Chapter 274: A Freewheeling Battle

Chapter 274: Chapter 274: A Freewheeling Battle

Although Jedel had been forced out of hiding, his face showed no panic.

As an Expert who walked in the shadows, he had seen too many strange and bizarre abilities.

This self-repairing crystallized energy shield was indeed troublesome, but he was confident in his own masterfully honed assassination techniques.

"A little interesting, but not much."

Jedel sneered, the Ether Energy in his body surging out like boiling venom.

His body became a green afterimage, frantically trying to slice Lance’s body to pieces.

However.

What happened next made him feel that something was very wrong.

That mass of metallic-red Ether Energy could appear on any part of his opponent’s body.

The "change-at-will" Trait of [Heart Intent Martial Structure], combined with Lance’s incredible reaction speed, was pushed to its absolute limit.

Amidst a dazzling series of metallic clashes, Jedel’s Frenzied Attack was completely blocked by the endlessly appearing Ethereal Crystal Armor!

Meanwhile, the other three watching from a distance didn’t choose to join the battle after Jedel made his move.

"It’s good to let Jedel probe his trump cards first," Leonel remarked, leaning on his Tower Shield with one hand and watching coldly from the side.

After all, there were still several Minstrels standing in the square.

The three of them were all proud and arrogant individuals. Although the rules of the Underground City allowed them to gang up, they were under the watchful eyes of nearly ten thousand pairs of eyes.

If the three of them, plus an assassin, ganged up on one person—four on one—and it got published, they would never be able to hold their heads high again.

’Surely the Underground City didn’t pick four of us just so we’d have a chance to win in a four-on-one fight, right?’

’What a joke! The guy is just a rookie who’s barely reached Level 3!’

「In the center of the battlefield.」

After his continuous barrage of attacks proved fruitless, Jedel grit his teeth and activated a movement Skill.

"Shadow Teleportation!"

His body left an afterimage as his real form instantly teleported behind Lance, his Poison Blade stabbing straight for Lance’s back!

But for Lance, whose [Death Line Defense] Intuition had been triggered, the sneak attack from behind was immediately pinpointed.

Lance didn’t even turn around. Guided by his Intuition, he not only dodged the stab but also closed the distance until they were body-to-body.

’Through that brief exchange, I’ve already completely familiarized myself with the energy consumption and rhythm of transformation for [Heart Intent Martial Structure] in actual combat.’

’Testing the rest of it will probably require the cooperation of the others.’

’Since the test is over, there’s no need to keep this flea around any longer.’

Lance’s combat rhythm suddenly quickened!

Before Jedel could even react, Lance’s large hand, covered in dark red Armor and whipping up a gale, shot out and clamped down on his head.

Sensing the threat of death, a vicious gleam flashed in Jedel’s eyes. He swung his dagger-wielding right hand upward, attempting to slice right through Lance’s arm.

But this time, his dagger struck a complete suit of metallic-red arm Armor that Lance had instantly constructed from Ether Energy.

CLANG! CLANG!

Sparks flew amidst the sharp, repeated sounds.

Jedel, his head still in Lance’s grip, felt a sense of suffocation, but he didn’t panic. He still had a trick up his sleeve.

HSSSSSS...

His Ether Energy transformed into a ghastly green poison mist so dense it was almost black. It shot out like high-pressure steam, blasting Lance right in the face!

This was one of his Energy Traits, but it required him to first bring his Ether Energy to a boil through combat before he could form this poison mist.

Seeing this.

A cold smile touched the lips of Leonel, who was watching from afar. "It’s over."

The Golden Lion Cross had investigated all the Experts this time, and Jedel was no exception.

"That’s Jedel’s Nerve Poison. Not only does it inflict intense corrosive damage, but when stacked with his Passive Specialization, even a mere wisp of it is enough to paralyze the nerves of a Giant, turning it into a lamb for the slaughter."

However.

Just as Leonel was waiting for Lance to succumb to the poison and collapse.

Jedel, who was still being held in mid-air, was the one who felt Fear.

Because the large hand, like an iron vise, not only showed no sign of loosening, but its grip was actually increasing in strength.

The Energy Armor enveloping his arm, despite the corrosion from the poison mist, still glowed with red light.

Then.

Jedel witnessed the most horrifying scene of his life.

The black-haired man called Lance, standing in the middle of the poison mist, didn’t hold his breath. Instead, he tilted his head back slightly.

And took a deep breath.

He inhaled the entire, dense, ghastly green cloud of poison mist straight into his lungs!

Afterward.

Lance’s chest heaved slightly, and he exhaled a wisp of faint white steam from his mouth and nose.

He lowered his head, looked at the still-struggling assassin in his hand, and a feral grin spread across his face.

"This stuff has a kick."

[Talent: Primordial Filter Gland] from the Rust Jaw Centipede triggers!

[Your Constitution cap +1, agility cap +1, Toxin Resistance +5 (Immune to toxins below Excellence Level). When a toxin enters your bloodstream, the filter gland will instantly decompose it, converting the decomposed toxin into harmless heat and providing you with a small amount of stamina.]

CRACK!

Lance tossed Jedel’s completely limp corpse aside like a piece of trash.

"You had a lot of tricks, but your Constitution was too low."

Lance shook his wrist.

’This kind of assassin, who relies purely on agility and poison, has a severely lopsided set of Attributes.’

’Once I get ahold of them up close, they’re as fragile as a rag doll, completely powerless to fight back.’

The entire arena fell silent.

The cold smile on Leonel’s face froze completely, his expression turning ugly.

"Toxin immunity? Could he have a Toxin Resistance Talent?"

His brow furrowed.

’Among Professionals, I’ve heard that only a few shady organizations spend precious resources to cultivate Toxin Resistance Specialties.’

’Normal people just bring a few Universal Antidotes on adventures; that’s enough.’

’So for Lance to be immune to poison, it has to be a Talent.’

Jedel’s instant, violent death was also something the other three had not anticipated.

One could only say that the assassin’s tragedy was dying because his combat style was perfectly and completely countered by his opponent.

"Next. Let me have a go."

A heavy voice broke the silence.

The Judgement Warrior Albert cracked his thick neck, the sound of grinding bone echoing audibly.

’This man before me, who can crush an assassin’s skull with one hand, is clearly an expert at aggressive close-quarters combat.’

’This is exactly to my liking.’

Aquina and Leonel exchanged a glance and nodded silently.

The mission prompt only required the target’s death, anyway. It didn’t matter who got the final blow. As long as Albert could kill this kid, they would all be able to break the lock and get the coordinates.

BOOM!

Albert wasted no time on superfluous words.

He stomped hard, shattering the stone slab beneath his feet as he activated his core Specialty.

An earthy yellow light of super armor instantly covered his massive frame.

In this state, his charge gained absolute priority. No conventional physical attack could interrupt his movement!

Faced with the Fighter barreling towards him like a heavy tank, Lance did not choose to retreat and create distance.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

His originally pitch-black pupils transformed in an instant, turning a Dark Gold color.

[Crimson Dragon - Dragon Phase] activated!

A wave of Dragon’s Might, like an invisible storm, slammed head-on into the charging Albert.

[Check initiated: Target Albert’s Spirit Attribute: 9... Check successful!]

Albert, who had been in the middle of a wild charge, suddenly felt as if his brain had been smashed by a hammer.

His vision blurred for a moment, and his heart contracted violently, uncontrollably.

The [Trembling] debuff took effect instantly, and his previously unstoppable charge faltered.

In the brief second that Albert was stunned, Lance made his move.

[Heart Intent Martial Structure] activated!

A mass of metallic-red light radiating terrifying heat compressed wildly in his palm, instantly forming a long spear covered in Dragon Remains Crystal!

Lance leaned back at the waist, the muscles in his right arm bulging.

Like a god hurling thunder and fire.

He hurled the Crystal Spear fiercely at Albert!

The spear left a crimson afterimage in the air.

BOOM!

It precisely struck Albert’s thick Fine Steel Chest Armor.

The instant it made contact, the dual destructive power of [Melting Gold Armor Shattering] and [Ash Dragon Breath] detonated simultaneously!

Albert only felt a terrifying wave of heat wash over him, hot enough to melt steel.

The shockwave from the shattering crystal blew the light of his super armor to smithereens.

The high-temperature Ash Dragon Breath seeped through the cracks in his broken armor and into his flesh, burning it madly.

"He even has this kind of ranged Blast Ability!"

The Ranger Aquina, who was standing at a distance ready to provide support at any moment, couldn’t help but gasp in shock at the sight.

’If he keeps using these shockingly powerful ranged throwing tactics, then Albert, a pure Close Combat Profession, will be picked apart like a sitting duck!’

’After all, Albert comes from a traditional team background. His skill tree is completely specialized in close-quarters brawling, and he has no good countermeasures for this kind of high-burst, ranged hybrid attack.’

"Looks like I’ll have to step in and help pin him down."

Aquina raised his White Bone Longbow. "Tch. This is kind of embarrassing for us Level 4 Professionals."

He cursed inwardly.

However, what happened next made Aquina pause, his hand stopping its motion to draw the bow.

The Adventurer named Lance, after throwing that fatal strike, didn’t take the opportunity to create distance and continue wearing his opponent down from range.

Instead, he dispelled the spear in his hand.

He took that strange, metallic-red Ether Energy and wrapped it directly around his fists, forming a pair of heavy Fist Armor.

Then, he charged straight at Albert, who had just barely managed to shrug off the force of the explosion!

"Is this kid crazy? Giving up his ranged advantage to trade blows with a Judgement Warrior?!" Aquina’s eyes widened.