Chapter 262 - 261 : Treasure hunt (2)

Chapter 262: Chapter 261 : Treasure hunt (2)

"Arthur... I think I am in love."

Evangline’s voice echoed through the dim dungeon corridor.

Arthur slowly turned toward her.

A faint, smug smile appeared on his face as he looked into her magenta eyes and deliberately acted shy.

"I knew this day would come."

He opened his arms slightly.

"Let us start with a kiss."

Bam!

A fist struck Arthur directly in the face.

Arthur staggered backward, clutching his cheek.

"Ow!"

He looked at Evangline with a wounded expression.

"Is that how you express your love?"

Evangline raised the modified Desert Eagle in her hand.

"Not with you, you idiot."

Her eyes sparkled as she admired the weapon.

"I am in love with these bullets."

Arthur’s smile disappeared.

Evangline grinned.

"After we leave this dungeon, I’ll make you sign a contract."

"What contract?"

"You’ll provide me with a lifetime supply of these bullets."

"I reject."

Evangline’s mouth fell open.

Then she pointed at herself indignantly.

"I am your queen, damn it! Obey me."

Arthur looked at her calmly.

"Then kiss me."

Evangline’s face flushed.

For a moment, she genuinely looked as though she was considering shooting him.

Before she could do anything, another slap landed across Arthur’s face.

Pah!

This time, Jasmine stood before him, her cold gaze making her intentions perfectly clear.

"We should focus on the task, Leader."

Arthur swallowed.

"Yes, ma’am."

Jasmine turned away.

Arthur rubbed his face before pointing down the corridor.

"Everyone, let us march toward victory."

The others sighed and followed him deeper into the dungeon.

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The deeper they ventured, the more dangerous the dungeon became.

Old cracks and faded runes covered the stone walls, while blue mana torches flickered along the corridor and cast long, distorted shadows across the floor.

The air smelled damp, and every corner seemed capable of hiding another trap.

Arthur moved at the front.

Victor followed behind him with one hand resting near the hilt of his sword. Jasmine guarded the center, while Evangline watched the flanks with her Desert Eagle ready. Rubina remained near the rear, alert and prepared to use her healing magic at a moment’s notice.

"There is only one safe route toward the destination," Victor said quietly.

Arthur nodded.

Then he activated Foresight.

His eyes sharpened.

For a brief moment, the world around him blurred.

He saw two seconds into the future.

A floor tile collapsing.

A hidden arrow trap activating.

A mana mine exploding beneath their feet.

A blade swinging from the wall.

Arthur immediately stepped back.

"Not this way."

He pointed toward another corridor.

"This one."

The team followed without questioning him.

Every time they reached a new intersection, Arthur used Foresight.

Two seconds into the future.

Again.

And again.

He could not see far ahead or predict the entire dungeon.

But two seconds was enough.

Enough to notice the flicker of a hidden rune.

Enough to see a floor collapse.

Enough to avoid a trap.

Enough to choose the safest path.

While the other academies struggled through their routes, wasting time against traps, collapsed corridors, and unnecessary monsters, Arthur’s team continued forward with remarkable efficiency.

They did not stop unless necessary.

They did not waste mana.

They simply kept moving.

Then their path was blocked.

Ten creatures emerged from the darkness.

They were larger than ordinary goblins, with muscular bodies, dark-green skin, sharp teeth, and glowing yellow eyes.

Hobgoblins.

C-rank monsters.

Each carried a weapon. Some wielded curved swords, while others carried spears, axes, or heavy clubs.

The creatures growled as they surrounded the group.

Victor stepped forward.

"I’ll handle this."

Arthur nodded.

"Don’t waste mana."

Victor drew his sword.

The blade slid from its sheath with a clean metallic sound.

Cling!

The hobgoblins charged.

Victor moved.

His body became a blur.

He stepped past the first hobgoblin’s axe, pivoted behind it, and struck once.

Slash!

The creature’s head flew through the air.

Before its body could fall, Victor had already moved.

He ducked beneath a spear and sent his sword upward.

A second hobgoblin fell.

Then a third.

Then a fourth.

Victor didn’t use mana.

He didn’t use an ability.

He relied solely on his swordsmanship.

Every movement was quick, precise, and efficient.

His footwork was smooth, his strikes clean, and his control over distance flawless.

A club swung toward his head.

Victor sidestepped.

His sword cut through the creature’s wrist.

The club fell.

His blade followed immediately.

Slash!

The hobgoblin collapsed.

Within less than a minute, every hobgoblin lay dead.

Their bodies dissolved into particles of light, leaving the corridor silent once again.

The team began clapping.

Even Jasmine gave Victor a small nod of approval.

Victor sheathed his sword.

"It was nothing."

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Then a low growl echoed from deeper within the dungeon.

The sound was heavier.

Louder.

More dangerous.

Rubina’s expression changed.

"It seems to be a B-rank monster."

The group rounded the corner.

And saw it.

A massive troll stood in the corridor.

It was more than twice the size of a normal man. Its thick gray-green skin was covered in scars, its small yellow eyes burned with rage, and a massive jagged club rested in its hands.

The crude weapon was large enough to crush several people at once.

The troll roared.

Then charged.

"Get behind me!"

Victor stepped forward as the troll swung its club with incredible force.

Victor raised his sword.

Clink!

The impact shook the corridor.

His feet slid backward across the stone floor, and his arms trembled from the sheer force behind the attack.

The troll’s raw strength was overwhelming.

Before it could swing again, Jasmine stepped forward.

"Leave this one to me."

Victor moved aside.

Jasmine raised one hand.

A cold blue glow gathered around her fingers.

The temperature in the corridor dropped instantly.

Frost spread across the stone floor as dozens of massive ice spikes formed behind her, hovering in the air with their sharp tips pointed toward the troll.

Jasmine’s gaze hardened.

"Pierce."

The spikes shot forward.

Shhk!

The troll tried to raise its club.

Too late.

The ice spears slammed into its head.

One pierced through its skull.

Another entered through its neck.

The troll’s roar abruptly stopped.

Its massive body remained standing for another second before crashing to the ground.

Boom!

The creature dissolved into particles of light.

Jasmine lowered her hand.

Then, like the others, she looked toward Arthur.

She waited.

Arthur stared back.

"What?"

Jasmine’s eye twitched.

Arthur shrugged.

"I could have done that too."

He tilted his head.

"Do you want head pats or something?"

Jasmine’s expression immediately darkened.

Arthur continued, oblivious to the danger.

"Not to mention, you used mana—"

A vein popped on Jasmine’s forehead.

She stomped hard on Arthur’s foot.

"Ouch! Ouch!"

Arthur jumped backward, clutching his foot.

"This maniac of a woman!"

Jasmine ignored him and walked ahead.

Her steps were noticeably faster.

As she moved through the corridor, a hidden rune suddenly activated beneath her foot.

A trap.

The walls opened.

Sharp metal spikes shot toward the group from both sides.

Jasmine didn’t even stop.

She raised her hand.

Ice spread across the corridor.

A thick wall of frozen crystal erupted between the group and the trap.

The metal spikes struck the ice and shattered.

Jasmine continued walking as though nothing had happened.

Evangline watched her with a wide grin.

She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying Arthur’s punishment.

Victor and Rubina followed behind Jasmine.

Arthur sighed.

"Let’s follow her without pissing her off any further."

The team continued forward.

Soon, they saw it.

A massive stone entrance stood in the distance.

It was still several dozen meters away, but they could reach it within a minute or two if they moved quickly.

Golden lines glowed across the ancient doors.

Arthur glanced back at the path they had taken.

"So, 5 points for the goblins."

He began counting.

"1 point from the hobgoblins."

His gaze shifted toward the spot where the troll had disappeared.

"And 1 point for the troll."

Arthur nodded.

"7 points. It’s a good start."

Rubina looked toward the group.

"You guys are really amazing."

Everyone turned toward her.

"Normal students wouldn’t have stood a chance against those monsters alone."

Her eyes moved from Victor to Jasmine, Evangline, and finally Arthur.

"But you handled all of them like it was nothing."

She lowered her gaze.

"Even with all these restrictions, you’re still so strong."

Rubina hesitated.

"I wish I could be like you guys."

Arthur looked at her.

"Don’t think like that."

Rubina blinked.

"You have your own specialty."

Arthur’s voice was calm.

"Don’t compare yourself to others. These guys have trained since childhood. Unlike you, who came from nothing and still reached 10th rank among the 1st years."

Rubina’s eyes widened slightly.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"Thank you."

She nodded firmly.

"I’ll do my best too."

Just as the team was about to reach the massive entrance, a voice came from behind them.

"It looks like you’re all exhausted."

Arthur’s eyes narrowed.

The group immediately turned around.

Twenty-five students stood in the corridor behind them.

They came from multiple academies, their weapons already drawn and their expressions hostile.

At the front stood Christopher.

The gray-haired senior wore his sunglasses even inside the dungeon, a faint smile resting on his face.

Arthur’s team was severely outnumbered.

Christopher took a step forward.

"So, Arthur."

His voice echoed through the corridor.

"How is it going to be?"

He tilted his head.

"Are you truly on my side? Will we help each other?"

His smile disappeared.

"Or will I destroy you?"

Christopher raised his hand.

"As you know, our stats are restricted here. Think carefully before you answer me."

Arthur stepped forward.

He leaned heavily against his katana as though exhausted, lowering his head slightly while his breathing became slow and uneven.

The other students watched him carefully.

Christopher’s smile widened.

Then Arthur raised his head.

"Who are you again?"

Christopher’s expression twitched.

The corridor fell silent.

Arthur looked across the twenty-five students.

"Do I know any of you?"

Christopher’s expression darkened.

"Attack."

In the next second, a boy from one of the academies charged toward Arthur.

He gripped his sword tightly and rushed forward.

Arthur appeared to be easy prey.

Exhausted.

Outnumbered.

Surrounded.

The boy raised his weapon and moved close enough to strike.

Arthur moved.

His katana left its sheath.

Slash!

The boy’s weapon hand fell to the ground.

For a moment, he stared at his severed hand in disbelief.

Then he screamed.

"AAARGH!"

He collapsed onto the floor, clutching his arm.

Blood spread across the stone.

The pain was real.

Even inside the Virtual Subspace, the pain felt completely real.

Arthur looked down at him.

Instead of finishing him with the blade, he sheathed his katana.

Then he raised the weapon.

Bam!

The sheath slammed into the boy’s head.

Again.

Bam!

Again.

Bam!

Blood splattered across the corridor.

The boy struggled desperately.

Arthur kept striking.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

Finally, the boy’s body dissolved into particles of light.

The dungeon corridor became completely silent.

No one moved.

No one dared speak.

Arthur slowly lifted his bloodied hand and ran it through his dark hair, pushing it back.

Then he looked toward the remaining students.

"Alright."

His crimson eyes were cold and unnervingly calm.

"Who is next?"

Silence.

The students who had surrounded Arthur moments earlier stood frozen.

The color drained from their faces.

Their weapons trembled in their hands.

There was no bravado left in their eyes.

No arrogance.

No suppressed courage.

Only raw, unfiltered, absolute fear.