As dashed through Soren''s soldiers as they attacked from every direction. He sidestepped, blocking with his spear, redirecting their attacks with swift, fluid movements, and drove his de deep into one soldier''s chest. Another enemy lunged at him from behind, but a chain de suddenly whipped out, piercing cleanly through the attacker''s skull.


    Blood sttered across As''s arm. His pulse thundered, adrenaline surging in this brutal, life-or-death battle.


    He nced to his side as Kurogasa joined him. "My Lord, I''ll be your shadow."


    In a blur, Kurogasa split into five duplicates, engaging enemies from multiple angles, fending off strikes to keep As''s path clear.


    Without hesitation, As pressed forward, heading straight for the fortress, where Raze fought fiercely, his massive fists hammering against the thick walls as he attempted to break through.


    Two soldiers charged at As, attempting to block his path. Suddenly, thick vines burst from the ground, wrapping around their limbs and dragging them down.


    Lyrassa flew past, both hands raised, casting supportive spells that boosted allies across the battlefield.


    Behind him, Morganna was locked in fiercebat with several of Soren''s troops, her scythe a dark blur slicing through the air.


    Meanwhile, As''s forces pressed forward relentlessly, their coordinated assault driving Soren''s soldiers further and further back.


    But, unexpectedly, Soren''s ind revealed even more reinforcements—troops pouring out from within the fortress itself.


    This Soren isn''t just any lord.


    For someone in Seeker Division 1, there was no way he should have ess to so many resources. Someone powerful must be backing him.


    Meanwhile, Raze had managed to create arge breach in the fortress wall, all while battling fiercely. He grabbed an enemy by the head, hurling the unfortunate soldier with such force that they flew clean off the ind''s edge, disappearing into the clouds below.


    As darted forward through the path opened by Kurogasa and Lyrassa, weaving past Raze and slipping into the fortress through the gaping hole Raze had smashed into the wall.


    Inside, he found Soren standing with arms crossed, waiting as though he''d expected this all along.


    Kurogasa appeared at As''s side. "My Lord, shall we finish this quickly?"


    "No," As replied. "Leave him to me."


    Soren''s mocking voice echoed from behind his helmet. "Oh, As, the little Gacha gamer."


    Heughed. "I''m trembling in fear. I might even wet myself now that you''vee all this way to try to kill me."


    As stepped forward, spear in hand, eyes locked onto Soren. This was his moment. A chance to prove himself, and he was resolute in ending it on his own terms.


    "I gave you a fair chance," Soren said, "but you chose total destruction for yourself."


    "You''re awfully confident for someone cornered," As replied. "You''re still mouthing off even now, huh?"


    "Oh, you really think you''ve won, As?" Soren sneered. "Are you truly that na?ve? You have no idea just how far I''m willing to go, As. You''ve underestimated your opponent. I can see how amateurish you are. Is this your first real battle? It''s painfully obvious from the poor decisions you''ve made. Hahaha!"


    "No, I know we haven''t won yet," As replied smoothly. "But I''m about to make sure of it, by killing you."


    Sorenughed. "So you really believe you can defeat me? Why don''t you bring your women here while you''re at it? They''re so enticing I''d like to finish this up and have them as my reward."


    As''s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his spear as he took a fighting stance.


    Soren raised his right hand, and a massive greatsword materialized, its tip scraping the ground with a dull, menacing weight.


    "So, you think you''re skilled with that puny spear? Let''s see who''s truly the better fighter! I''ll smash your head to pieces with this greatsword of mine!"


    "I''ll kill you first, and take that armor and greatsword to equip my own troops."


    "Hah! Too much talk!"


    As focused, carefully assessing his opponent. Facing someone wielding a greatsword, he knew he couldn''t rely on direct confrontation or parrying Soren''s strikes—the sheer force would overpower him.


    Instead, he needed to use the weapon''s weight against Soren. With his spear, he had speed and agility on his side, both of which would be key in this fight.


    They charged at each other. Soren swung his greatsword in a powerful, sweeping arc, aiming to cleave through As. But As stopped short, leaping back just in time to dodge the attack. Seizing the opening, he sidestepped and aimed a swift strike at Soren''s side.


    Soren smirked, shifting with surprising speed, intercepting the attack. The impact sent As skidding back, but he recovered instantly, lunging forward from another angle.


    This time, Soren deflected each of As''s strikes, then unleashed a Skill move of his own—a rapid series of shes with his massive greatsword, each swing blurring with power and speed as it sliced toward As.


    As backflipped to avoid the onught, his feetnding gracefully as he steadied himself, repositioning with precision and calcting his next move.


    As allowed a small smile to spread across his face, savoring the thrill of the fight. He knew Soren had both devastating attacks and formidable defenses with his heavy armor—but this battle had only just begun.


    [Epic - Bloodrush (Active) Lv. 1]


    [Channeling vampiric energy into muscles, grants a surge of speed, enabling swift, precise movements through enemies with rapid agility.]


    A surge of energy flooded through him, like his blood was thrumming with newfound power. His senses sharpened, his stamina surged, and he felt a burst of strength in his limbs.


    He shot forward, moving with explosive speed. Soren''s eyes widened, clearly startled by the shift in As''s movement speed.


    [Elite - Duskbound Presence (Conditional Passive) Lv. 1]


    [Exudes an intimidating aura that weakens the attack power of nearby enemies and boosts critical strike chances when surrounded by multiple foes.]


    As''s eyes glowed red, his gaze piercing with an intense, predatory focus. Soren, caught off guard, felt a wave of pressure radiate from him. A killing intent that seemed to sap his own strength.


    [Common - Endurance Boost Lv. 10]


    As darted around Soren, his attacks relentless. Soren struggled to keep up, forced to block each strike.


    "You think you''re stronger just because of some cheap buff skill?" Soren snarled, attempting to match As''s speed.


    He swung his greatsword wildly, but As weaved around him, too fast and precise to be caught by the powerful but slower swings.


    As circled, thrusting his spear from various angles. He struck from behind, and as Soren whipped around to retaliate, As sidestepped and aimed a swipe at his neck, then another strike to the back of his knee, each blow chipping away at Soren''s defenses.


    "Curse you, you son of a—!" Soren roared in frustration.


    As remained focused, continuallynding blows on Soren''s weak spots. The difference in speed was overwhelming, and Soren''s heavy armor couldn''t make up for it.


    Sensing an opening, As drove his spear toward Soren''s wrist with pinpoint uracy.


    The impact forced Soren to drop his greatsword. It ttered to the ground, leaving him vulnerable as As prepared for the finishing strike.


    As lunged again, aiming for Soren''s chest, but Soren managed to catch the spear with his hand. Undeterred, As pressed on, attacking relentlessly now that Soren was defenseless without his weapon.


    With another precise swipe, he struck, knocking off Soren''s helmet. For the first time, As saw his face. Young, barely in his twenties, and twisted in panic, a stark contrast to the arrogance he''d shown before.


    As delivered another powerful thrust, throwing Soren backward, sending him sprawling to the ground.


    This is it, As thought, ready to end it.


    He shot forward, spear aimed for the final blow.


    But suddenly, a sharp presence appeared at his side.


    Kurogasa?!


    "My Lord, forgive me!" Kurogasa eximed, intercepting As and pushing him back slightly.


    What just happened?!


    In that instant, a new figure appeared between As and Soren—a man with a long, blue sword, d in light blue and white armor, with his ck hair tied back and a well-kept mustache.


    The neer''s sword met Kurogasa''s in a sh of steel, forcing Kurogasa to leap back, readying himself for another strike as he eyed the mysterious swordsman warily.@@novelbin@@


    "Pleasure to meet you all," the man said with a calm smile. "I am Takashi, and I''m here to end this fight swiftly. This has been quite the waste of time."


    Kurogasa''s eyes narrowed. "My Lord, his level is high. Much higher than Morganna''s."