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The sound of metal scraping against metal spread through the tunnels, echoing like a warning.
The leader of the adventurers spun his sword in his hand, eyes fixed on Burst, as the air seemed to vibrate with the buildup of mana.
"Last warning, kid." His voice came out rough, heavy with exhaustion and threat. "Hand over the spirit. No one has to die here."
Burst didn't answer. The flames around his fists grew brighter, lighting up his face in shades of orange and gold. His once-calm eyes were now cold and determined — the gaze of someone who had already chosen what he would protect.
One of the adventurers, impatient, charged forward.
A swordsman in a red cloak, shouting something incoherent as his blade came down in an arc.
Burst spun his body. Fire gathered in his fist — and the impact came like thunder.
The blow ripped through the air, clashing against the enemy's sword and sending him flying, crashing against the wall hard enough to crack the stone.
The others reacted instantly.
A mage raised his staff, and dozens of blue mana spheres shot through the tunnel, bouncing off the rocks. Burst dodged the first, blocked the second with his fire-clad arm, and kicked a burning rock toward him.
The explosion lit up the underground for a brief moment — shadows danced along the walls.
Merlin floated behind him, her speech bubbles flashing rapidly, trying to track the enemy presences.
["Three to the right… two behind you!"]
Burst turned, blocking the attack of a warrior who tried to strike from behind. The heat melted the enemy's blade, and Burst kicked him away.
The impact sent the man flying.
But the leader of the group still hadn't moved.
He watched Burst fight, a dark glint growing in his eyes — something between hatred and fascination.
The situation wasn't good for Burst. Not just because it was a Class (A) group. Group classes were based on the total Mna of all members combined — meaning maybe only one of them was actually Class (A).
Even so, Burst was far stronger. But he was holding back his mana — he couldn't risk drawing the worm's attention.
Burst's gaze met the leader's.
'Maybe you're the real Class (A) here.'
He drew his sword and ignited the blade with his unique ability, releasing a wave of searing flames that burned the very oxygen in the air. The leader had no choice but to dodge.
The whole tunnel seemed ready to collapse under the weight of their clashing presences.
The leader charged, and the metallic clang of swords echoed, cutting through the suffocating silence of the depths.
Burst stepped back, dodging a sideways slash and countering with an explosion of fire.
Flames raced along the ground, forcing the adventurers to scatter — but there were too many of them.
Attacks came from every direction — blades, enchanted arrows, mana orbs, all at once.
Burst moved among them like a dancer.
Flames wrapped around his body in swift spins, leaving trails of light that scorched the air.
Each strike, each kick, hit hard enough to leave scars on the ground.
["Behind you, Burst!"]
Merlin's warning saved him just in time.
He raised his sword, blocking the strike of an invisible swordsman — the clash echoed, followed by a burst of flame that sent the enemy flying back.
'Invisibility? Must be that mage's ability.'
But even with his power, he couldn't keep this up for long.
With every attack, he felt the group's pressure rising — their mana syncing in perfect rhythm.
It was a siege.
'Damn it… I can't unleash everything here. At this rate, I'll end up badly hurt…'
The ground shook — one of the spells struck the ceiling, sending rocks tumbling down.
Burst moved to shield Merlin, spreading his fire into a curved barrier, the temperature rising high enough to warp the air.
And then — a blue light cut through the air.
The ground glowed beneath their feet, runes spreading rapidly.
"What…?!" the leader shouted, backing away, trying to undo the formation.
But it was already too late.
Space folded, twisting into a vortex of color and sound.
When vision returned, Burst was on his knees, breathing heavily — but the air was different.
Ahead lay a wide corridor, lit by blue crystals embedded in the walls.
The air was dense, vibrating with compressed mana. The scent of iron and ash mixed with the dust that hung in the air.
Burst stood up, still unsteady. The corridor was broader now, its walls smooth and the ceiling high, as if carved by ancient hands. The mana was thick enough to make each breath heavy.
"Merlin… you okay?" he asked, voice hoarse.
["Yes… but half of the presences disappeared from my radar."] The bubble glowed weakly. ["I think the spell split the group."]
"That's great! Easier for me!" He forced a grin, raising his still-burning sword.
Before he could attack again, light footsteps echoed — steady, rhythmic, like blades touching the floor.
From within the bluish mist, a silhouette emerged.
Short red hair, moving like fire in the wind. Eyes just as red, sharp, and skin dark as night.
"…There you are, Burst," a serene voice said, laced with authority. "I knew I felt your energy."
"Jane?!" Burst blinked, incredulous.
She smiled faintly, walking toward him with slow, controlled steps.
"Now we just have to find Victor… then the group will be complete again." Her gaze shifted toward the adventurers, who were getting back on their feet among the dust. "But it looks like you got yourselves into some trouble first."
The men exchanged furious looks. An archer, face smeared with blood, shouted:
"Kill them and take the spirit!"
Jane sighed deeply. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting her body relax — like someone accepting an inevitability.
"So that's how it's going to be…"
The arrows flew — dozens, whistling through the air.
But before any could reach them, the air snapped with a sharp crack. The arrows disintegrated midair, turning to ash under invisible heat.
Jane was no longer standing still. In a blink, she was among the enemies.
A single palm strike — the first warrior slammed into the wall, the sound of breaking ribs echoing down the corridor.
A mage began chanting a spell, but the ground beneath him split apart — Burst's extra ability, [Rupture]. Burst charged in, grinning, spinning his sword with almost youthful excitement.
"Brother…" Jane said calmly, her eyes burning like fire. "Don't hold back."
He answered with a fierce smile.
"Finally!"
The fire roared.
In an instant, the entire corridor became an inferno. The heat made the air tremble, distorting shapes.
The duo moved as if time itself obeyed them — Jane flowed like the wind, swift and precise; Burst burned like the sun, relentless and destructive.
When one attacked, the other anticipated the defense. When one retreated, the other covered the flank.
Each strike, each explosion, was a deadly harmony.
Merlin watched from afar, floating, maintaining an active detection field.
The lilac glow around her shimmered with excitement.
["Four… no, three enemies left. These two are amazing!"]
One of the remaining mages, desperate, began gathering energy. Black lightning danced around his hands.
Jane looked at him with disdain.
The air around her seemed to bend.
"Fool."
She raised her palm — the wind roared, blasting the mage upward into the ceiling before slamming him against the wall, unconscious.
The group's leader, on his knees, coughed up blood. His face was blackened with soot, eyes wide with pure terror.
"What… what are you people?"
Burst walked toward him, sword resting on his shoulder.
"We're pretty strong, huh?" he replied almost playfully.
The man tried to move, but his body no longer obeyed. He fell to his knees… and collapsed.
The silence that followed was heavy — only the crackle of distant flames filled the air.
Burst wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Merlin.
"Merlin, you okay?"
["Yes! Nobody hit me, thank you, Burst!"] — her bubble vibrated cheerfully.
He smiled tiredly. "It's nothing. We're friends, after all."
Jane watched the scene with a faint smile. For a moment, she saw the brother she remembered from childhood — impulsive, but steadfast at heart.
"'Nothing'? You fought an entire group to protect her and nearly won. Well done, Burst."
He blinked in surprise. "Jane… you feeling okay?"
She laughed softly, turning her gaze away. "Fine, fine. I won't compliment you again then."
The tension of battle slowly faded. The flames dimmed, and the air felt lighter.
They were together again… or almost.
Merlin, who had been floating happily, suddenly stopped.
The glow around her flickered.
Before anyone could react, she was enveloped in a beam of light.
"MERLIN!" Burst shouted, reaching out — but she was already gone.
His voice echoed through the empty corridor, mingling with the scent of smoke and dust.
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