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.

stupid out of anger, we could've used

bad no such

get what you guys did. Clever little

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

VUAM—!

from behind her small

Durara glared in my direction, directing the murderous aura revolving around

pay for what

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

"Stay back, Ren."

stepped forward and threw a regular palm in the direction of the skull. Though

the red skull, which was a tangible reflection of Durara's bloodlust, a small white glow

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

"Hmph."

worked, Durara snorted. She then proceeded to tap

Crack! Crack!

beneath her feet completely shattered apart, revealing the rough

tiles of the floor slowly rose in the air around her, encircling

around Durara, surrounding her completely. She raised her staff in the

"I'll kill you, traitor!"

building 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

"Hieaak!"

But she wasn't done.

Then, in unison, it agglomerated towards

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

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

sides were ready as a threatening energy expanded from

Waylan looked to his

you

to

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

at least, that's how it looked to

energy gathered at

could no longer

"Huuuuarg!"

shout. His voice resembled the furious cry of thunder as it reverberated throughout the hall,

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

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

the two spheres of energy revolving around her merged together to form an even larger, inconceivable mass of destructive mana that quickly shot it in

body tore through the air at an extremely terrifying speed. Holding

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 swung diagonally in

the axe

BANG—!

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

others around Durara and Ultruk were pushed even further back as a result

I had Waylan for support. A thin shield enveloped

"Ugh…!"

could see Waylan struggling to

Waylan's

not a fight I

exchange that just took place, Waylan realized that the fight

gap between each rank grows as one gets closer to the