Chapter 118: Derek’s Challenge: Trust Conflict

Derek handled his own opponent, a Tyrannosaurus rex, with his enhanced diamond-armored weapons. He moved swiftly across the uneven battlefield, narrowly dodging the creature’s snapping jaws as it lunged toward him with terrifying speed. Each time the dinosaur attempted to catch him between its enormous teeth, he twisted aside or retreated just far enough to avoid the attack. The powerful gusts produced by its movements swept across him, carrying dust and loose fragments of stone into the air.

Despite the creature’s overwhelming size, Derek maintained his composure. His diamond armor glimmered faintly beneath the dungeon’s dim lighting, reflecting the scattered light that filtered through the cavernous environment. Several sharp diamond spikes emerged around his arms, their pointed edges gleaming as he prepared to end the battle. He had already studied his opponent’s movements long enough to recognize its weaknesses, and he wasn’t interested in prolonging the fight any further than necessary.

When the Tyrannosaurus rex opened its jaws for another devastating attack, Derek seized his opportunity. He shifted sideways, allowing the creature’s massive head to sweep past him before thrusting his arm forward.

Numerous sharp diamond spikes shot through the air and struck the dinosaur’s left flank. They penetrated its thick hide like stakes driven into a target, forcing a piercing screech from its throat. The creature staggered as it attempted to recover, its powerful legs scraping against the rocky floor while it struggled to maintain its balance.

Derek didn’t give it time to retaliate.

The dinosaur roared furiously and swung its enormous tail in a desperate final attack. The movement came so suddenly that Derek barely had enough time to react. The heavy appendage struck him squarely, sending him flying across the battlefield.

His body rolled over the rough floor like a ragdoll before he finally came to a stop several meters away. The impact left him momentarily breathless, and he grimaced as he pushed himself up with one hand. Dust clung to his clothes, while the armor covering his body bore the marks of the encounter.

"Damn. That thing really knows how to hit hard," he muttered, rubbing his shoulder.

He glanced toward the dinosaur and found that its final attack had accomplished very little. The creature had already sustained too much damage from his earlier assault. Its enormous body swayed unsteadily before its legs finally gave way.

The Tyrannosaurus rex slumped to the ground with a heavy thud that reverberated throughout the surrounding chamber. A pool of blood spread beneath its body, while the diamond spikes protruding from its flank remained embedded like countless sharp stakes. Its massive chest rose and fell a few more times, and its limbs twitched weakly against the stone.

Then, its movements gradually ceased.

The last signs of life disappeared from its eyes, leaving the enormous predator motionless upon the dungeon floor.

Derek remained where he was for a moment, watching the fallen dinosaur to ensure that it wouldn’t suddenly rise again. Only when he was satisfied that the battle had ended did he release a quiet breath.

"Finally. One less problem to deal with."

He approached the fallen creature and examined his handiwork. Although the fight had been more troublesome than he had anticipated, his diamond weapons had performed remarkably well. The spikes had penetrated the dinosaur’s defenses, and his armor had protected him from the worst of its attacks.

Still, the experience reminded him that even with his enhanced abilities, carelessness could prove costly. A single mistake against an opponent of that size could easily turn a manageable battle into a disaster.

He shook his head and looked across the chamber.

Mark was still occupied with his own opponent.

The sight immediately caught Derek’s attention. His friend had been struggling to manage the enormous creature’s size and relentless attacks, relying on his surroundings and whatever improvised weapons he could find to keep himself alive. Compared to Derek’s specialized diamond equipment, Mark’s approach was considerably less straightforward.

Nevertheless, Mark had always possessed a stubborn streak that made him difficult to discourage. Once he committed himself to something, he rarely abandoned it without exhausting every available option.

Derek watched him for a few seconds before a different thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.

The dungeon core.

He remembered seeing it earlier, after Noah had revealed enough about the situation to draw attention to its existence. Derek had intended to approach it before anyone else could claim it, and now that his own opponent was dead, he finally had the opportunity.

His gaze wandered across the battlefield as he searched for the object.

He couldn’t help himself when it came to valuable items and materials. The attraction had always been there, and it had only grown stronger as his abilities developed. Having powers directly connected to one of the most valuable materials in existence should have been enough to satisfy him, yet the discovery of other treasures continued to awaken his curiosity.

It was an inconvenient habit, especially when he knew that his interest could lead him into situations that required more thought than simple enthusiasm.

Perhaps it was because diamonds had become so familiar to him that they no longer produced the same excitement they once had. What had originally been a source of fascination had gradually become a natural extension of his abilities. He could summon them, shape them into weapons, and reinforce his defenses with them. Their value remained undeniable, but their familiarity had dulled some of the wonder he had once felt.

Other valuable objects, however, still held a certain appeal.

He couldn’t deny that his fascination with diamonds had begun long before he acquired his current powers. Back when he was a teenager, he had first become interested in them because he wanted to impress a girl. At the time, he had imagined that possessing something precious would make him appear more impressive in her eyes.

That initial motivation had gradually faded, leaving behind something entirely different. His interest had become a personal fascination with the rarity, beauty, and value of precious materials.

Over time, that fascination had grown into something he occasionally struggled to control.

"Seriously, why do I always end up thinking about this stuff at the worst possible moments?" he muttered to himself.

He continued searching until his attention settled on a familiar object lying near a cluster of stones.

There it was.

The dungeon core rested on the floor without its chain, partially wedged against a stone as though the obstacle had prevented it from rolling any farther. Its surface possessed a peculiar sheen that distinguished it from the surrounding debris. Even from a short distance away, Derek could sense the energy contained within it.

A smile slowly spread across his face.

"Well, look at that. Just when I needed something interesting."

He approached cautiously, keeping his movements as casual as possible. Before picking up the core, he glanced over his shoulder to check the surrounding area.

Mark was still occupied with his opponent, and Penthesilea remained nearby, alert to any potential danger. Neither appeared to be paying attention to him.

Satisfied, Derek crouched and picked up the dungeon core.

Its surface felt strangely cool against his palm, despite the immense energy he could sense beneath it. He turned it slightly, examining its structure and the faint fluctuations passing through its interior. The object seemed to possess a density that ordinary materials could never imitate, and the energy within it felt considerably more concentrated than what he had encountered in weaker cores.

His smile widened.

"Now, this is worth looking into."

He quickly concealed it, slipping it out of sight before straightening up. He knew perfectly well that Mark might have a claim to the object, considering the circumstances that had brought them here. Still, the temptation to secure it for himself had been difficult to resist.

For a moment, he allowed himself to imagine what absorbing the core might do for his abilities.

The thought was enough to make him hesitate.

He had barely finished considering the possibilities when a loud roar echoed across the chamber, followed by the sound of something heavy crashing against the ground.

Derek turned toward the noise.

Mark had finally finished his own battle.

His opponent had fought fiercely, forcing him to rely on rocks and the surrounding terrain as improvised weapons. Although the method had been far less elegant than Derek’s diamond spikes, it had proved effective enough to bring the creature down.

The defeated dinosaur lay motionless on the rocky floor. Mark stood nearby, breathing heavily as he examined the result of his efforts. His clothes were dusty, and his expression suggested that he was more relieved than impressed with his performance.

"That was a pain," Mark said, shaking his head. "Remind me never to underestimate something just because I think I have a decent plan."

He glanced at the rocks scattered around his feet before looking at his fallen opponent.

"Though, to be fair, I didn’t exactly have many options."

Penthesilea approached, her attention shifting between the defeated creature and Mark. She had remained vigilant throughout the battle, ready to intervene if the situation became too dangerous. Now that the immediate threat had disappeared, the tension in her posture eased slightly.

Mark gave the fallen dinosaur one last look before turning toward Derek.

His friend appeared unusually quiet.

Normally, Derek would have been the first to make a remark about the battle or find something amusing to say about Mark’s improvised fighting style. Instead, he stood with an expression that seemed almost too composed.

Mark narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Everything all right there? You seem unusual."

Derek blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. He quickly shrugged, keeping his expression as neutral as possible.

"Nah, it’s nothing serious. You know, the stress of going through this place really hits."

He tried to make the explanation sound convincing, but Mark continued studying him for another moment.

"Really? That’s all?"

"What else would it be?"

"I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking."

Derek gave a short laugh and waved his hand dismissively.

"You’re overthinking things. We just fought giant dinosaurs, and you’re surprised that I’m tired?"

"Fair point," Mark admitted. "Although, for someone who’s supposedly exhausted, you look like you’ve been standing around doing absolutely nothing."

"That’s because I finished before you."

"Congratulations. Do you want a medal?"

"Preferably one made of diamond."

Mark stared at him.

Derek grinned.

"There he is," Mark muttered. "I was beginning to think the dungeon had replaced you with someone else."

Penthesilea gave them both a brief look before turning her attention toward the surrounding chamber. She had been searching for any remaining signs of danger, and her careful movements suggested that she wasn’t willing to assume their victory meant the entire area was safe.

Mark noticed her scanning the environment and turned toward her.

He gently patted her thigh where his hand could comfortably reach, drawing her attention without interrupting her watchfulness.

"Anything else we need to worry about?"

Penthesilea looked toward the distant passages before returning her gaze to him.

"I haven’t detected any immediate threats. There may still be traces of energy elsewhere, but nothing nearby appears to be approaching us."

"Good. I’d rather not deal with another surprise after all that."

She nodded before giving the fallen creatures another glance.

"I believe this was the final confrontation. If these opponents were guarding the area, their defeat should mean that we have reached the end of the raid."

Mark’s expression brightened slightly.

"So the coast is clear, and we’re finally done with this place?"

"That is what I believe," Penthesilea replied. "However, I would advise against becoming careless until we have confirmed that the dungeon is beginning to collapse."

"Right. No celebrating before we get out."

Mark turned back toward Derek, who had become quiet again.

Derek listened to their conversation without contributing much. His attention had returned to the dungeon core hidden from sight, and the weight of his decision gradually began to settle upon him.

He knew that the object wasn’t simply another treasure lying around for anyone to claim.

Mark had been the one leading their efforts to survive this ordeal, and Penthesilea had contributed significantly to overcoming the dangers they had encountered. More importantly, the dungeon core could be considered part of the reward for their victory. Even if Derek had discovered it first, that didn’t automatically make it his to keep.

He could easily justify taking it. After all, he had defeated his opponent, and his own abilities would benefit from absorbing such a valuable source of energy. He could even argue that claiming it would make better use of the opportunity they had been given.

Yet none of those arguments completely erased the uncomfortable feeling growing inside him.

He had always known the difference between wanting something and deserving it. The problem was that recognizing the difference didn’t necessarily make resisting temptation any easier.

Derek glanced toward Mark.

His friend was speaking with Penthesilea about their next move, seemingly unaware of the conflict taking place beside him. There was no accusation in his expression, no suspicion that Derek might have found something worth concealing.

That trust made the decision even more difficult.