Was it because of my rebirth? Kaito had asked himself this question many times. After returning to this life, it had become far easier for him to understand techniques that once stood like walls in his previous life. Not only that his memory had sharpened to the point of being almost photographic, something completely new to him. It was as if someone who had once been a failure suddenly awakened as a genius.
He had come to believe that his rebirth had strengthened his soul, and with it, his ability to comprehend. Whatever the true reason was, it worked in his favor, so he did not think too much about it.
During the battle with the Wraith General, he had seen the zig-zag movement only once, yet he immediately recognized its value. Surrounded by enemies, this technique could create openings where none existed. He committed it to memory, and afterward, he practiced it for himself.
It looked simple at first glance, but now that he tried it, he knew, it was not so easy. The timing of each step had to be perfect, and the speed of movement had to match exactly, otherwise the technique would fail. Passing through enemies with such precision demanded far more than strength it required control.
And so, it was only because of the experience from his previous life that Kaito was able to perform this technique smoothly. If it had been anyone else, they would have faltered in the middle of the movement and ended up struck down by the blades of the Royal Guards.
After narrowly bypassing the twenty or so Wraith Royal Guards by combining his Wind Veil Steps and Mana Steps with the zig-zag technique he had learned from the Wraith General, Kaito pushed straight toward the throne. The moment they saw him slip past, his team moved in unison, charging into the Royal Guards to keep them from turning back and cutting him down.
When the guards shifted to pursue Kaito again, Hiroto rushed forward. He slammed into the lead guard with a Shield Bash, knocking the towering Wraith off balance and breaking its focus.
The Royal Guards instantly grew furious as more intruders poured into the chamber. Their burning eyes flared, and they abandoned the lone figure who had slipped past them. To them, Kaito was nothing before their Queen. They were certain he would be crushed by her in moments. The real threat was the group of intruders that had dared to enter together, the group that had already slain their Palace General.
Rage boiling through them, the guards turned their full attention on Hiroto and the others, determined to annihilate these ants who had intruded on their Queen's peace.
…..
Kaito's gaze shifted from the clash of his companions with the Wraith Royal Guards back to the throne. His target sat unmoving, her amethyst eyes locked on him. He knew that as the final boss of a King-level dungeon, the Mist Queen was an intelligent NPC. She would not waste time. She understood that the longer she delayed him, the more time it took her Royal Guards had to crush his companions.
Whereas The MIst Queen was also in thought, Even though her royal guards themselves did not realize it, she had already recognized him as the leader of this intrusion. And while her body had long been consumed by darkness, she still carried herself as the Queen of this palace. In her mind, no intruder would be allowed to live after disturbing her.
Kaito wasted no more time. He lunged forward, the Solstice Blade and the Dragon Fang glistening as he unleashed Cross Slash to begin the battle. Twin blades of energy formed an X, slicing down toward the Queen. But before they could touch her, a black translucent barrier shimmered into existence. The twin strikes slammed against it with a harsh crack, sparks scattering as the barrier absorbed the blow.
The Queen's eyes snapped open from her calm state, and her voice echoed through the chamber. "Vile creature. You dare disturb me, intrude upon my palace, and even raise your weapon against me? How dare you!"
Though her body was a Wraith's, her fury carried the dignity of royalty. In that moment, her presence was suffocating.
She lifted her head and howled. But this was no ordinary Wraith's cry. The sound twisted unnaturally, filled with psychic force. The howl hit the air like a shockwave, vibrating through the chamber.
Kaito's expression hardened. A sonic attack. He had heard about this before. In his previous life, When a the various teams had died in this very room. Only through their deaths had others learned the truth that the Mist Queen was not limited to physical and magical attacks. She was also an adept of psychic strikes, her howls infused with psychic energy that could shatter both focus and body.
Now, reborn, he knew better. Since becoming a Wraith, her psychic powers had only grown stronger.
The pressure of the sonic wave bore down on him, rattling his bones. He didn't hesitate. Instantly, he activated Mana Steps, his form flashing as he darted out of the howl's range. His boots skidded against the marble floor as he swung his arm, firing out the grappling line of Razor Claw. The claw struck deep into the nearest pillar, locking tight. Using it like a slingshot, Kaito launched himself upward, leaping to the top of the massive stone column.
Without pause, he bent his knees, the wind whipping around him as he prepared his next move. He channeled mana into his feet and body, then exploded forward. Wind Veil Steps ignited, his speed doubling as he shot from the pillar like a cannon, aiming directly at the Queen seated upon her throne.
The Queen's eyes flickered, but she did not flinch. With a single graceful motion, she raised her staff. The black crystal atop it pulsed with a sickly glow, and with a wave of her hand she unleashed a barrage of missiles.
But these were not ordinary arcane bolts. Each missile burned with a twisted light, threads of necrotic energy swirling within their cores. They were arcane in shape, but powered by the abyss.
The air screamed as the Abyssal Arcane Missiles ripped forward. Their trails left cracks in the marble, the sheer heat and darkness cutting deep gouges in the floor. They converged on Kaito, glowing like shooting stars of death.
Kaito's eyes sharpened. He twisted midair, his sword flashing as he prepared to cut through the storm.
Even with his high momentum, Kaito's experience from his previous life made it easier for him to twist in midair. He spun sharply and raised his blade, activating Elemental Guard.
The Abyssal Arcane Missiles slammed into the barrier. He had avoided some with his twist, but there were too many to dodge them all. As each missile struck, the barrier shuddered and exploded with bursts of dark energy. The guard absorbed the damage, but the shockwaves still blasted him backward.
The explosions hurled him through the air, sending him crashing down toward the marble floor. Kaito hit hard, his body sliding as sparks flew from his boots against the polished stone. He dropped to one knee, forcing himself to stay balanced. His grip tightened on Dragon Fang, his second blade, and he drove it into the marble to stop his momentum. The edge bit deep into the floor, grinding against stone and leaving a trail of sparks until he finally halted.
He knew he couldn't allow himself to be thrown back into the battlefield where his team fought the Royal Guards. If that happened, cutting through them again to reach the Queen would waste precious time. The Mist Queen would not give him another opening.
Even while kneeling, Kaito refused to pause. He yanked Dragon Fang free from the floor, his body leaning forward like a drawn bow. Mana surged beneath his feet.
"Wind Veil Steps. Mana Steps."
With both techniques layered together, his figure blurred and shot forward again. He streaked across the throne room like lightning, refusing to give the Mist Queen even a breath of chance.
….
[The Mist Queen] (Great Lord Rank)
Level: 18
HP: 1,442,000 / 1,442,000
Attack: 954+