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Drakos grinned wickedly, pointing his sword at the new arrivals. "More toys to play with... Perhaps these ones will have the key," he sneered while activating "Bloodlust Surge".

His already terrifying aura grew even darker, and his speed and attack power increased.

Boris raised his shield, shouting, "We just got here dude!" But Drakos was on them in seconds.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

His sword crashed into Boris's shield and knocked him back several feet. The impact was so strong it left a crack in the shield.

Ezran cast a protective barrier around her team, shouting for them to focus fire on Drakos.

Lilo fired arrows, aiming at critical points, but Lyriss intercepted them with acrobatic precision, deflecting the projectiles by swinging her daggers around.

The arrows moved in slow motion to her, making it easy to strike them down. This was a feat that not even August could accomplish at the moment.

"Aleman, what the fuck are you doing?" Torin's voice snapped him out of his daze. The others had already made it to the passageway and were waving at him to follow.

"I… I can't just leave them!" August voiced with a resolute tone. "They're my friends!"

"No, we need to go now!" Torin yelled as his face twisted in urgency. "We can't risk it!"

But August shook his head. "You guys go. I'll catch up. I need to help them."

"Aleman!" Aria called out, but it was no use. August had already turned and started running back toward the battlefield. The group stood there in disbelief as they watched him disappear into the chaos.

Torin groaned while rubbing his temples. "Unbelievable. This guy's gonna get himself killed."

"We don't have a choice," Aria voiced with a conflicted tone. "We have to keep moving. We're almost at the end."

Reluctantly, the group turned and entered the passageway, unaware that August carried the key they would need for the final floor.

Back on the battlefield, August sprinted toward his friends, who were struggling to fend off Drakos and his team. He used Dash to close the distance and appeared beside Ezran just as Drakos swung his massive sword at him.

"Watch out!" August yelled, using Arcane Shield to block the attack. The shield shattered on impact, but it bought Ezran enough time to retreat.

"August?!" Lilo shouted in shock while lowering her bow. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Saving your asses," August replied with his daggers flashing as he activated Hidden Strike, aiming for Drakos.

Drakos spun around and parried the strike with a wave of his sword, sending August skidding backward.

[System Notification: Hidden Strike Failed ]

Drakos turned his bloodshot eyes on August. A grin spread across his face. "Another lamb to the slaughter."

Lyriss appeared behind August like a shadow, aiming her daggers at his back. August twisted just in time, using Dash to evade the attack and countering with a well-placed throw of his dagger.

[System Notification: Aleman has used "Dagger Throw." ]

His dagger phased through afterimages as Lyriss suddenly appeared behind him with her body mid-air as she delivered a spinning back kick to the side of August's head.

August raised his right arm just in time to block but the force from the kick, sent him sliding backward.

[ System Notification: -400HP ]

He felt a stinging sensation in his right arm as he stood amongst Lilo, Boris, Ezran, and the other three.

"Quite impressive," Under the dark hood, Lyriss complimented August for being quick enough to block the hit.

"You're not so bad yourself," August muttered confidently despite knowing that it would be nearly impossible to take her down.

"We need a plan, August. These guys aren't ordinary players!" Boris yelled.

"I know," August gritted his teeth in frustration. "Just stay alive. I'll handle Lyriss."

-

Up ahead, Aria and the others had crossed the passageway and arrived at the stairs that led to the final floor of the dungeon.

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They were both ecstatic and tensed since they were close to their goal.

"Looks like we'll be clearing this dungeon first," Gareth voiced in excitement.

"Too bad Aleman couldn't join us. His name won't be included when the world announcement goes off," Viora added.

"Hmph! That's his problem. He made his choice," Torin stated with a tone of discomfort.

"Focus guys," Aria called their attention back to what lay ahead... The final floor.

-

Meanwhile, the chaos on the 102nd floor continued to spiral out of control.

Drakos, Lyriss, and Orlma remained at the center of the carnage.

Their overwhelming skills carved through players like they were nothing more than training dummies. Other battles raged across the floor, but the destruction caused by this trio was unmistakable, leaving trails of defeated players who respawned outside the dungeon.

August darted across the battlefield, doing his best to keep Lyriss at bay while the others—Boris, Ezran, Lilo, and their remaining party—struggled against Drakos.

Lyriss was relentless. Her strikes came at August with an intensity he hadn't faced before. She moved like a specter as her attacks blended martial arts precision with the assassin's fluidity.

A spinning roundhouse kick smashed into August's side, sending him skidding backward as his Arcane Shield flickered from the impact.

[System Notification: Arcane Shield Durability - 40%. Shield Durability: 60%.]

"You're not bad, for a wannabe," Lyriss teased with a sharp yet oddly impressed tone.

She adjusted her stance, preparing for another attack. "But you're not ready for someone like me."

August gritted his teeth. He activated Dash to evade her incoming strike, sidestepping just in time as her dagger whizzed past his face. He countered with a quick Dagger Throw causing the blade to zip toward her head.

[System Notification: Aleman has used "Dagger Throw."

Lyriss swayed to the side with impossible fast movements and the dagger grazed her shoulder instead of hitting its mark.

[ Damage: -250 HP ]

She clicked her tongue. "Hmm, you've got skills. A little rough around the edges, but not bad."

August had no time for her compliments. He launched the Lightning Bolt spell causing a crackling blue electric arc to shoot directly at her.

[System Notification: Aleman has used "Lightning Bolt." ]

To his shock, she twisted midair and dodged the spell entirely.

She landed gracefully a couple of feet away from where the spell hit. "A dual-class user? Now you're just showing off." Her tone turned serious as her eyes narrowed. "You'd make a great addition to the Oni group. We could use someone like you."

"Pass," August growled while circling her cautiously.

"Pity," she said with a sharp smile. "Then I'll have to kill you."

Meanwhile, not far away, Drakos plunged his massive blade into one of the players from Lilo's group. The unfortunate warrior's HP hit zero in a flash, and he vanished, respawning outside the dungeon.

[System Notification: Drakos has used "Soul Cleave." Player "Iliath" Defeated. -1 Level.]

"No!" Ezran shouted as he fired a desperate Fireball at Drakos, but the attack was easily deflected by the warrior's armor.

Drakos's voice boomed across the battlefield as he laughed hysterically. "Pathetic! Is this all you've got?"

Lilo called out, "We've got more where that came from, big guy!" Her arrows flew in rapid succession, but Drakos deflected each one by swinging his sword in an arc. "Ezran, stay back! Boris, charge him while I distract him!"

Boris let out a battle cry and charged.

His berserker abilities boosted his strength as his axe came down in a mighty swing, but Drakos countered with his skill "Crimson Reprisal," blocking the attack and retaliating with a devastating blow that sent Boris flying backward.

[System Notification: Boris HP: -5,800. Remaining HP: 4,200.]

"This is bad," Lilo muttered while firing another arrow. "Like really bad."

Back in his fight, August was in trouble. Lyriss had pinned him. Her strikes were too fast and precise for him to counter effectively.