Clay and Cerys stepped out from the deeper path of the dungeon, their footsteps were a little bit slow slow and steady like they are relax.
Step… step… step… step…
But as they walk nearer the emtrance, they noticed the air was growing heavier with every step… Until the narrow tunnel finally opened into the wide entrance chamber once more.
However, what greeted them was not silence or the usual calm entrance.
It was ruin.
The ground was cracked in wide, uneven patterns, as if something massive had repeatedly smashed into it without restraint.
Worse, scattered across the battlefield were the bodies of the Royal Holy Knights, their once shining armor now dulled, dented, and stained with blood, some lying completely still while others struggled to even breathe.
The air itself smelled of iron and burnt mana.
At the center of it all stood two figures.
One was familiar towering, monstrous, its massive body rising like a wall of muscle and fury, its fur bristling as smoke poured from its nostrils, its red eyes burning with rage that refused to fade.
The Minotaur.
Facing it was a man clad in white and gold, his posture straight even in the middle of destruction, his presence firm, unshaken, and filled with a powerful aura of holy energy that spread around him like a domain.
The Holy King.
Guren.
Clay's eyes narrowed slightly.
So it is him causing the sound, he thought, recognizing the figure at once, thinking that he was probably the reason of the earthquake..
Cerys stood beside him, silent, but her body tensed as she took in the scene before her, her instincts screaming at her that this was not a place for someone like her to linger.
And then—
They decided to ignore these and moved forward while the battle raged on!
The Minotaur roared, its massive frame lunging forward with terrifying speed that did not match its size, its hooves smashing into the ground with each step as cracks spread beneath it like broken glass.
Guren did not retreat.
He stepped forward.
His hand raised.
Holy mana surged.
It gathered around him like a blazing sun, bright and intense, pushing back the darkness of the dungeon as his presence expanded, filling the space with a pressure that made even the air feel heavy.
Then he struck.
His fist moved forward, wrapped in radiant power, and when it met the Minotaur's incoming strike, the collision exploded with force.
BANG!
The sound echoed through the entire chamber.
The ground beneath them shattered further, dust rising in thick clouds as the impact sent a shockwave outward, pushing back debris and making the unconscious knights tremble where they lay.
Clay and Cerys stood at the edge, watching.
The Minotaur staggered half a step.
Guren remained still.
Then the king moved again.
Faster.
His body blurred forward as his hand formed a blade of pure holy mana, slicing through the air with precision as he aimed for the Minotaur's neck.
The strike landed.
A clean cut.
Blood sprayed.
The Minotaur roared in pain.
But it did not fall.
Its muscles tensed.
Its body hardened.
The wound began to close.
Guren's eyes sharpened.
So it can learn, he thought as the Minotaur made his attack a little bit less effective to it.
He did not hesitate any more time and drove another strike.
It whistled sharply in the air, means gus attack this time was stronger and his face looked like he he was more focused.
This time, the Minotaur raised its arm to block.
The holy blade struck its forearm.
A spark burst.
But instead of cutting deep, the attack only left a shallow mark.
The Minotaur's eyes burned brighter.
It swung its other arm.
Guren was shocked, it's not learning! He said in his head as leaned slightly to the side, avoiding the blow by a narrow margin as the fist smashed into the ground behind him, creating a deep crater.
He countered immediately with a kick to the Minotaur's side.
The impact sent a dull shock through the creature's body, forcing it to take a step back.
The battle continued.
Blow after blow.
Strike after strike.
Each movement carried power that could destroy ordinary opponents in an instant, yet here, neither side gave way easily.
Clay watched everything.
His expression calm as this happening… doesn't matter to him. His thoughts practical.
Not my fight, he decided.
Beside him, Cerys glanced at him.
"Young master," she said quietly, "what should we do?"
Clay turned slightly, already stepping forward.
"Ignore them," he said, his tone indifferent, "it is better to leave."
He did not look back.
His ability was deactivated. The Minotaur was still dangerous. And the person seemed like someone he doesnt wanted to deal with for now…
So he chose not to join.
Right now, rest sounded far better.
A bed, food, silence and a new beautiful Maid.
Cerys paused for a brief moment.
She could not read his thoughts this time.
It was blank and strangely quiet like he was bored.
Considering how strong young master is, those fight of weaklings thats in my level were worth nothing.
Then, she chose not to question him.
She simply followed.
Step by step.
They began walking slow and calm past the battlefield as if the chaos around them did not exist.
But not everyone ignored them.
One of the fallen knights body suddenly moved.
His body trembled as he forced himself up, one hand pressing against the cracked ground while the other gripped his broken sword.
His vision blurred.
But he saw the two of them.
His eyes widened.
"You…" he rasped, his voice rough from blood and pain, "how did you enter this place…"
He pushed himself higher.
"This dungeon… only those at Mana Core Formation Realm should be able to step inside…"
His gaze locked onto Clay.
Suspicion. Anger. Confusion.
All seemed to mix together.
"You," he pointed, his arm shaking, "who are you?"
Before Clay could respond, Cerys silhouette flashed. She stepped forward.
Placed herself between them, and next… her presence changed.
It was cold and sharp.
Her eyes darkened as she looked down at the knight.
"Do not block Young Master Clay's path," she said, her voice low but filled with clear threat, "or this will be the end of you."
The knight's expression was stunned for a moment and then it became twisted.
"I am a Royal Holy Knight!" he shouted, his voice rising despite his condition, "I serve under the King himself, protector of the Holy Kingdom, sworn to defend its people and its honor!"
He struggled to stand fully.
"You think I will step aside for unknown intruders?" he continued, his voice growing louder, fueled by pride and anger, "you walk through a battlefield untouched, while my brothers fall, and you dare threaten me?"
His gaze turned toward Clay.
"You," he spat, "hiding behind a woman, what kind of master are you? A coward? A useless noble who lets others fight for him?"
Clay blinked.
For a moment, he looked genuinely surprised.
Wait… he thought, is he from my kingdom?
The realization hit him.
And then—
Cerys disappeared.
Clay widened his eyes.
"Oh no," he muttered under his breath.
He knew what was coming.
A blur.
A flash of movement too fast for the injured knight to follow.
He was too late.
Then—
Silence.
The knight's body froze.
His eyes widened.
Then his head suddenly slid down to the side, feel to the groun with a dull sound and slowly… it rolled.
It fell to the ground with a dull sound.
His body collapsed a moment later.
Cerys reappeared beside Clay as if nothing had happened.
Clay placed his palm against his face.
"Oh no…"
Meanwhile, in the center of the battlefield, Guren saw it.
The last of his knights.
Gone.
For a brief moment, his immovable focus broke.
And that was all the Minotaur needed.
Its massive fist came down.
BANG!
The blow struck Guren's face directly, sending him flying across the chamber, his body crashing into the dungeon wall with a violent impact that sent cracks spreading outward.
Clay grimaced.
"What the hell…"
Too many things happened at once.
Meanwhile, the Minotaur roared in victory.
Then—It saw him.
Clay.
Standing there.
His most inner fear.
Clay was cautious. This horned beast… Once it sensed he didn't have any more powerful cultivated mana… he would be toast.
But then… the roar of the Minotaur died in its throat.
Its body stiffened.
Its eyes widened slightly.
It did not move.
Clay recognized it.
It's fear.
It stepped back.
Clay blinked.
"Ohhh…"
He muttered under his breath.
This is getting weird.
Suddenly, behind him, dust exploded.
Guren stood up.
Blood ran down his face.
His aura surged again, even stronger than before, anger burning within him.
"You!"
His voice echoed.
Filled with rage.
Filled with power.
Clay slowly turned his head.
His eyes moved.
From the Minotaur.
To Guren.
Then to himself.
Three figures.
Standing.
Facing each other.
And this time since entering the dungeon…
Clay realized.
He might not be able to walk freely and relax away.