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.

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

bad no such

I finally get what you guys did. Clever little

chilled the very air as a palpitating and almost suffocating feeling blanketed the

VUAM—!

suddenly sprang out from behind her small body, in the form of

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

for what

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

"Stay back, Ren."

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

red skull, which was a tangible reflection of Durara's bloodlust, a small white glow enveloped Waylan's palm as the aura encircled his hand

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."

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 the

of the floor slowly rose in

surrounding her completely. She raised her staff in the air, releasing

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

as a frightening power surfaced from above the top of the staff. Within 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 in front of

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

scream, the mana around Durara suddenly froze. Then, in unison, it

of seconds. By the time the mana had completely converged on

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

were ready as a threatening energy expanded

a grave look, Waylan looked to his

you handle her

to me," Ultruk

an rank himself, Ultruk was confident in defending against Durara's attack. Although he could feel just how powerful her attack

how it looked

energy gathered at the top of her staff became more threatening and

this point, I could no longer quantify

"Huuuuarg!"

throughout the hall, strongly shaking the surroundings. A devastating energy rooted deep within

apart 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

Durara's eyes became even colder. The enormous

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

body tore through

axe was positioned 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

from the tip of the axe and ruthlessly smashed against Durara's attack.

BANG—!

get forced backward. A

Durara and Ultruk were pushed even further back

support. A thin shield enveloped the two of

"Ugh…!"

we were not too close to the attack, I could see Waylan struggling to diffuse the aftershocks of the

battle, Waylan's face couldn't

not a fight I can interfere with…"

Waylan realized

gets closer to the top.'