Chapter 203 Match 1: The Dungeon Crawl [3]

[Warning: This chapter contains graphic violence and bloodshed. Reader discretion is advised.]

***

Ares realized that defeating the troll had been a struggle akin to level 1 players battling a level 10 monster. If there were no strength restrictions, he could have easily handled the troll on his own. However, he now understood that they needed more help to take down the boss monster which will most likely be an A-Rank.

"...What do you mean by that Ares? Does that mean we have to team up with other academies to fight a boss monster?" Diana inquired, looking confused. The rest of the team shared her sentiment.

'Team up?' Ares chuckled inwardly at her question.

"Think about it," Ares said, his voice ringing with conviction. "Even if we team up with other academies to defeat a boss monster, there's only one crystal in one path. What happens if they turn on us immediately afterward? Not to mention, the academy that lands the final blow on the monster gets a whopping 5 points, equivalent to second place.

With our limited mana and strength, we have no idea who will come out on top if we have to fight multiple academies at once."

He paused, contemplating the situation. 'We need to come up with a different approach. Something that doesn't rely on brute force and won't put us in such a vulnerable position.'

As Ares pondered a plan, Claude's interruption cut through his thoughts.

"...We've got company," Claude said, already brandishing his daggers.

Diana quickly confirmed Claude's observation. "It seems the sound of our fight has gathered the attention of other teams," she said.

Without hesitation, Ares gave his order. "Diana, Claude, Hide!" he commanded as there was no need to fight them head-on.

The two of them looked at each other with confusion but followed Ares' orders nonetheless.

As they hid, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Finally, a group of students led by a red-haired boy wielding a dagger appeared before them.

"Oh, look what we have here," the red-haired boy sneered. "Students from the infamous Soreh Academy and their arrogant representative, Ares."

"It seems they managed to defeat a B-Rank monster troll," an elf with a bow said as he noticed the monster's body parts slowly turning into particles.

"At what cost, though? Can't you see they only have three members left? The other two most likely died during the fight," the red-haired leader added.

"Don't let your guard down. The other two might be hiding somewhere. We're talking about Soreh Academy and Ares here," a female mage warned.

"What does it matter if they're from Soreh Academy? And what about Ares? In the VR world, we all have equal strength. Our Iron Fortress Academy is not to be underestimated either!" a hulking man carrying a shield boasted with a smirk.

As Ares caught his breath, one of the students charged towards him, looking at him as an easy kill. He was breathing heavily and leaning on his katana as if exhausted from the previous battle with the monster. "Stop talking and let's deal with them quickly," he said, brandishing his sword.

"Diana, now!" Ares quickly ordered in a voice chat.

As Ares gave the order, Diana emerged from her hiding spot and unleashed a flurry of arrows at the charging student and the other students behind him, catching them off guard.

"...Hey watch out for--"

The mage tried to warn him, but her words were cut short as one of Diana's arrows suddenly curved and pierced her throat killing her instantly.

"Arghh"

She fell backward, lifeless, before disappearing into particles.

A guy who was approaching Ares was able to dodge Diana's arrow, and he quickly swung his sword at him. However, Eric moved forward and blocked the attack with his shield, causing the attacker to stumble backward.

And suddenly, a towering ice spike appeared behind him, piercing his heart and finishing him off before his body disintegrated into particles and disappeared.

"I-It's an ambush!" The elf shouted as he readied his bow.

"It's too late!" Claude, who had suddenly appeared behind him, said in a low voice before slicing the Elf's throat with his dagger.

Arghh--

The Elf held his throat in pain and tried to stop the oozing blood which was like a waterfall, his HP depleted at an alarming rate, he fell to the ground lifeless, and soon his body turned into particles.

"T-This?" Stammered the red-haired leader in disbelief as he deflected Diana's arrows with his daggers.

Swish--swish--

The arrows continued to rain down, but the shield-bearer of their team hurriedly took the front to block them. However, the arrows were just a distraction as Claude appeared behind the leader and tried to strike.

Clink--

The leader swiftly retaliated, their daggers clashing as they exchanged strikes in a blur of movement.

Diana ceased firing her arrows, sensing the need to conserve her energy for the imminent fights.

As the arrows ceased, the shield bearer lowered his shield and was about to move to aid his leader, sensing his need for support.

However, as soon as the shield bearer lowered his shield, Ares seized the opportunity and lunged forward, leaving a blue trail as he moved. With lightning-fast reflexes, he brought his knee up to meet the shield bearer's face with a sickening crack.

Crack--

The sound of his bone-breaking could be heard, and the shield bearer's HP decreased by 10 percent from that attack.

The muscular shield bearer staggered backward, blood pouring from his broken nose, the force of the blow almost feeling real.

Ares was not done yet, he closed in instantly, his fists clenched and his muscles bulging with power as he began to beat the student mercilessly, his punches landing with brutal force at a fast pace. He was using Tania's fighting technique, making his blows land at a lightning fast rate, leaving afterimages.

Thud--Thud--Thud

He then grabbed him by the hair, pulling him close and slamming his knee into his opponent's face repeatedly each blow echoing throughout the dungeon.

Thud--Thud--Thud

The student's attempts to fight back were feeble, his attacks lacking in power and precision as his HP dwindled and his body grew weaker by the second.

He was being treated like a live sandbag by Ares.

His HP was almost gone, and he could barely see through the haze of sharp pain and blood.

Ares paused for a moment, taking in the sight of his fallen opponent. And then, with a sudden, vicious movement, he tore the shield bearer's head clean off his body using Irethiels technique.

The student's head bounced on the ground, his lifeless eyes staring blankly ahead before turning into particles and disappearing.

Ares's hand was soaked in the student's blood, and droplets of it splattered on his face.

"...."

However, as soon as the one-sided fight ended, Ares sensed the stares from his teammates. He glanced over to see that Claude's battle with their leader had also come to an end, with the red-haired student's body dissolving into particles and disappearing.

'...Was that really necessary? He could have finished him off easily with his sword, right? Why would he choose to be so brutal when the whole world will be watching this?' Witnessing the gruesome scene, they all had the same thought, with their eyes widened in shock.

They felt chills down their spine as they tried to process what they had just seen.

But of course, except for Livia, who seemed unfazed by the incident and had a neutral expression.