Kaito knew he had only one minute left to finish this battle once and for all. Without wasting even a second, he burst forward, activating Wind Veil Steps and Mana Steps together. His body blurred into arcs of speed as he repeated the zigzag movement he had learned from the Wraith General. He tried to slip through the Abyssal Wraith Royal Guards, just as he had done before.
Behind him, Mei Rin, Suzune, Raven Blade, Kaede, Nina, Lucien, and Aika followed his earlier orders. They struck at the Royal Guards with all their skills, trying to hold them back. But these Guards were different now. Though weaker than the General, they were the most skilled chosen from among all Wraith Soldiers. They weren't as refined as their commander, but they were sharper, more disciplined, and their minds retained the memory of their earlier defeat.
This time, they were prepared. The moment Kaito approached their line, they moved with one will, closing every gap in their formation. Shields locked, weapons crossed, their formation sealed tightly. Even though they lacked the finesse of the Wraith General, their unity allowed them to predict and counter the same movement Kaito had used before. For them to read his footwork and set a counter was no surprise they were still Royal Guards, after all.
But Kaito had already expected this. At the exact moment he stepped into their attack range and saw them ready to strike, he suddenly pulled back instead of forcing forward. His hand snapped out, scattering five glowing spheres across the floor.
Five Intermediate Cyro Core Orbs.
The Guards' reaction was instant. They had seen these orbs before, tearing into their Queen. Recognizing the threat, two shield-bearing Guards threw themselves over them, sacrificing their bodies to absorb the blast.
The explosion ripped through the formation. Light and fire roared, the two who shielded the attack disintegrating into smoke and ash. Several Guards standing nearby were thrown to the ground, armor split open and health drained sharply. Only those stationed at the back remained untouched.
Their formation was broken.
Kaito seized the opening at once. His figure streaked through the chaos, sparks trailing his steps, bypassing the disrupted Guards before they could regroup.
…..
The Mist Queen Demon forced herself upright, her breathing ragged. She had watched him tear through her guards, watched his figure cutting across the throne room floor. Fear, fury, and desperation twisted her face. She knew if she waited, if she gave him another heartbeat he would kill her.
So she chose to gamble.
She raised her staff, her remaining life essence already spilling into the circle of runes at her feet. She intended to sacrifice the last of herself to summon one overwhelming strike, enough to drag this human insect into death with her.
But before the circle could stabilize, Kaito's blades were already glowing with lightning.
[Skill Activated: Odin's Wrath]
The storm descended.
First Strike, Lightning crackled across his blade as he swung in a wide arc. The thunderclap boomed, the blast stunning the Queen's chant and rattling her staff. Sparks danced across her robes, tearing blackened holes.
Second Strike, He stepped in, faster than sight, blade crashing down again. Another thunderclap erupted, the shock interrupting her spellwork completely. The forming magic circle fractured and dispersed.
Third Strike, The blade pierced through her defensive aura, lightning ripping straight through. Her guard shattered like glass, her chest seared by the blow. Her scream echoed, part fury, part agony.
And then came the end.
Final Bolt, A roar of thunder split the throne room as a colossal bolt of lightning crashed down from above, engulfing her entire body in a storm of light. The marble floor split, burning black. The two-yard radius crackled with violent energy, shaking the hall as if struck by a divine judgment.
The Queen's health plummeted. From 2%, it crashed down to the thinnest line 1% remained. She shrieked, the sound a mixture of rage and pain, every nerve screaming as lightning seared her wounds. For demons, lightning and fire were the cruelest torment, to suffer both while already injured was like being flayed alive. Her howl shook the chamber, but Kaito did not stop.
Wind Veil Steps. Mana Steps. His figure blurred again. He reappeared right in front of her, his two blades Solstice Blade in one hand, Dragon Fang in the other already weaving a storm of strikes. Sword phantoms spread from his blades, shadows slicing from every angle. Each cut dug into her monstrous body, tearing at her shoulders, chest, and sides. Her health bar ticked down, slowly but relentlessly.
She tried to counter with her abyssal claw, tried to swing her staff, but her movements were sluggish. Every strike from Kaito forced her back, sparks flying, black blood spraying across the throne steps.
One minute of fury.
Kaito poured every drop of his remaining strength into that final assault. By the time the system timer struck zero, the Mist Queen Demon's health had already reached 0%.
Her body froze. The shriek died in her throat. She clutched her head, crimson eyes filled with hatred and unwillingness.
"My Lord… will not spare you…" she whispered. Her voice was weak, trembling, yet filled with venom.
Then her body burst into motes of black and red light, dissolving into the air.
At the same time, the Abyssal Wraith Royal Guards, still locked in battle with Mei Rin and the others, roared in agony. Their forms flickered, breaking apart into ashes and fading one by one. Items clattered to the ground where they had stood.
Kaito collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving. His vision blurred, his breath ragged. The fight had drained every shred of focus from him. Even as a Rank 1 martial artist, fighting the fully transformed Mist Queen Demon had demanded absolute concentration, pushing him to his limits.
And then, as if mocking him, the system timer ticked down.
[Overlord's Rage has ended.]
Status: Weakened. All stats -70%. Movement speed halved. Duration: 30 minutes.
Kaito grimaced. His entire body felt heavy, his strength stripped away. But the battle was done. The Queen was dead.
He turned his head. Behind him, Mei Rin, Suzune, Raven Blade Kaede, Nina, Lucien, and Aika were also collapsed against the floor or pillars, their breathing harsh. The cost of the dungeon had been immense.
Forcing himself up, Kaito looked to Aika. "Go… revive Hiroto and Daichi."
Aika nodded weakly and hurried toward Hiroto's fallen body. She pressed her staff down, light blooming from her hands.
[Skill Activated: Revive]
Hiroto's body glowed, breath returning to his chest as his eyes opened slowly. Aika swayed; the skill took much from her. She would need three minutes before she could revive Daichi as well.
Kaito watched with tired eyes. He remembered the price of that skill 1000 gold coins, equal to 10 million credits in reality. Outrageous for the early game. But worth every coin. Unlike standard revival skills, this one reduced the cooldown and erased the weakened state after resurrection. He had bought it for Aika because he knew the risks of King-level dungeons.
Now, as Hiroto and Daichi drew breath again, Kaito felt that decision justified.
The system prompts began to flicker in front of him, rewards waiting to be claimed.