Chapter 156: First Act 26: Into the Climax 9

"Huu, who was that guy?"

Crystal asked, slumping down on the ground with her back against a gigantic boulder. Her blue eyes, still moist, couldn't stop cringing as she panted with heavy breaths.

"I don't know, but we better get out of here"

Jasmine replied, her gaze shifting back as she tended to Liam's wounds. Her hands trembled as she poured healing potions into his mouth and directly onto his injuries.

Liam bit his mouth, groaning in pain. He hadn't witnessed the exact events that transpired in those brief moments. Before he knew it, the bastard no the monster in front of him swung its arms vertically, severing Liam's right arm. To make matters worse, Sistine, his first and most beloved lover, was beheaded right before his eyes.

A series of emotions churned inside Liam—anger, sadness, confusion, and shock deeply instilled in his heart. Though revenge burned within him, surveying the condition of his other girls, he realized the priority was ensuring their safety first.

"W-we, were safe here, right?" Katia asked, hugging her shoulders while trembling in fear.

"Don't worry, I don't sense that guy anymore," Liam reassured, attempting to comfort Katia.

"A-are you sure?"

"Yeah... But we better get moving soon. We don't want to stay here for too long" said Liam as he hoisted himself up. Jasmine extended her help, but Liam shrugged her arms away, finding it embarrassing to accept assistance from someone he had vowed to protect.

The identity of the mysterious attacker remained a puzzle to Liam. He wasn't even certain if it was human. The aura it emitted was a stark contrast to its purplish, beautiful color.

Instead of being captivated by its unique hue, observing it felt like gazing into a deep, dark sea of darkness—a polluted, ominous river full of unseen monsters waiting to strike. It instilled both a creepy and fearful sensation, leaving him crippled in fear.

Liam had encountered his fair share of individuals emanating powerful levels of mana and aura directly towards him. Among them were his father, a prominent sword master in the empire, and Lilliana, his older sister, expected to ascend to the title of archmage in the near future alongside Bella.

Yet, the aura emitted by the monster before him was unlike anything he had ever experienced. Though the encounter was brief, the overwhelming sensation of death, complete and utter, permeated those few seconds when he locked eyes with the ominous claws of its aura. In that chilling moment, he knew the stakes were high, and the intent behind that ominous presence was clear—it sought his demise.

Adding to the gravity of the situation, an aura user's energy reflects the mindset of the wielder. Whoever or whatever that entity was, its intent was unmistakable—it harbored a desire to end Liam's life.

"Why aren't the professors helping us right now? Aren't they monitoring us?" Crystal questioned, her gaze fixed on one of the monitoring devices hanging from the ceiling. The pale blue glow indicated its activation, signifying that someone was watching. Given their predicament, the professors should have swiftly intervened.

Attempting to signal an emergency, Crystal waved her hands up and down, hoping to catch the attention of whoever was monitoring them. However, Liam quickly extinguished that glimmer of hope.

"Stop, Crystal. It won't work," Liam advised. "The professors probably assessed that we just got into some unexpected trouble, which ended up with my wound here." Liam's assessment drew from his understanding of how dungeon exams operated.

The observers likely perceived their situation as an unforeseen complication resulting in Liam's severed arm.

Crystal's attempts to signal emergency were futile, as injuries like his were often considered mere scratches in the perilous dungeon, where far more gruesome fates awaited those who ventured into its depths.

Some unlucky students sometimes become some of the monsters breeding cow, man or women weren't an exception when it comes to these things, especially the more intelligent ones.

Considering that the incident occurred in a safety area devoid of monitoring devices, whoever was observing their progress likely missed the critical details of the attack.

The absence of contextual clues, coupled with the creature not pursuing them outside the safety zone, left the observers in the dark about the unfolding danger.

"How exactly did that thing attack us in there?" Jasmine vented her frustration, seeking answers.

Liam found himself at a loss for words, as he, too, grappled with the uncertainty surrounding the mysterious assault.

The safety areas within the dungeon were secured zones accessible to students in exchange for a portion of their accumulated magic stones and an upfront payment of 1500 points.

These areas boasted high-class celestial magic, ensuring a violence-free environment.

No monsters would spawn or intrude, and the magical barrier prevented any unwanted entry by fellow students unless expressly permitted by the party that claimed the safety area.

This system was designed to provide students with a secure resting place, especially during the extended duration of the examination.

Despite his desire not to involve others in this personal and selfish quest of his, he couldn't shake the feeling that the impending challenge was too perilous to face alone.

'Whatever's lurking down there is probably more dangerous than that serpent I defeated'

With a decisive resolve, Tristan left the boss area, ready to seek out his companions.

...

'Hahaha' this is really fun!' I inwardly thought.

Watching Liam's figure retreat with a mixture of fear and desperation, I couldn't help but find amusement in the situation. The thrill of the chase and the panic on his face added to the enjoyment of the spectacle.

Beside me, the two remaining girls trembled in fear, their pleas for mercy resonating in my ears. The contrast between the black-haired girl's apology and the orange-haired one's tearful prayers to a church pendant around her neck was almost comical.

"P-please don't kill us," begged the black-haired girl with desperation in her eyes. Her companion, overwhelmed by fear, continued to cry and plead for salvation...

"I-I'm sorry.... I'm sorry! I'll be a better person I'm sorry, please save me goddess" meanwhile the girl with orange hair was practically crying and praying to the church of light necklace on her neck.

I chuckled inwardly.

'Hahaha, save you? There's no way that bitch of a goddess will save you in any way shape or form'

The irony of praying to that bitch was a bit amusing.

It seemed that the camaraderie I had assumed existed among them was more one-sided than I thought, as Liam abandoned them without a second glance.

'Did he even notice he left them behind?'

Observing the two trembling girls, I couldn't help but find their reaction both amusing and pitiful. The mere release of my aunt's aura seemed to be too much for their mortal minds to handle, freezing them in their tracks as Liam dashed away without sparing them a second glance.

The comical aspect of the situation struck me, especially considering the fear evident in the liquid streaming down their legs. Their involuntary reaction, marked by their crotches visibly wetting themselves, was a blend of both pity and amusement. It was as if the mere sight of me had turned them into quivering, frightened beings.

"Do you two want to live?"

I inquired, observing their widened eyes as they processed the fact that I was now speaking in a proper, human voice.

The abrupt shift from the deep, rusty monster-like tone I had used earlier caught them off guard, and my newfound humanity seemed to be more of a shock than the offer of survival.

"...."

"A-a person?" stammered the orange-haired girl, her surprise evident.

"W-what do we need to do?" quickly retorted the black-haired girl, displaying a notable level of intelligence by seeking clarity on the terms and conditions of their potential survival.

In response, I knelt down, reaching out to gently caress one of the black-haired girl's cheeks. She trembled at my touch, reluctantly closing her eyes in a mix of fear and dissatisfaction.

"What's your name?" I inquired.

"C-Crystal Riverwalk...." she answered hesitantly.

"Crystal, huh? You have a beautiful name" I remarked, attempting to ease the tension. However, my compliment seemed to have the opposite effect, as Crystal, now even more afraid, shrank back, avoiding the gaze of my eyes beyond the mask.

Realizing that prolonged interaction might lead to them passing out from fear, I got straight to the point.

I didn't even bother asking the other girl as she was in a worse state of fear than crystal.

"The man who just left you two behind... bring me one of his limbs, and I shall let you both live."

The two girls just stared at me in shock, the weight of my demand sinking in.