Dungeon of Niflheim

With Drogan’s gaze redirected, Frost felt that eery pressure lift from his body, allowing him to breath and get a good look at Bastion’s opponents, possibly the most difficult ones to deal with.

Although they were a fair bit weaker than Bastion, they could work as a team and given Bastion’s age they’d likely have greater stamina. Leo and the rest were worried about this fight most of all.

Frost’s gaze drifted towards the dwarf that valiantly stood before him, yet he didn’t see a single trace of nervousness or anxiety. Bastion was smiling, and it wasn’t a small smile, but one filled with wild connotations. His eyes spat fire as he looked at the two C-rank thugs that were to be his opponents.

Unknown to Frost and the rest (excluding Ryuu) the moment he came face to face with Rock and Jin he actually felt incredibly relieved as well as slightly disappointed. These two wouldn’t be his match.

Sure, they were younger and more nimble, probably able to move faster and take more of a beating, but they lacked far more where it counted. Their auras were severally lacking, he doubted they’d even be able to use it offensively and their movements, even while simply standing in place and eyeing their prey spoke of their lack of experience and naivety.

Bastion expected to have to face two almost B-rank rank opponents. who would be able to overwhelm him as they worked in concert forcing him to rely on his hardened experience. But what he got was a pair of thugs at the very limit of their potential, they’d never be able to cross the gap to B-rank and to Bastion that made his battle far, far easier.

Ryuu noticed this fact as well in the brief time he wasn’t staring down Drogan. His eyes shifted slightly as he returned to looking at the B-rank mage questioning his motives.

‘Surely he knows that those two would really struggle to defeat Bastion. Even if he’s past his prime he’s still a solid B-rank, these two however....’ Ryuu looked in contempt at Rock and Jin, at least the mage seemed to be a worthy adversary who would allow him to have some fun.

.....

‘Haaaaaaa’ Drogan mentally sighed knowing that they were outmatched, Bastion and Ryuu had already noticed the difference in strength, and he could swear they were smirking internally but what could he do. They’d underestimated Bastion’s strength as well as what Rock and Jin could manage.

‘If Shadow took part, they’d be able to even the score but.... No never mind whatever happens doesn’t matter.’ Drogan had already made his decision, whether Bastion wins or not didn’t matter anymore. He’ll have his fun with Ryuu before ultimately escaping.

Once Leo and Luna shuffled in, the silence was broken by Rock who wolf whistled as he saw Luna the only female of the group enter. His perverse thoughts and lecherous look was on full display, he wasn’t hiding his intentions in the slightest. His brother Jin was just as bad, licking his lips as he eyed the new prey.

This response was replied with a harsh burst of killing intent mixed with aura from Ryuu, instantly filling the two with fear and pressure. Their expressions froze, trembling, they subconsciously stepped backwards causing Drogan to sigh out loud.

‘If they were truly capable, they’d be able to protect themselves from such an attack.’

“Haaaaaaa” Drogan sighed again before releasing his own aura to combat Ryuu’s. At the moment Rock and Jin were still allies and he needed to play his part.

“Rock, Jin enough playing around, we’ve got a job to do.” Drogan spoke harshly and glared at the two thugs as he forced back Ryuu’s aura off of their bodies.

With the pressure lifted and the realisation that they succumbed to fear and stepped backward filled them with wrath. They didn’t even bother to thank Drogan, glaring at the intruding group with hatred before drawing their weapons in preparation for battle.

Rock was armed with a pair of dark coloured axes that seemed to absorb any light that touched them whereas Jin withdrew a large red great sword, that reeked of blood. Their weapons were at the very least high rank 3 star weapons. Frost couldn’t even identify the materials used, in fact he couldn’t even tell if it was metal or not. But one thing he did know was that these two weapons amplified the atmosphere surrounding the two, making him feel even more pressure.

They may not be Bastion’s opponents, but they were certainly above his capabilities, their weapons only seemed to amplify that difference.

Bastion took a heavy step forward separating himself from Frost.

“Remember your job young Frost.” He spoke quietly behind him. Frost, Leo, and Luna needed to head in deeper and confront Adam. Getting the group of three safely to the other side of the room will not be easy and relied on Frost covering Leo and Luna.

He’d likely have to withstand a single strike or perhaps two from one of the elite guards before Ryuu and Bastion could drag them back towards themselves.

Frost twitched at Bastion’s words but nodded silently, moving backwards slowly to join up with Luna and Leo.

With the weaker members moving out of the way and aware of what they needed to do, Ryuu and Bastion smiled widely, giving one another a knowing look before moving forward toward their targets.

Drogan frowned as he watched Ryuu and Bastion come towards them, he wasn’t going to allow them the first hit.

With incredible speed Drogan drew his staff and started channelling mana far faster and with much greater volume than Frost could ever manage with his current strength. He began chanting an aria to mould his mana into a large spell.

Whereas the two close combat experts both raised their weapons up high preparing to activate a powerful skill. Their weapons started to shine and vibrate as the skills came to fruition.

Bastion and Ryuu weren’t ones to take this action lying down. Still armed with a mad smile Bastion broke into a charge while raising his weapon high above his head, preparing to use his own skill.

Ryuu however didn’t react much, with his experience he could identify the spell being used by Drogan. His eyes showed a joyful glint as he allowed Drogan to cast without interruption.

With both sides moving against one another, Frost and the rest needed to move and move quickly.

“Let’s go” Frost whispered too his charges before leading Luna and Leo to the far edge of the arena, (the side of the two C-rank thugs since they’d be easier for him to handle).

They’d make a run for the door the moment the skills and spells have been cast.

Drogan’s spell was the first finished.

“[Great earth become a dividing wall, earthen wall]!” Once Drogan finished his aria a massive magic crest far larger than Frost had ever seen suddenly appeared in the centre of the floor before the earth quickly rose.

“[Sundering strikes]!”

“[Cleaving slash]!” a moment later Rock and Jin had finished powering up their skills and violently struck down with their weapons, generating a beam of energy that raced along the ground towards the charging Bastion.

With a smirk Bastion responded in a similar way slamming down his great axe upon the floor

“[Heavens sunder]!” A much brighter and larger beam of energy was released from his weapon, rushing along the floor before coming in contact with Rock and Jin’s beam.

Baaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnggggg!

A horribly loud bang reverberated when the three beams clashed, a sonic boom was created, and large bursts of light escaped around the arena cutting up the areas they came in contact with.

Meanwhile at the same time Drogan’s spell had taken effect. It wasn’t an offensive spell that he used but one that would separate the battlefield. A great wall of earth had risen from floor to ceiling down the middle of the room effectively splitting the arena in two.

Ryuu and Drogan on one side and the rest on the other. This way Ryuu and Bastion wouldn’t be able to work as one and he could enjoy this experience without interruption.

Even the loud bang generated by the clashing of skills was severely dampened by this large wall, proving how dense it was. It would take Bastion several blows to breach the earthen wall, and that would take time that he didn’t have.

Ryuu placed his hand on the large wall of earth before looking at his opponent. His face was calm for but a moment before he gave in to his instincts and madly laughed, removing the rust he gained from acting politely in his everyday work. It was time for him to let loose.

On the other side of the wall Frost watched in awe as the three skills clashed against one another, showing their power, this only increased the envy he held. He dearly wanted to learn some weapon skills, but he had a job to do and right now thanks to the large earthen wall they’d never have a better chance. Frost ushered Leo and Luna across the edges of the battlefield towards the exit.

The contest between the two beams of energy quickly resulted in a winner. Bastion’s beam was far superior, it cleaved through the two weaker beams and headed straight for the two at impressive speed.

“Shit! Dodge it!” Jin roared at his brother as he jumped to the side away from the beam. If their own skills when paired together couldn’t stop it then they’d be better dodging.

The two of them jumped out the way without much difficulty, the beam of energy released by Bastion continued on before slamming into the wall, decimating a large chunk of it.

Rock and Jin flinched at the destruction, that was after it smashed through their own skills after all. It still had so much power leftover. The two of them winced before glaring at their opponent who was smiling their way, moving slowly towards them as though taunting them.

Gritting his teeth in anger Jin looked towards his brother giving him a look only they’d understand. Rock understood and nodded back.

The two of them raised their weapons once more to cast the exact same skill.

“[Sundering strikes]!”

“[Cleaving slash]!” Ignoring the stamina cost, the two of them used their skills once again even though it failed already.

“Hmph” Bastion hmphed before once again raising his axe above his head.

“You two can’t possibly think that I’ll keel over or be drained after simply using two skills.” Bastion felt a little miffed, it’d been a while since he been so disrespected and looked down upon.

“[Heavens sunder],” without much difficulty Bastion once again used his higher level skill, once again sending a powerful beam towards his target.

And as expected when the three beams greeted one another, Bastion’s beam smashed through the opposition losing but a fraction of its momentum but Rock and Jin responded differently this time.

Knowing their skills would fail was part of the plan, they didn’t even put as much oomph into their skills this time since it’d break anyway.

Jin reached into his sleeves to remove a dark brown sphere which he quickly slammed to the ground causing it to explode and release a cloud of thick brown smog, hiding their movements.

Jin smiled as he once again easily dodged the beam of energy coming his way, whereas Rock used the cover granted by the smoke bomb to redirect his attention to a bunch of rats that were still present in the room.

“Shit!” Bastion roared as he charged forward, he knew what they planned the moment he saw the smoke. They were after Frost and the rest. He needed to move quickly but Jin wasn’t one to allow that, unperturbed by the skills failure, he rushed ahead of the smoke to battle Bastion one on one. His brother shouldn’t need much time to kill the rats.

Killing the young lord Leo was one of their major assignments, as long as he died then this operation became mute since Douglas wouldn’t last long and Rock wasn’t one to pass such a chance.