CHAPTER 82.

Kaz was a seasoned adventurer and an expedition leader, in fact he had recently reached the fabled level 150 barrier after an unfortunate yet fated encounter. It all happened when his group was saved by a young yet unbelievably strong warrior. Her name was Amber, and yet, even though he had wanted to recruit her for the expedition, the plan went sideways when the mages of the nation of Ofril arrived.

They had chased her due to the fact that she had been killing their members, and to some extent, she could be blamed for the misfortunate the expedition suffered. But the truth was, they could have very easily run into a group of these mages, killed them, and then drawn the ire of the stronger force. So in the end, nobody blamed Amber.

The expedition had to cut their losses due to the casualties, but Kaz had reached level 150 from that. Many of their members had left to their homes to rest given they had arrived an hour ago, but there was one that didn’t do any of that.

Riya.

She was the scout that had been saved by Amber. Riya had vouched and tried to convince the others to leave the Grand City of Torl now, she had even persuaded Kaz, but he didn’t listen, nobody did. Instead, he, like the others reported the impending city invasion and went about their day. And now, he was reaping the consequences.

Kaz frowned as a monster charged up to him, a Crystalwelf whose level was a mere 132. His blade shone and he whispered.

“Cut.”

With a masterful swing he decapitated the monster, killing it in an instant. However, he wasn’t happy, far from it. And that was because that wasn’t the only monster, there were monsters, and there were also mages.

He heard the pained cries of a merchant being torn apart, even though he was in a random side-street near the dungeon, he was still surrounded by monsters and mages trying to kill the adventurers around. And all Kaz could do was grit his teeth as two more monsters arrived. One was a massive mass of flesh with rocks, a bear, the other one was a worm that was burying itself through the city ground. Both of them were heading right at him.

[Crystal Worm. Lvl. 140]

[Metamorphic Bear. Lvl. 139]

Kaz narrowed his eyes as the people in the surroundings were being killed, there were mages comanding the monsters but they didn’t seem to be paying him any mind. As for whether that was a good or bad thing, he didn’t really know. Instead, he focused on the two monsters.

He took a deep breath and focused, his rare class coming into use now.

Then, he dashed forward and with a burst of momentum using his Blitz skill, he immediately arrived before the two monsters and began cutting. He coated his blade with mana, and immediately tore through the two beings. The worm tried to send crystals his way, while the bear tried to bite him, but in the end he deftly dodged everything.

While this was slightly hard from him, it wasn’t something he couldn’t undertake. That said, a mage seemed to take notice of him.

“Die!”

The mage commanded and more monsters came his way, Kaz gritted his teeth at that. While the mage could fight him, he just didn’t deem him important enough to do that. So he had to try harder. Even though he was an adventurer, someone who could leave and easily settle elsewhere, he felt responsibility towards protecting his home.

Kaz prepared himself to use his strongest skill, a body enhancement skill that would be quite painful, but to him, right now it didn’t matter. He gritted his teeth and⁠— screams resounded, he blinked and a monster rushed towards him but a shadow appeared in front of him. One with brown hair and amber eyes⁠— a familiar adventurer with a large sword.

And she slashed at the closest monster, a Crystalwelf that was split in half.

Kaz blinked. Amber? He was taken aback. Where did she come from? Hadn’t we left her behind? They had returned literally one hour ago.

He turned only to see purple flames in the distance, and the few mages were desperately screaming, calling for back up. The adventurers began to push back from that as well.

“Kaz,” she said sharply, which made him tense. “Where is Cecile and the rest?”

“Cecile?”

Kaz was confused, and his confusion made him pause which caused a monster to leap upon him. He used Blink Step and flashed a step away, causing it to miss and then he stabbed forward⁠— his sword pierced into the monster and then cut along with its momentum. He let out a small grunt as it slid out with a burst of blood.

He turned to Amber who had yet to reply, he was glad to have her here with her the burden of the monsters wouldn’t be as hard. He watched as she took down another monster⁠— this time her sword was burning purple instead of the usual orange he was used to, but also⁠— it had a coating of white flames.

Is this a new skill of hers? Kaz noted her level and⁠—

[Warrior. Lvl. 159]

His eyes widened. She already broke through the threshold? He was shocked, but given her abilities perhaps he shouldn’t have been all that surprised. However, she had returned just a mere hour later! Even if she rushed, that means she had leveled up more than ten times in twelve hours.

What the fuck…

He couldn’t make sense of it. Sure, she was young and strong, but at the same time⁠—

She was slicing the monsters in half with a single hit, and the level differential between them wasn’t that high either. They were about level 140! And he paused.

“Amber becareful!”

A level 152 monster charged and she glared at it, it basically froze on its spot and then she slashed. A flash of white passed and then⁠— an explosion of blue came. He winced for a moment, and then next thing he knew a piece of flesh streaked past him.

“I’ll ask after we’re done with this,” Amber said.

Kaz didn’t have time to understand the reply, let alone appreciate the move she had just used as more monsters jumped on him, however while he fought his mind was elsewhere. He had met her not too long ago like two days ago, and now she was back on the surface having leveled more than ten times.

It was ridiculous. It was utterly ridiculous. What kind of things had she killed to do it that fast? How many of them? He turned to see the melting monster, it was barely alive but it died soon after. And Amber, even though she was fighting, it seemed casual⁠— she wasn’t breaking a sweat.

Is the gap between 150 that big? No, it was big, but Amber had also grown substantially, she had a Legacy Branch as well but even then, he was in awe⁠— and she had done all of that in like twelve hours⁠— she was just extraordinary. And at the same time he couldn’t believe the gap had widened that much in such a short time span.

Kaz fought on with his best, but in the end, he couldn’t compare. The mages eventually ended up fleeing, and Amber sighed, however, there was nothing but corpses around. And there were one or two mages that Kaz didn’t remember taking down⁠— Amber had killed more than twice the things that he had.

He stared at the surroundings bitterly. Just like that, this assault was over.

“So, Ofril is attacking,” she said with a frown. “Do you know more than the fact that the mages came from within the dungeon?”

Kaz paused but hurriedly shook his head. “I don’t, but… based on what I can hear…” He closed his eyes hearing battle-cries. “There are more than just monsters and mages fighting. The city is being invaded by all fronts.”

Amber clicked her tongue at that. “And where is my friend, Asil?”

“Asil?” Kaz blinked for a moment but then remembered. “He, he was leaving, but first he set off to find a merchant…”

Amber frowned. “So, he hasn’t found her?”

“I don’t know,” Kaz said with doubt. “It’s been an hour since we returned so probably not.”

“I see…”

With those words she turned around.

“I’ll look in the inn first, then go from there and ask merchants if I see them.”

And she took a step forward, which caused Kaz to pause.

“Wait, you are leaving now?” he asked, blinking.

She fractionally glanced back. “Yeah, and I suggest you do the same.”

And before he could reply, she basically vanished with a gust of wind. It hadn’t been a teleportation skill, she had just been that fast. Leaving him to stare at the air in awe, all while he couldn’t help but wonder:

Will I ever be as strong as her?

* * *

For a moment, the world slowed around Cecile. The gigantic feline monster was looming over her, its claws open wide, and the crystals around its body sparkling. It was a magnificent apex predator, and it was going to kill her. Yet…

I still have so much to live for.

Cecile ducked and the Crystal Panfera passed over her, and she turned hoping the monster would go flying past the railing, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. It landed lithely against the bars and then bounced off to attack her, pouncing once more, this time its claws glinting as it used a skill.

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She immediately lifted her ring and chanted⁠—

“Repulse!”

The monster was blasted away, hitting the railing and breaking through it, and Cecile let out a very deep breath. Her ring was enchanted with Repulse, a spell that would repel the targets away, but the thing with it was that, it only had five uses in total before breaking. And she had already used two. Cecile shook her head, then she glanced over to the chaos in the streets.

There were guards fighting, perhaps they had already been alerted of the incoming chaos and moved to act, and that was why she couldn’t find or see any immediately. But, the fact that they were present did little to assuage her worries, and that was because there were hundreds of monsters from what she could see. And this was just a small section of the Grand City of Torl.

The fact was that, thousands of monsters were rampaging in Torl, all while an impending army loomed upon the city. She chewed her lip, her heart was racing. What was she supposed to do now⁠—

And a loud shriek entered her ears, she glanced up only to see a bird with the claws the size of her head swiping down on her.

[Grand Aquila Infest. Lvl. ???]

She couldn’t see its level, and it most definitely was strong enough to break through her barrier ring.

Cecile paled. I can’t let my barrier ring get taken out like that⁠.

She reached into her ring and pulled. She had prepared to be alone, she had prepared offensive measures, and naturally⁠— she had prepared a lot of defensive measures.

A black cloak fluttered to the wind and she pushed some of her mana⁠— it hardened around her body as the Grand Aquila Infest struck with its gigantic claws. A loud bang of metal resounded and Cecile went flying.

She hit the wall of the other building with an explosion as she broke through it, her mana being slightly drained from the impact, then she stopped supplying mana to the Cloak of Edges, it had a weird name but it was incredibly durable. So long as the wearer had mana it would protect her from relatively strong attacks.

Cecile stood up only to see the bird fly through the opening, coming straight for her. Cecile paled and cast⁠—

“Flash⁠—”

She was teleported to another building, as a ring on her hand crumbled. That was one out of two gone. She had another teleport, the cloak to protect herself, three more uses of Repulse, her protective barrier ring that could be strengthened, and the treasure she got two weeks ago.

Aside from that, she had a ring enchanted with the a weaker version of Amber’s Flamethrower, being only effective against monsters lower level than her⁠—

And her hairs stood on end. Cecile turned around only to see a monster forming from black particles in the air, and even before it finished materializing she felt danger.

[Shadow Arkil. Lvl. ???]

“Shit⁠—”

She raised her cloak and the monster rammed, she felt a good chunk of her mana be taken as she went flying out of the building, and this time she didn’t break through the other wall, but rather, fell down as the Grand Aquila Infest swept in for the kill. Cecile paled for a moment before raising her hand.

“Flamethrower.”

A deluge of orange flames engulfed the monster and it— broke through it. She hugged the wall as the claws hit her shoulder⁠— and they bounced with a flicker. Cecile bounced against the wall with a loud bang as she coughed up blood⁠. The barrier wouldn’t exactly prevent her from suffering trauma injuries.

Cecile gritted her teeth but paused as the Darkness Artkil manifested, already charging.

She raised her hand in a hurry. “Telepo⁠—”

And the monster with elongated limbs hit. Her barrier flashed, the wall shattered and Cecile broke through it coughing blood. She was sent flying into the main street as she rolled.

If I didn't have so much vitality, I would be dead. She also mentally thanked the ring that she wore, the one thad been protecting her all this time. Still, at this rate she would die. She had to do something, but her treasure was⁠⁠… it was something she wanted to hold off in using if possible. Her situation did not seem helpless to her. She could still survive.

She lunged and rolled away as the gigantic bird did a final attempt to get her, doing a pass with its claws that she ducked under, but the same couldn’t be said for the Darkness Artkil⁠— it wasn’t planning on giving up any time soon. Cecile gritted her teeth as she stood up, the Darkness Artkil chasing, thankfully she also had a few consumable items and thinks.

She produced a feather from he ring and injected her mana into it as it disintegrated into thin air. It immediately enhanced her agility. It was a consumable item known as Ares Feather, something that tried to replicate the ability of the Ares bird⁠— a creature whose level was well above two hundred that could sacrifice its feathers to grow stronger.

And for the most part it had been successful, except for the fact that each consumable feather was only limited to one thing to boost, rather than what the bird could do. But for now it was enough.

Cecile dashed, and the Darkness Artkil chased after her, and she⁠— summoned the Cloak of Edges just before it hit her. She went flying and hit another monster with the full strength that she was launched with. She landed along with the Crystalwelf, who immediately bit at her when it recovered.

She gritted her teeth as the wolf monster bit onto her arm. The barrier flickered as the maw of the monster pressed down, then it cracked. Cecile pointed her ring.

“Flame.”

The fire blasted and made the Crystalwelf jerk, causing it to loosen its grip, and Cecile took this chance to run. She unjammed her arm and the Darkness Artkil arrived⁠— charging into the Crystawelf just as she moved out of the way.

Cecile rushed away from the Darkness Artkil, it was the strongest combatant that was currently around. She was hoping to find shelter, a place to find safety, but as she weaved through the alleys she couldn’t find anything aside from monsters that attacked her hardened cloak. The guards were nowhere to be seen as well, most seemed to be fighting in the major streets⁠— and this was a side and narrow one.

She gritted her teeth and took a path in hopes of striking luck, and she did⁠— She spotted three knights fighting against the crowd of monsters, or their own crowd.

She immediately rushed for their aid, calling out to them.

“Please help!”

One of them tensed, “A civilian?”

Another clicked his tongue, clearly unsure what to say, before finally shaking his head a moment later.

“Come, we’ll guide you to safety!”

The third nodded.

Cecile brightened at what they had just said and rushed towards them with impressive speed. The three knights glanced at her, and then they turned around, beginning to cut through the weaker monsters, parrying and deflecting the stronger ones. And Cecile followed closely behind.

Thankfully, the Darkness Artkil seemed to be long gone. She smiled, she was soon going to find safety⁠— and the wall in front of her broke.

The Darkness Artkill broke through a building and turned towards the knights who hesitated, and Cecile also hesitated. Given it was most definitely over level 150, the knights were hesitant to fight it. She didn’t know what to do now.

The monster approached and the three men raised their swords. Cecile in the meantime⁠— felt danger. She looked up⁠ and her eyes went wide.

In a panic, she raised a ring, “Step.”

It broke, and with a flash, she landed multiple meters ahead, past the Darkness Artkil, but a mere second later she heard a loud bang. Blood exploded and Cecile turned, only to see the Darkness Artkil now glancing in her direction, and⁠ also another massive monster standing right behind, the remains of the knights at its feet.

Her eyes went wide, the monster was easily two stories tall and it was some kind of Simiasani type of monster, one with white and black striped fur and⁠—

[???. Lvl. ???]

It was over 100 levels above her.

Cecile took a step back as the two monsters looked over at her, and then⁠— they rushed. She turned tails and fled, the Cursed Artkil chased after her, and so did the Simiasani of some kind. She turned the corner as the monsters caught up in less than two seconds. The first one to reach her was the monster she couldn’t Identify, the one that would instantly kill her.

She turned and pointed, “Repulse.”

She blasted the primate away a few meters back as the Cursed Artkil reached her, and Cecile wrapped herself on the Cloak of Edges as she was hit against a building. She pierced through it, spitting blood, and then⁠— the strongest monster returned moments later. The lumbering primate broke through the building as if it were paper. Cecile used her cheap Flamethrower but it did nothing other than dull the vision of the two monsters.

The Simiasani whipped with anger and Cecile was hit, being sent flying out of the building. Her mana was low, and if it weren’t for her protection ring, she would long be dead. But still, she couldn’t give up.

She landed on her knees panting as she prepared her ring, and the primate monster arrived in a single moment⁠—

“Repulse, Repulse⁠—”

Her ring exploded into pieces and the monster was sent flying properly, breaking through numerous walls as it crashed against the Darkness Artkil. Cecile gritted her teeth as she raised her cloak and a Crystalwelf attacked, hitting with a loud bang.

And it didn’t stop there, Cecile heard multiple roars, but all she could think about was⁠—

Get out.

She immediately scrambled, letting her cloak be hit as her mana reached a new low. She took a swig of a health potion, choosing it over everything else. The relief was immediate as she weaved inbetween the attacks, the effects of the feather still active. All while she mentally prepared herself to use the last thing that could keep her alive.

Maybe I can use it to run.

She rushed towards the places where the monster density seemed to be less, and that was when she spotted a shadow looming overhead⁠— Cecile craned her head and screamed.

“Barrier!”

Her mana nearly drained and her cloak hardened along with a golden barrier. And that was when the primate monster stomped. The ground exploded and Cecile gritted her teeth as the barrier lightly cracked. But she was alive.

And then⁠— a second primate landed.

The barrier lasted a second before it broke⁠, the Simiasani didn’t squeeze her to death, but rather grab her as she was made to stare at it. It held her between its two massive fingers, meeting its deep and rather inhumane gaze of amusement, and that was when Cecile began to shake.

[???. Lvl. ???]

[???. Lvl. ???]

There were two of them, the Darkness Artkil was nowhere to be seen, just the two monsters that were about to kill her. And both of the gigantic primates seemed to find it amusing⁠— they seemed to find her death amusing.

Cecile gritted her teeth.

She couldn’t have that⁠— she couldn’t allow that. She had held off all this time, but now it was time for her to survive.

Five years of savings, gone just like this…

A black scroll appeared on Cecile’s hand, and it unfurled as she screamed.

“With this artifact, I summon Sacred Scaled Wings, Wyvern of Destruction!”

And the scroll immediately burned and a burst of fire exploded before her. Cecile winced as she was let go, hitting the ground, and the next thing she knew was that the monster had been sent flying. At that sight, Cecile laughed, there was a majestic dragon-like creature flying, its wingspan easily over ten meters long with sparkling black scales.

It was her salvation.

One of the primates immediately punched, but the Wyvern of Destruction cleanly evaded. Her summon was supposed to be a level 190 monster, and while it couldn’t easily defeat two level 180 monsters, it was more than enough to allow her to escape.

Cecile grinned⁠ about to call for it—

And the third Simiasani arrived⁠, it was the same one she had sent flying and it⁠ punched⁠— hitting the wyvern before it could even react. Cecile paused as the two other monsters immediately joined in. The wyvern screeched as it was pulled by one of its wings and then thrown to the ground.

And that was when it was mercilessly beat down by all the present monsters. In a single moment her summoned monster was at the doors of death. It was getting pummeled screeching in defiance, and Cecile cursed using Flamethrower. All to get the monsters off from the wyvern.

The orange flames did nothing to stop the beating of her summon until⁠— it was thrown towards her. Cecile was hit by her wyvern, which sent her flying along with it. She rolled along with her monster until they came to a stop. The wyvern was heavily injured, its head was resting on her legs, and it bleeding everywhere and gasping for air, and when Cecile looked up she saw the three level 180+ monsters looking down at her.

At that sight, all she could do was pale.

She didn’t want this, but at the same time, what could she do?

She was made to stare as one of the large lumbering monsters punched towards her and⁠—

Was kneed.

Cecile blinked as she recognized the familiar movement, but before she could process anything the level 180 monster went flying hitting a wall with an explosion, and the figure landed.

“Looks like I made it in time,” she said grinning, glancing back at her. “Long time no see, Cecile.”

The two monsters screeched and lunged at her, and all Cecile could do was say the person’s familiar name in confusion.

“Amber?”