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

bad no

finally get what you guys

very air as a palpitating and almost suffocating feeling

VUAM—!

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

pay for what you've

tsunami. Opening its mouth, the illusory skull shot in my direction at a

"Stay back, Ren."

me further back, Waylan stepped forward and threw a regular palm in the direction of the skull. Though the palm

into contact with the red skull, which was a tangible reflection of Durara's bloodlust, a

apart as though it was made out of water. What followed after was a strong gale that messed up my hair and clothes, but other than that, I was completely

"Hmph."

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

Crack! Crack!

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

broken tiles of the floor slowly rose in

around Durara, surrounding her completely. She raised her staff in the air, releasing a blood-curdling

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

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

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

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

the time the mana had completely converged on top of the staff, a second had

the dozen or so duergars weren't standing still. Aiming their weapons in our direction,

as a threatening energy expanded

grave look, Waylan

you

it to me," Ultruk

Durara's attack. Although he could feel just how powerful her attack was, he

that's how it looked to

gathered at the top

could no longer quantify the power radiating

"Huuuuarg!"

deep shout. His voice resembled the furious cry of thunder as it reverberated throughout the hall, strongly shaking the surroundings. A devastating energy rooted deep within his body sprang out, enveloping him

foot. His calf muscles tensed, revealing thick veins that threatened to pop out

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

larger, inconceivable mass of destructive mana that quickly shot it

frightening attack caused Ultruk and 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 the air at an extremely terrifying speed. Holding

waist. But this was no problem for him. Intensifying his grip on the axe, Ultruk's muscles bulged and he swung diagonally in an

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

BANG—!

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

were pushed even further

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

"Ugh…!"

too close to the attack, I could see Waylan

at the ensuing battle, Waylan's

not a fight I can interfere

took place, Waylan realized that the fight

as one gets closer to the top.' I thought to