapons in our direction, they were also getting ready to fire at the

both sides were ready as a threatening energy expanded from

Waylan looked to his

can you handle her

to me," Ultruk

Durara's attack. Although he

least, that's how it looked

ticked by, the energy gathered at the top of

this point, I could no longer

"Huuuuarg!"

the hall, strongly shaking the surroundings. A devastating energy rooted deep within his body sprang out, enveloping

miniature crevices expanded from the area around his foot. His calf

what Ultruk was doing, Durara's eyes became even colder. The enormous energy lingering atop her staff

revolving around her merged together to form an even larger, inconceivable mass of destructive mana that quickly shot

did not dodge. Releasing the built-up energy in his calves, his body tore through the air at an extremely terrifying speed. Holding onto the large axe with both hands, he appeared right in front

moved faster than ever before, the axe was positioned lower, its head angled right below his waist. But this was

from the tip of the axe and ruthlessly smashed against

BANG—!

head-on collision, causing Ultruk to get forced backward. A bright light shot outwards, and everything close

pushed even further back as

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

"Ugh…!"

I could see Waylan

the ensuing battle, Waylan's face

is not a fight I can

witnessed the exchange that just took place, Waylan realized that the fight

as one gets