Earth Elementals
These ethereal creatures of the New World, born from the very essence of nature, were said to possess powers that could rival even the greatest demons when all elements were united. The intruder had somehow gained the favor of this Earth Elemental, allowing them to command the very earth to do their bidding.
Rumble—!
The tunnel, instead of collapsing further, began to expand and the once-pressing walls of dirt and rock were pushing outward, solidifying as they did so. It was as if the very earth was being reshaped by a divine hand.
"An Elementalist has broken in!"
"Stop them! Guards!"
The guards, who had been hidden throughout the auction house, immediately moved in perfect unison and mobilized their entire force, knowing that any harm to their patrons would mean a catastrophic loss of reputation for their gang.
Lance, still on stage, seemed to relish the growing tension. His bored demeanor had switched into something more sinister and a trace of excitement in his eyes as he watched the guards rush to contain the situation.
"Let's see how this plays out," he muttered to himself with a smirk formed on his lips.
The situation escalated rapidly as the battle unfolded within the auction house. The guards, veterans with an average level between Level 4 and Level 5, were accustomed to dealing with powerful threats. Their high levels and battle-hardened experience made them some of the fiercest fighters in the Third Civilization Zone. Yet, despite their strength and numbers, they found themselves up against a formidable enemy.
The intruders were a large group of women, all in battle vests that offered enhanced protection with layers of silk produced by a special breed of silkworm.
Their average levels ranged from 6 to 8, making them more powerful individually than the guards they faced. But it wasn't just their levels that gave them an edge, it was the presence of their leader, a Dark Elf whose power was unmatched by anyone else in the room.
"Sisters, attack!" one of the women shouted. "Find that man!"
The command was met with immediate action as the women, despite being outnumbered, pushed forward with determination and strength. Their leader, the Dark Elf, stood out not only because of her dark skin but also due to the aura of power that radiated from her.
Woods glanced at his Mana-Monitoring Device, which registered a reading that reached the five-digit numbers.
[MEU: 28,400]
"Holy shit, she is a Transcendent Tier 1," he muttered in disbelief.
The Dark Elf wasted no time in showcasing her power. She summoned a series of Fire Elementals, each taking the form of snakes that slithered through the air and spat flames as they moved. The guards, despite their attempts to fight back, were quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number and power of the Elementals.
"Uaargh!"
"Sa-... save me!"
"Fire!"
Screams of terror echoed through the auction house as the men were set ablaze, while their magic was futile against these women.
The crowd began to feel panic. Most of the guests, knowing full-well the potential devastation of a battle between such powerful individuals, went for the exits, desperate to escape the carnage.
The once grand and luxurious auction house was now a battlefield, with flames licking the walls and the air thick with the smell of burning flesh.
Price, Woods, and the others exchanged glances. It seemed like they were in the middle of something far bigger than they had anticipated. The Dark Elf and her Elementals were incredibly powerful, but they also knew better than to get involved in what seemed like a highly dangerous situation for normal humans like them, despite even being heavily armed with firearms.
The other female warriors who had accompanied the Dark Elf as her guards were strong in their own right. Their skill with the bow was exceptional, sniping the enemy magicians from the rear who were chanting spells.
"Jason David Lance, leader of the 'GaterGame' gang," the Dark Elf declared. "I am Alamak Sirrah, leader of the Strong, Independent All-Woman Mercenary Group, the 'Rainbow Roses.' You will be held accountable for stealing countless powerful Magic Artifacts from many renowned individuals across the Second and First Civilization Zones! Surrender now, or face immediate execution!"
Hearing the Dark Elf's bold declaration, the man dressed in a cowboy outfit simply chuckled and shook his head. Despite the battle raging throughout the building, he seemed rather confident.
Not only that, there was a dangerous pressure building up in the room, but both of the main players maintained their positions.
Lance smirked. "I'll get straight to the point. I will surrender, if you remain alive. Do you get my meaning?"
With a growl, Alamak glanced at one of her companions at her side and gave a nod.
Understanding the signal, a woman in full silver knight armor that covered every inch of her body, crouched down and rushed forward.
WHOOSH!
Despite the bulk of her armor, the woman knight moved with lightning speed, closing the distance between herself and her target before the latter could even notice.
She pulled out a sword from its scabbard, and the blade glowed blue, revealing the Mana that was locked within.
The knight's sword was a powerful Magic Artifact, as was the rest of her armor. Her strength, durability, focus, resistance, and most importantly, her speed were all enhanced to formidable levels.
ZZTZZ!
Her blade crackled with electricity as sparks flickered across her armor.
She activated her skill, [Lightning Field], enveloping herself in an aura of electrical energy. Though it was meant to stun the enemy, her primary goal was to distract and lure them in while her partner prepared to strike.
"Haaa!" She brought her blade down in a flawless vertical slash, sending ripples of electricity crackling through the air, demonstrating the immense power of a Level 10 warrior.
However…
"[Transmute]."
VWUUUUSHH!
A wave of energy went through the woman knight's armor, causing the entire thing to break apart that very instant.
"Kyahh!"
The woman found herself standing in nothing but her bra and panties, as her once-imposing armor reduced to nothing, leaving her powerless, exposed, and defenseless.
'The armor was full of Mithril!'
While panic began rising within her, the woman knight didn't have time to dwell on such thoughts, though, as a bolt of electricity surged forth from her partner's location.
Compared to her [Lightning Field], the burst of lightning this time was unreal. It charged in a straight, horizontal line, with its power ripping through the very air that filled the air.
Everything vibrated as it lunged at the man who stood before the knight woman.
However, Lance casually raised a finger and caught the lightning bolt as if it were a simple spark!
The room was bathed in blinding light as the energy danced across his hand, and began lifting him into the air. With a flick of his finger, he sent the lightning back in the direction it had come.
"Arghhhhhhhhhh!!!"
The redirected bolt struck another Rainbow Rose member, the force of it sending her into a world of excruciating pain before she collapsed to the ground, defeated.
The female mage's eyes widened in shock as her spell was deflected in an unexpected way.
Refusing to be rattled, she quickly prepared another spell, something quick and reliable to guarantee her protection.
With affinities in Wind and Lightning Magic, combined with her Quick-Casting skill, made her a formidable mage. She wasn't born with exceptional talent or anything, but through sheer dedication and relentless practice, she had honed her craft to perfection, all by herself.
Her hard work had paid off in the form of immense magical power and skill.
"[Wind Barrier!]" she chanted rapidly, conjuring a protective dome around herself while preparing her next attack.
However—
WHOOSH!
Her opponent was already upon her.
"Wai—"
She tried to chant another spell, but—
"Keuk!"
A sharp pressure clamped around her throat, cutting off her words. The force lifted her, and she found herself being slammed into the ceiling.
"No… no, stop!"
BOOOOM!
Her frail body powerlessly crashed into the ceiling with a bone-jarring impact, sending pain radiating through her entire being.
"Gurgh!"
She lost consciousness almost immediately and her vision faded as she glimpsed a shadowy figure standing below her.
It was Lance.
When he landed back to the ground, he did it with such grace and perfect rhythm he looked like a bird in the air. Falling from twenty meters and reaching ground with no damage.
"Is that all you got?" he sneered with a smirk playing on his lips.
Rumble—!
A sudden rumbling noise echoed through the air, and within moments, something massive surged up from the earth like a shark cutting through water.
"ROAAARRRRRR!!"
Emerging from the earth was a five-meter-long worm-like creature with a rocky, stone-covered body glistening in the light. In an instant, the creature snatched the man and swallowed him whole in one chomp.
[IMAGES]
However, neither his guards nor his henchmen showed the slightest concern for the death of their leader. They just continued fighting the female warriors without any reaction.
But the beast, instead of retreating back underground to feast on its prey, began to convulse violently. Though it was a Level 8 creature, a wave of terror coursed through it as something horrifying stirred within.
A crimson rose, made entirely of blood, rose from the creature's body. On closer inspection, microscopic monomolecular filaments could be seen entwined within the rose, barely visible to the naked eye.
In an instant, the rose unraveled like a whip, transforming into a deadly web of monomolecular wires that ruthlessly sliced through the beast's insides.
And the beast was liquefied in seconds.
Lance stepped out of the gore with his clothes miraculously unstained, as if the viscera of the beast had deliberately avoided touching him. Those familiar with his deadly art would recognize the meticulous technique and flawless choreography behind his actions. Like a toy box from which the joker comes out, the insides of the creature made the candidate for such a presentation.
"Such an unpleasant welcome," Lance remarked as he leapt from the remains of the slain beast. "Still, I must admit, any kind of welcome is better than none at all."
And as he pronounced his words, more beasts appeared. Nine beasts in total revealed themselves to be Ferrets.
[IMAGES]
They are another Magic beast from Level 7 to 10, each one wielding a different elemental magic. They wasted no time and immediately unleashed their full power upon one man.
"This is so meaningless…" Lance muttered, almost bored. "I thought you came here to talk, not just put on a performance. We don't have time for theatrics after all," He chuckled in amusement as he reached into his coat.
[IMAGES]
The moment he pulled out a gun-like artifact, his voice echoed through the air as he roared out.
"[DEAD EYE]!"