Chapter 182: Bad Timing

Once again, Rein readied his swords. He didn't know what the chance of the mystic skill's activation was, but that didn't matter. This was his only way of winning, as, in his current state, none of his attacks could even damage her.

"That look in your eyes… You are prepared for death, aren't you?" She asked, hoisting the two shields up to her shoulders.

"No, I'm not. I can't die yet," he answered, then suddenly sprung forward from his position, both swords in his hands as he ran in headfirst.

"You say that, though you're foolishly running into your death," she adjusted her stance, blocking off all sides from which Rein could attack. "Come then!"

As the two were seconds away from colliding, Rein didn't even bother trying to dodge or defend himself. While his own sword swung, he saw a megaton shield approaching his face at an alarming speed. But he didn't stop. He continued his swing, even beginning to swing the other one, without a care for the imminent skull-crushing force approaching.

Rein's sword slashed her first, though she let it happen so that her opponent wouldn't have enough time to dodge. The mystic skill didn't activate. She tanked the attack with absolutely no issue.

"Idiot," she remarked before the shield collided into Rein's face, surely ending his life.

*Clank*

The sound of metal colliding suddenly rang through the dungeon. How though? The shield surely collided with Rein's face.

Suddenly, Rein's other sword swung at Bella. Once again, the mystic skill didn't activate. With her face riddled in shock and confusion, she peeked her face out, seeing Rein's grimaced expression as his face took no damage from her attack.

"I-impossible… Even my Spring wouldn't block that attack…" She uttered in disbelief.

Rein began swinging his swords rapidly, each one having no effect just like the last. Bella did the same thing and continuously bashed the shield into Rein's face over and over again. For twenty seconds, Rein was invincible. Nothing in the world could hurt him at that moment. This was because of one of his skills, 'built different', which he'd been saving for dire situations such as these.

And in those twenty seconds, Rein swung as many times as his arms would allow. The very foundation of the dungeon was shaking from the sheer force absorbed by Rein's body, over and over again, they traded blows.

Ten seconds left…

Over and over again, they traded blows.

Five seconds left…

Over and over again, they traded blows.

Two seconds left…

His time was running out, but he didn't stop. Over and over again, they traded blows.

Down till the very last second, they traded blows. Rein's tenacity and unwavering will persisted until the very last moment, where he was finally rewarded. Mere moments before his skill was about to dissipate, he finally felt his sword make a cut, a deep wound across his opponent's chest, making her gush out an alarming amount of blood.

As soon as she had damage taken, the shields she held in her hands seemed to become too heavy for her, dropping her arms on the ground, unable to carry them. Her body dropped with them as she writhed in pain, unable to hold her chest as the shields pinned her hands down.

Her high-pitched voice screeched throughout the dungeon in loud cries of pain, alerting the other guards above.

"Wh-what is this..? Is this what pain feels like..? It's… Horrid..!" She continued crying.

Rein swiped his sword, cleaning off the blood from it as he approached the girl on the ground.

"I lost… Please, end my suffering…" She held her hand out to Rein, who simply walked past her, ignoring her pleas.

He had an exhausted look on his face, almost limping as he walked to the prince's cell. He activated his earth spring and bent the metal open, pulling the prince out and freeing him from his binds. As Zane emerged, he heaved a heavy sigh.

"I never thought I'd say this to you, but thanks," Zane bowed down.

"Save it. Let's just go already," the grimace he had on his face had yet to disappear.

"Hold on… Are you just going to leave this girl here to suffer to death?" Zane posed, making Rein stop his march to the stairs for a moment, then continue onwards, ignoring the prince.

"Hey! I'm grateful you saved me, but this is just too cruel! At least finish her off!"

Suddenly, Rein turned around and walked straight up to Zane, pulling him up by the collar angrily.

"Listen, prince. I risked life and limb to get your ass out of here. If you're going to waste another second down here, I'm leaving without you, understand?"

"..."

Rein let go of his collar and glanced over at Bella, still crying as if she was a little girl.

"Again, thanks for saving me," Zane bowed to Rein, then went over to the blue-haired girl, beginning to lift the overweight shield off her arms.

Rein scoffed, then turned around to the stairs, intending to leave without him. However, what he saw on the stairs was something, or someone truly horrifying. He had no explicable emotion to what he felt when he saw them, he simply froze in place, his eyes widened, terrified.

It was a hooded figure, its eyes not shown from under the said hood. It had a short build, though it was unclear whether it was male or female. The aura it exuded was crushing, making the air around Rein so thick that he almost choked.

However, it wasn't something Rein hadn't felt before. Rather, it was something very familiar to him. It was a similar aura to what he exuded, and even more similar to Luther. There was no doubt in his mind. This person was a System wielder.

"Versys… Inspect…" He managed to utter through the thick atmosphere.

Suddenly, he saw the analysis appear over the figure's head.

User: ???

Power: Soul System

Level: 250

Health: ???/???

Energy: ???/???

Speed: ???

Strength: ???

Defense: ???

Intellect: ???

[Skills]

Soul Steal - EFFECT UNKNOWN

Soul Morph - EFFECT UNKNOWN

…

COULD NOT COMPUTE REMAINING SKILLS…