Sharp, bone-chilling flashes burst forth from the walls, following Hela's claws as they struck towards Viktor.

Countless bone spears precisely targeted each of Viktor's vital points.

Yet whenever those bone spikes were about to touch Viktor, he would instantly block them with his round shield.

Even when he couldn't block in time, his fluid movements allowed him to easily evade.

Hela weaved between the bone spears, launching swift and fierce attacks during the brief intervals when Viktor dodged each thrust.

But Viktor remained composed throughout, even appearing completely at ease.

At some point, he materialized a wooden sword out of thin air, accompanied by numerous iron cards that continuously spun and danced around him.

Red and green lights flickered in mid-air, nearly blinding Hela's eyes.

Yet even so, Hela's attacks didn't diminish in the slightest.

Carrying whistling winds, she swung her long sharp claws while bone spears aimed straight for Viktor's chest.

As if wanting to completely tear out his heart, she was like an absolutely ferocious beast.

Seeing this, the adventurers behind her couldn't help but tremble in their voices.

Yet within their trembling, there seemed to be hints of excitement.

"Boss is getting serious!"

"Never thought we'd see Boss fight again."

"But that guy is too amazing... when did the South produce such a powerful knight?"

"He might be a warrior."

Viktor ignored the surrounding chatter, continuously dodging the bone spikes while wielding his round shield to block all of Hela's claw attacks.

As the battle intensified, Hela's level and health bar were revealed to Viktor.

Level 48

The woman before him was clearly another old monster who had survived for ages.

Beast Hela - Viktor naturally recognized who she was.

In the game's background, Hela had once proposed that adventurers should follow beasts' behavior as their standard, maintaining a fierce and brutal fighting style that completely tears apart enemies.

But this combat proposal was naturally opposed by many.

The reason was that most adventurers were human, and should maintain human group consciousness in battle, without needing complete destruction and excessive brutality.

This proposal to view adventurers as noble humans gained widespread approval.

But interestingly, Hela, who had always adhered to her own fighting style, achieved a breakthrough two years later in the game's background.

She became the only fifth-tier adventurer in the southern adventurer capital.

Correspondingly, when the two princes died successively leaving the South leaderless, this created a situation where the [Beast] Guild dominated alone.

However, the reason she advocated that adventurers should be as ferocious as beasts...

Was because Hela herself wasn't human.

The wooden sword in Viktor's hand flickered with green light, gradually transforming into a wooden mallet.

On his arm, several arrays flashing red and yellow continuously formed.

Faint power coursed through his blood vessels, gathering in Viktor's large palm.

[Power Enhancement - Major]

The next second, the wooden mallet seemed to shatter the air as it charged straight towards the incoming sharp bone spears.

Bang!

A massive wave erupted in this corridor, powerful energy swirling in the confined space.

After the intense collision, cracks actually appeared in those bone spears, which began to slowly crumble.

Countless iron cards accelerated their rotation, red and green lights becoming like meteors as they sliced at high speed.

Hela couldn't dodge in time, and a wound was forcefully carved into her fair arm.

Red blood slowly flowed from her arm.

Hela immediately stood still, staring somewhat dazedly at the wound on her arm.

Those adventurers were equally shocked to see Hela actually bleeding drop by drop.

"Boss... got hurt first!?"

"How... how is this possible!?"

They stared at the man before them with wide eyes of disbelief.

Hela took a few steps back, staring at her flowing blood.

Those kaleidoscope-like beautiful yet eerie eyes also began changing into different patterns.

Like a true beast, she had almost completely abandoned reason.

But at this moment.

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The wooden mallet in Viktor's hand gradually dissipated into green magical energy.

The iron cards around him also stopped flying, their light dimming as they merged into two cards that returned to his waist.

This made Hela, who had just entered her state, pause as rationality gradually returned.

Even the adventurers appeared somewhat confused.

What's going on? No more fighting?

Hela slowly straightened up, withdrawing the remaining bone spears back into her body.

The black flower buds at the corners of her eyes gradually retracted, the vines stretching out.

At some point, perhaps due to excessive frenzy, those thin black stripes had unknowingly crept up to the back of her head.

Her gaze revealed hints of confusion.

"You're strong, but why did you stop fighting?"

Hela hadn't treated Viktor as an enemy.

As adventurers, sparring with each other was a very normal thing.

But since Viktor had withdrawn first, she wouldn't be unsportsmanlike and continue attacking.

A cold voice rang out as Viktor looked at Hela, raising one finger.

"First, you're the one who attacked without rhyme or reason."

At these words, Hela felt somewhat embarrassed, her gaze wavering slightly.

Although she didn't want to be so impulsive, the wildness within her body was constantly difficult to suppress.

Upon meeting a strong person like Viktor, she would instinctively attack.

She was about to apologize when Viktor immediately raised a second finger.

"Second."

"I never said I was done fighting."

The moment these words fell, an extremely vast and mighty magical power suddenly surged up.

Like huge waves churning the sky, carrying overwhelming pressure.

Viktor narrowed his eyes, hands in his pockets.

"The close combat just now was only out of necessity."

And now?

His mana was fully restored.

Suddenly, the surrounding terrain began to change.

Large sections of wall became covered in flames, the ground transformed into magma that continuously churned.

Fire burst forth through the earth, and giant trees burning with flames began to grow twisted and contorted from the walls.

Light illuminated the entire space, like the sun hanging overhead, as the terrifyingly scorching temperature rapidly rose.

The entire cave seemed about to be completely melted by this shocking magical power.

Hela felt the incredibly terrifying temperature and pressure, the patterns in her eyes continuously changing.

He who possessed such exquisite close combat skills... wasn't a knight, nor a warrior.

But rather... a mage?

How was this possible?

If Viktor's aura from before had been evenly matched with hers, or even notably weaker...

But now...

It was as if two massive beast shadows appeared behind Viktor, continuously flickering.

The entire cave trembled violently from this immensely impactful presence.

Viktor's cold voice rang out, like an unmelting piece of ice in a volcanic mountain.

"Please allow me to introduce myself."

"My name is — Viktor Kravina."

The moment the name rang out, all those adventurers were stunned.

This was a name very familiar to them.

This was a name that had, long ago, spread throughout the entire empire from north to south.

Countless adventurers knew of this figure.

But just as they were carefully recalling exactly who this name belonged to...

The magical power in the space began to surge madly, like an ocean pouring in, about to completely flood the entire cave.

The flames began continuously reorganizing, the heat becoming even more expansive.

Behind Viktor, it was as if there were two miniature suns contracting and swirling in the air, as if about to explode.

Everyone stood frozen in place, even forgetting to flee.

Because at this moment, they remembered.

A few days ago, the Mage Council had publicly announced their youngest council member and bestowed upon him a mage title.

His name was — Viktor Kravina.

Also known as...

"[The Judgment that Strips All Phenomena]"

The radiance of two suns began continuously expanding, starting to devour that dark cave.

Flames accompanied by magical power began exploding frantically, thunderous booms and scorching waves beginning to sweep everything away.

The red also transformed into a beast, swallowing everything into its belly ahead of the light.

Those cyan walls began to collapse thunderously, white light continuously bursting forth from within, turning to dust that rose in the air.

Whoosh—

That light gave off waves of crimson, then white light once again covered everything, completely overwhelming the thunderous sounds.

It was as if time itself had been stretched incredibly long at this moment.

After the light gradually dissipated, the surrounding walls were nowhere to be seen.

There was only continuously churning agitated flesh, carrying burn scars.

Looking up, they could even see the churning purple sky, restless and agitated.

Fortunately, they were generally fourth-tier in strength, barely withstanding that terrifying explosion.

The Beast Guild adventurers were naturally tough-skinned, and that terrifying explosion wasn't targeted at this group of adventurers.

Otherwise, they would likely have been reduced to ashes long ago.

Countless sharp bone spikes shielded Hela's body, blocking the explosion's aftershocks.

The bone spikes retracted as Hela raised her head, watching the bright sky gradually fade from its brilliance, the patterns in her gaze slowly ceasing to change.

Her lips trembled as she spoke, her voice shaking immensely.

"He... is the real monster."

In her daze, she saw Viktor's figure.

That man in the black coat stood in mid-air, hands in his pockets.

His coat continuously swayed in the flickering light behind him.

Two different colored lights began flashing against each other under the white sun, red and green complementing each other.

Two giant beasts also seemed to be roaring repeatedly behind him.

As if deliberately attracting something.

Viktor looked down at the dazed Hela and all those so-called top adventurers, saying flatly:

"Never mind."

"Since you're here, just stand there quietly."

"Be an audience."

Hearing these words, all the adventurers including Hela immediately froze in place.

What did these words... mean?

But the next second.

"ROAR——!!!"

A dragon's cry seemed to tear through the sky, penetrating through layers of space.

Viktor raised his head again, looking toward that deep purple silent sky.

"It's here."

The wind swept past.

At this moment, the sky was no longer peaceful.

"Wind Calamity — Doragon."