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.

something stupid out of anger, we could've used that chance and capitalized on

no such thing

get it. I finally get what

one of her words chilled the very air as a palpitating and

VUAM—!

murderous aura suddenly sprang out from behind her

more, Durara glared in my direction, directing the

for what

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

"Stay back, Ren."

the direction of the skull. Though the palm looked just like an

reflection of Durara's bloodlust, a small white glow

gap formed and the skull split apart as though it was made out

"Hmph."

She then proceeded to tap her staff

Crack! Crack!

floor, everything beneath her feet completely shattered apart, revealing

rose in the

of mana suddenly materialized around Durara, surrounding her completely.

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

the staff. Within seconds, a powerful ball of energy materialized in front of

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

around Durara suddenly froze. Then, in unison, it agglomerated towards the

happened in a matter of seconds. By the time the mana had completely converged on top of the staff, a second had passed and

so duergars weren't standing still. Aiming their weapons in our direction, they were also getting ready

were ready as a threatening energy expanded from

Waylan

can you handle her

it to me,"

confident in defending against Durara's attack.

at least, that's how it looked

ticked by, the energy gathered at the top

this point, I could no longer

"Huuuuarg!"

as it reverberated throughout the

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

eyes became even colder. The enormous energy lingering atop her staff

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

Waylan's 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

lower, its head angled right below his waist. But this was no problem for him. Intensifying his grip on the axe, Ultruk's muscles bulged and he

from the tip of the axe

BANG—!

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

even further back as

had Waylan for support. A thin shield enveloped the

"Ugh…!"

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

battle, Waylan's face couldn't be any more

I can

Waylan realized

each rank grows as one gets closer to the