A few minutes earlier, at the portal entrance...
Tina and Liz had just finished sending their loot to the company outside for handling and were feeling pleased after receiving news of the sales from their previous haul. However, just as they stepped through the portal, they almost collided with someone exiting.
"Oh, what luck!"
The man they nearly bumped into smiled brightly, combing his red hair back with a confident flair.
"Ladies, are you about to go hunting? If you got scratches on those beautiful faces, it would break my heart! How about this—I'll help you hunt for free. Kolten of the Dragon's Roar, at your service!"
Tina glanced at the man and quickly recognized he was a dragonkin, just like Liz. However, his scales were a deep red, a hue reminiscent of the Dragon's Roar leader, Ragnaros.
"Huh?"
Tina wasn't buying into his flattery, and Liz, sensing Tina's rising irritation, quickly stepped forward to intervene. She pulled Tina back and addressed the man politely. "Sorry, Mr. Kolten, but our party's already waiting for us. Thanks for the offer, though."
She gestured toward the left, where Aster and the rest of their party were setting up camp. Kolten turned his head and scoffed, his lips curling into a mocking smile.
"Hah? That loser over there, who can't even afford a proper portable home? If you stick with us, I'll make sure you sleep on a soft bed tonight!" He grinned wider. "If you're interested, my bed is also open for invitations."
"Bastard..." Tina's words slipped out, seething with rage. "Get lost before I lose my patience."
"Tina!" Liz quickly raised her voice, trying to deescalate the situation.
The tension thickened, the air practically crackling as if a fight was about to erupt. Chapter Find:
"Oh? Judging by your reaction, is that loser perhaps your lover?" Kolten taunted, laughing loudly. "Hahaha! You'd be smarter to accept my offer. I'm the most promising newbie from Dragon's Roar's 18th batch!"
He stepped closer to Tina, his arm reaching out as if to drape around her shoulders. Tina, barely containing her rage, was about to unleash it. Liz, however, was too slow to stop what was coming.
"I said, get lost!!!"
Aster, a Unique Mythic Class holder over level 40, had no need to reveal his true strength. Instead, he calmly pulled Tina and Liz back toward their camp.
"Anyway, I've warned you. Proceed at your own risk," Aster said over his shoulder, walking away.
Kolten, mistaking Aster's actions as retreat, sneered. "Coward. Fine, since you're so curious, let me show you the gap between us!"
In one swift movement, Kolten leaped over ten meters, his fist flying straight toward Aster's back. Liz and Tina reacted quickly, preparing to block the attack with their skills, but Aster was even faster.
Without turning around, he released his hand holding Liz and casually extended his arm, catching Kolten's punch with just his index finger.
"...!"
The sight was unbelievable—Kolten's powerful punch had been stopped so easily. Even Kolten himself looked shocked, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"An artifact, huh?" Kolten growled, his smile turning vicious. "Let's see how long that trinket can protect you!"
He pulled his fist back and launched a flurry of punches, each aimed at Aster's vitals with lethal intent.
"This jerk!" Tina muttered under her breath, but she held back. Although she wanted to intervene, she knew she would only be a burden in this fight.
Kolten's strikes were powerful enough to knock out most adventurers below level 20, but Aster blocked every one effortlessly—using only his index finger. It was as though he were merely popping bubbles.
Growing bored, Aster switched to his middle finger, further taunting Kolten by yawning and casually remarking, "Hmm, yes, very powerful. Really impressive."
Kolten's temper flared as his attacks continued to fail. The "artifact" he believed Aster was using showed no sign of breaking, and Aster's mocking tone only fueled his rage.
"Weakling, how dare you look down on me?!"
Snarling, Kolten pulled a massive axe from his bracelet, a weapon stored in what was essentially a spatial device. The air around him grew tense as his presence became more menacing. But Aster's disinterest remained.
"Punches, I can tolerate. But if you attack me with a weapon..." Aster sighed, his voice dropping to a dangerous tone. "You will die."