Chapter 163: First Act 32: Red King

A simmering white light sliced through the air, cutting horizontally with precision.

In its wake, a multitude of monsters were severed in half, their forms rent asunder.

Blood sprayed through the air, creating an unsettling scene as the upper halves of the creatures arced through the air before landing unceremoniously on the ground.

"Th-thank you...!"

The two students, who had been on the brink of peril, bowed their heads in panic and gratitude.

Their eyes widened in awe and relief as they beheld Tristan, who stood before them, his blade still glowing with the residual energy of the devastating attack.

With a calm yet urgent demeanor, Tristan addressed the students he had just saved.

"Hurry up and get out of here" he instructed; concern etched on his face. He gestured for them to flee, casting a watchful eye on the approaching horde of monsters.

As the two students scurried away, their footsteps echoing a hurried retreat, Tristan felt a surge of relief.

'Those two should be the last remaining on this floor'

He observed their escape with a sense of satisfaction, reassured that they were likely the last remaining individuals in the immediate danger zone.

Tristan employed the absolute acuity of his senses and mana perception, utilizing the divine power within him to locate any trapped or wandering students within the labyrinthine depths of the dungeon.

The constant influx of information bombarded his mind, threatening to overwhelm his cognitive faculties.

Yet, his adept control over mana, coupled with his divine healing capabilities, offered him a reprieve from the physical toll.

'I'll waste my mana if I keep doing this...'

The roar of monsters echoed from every corner of the dungeon. Despite their predominantly low rank, their sheer numbers were staggering.

Tristan, with unparalleled skill and precision, had already cleaved through nearly a thousand of them.

However, the relentless onslaught showed no signs of abating. The dungeon seemed to resurrect the monsters incessantly, each severed limb or decapitated head only a temporary setback for the relentless horde.

Having rescued the last remaining students within his current floor, Tristan's concerns shifted to the sudden appearance of ominous black portals that materialized seemingly out of thin air.

To add more to the growing unease, Tristan couldn't shake the unsettling sensation of being watched.

A gaze, unseen yet distinctly palpable, bore into him from an unknown location, sending shivers down his spine.

'What would master do in this situation......?'

'Should I go back now?'

As Tristan skillfully cut down hundreds of monsters that stood in his way, a peculiar development caught his attention—instead of facing him, the creatures started avoiding him, swarming towards the ominous black portals that had materialized.

Tristan, still in a daze from his overuse of mana perception, initially failed to register the significance of their behavior.

The black portals widened before spewing forth dark lightning from their edges.

With each passing second, an unsettling aura emanated from the portals, causing the hairs on Tristan's body to stand on end.

Though he could sense mana from the portals, there was something distinctly different about it—a divine energy that set it apart.

'Why can I feel divine energy from those portals?'

Tristan resheathed his sword, a faint blue aura gathering around the blade.

His eyes glowed, transforming into a radiant golden hue, as he saw the world in a completely new light, his eyes fixated on the faint purple light at the center of the portals.

'That must be the core'

A decisive decision formed in his mind.

In a fluid motion, Tristan unleashed a horizontal streak of bluish-white light that engulfed the dimly lit dungeon.

The mana blade, infused with his divine power, surged towards the nearest portal. As the ethereal blade cut through the monsters caught in its path, it left destruction in its wake.

Some creatures were cleanly severed, while others succumbed to the scorching heat emanating from the divine attack.

Boom! The resounding explosion reverberated through the dungeon as Tristan's potent attack traveled through the wall behind the black portal.

Debris of crushed earth and rocks soared through the air, carried by the shockwave that traversed the underground labyrinth. In the midst of the upheaval, Tristan's blue hair swayed in the turbulent aftermath.

With the dust settling around him, Tristan shielded his eyes with his right hand.

Despite the obscured view, his discerning gaze easily penetrated the veil of particles.

In the distance, where the portal stood, the entity he had attempted to sever remained unscathed. The portal, seemingly impervious, and the purple mana at its core stood undamaged.

"No... It was fixed"

Tristan muttered, realizing the seemingly instantaneous repair of the damage inflicted by his powerful attack.

In a mere blink of an eye, a bright purple mana materialized, weaving its way towards the portal. Tristan's golden eyes shimmered with intensity as he traced the origin of the external mana.

Staring at his mangled chest, Tristan fought to remain conscious. He knew the severity of his injuries, and the prospect of passing out loomed.

Turning his attention toward the source of the unexpected attack, Tristan was met with the sight of a newly formed black portal.

From within, a colossal red hand emerged, emanating heat so intense that it seemed to steam in the cool air.

'Since when did that portal popped out...?'

The scene before him unfolded with surreal intensity.

The black portal expanded further, revealing three additional massive arms.

A demonic face, adorned with glowing red horns and menacing red eyes, emerged.

The heat emanating from the demonic creature created an oppressive atmosphere, its presence casting an ominous shadow over the already chaotic battlefield.

As Tristan struggled to rise, his body battered and broken, he couldn't help but marvel at the sheer power of the summoned entity.

The divine energy within him surged as he focused on healing his injuries. The pain, though still palpable, began to subside under the influence of his potent restorative abilities.

The four-armed creature, with its demonic countenance, surveyed the surroundings with a menacing gaze.

Tristan, despite his weakened state, assessed the creature as a formidable four armed—a troll or orc with fur-covered limbs.

The red glow of its eyes intensified as it scanned the battlefield

Their eyes locked in a moment of realization, Tristan and the menacing creature summoned through the black portal.

In the blink of an eye, a colossal axe, gripped in the four hands of the monstrous being, hurtled through the air towards Tristan. There was no time to evade or defend.

Struggling to get up, Tristan felt the agony coursing through his body. His legs were broken, and the unleashed mana from the previous attack ran rampant, causing chaos within him.

Determined to ward off the imminent threat, Tristan ceased his attempts to heal and instead focused on gathering mana onto his sword.

Gritting his teeth, he steeled himself for the impending clash.

As the gigantic axe descended, Tristan strained every sinew to deflect the blow.

The tension in the air was palpable, the fiery determination in his golden eyes contrasting with the ferocity of the impending strike.

But just before the axe could reach its mark, a fiery explosion erupted, intercepting the projectile mid-air. The colossal weapon arced before landing on the ground, its destructive path halted.

A familiar voice reached out from behind.

"You alright, bud?"

The sight of Alex's face brought a smile to Tristan's battered face.

"Man, you really got beat up. I never thought I'd see you like this... it's annoying that you're still handsome though" Alex remarked with a wry grin.

Gathering his fiery mana, Alex condensed it around them, forming a protective dome of fire.

"Alex...."

"Alex!"

"Don't run off on your own."

Suddenly more voices joined the fray.

Turning around, Tristan's eyes widened as he saw Bella, Aria, the saintess, and a pink-haired woman running closer towards them.

"You guys are still here?"

"Well, we got into a situation...."

"Oh no, Brother Tristan...!" the saintess exclaimed, her concern evident.

Without hesitation, she knelt down beside Tristan, her divine power enveloping him as she channeled her healing magic to its absolute best to mend his battered form.

"Tristan?"

"What happened here...?"

The questions poured in from the others, their curiosity piqued by the visible distress Tristan had endured.

Yet, their attention was abruptly diverted as an ominous and colossal presence loomed in the distance.

A large demonic creature, adorned with four menacing arms, grinned malevolently, its red eyes locking onto each member of the group.

In a sudden and calculated motion, the demonic creature opened one of its palms wide.

The gigantic axe, previously discarded on the ground, soared through the air and returned to its formidable grasp.

The air crackled with tension, and an unspoken understanding passed between the group members—they were about to face a formidable adversary.

Instinctively, they formed a defensive formation, preparing themselves for the impending battle.