The Demon boy fell into a state of terror.
Though he was part of the Demon Lords Army, he looked like a mere student. Facing a monster like the Bone Dragon—which hadn't existed in this world before and was filled with evil mana—the boy's spirit was completely stolen the moment he stepped into its intimidation field. He didn't even notice her standing right beside the Bone Dragon; he couldn't even manage to flee. If this Bone Dragon were masterless, the boy would be beyond saving by now.
After all, a Bone Dragon is a chaotic and disorderly evil creature; it attacks the moment someone intrudes upon its territory.
If she hadn't been restraining the Bone Dragon's actions, the Demon boy would have been spat to death by a glob of phlegm (Cold Breath) by now. However, she wasn't some saint either; the only reason she spared his life was because she wanted to obtain some information from him. After all, this was the lowest level of the labyrinth. Although the Demon boy before her had decent strength, it shouldn't have been enough to reach this place.
"Purification."
She stepped forward and casually tossed a skill to clear the negative status from the Demon boy; after all, it would be impossible to interrogate him in that state. She saw the boy's vacant eyes gradually regain focus and sincerely hoped he would cooperate, or else she would have to use some unpleasant methods. If she let the Demon boy go back afterward, it would only result in one more enemy, so she would likely kill him. If Wakaba-san found out about this later, who knows what she would think of her? In short, it was a very headache-inducing matter.
"Ugh... Uwaaaaah!!!"
The Demon boy had just recovered when he tumbled to the ground again.
Although Tsukasa had cleared the effects he suffered, he was still within the range of the Bone Dragon's skills, so he was still frightened. He just had a tiny bit more tolerance than the first time. However, this bit of tolerance wasn't enough to gain a skill. If skills were that easy to obtain, this world
would have fallen into chaos long ago, and the strong would probably be waiting in line to be challenged every day.
But at the very least, he wouldn't lose his soul again.
"If you want to live, answer my questions."
"Damn it! Monster! Don't come over here!"
"Hmph!"
A burst of fire streaked past the boy's face.
He heard the hooded person say in a gender-neutral, disguised voice: "If you want to die, I'll grant your wish right now."
"You..."
Only then did the Demon boy realize there was another person here.
Wait a minute.
This is the lowest level of the labyrinth.
Aside from the people of our Tenth Legion, there shouldn't be any living person here!
"Who... who are you?"
If it really was a person, then the individual before him must be at least at the level of a Legion Commander.
"Answer my questions honestly and I'll let you go back alive, otherwise..."
"Roar!!!"
The monster behind the hooded person drew closer.
"Uwawah!!! I understand!!!"
"Then, the first question: your identity."
"Ravenel, trainee of the Tenth Legion of the Demon Lords Army."
"Second question: how many of you are here?"
"...24 people."
"What is your purpose for being here?"
Tra-training. It's a task assigned by the Legion Commander."
"Is your Legion Commander here?"
"..."
The Demon boy suddenly stopped answering.
In the next moment, Tsukasa saw a Flash coming toward her.
A greatsword swept horizontally from above the boy toward her body. In an instant, she realized she couldn't block this strike with her defense stats.
The newcomer was a girl with white hair and red eyes.
She held a greatsword that didn't match her small build with one hand.
The greatsword swept through the air. The girl watched in astonishment as the hooded person retreated behind the Bone Dragon without a scratch. She clearly should have struck the body, but there was no sensation of hitting anything. That person behaved like a ghost, without a physical form.
"Appraisal."
Both of them cast the skill simultaneously, and both received the same response.
"Appraisal Failed."
Tsukasa silently observed the girl, who looked about the same age as her, silently estimating the attribute values she had just displayed. That attack power was at least near and that speed... this girl was different from her. At the very least, in terms of physical fitness, this girl's attribute values should average between and she was an all-rounder with no weak subjects, a difficult opponent to handle.
At that moment, the girl clicked her tongue and muttered to herself, "Is she an owner of a Ruler Title?"
I see, so having a Ruler Title grants immunity to Appraisal?
Why didn't Teacher tell her about this?
Tsukasa remembered that Teacher also had Ruler skills.
As for why she herself didn't know despite having Ruler skills, it was because she instinctively resisted Appraisal and didn't know if it was an effect of the Ruler Title. Her own Appraisal worked on Teacher. If she hadn't heard the answer from this girl's mouth today, she might still be in the dark. Did Teacher assume she already knew, so she didn't mention it?
"Ravenel, you go back first."
"Sophia, be careful! I'll go back and get help!"
The boy scrambled up and sprinted away, quickly fleeing the scene. It seemed he had great confidence in the girl's strength.
Tsukasa did not move to stop him.
Although she had used Shadow Step to dodge the attack just now, this skill's weakness was fatal and thus couldn't be used frequently. If the shortfalls of this skill were discovered and the opponent suddenly used magic attacks, she would take double critical damage. With the opponent's attributes being over this critical damage might kill her instantly.
Sophia sized up the Mysterious Person before her.
She knew the Demon King and Master were very concerned about Ruler Titles. If she could capture this person, she might receive everyone's praise. Then she could take the opportunity to ask the Demon King to give Mela a vacation, and then she could invite Mela on a date.
Thinking of this, she suddenly became high-spirited.
Holding the two-handed greatsword with one hand, Sophia said with a smile, "Then let's play a bit."
But in the next moment, she suddenly clutched her chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Cough!"
Purgatory
The hooded person activated a skill.
Sophia was injured and gained the Burn and Ignite buffs.
Hot mana gathered in the air, and the girl's eyes widened.
Summon Fire Spirit
A shapely Fire Spirit formed in the air, turning into a fiery storm and rushing toward the girl. Behind it, the hooded person radiated a terrifying aura; the fluctuations of mana even distorted space. Sophia felt a fatal crisis; that person was preparing to unleash a powerful move. But just as she suppressed her internal injuries and wanted to strike, the Fire Spirit entwined itself around her body, surrounding her with scorching flames. The hooded person's eyes were fixed on her, and instantly her body fell into a paralyzed state—it was a Magic Eye or Evil Eye-type skill!
In the Fire Spirit's embrace, Sophia felt like she was being roasted through.
Although her Vampire constitution gave her high-speed recovery skills, it couldn't withstand
being baked in the center of a fire.
At this moment, scales like Dragon Scales began to grow on Sophia's body, and her expression gradually returned to calm.
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