Location: Inside the Glitchy Gate (The Primeval Forest - The Apex Den)
Date & Time: Day 7 (Unknown External Time)
A lethal dance of death had erupted outside the cavern. This wasn't a hunt anymore; it was a desperate struggle for survival where only one side would emerge—the five Awakened or the B-Rank Apex.
"Disperse! Weaken its mana shield and drain its stamina!" the Leader's roar cut through the deafening chaos.
The Leader's mind had already calculated the grim reality: a 180,000 MP colossal bear couldn't be brought down with a single strike. A direct clash meant instant death.
Following the command, the four C-Rankers broke formation, flanking the beast from all directions. The Fire Mage spun his staff, unleashing a relentless barrage of red-hot fireballs at the Boss's massive frame. BOOM! BOOM! The explosions rattled against the bear's thick hide, but their purpose was merely to irritate the beast and bleed its mana shield dry.
The bear roared in fury, pivoting toward the Mage, but in that exact micro-second, the Leader utilized his B-Rank blur speed. He would lunge, deliver a sharp gash with his Magitech sword, and retreat before the bear's massive claw could even begin its counter-swing.
It was a perfect hit-and-run strategy, but it contained a fatal flaw that had slipped past their calculations: Weapon Grade.
The Leader possessed 120,000 MP, and to pierce the Boss's hide, he was forced to channel his entire B-Rank mana into his blade. However, the weapon was a standard-issue, D-Rank Magitech bone-sword. How long could a low-grade tool withstand the friction between B-Rank mana and B-Rank hide?
The battle dragged on, and the Leader's breathing grew ragged. He spotted an opening; the bear's mana shield was flickering, momentarily weakened. This was the moment.
The Leader compressed his thigh muscles and dashed toward the Boss's chest like a bullet. He pushed his maximum mana into the blade and delivered a brutal, downward slash.
The blade bit into the hide. A single drop of dark blood surfaced, and then...
CRACK! SKRCHH-SHATTER!
A sound like shattering glass echoed across the battlefield. The D-Rank Magitech sword couldn't sustain the pressure of the B-Rank mana overload and the impact. The blade disintegrated into jagged shards in the Leader's hands, scattering into the air. He was left holding nothing but a useless hilt.
Shock flickered in the Leader's eyes for a split second. He was disarmed.
The four C-Rankers watched their leader lose his weapon, and instinctively, their eyes darted to their own blades. Under the stress of the fight, their D-Rank swords were already spider-webbed with cracks. They were seconds away from failing.
The Boss was a beast, but it was an Apex Predator with demonic intelligence. It sensed immediately that the greatest threat before it was now toothless.
The Boss completely ignored the Fire Mage, reared its massive obsidian claw, and charged directly at the disarmed Leader.
With no way to block the attack, the Leader was forced into a desperate retreat. He rolled across the dirt and leaped through the air, narrowly dodging swipes that tore the earth apart and sent shattered stone flying like shrapnel. His stamina was plummeting, while the Boss still surged with massive reserves of energy and predatory rage.
The Shadow's Calculation
From his perch atop the eighty-foot ancient tree, Rudra observed the scene with cold, unblinking eyes. His mind constructed new equations with every passing second.
"Their weapons are failing them," Rudra noted in a flat tone to Ruin Soul. "What happens now?"
Ruin Soul remained silent for a heartbeat, conducting a final analysis of the bear's movement, the Leader's flagging stamina, and the crumbling gear of the squad.
"Their strategy was sound, but their equipment was trash," Ruin Soul replied in a dead, calculating voice. "If this B-Rank Boss is to be taken down now..." Ruin Soul paused, then delivered the final verdict.
"...I see only one path remaining."
Chapter Summary
The Gear Failure: The B-Rank Leader's 120,000 MP overload shatters his D-Rank Magitech sword, leaving him disarmed.
The Cascade: The C-Rankers realize their weapons are also on the verge of breaking, rendering their strategy useless.
Predatory Shift: The Boss senses the Leader's weakness and relentlessly targets him, forcing the elite warrior into a purely defensive struggle.
Rudra's Observation: Rudra realizes that the power of the Awakened is being bottlenecked by the quality of their weapons.
Foreshadowing: Ruin Soul hints at a singular, dangerous solution to end the stalemate.