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 anger, we could've used that

no such thing

finally get what you guys did. Clever

air as a palpitating and

VUAM—!

aura suddenly sprang out from behind her small

my direction, directing the murderous aura revolving around

for what you've

unstoppable tsunami. Opening its mouth, the illusory

"Stay back, Ren."

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

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

few meters away from me, chopping his hand down, a large gap formed and the skull split apart as though it was made out of water. What

"Hmph."

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

Crack! Crack!

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

slowly rose in the air

completely. She raised her

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

the staff. Within seconds, a powerful ball

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

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

time the mana had completely converged on top of

standing still. Aiming their weapons in our direction, they were

were ready as a threatening

a grave look, Waylan

you

it to me," Ultruk

against Durara's attack.

least, that's how it looked

by, the energy gathered at the

I could no longer

"Huuuuarg!"

throughout the

as fine, miniature crevices expanded from the area around his foot. His calf muscles tensed, revealing thick veins that threatened to pop out of his skin at any second. Ultruk painted

became even colder. The enormous energy lingering

energy revolving around her merged together to form an even larger, inconceivable mass of destructive mana that quickly shot it in our direction. A wild and violent energy swept

did not dodge. Releasing the built-up energy in his calves, his body tore through the air at an extremely terrifying speed.

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

red light surged from the tip of the axe and ruthlessly smashed against Durara's attack. The space

BANG—!

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

were pushed even further back as a result

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

"Ugh…!"

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

at the ensuing battle, Waylan's face couldn't be any more

fight I can interfere with…" he

witnessed the exchange that just took place, Waylan realized that

grows as one gets closer to the top.' I