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.

provoke her into doing something stupid out of

no such

it. I finally get what you guys did.

chilled the very air

VUAM—!

sprang out from behind her small body, in the form of an illusory red

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

pay for what you've

my direction like an unstoppable tsunami.

"Stay back, Ren."

and threw a regular palm in the direction of the skull. Though the palm looked just like an ordinary attack, it

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

the skull was only a 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 followed after was a strong gale that messed up my hair and clothes, but

"Hmph."

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

Crack! Crack!

floor, everything beneath her feet completely shattered apart, revealing the rough ground underneath

slowly rose in

materialized around Durara, surrounding her completely. She

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

powerful ball

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

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

seconds. By the time the mana had completely converged on top of the staff, a

this was happening, the dozen or so duergars weren't standing still. Aiming their weapons in our direction, they were also getting ready

as a threatening energy expanded from their

grave look, Waylan looked to his

can you handle her

it to

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

at least, that's how it looked

as the seconds ticked by, the energy gathered at the top of her staff

could no longer quantify

"Huuuuarg!"

it reverberated throughout the hall, strongly shaking the surroundings. A devastating energy rooted deep within his body sprang out, enveloping him whole, like a thin

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

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

an even larger, inconceivable mass of destructive mana that quickly shot

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

this was no problem for him.

surged from the tip of the axe and ruthlessly smashed against

BANG—!

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

Durara and Ultruk were pushed even further

for support. A thin shield enveloped

"Ugh…!"

close to the attack, I could see Waylan struggling to

Waylan's face couldn't be

not a fight I can interfere with…" he silently

place, Waylan realized that

one gets closer