Chapter 175: Dominating

The ground suddenly began to tremble as a powerful dark aura spread throughout the entire cave.

The Ruination Knights immediately stopped and raised their weapons. The golden flames in their eyes burned with intense battle intent as they stared toward the deeper part of the dungeon.

Kaiser narrowed his eyes.

A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.

He was a tall humanoid wearing a long black robe covered in strange dark patterns. A large hood concealed most of his face, but two dark-purple flames could be seen burning within his eye sockets.

The pressure coming from his body was far stronger than that of the Nightcrawlers they had encountered earlier.

Kaiser immediately realized that this must be the boss of the dungeon.

[Boss Monster Detected]

[Name: Maleficnite]

[Title: Priest of Darkness]

[Level: 300]

[Rank: 2]

Kaiser glanced at the information without showing much reaction.

"Hmm, a peak Rank 2 boss, huh?"

Maleficnite slowly raised his head, and the dark flames within his eye sockets burned even brighter.

"You have entered the domain of darkness and slaughtered my servants."

His deep, cold voice echoed throughout the massive cave.

Rachel stepped forward and calmly looked at him.

"Your servants were weak."

Maleficnite’s dark aura suddenly intensified.

"You dare insult the children of darkness?"

Rachel smiled faintly.

"I simply stated the truth."

Kaiser couldn’t help but smile when he heard her response.

Maleficnite tightened his grip around his staff and slowly raised it.

The staff was made from an unknown black material, with a dark crystal embedded at its tip. The moment he pointed it toward the Ruination Knights, the surrounding darkness began to surge violently.

"Then let me see how strong you really are!"

Boom!

A massive wave of darkness erupted from the staff and swept across the entire chamber.

The Ruination Knights immediately raised their shields.

Golden-black Ruination Energy surged around their bodies as they formed a defensive formation.

The wave of darkness slammed into them with tremendous force.

Boom!

The entire cave shook violently from the impact.

However, when the darkness finally dispersed, the Ruination Knights were still standing in formation.

Not a single knight had fallen.

Kaiser raised an eyebrow.

"That’s it?"

Maleficnite’s expression changed slightly. He clearly hadn’t expected his attack to be blocked so easily.

Rachel raised one hand.

The soft golden light surrounding her body suddenly became much brighter.

"Your darkness is too weak."

The golden light spread rapidly throughout the cave, directly suppressing the darkness released by Maleficnite.

"This is the power of the Rule of Fallen Light."

The moment her Rule appeared, the entire battlefield changed.

Maleficnite’s dark energy began breaking apart under the golden light, while the Ruination Knights became even stronger.

Kaiser watched the scene with interest.

As expected, Rachel’s Rule was the perfect counter to this dungeon.

Maleficnite gripped his staff tightly.

"What kind of power is this...?"

His voice suddenly became filled with disbelief.

"Wait! You have comprehended a Rule?!"

Rachel simply smiled.

"Of course."

She raised her hand and pointed toward Maleficnite.

"Kill him."

The Ruination Knights immediately charged forward.

More than a hundred knights moved together as one, their white and golden armor shining beneath Rachel’s light while their swords were raised toward the Priest of Darkness.

Maleficnite’s dark aura exploded once again.

"I won’t go down that easily!"

He roared as he slammed his staff into the ground.

"Darkness Devouring Domain!"

The entire chamber instantly became pitch black as endless darkness spread in every direction.

However, the darkness lasted only for a moment.

Golden light suddenly pierced through it.

Rachel’s Rule of Fallen Light continued spreading throughout the chamber, tearing apart the darkness and revealing the Ruination Knights already standing directly in front of Maleficnite.

Their swords descended at the same time.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Maleficnite hurriedly raised his staff to defend himself, but the combined force of the attacks pushed him several steps backward.

Kaiser calmly watched the battle from behind.

"The difference between someone with a Rule and someone without one is really huge."

Maleficnite roared as another wave of dark energy erupted from his body.

However, Rachel had no intention of giving him another opportunity.

She calmly closed her eyes and moved her hand.

The golden light surrounding her body began to condense, transforming into countless sharp rays of Ruination Energy.

"Ruination Ray."

The next moment, countless golden-black rays shot forward like arrows.

Maleficnite tried to defend himself, but the rays pierced through his body from every direction.

His dark aura began rapidly weakening as the power of the Rule of Fallen Light continued destroying his darkness.

The Ruination Knights surrounded him from all sides, completely cutting off every possible escape route.

Within moments, the Priest of Darkness was completely overwhelmed.

Kaiser calmly watched the battle and knew that the outcome had already been decided.

For a normal Rank-Up Trial participant, a peak Rank 2 boss with a maximum-level body would have been an extremely difficult opponent.

But against Rachel, who had comprehended a Rule, and more than a hundred powerful Ruination Knights, Maleficnite never had any chance of winning.

The golden-black rays continued piercing through Maleficnite’s body, and cracks began spreading across his black robe as his dark energy rapidly weakened.

He staggered backward while desperately trying to maintain his Darkness Devouring Domain, but the domain was already collapsing under the pressure of Rachel’s Ruination power.

"Impossible..." Maleficnite muttered.

He had ruled this dungeon for countless years and had never encountered an opponent capable of completely suppressing his darkness.

Rachel slowly opened her eyes.

"Your resistance is pointless."

She raised her hand once again.

The golden light surrounding the Ruination Knights suddenly became even brighter.

"Finish him."

The Ruination Knights immediately responded.

"Yes, Lady Rachel!"

They charged forward from every direction.

Maleficnite tried to defend himself with his staff, releasing several waves of dark energy at the approaching knights. However, every attack was destroyed the moment it came into contact with the golden light.

The first Ruination Knight reached him and swung his sword.

Clang!

Maleficnite blocked the attack, but another knight immediately struck him from the side.

Clang!

A third sword followed.

Then a fourth.

Within seconds, Maleficnite was surrounded by the Ruination Knights, each one attacking without giving him a chance to recover.