"Third brother, you go first, you have fire on your head."
Vane looked at the warm yellow candlelight flickering above Gorth's head, and Gorth reached out and took one off and handed it to Vane.
"For you."
Looking at the candle flame in his hand, Vane had a look of utter disbelief on his face.
"They were picked so fresh and clean?"
"It's okay, it'll grow back after a night's sleep."
Gorth spoke, he picked another one and placed it on Vane's head.
Vane didn't find it awkward and continued forward with the two flames burning beneath his head.
"Third brother, guess who our boss is? The boss's door has a sword and shield, so it's probably Grand Knight. Our door's covered in blood..."
"Could it be the Grand Wizard, or the Slime King?" Gorth guessed.
"Slime King... it would be great if it dropped a red weapon." Vane clicked his tongue and casually asked in the group chat:
[Vane: Gregor, boss, are you guys in yet? What boss is on the other side?]
[...]
There was no response.
Vane's smile gradually faded. Gorth also sensed something was wrong and immediately tried to contact him:
[Gorth: Gregor Vera, what's wrong with you guys?!]
[...]
Still, deathly silent.
The two exchanged a glance, then abruptly turned and rushed back the way they came, only to be met with solid darkness—the passage had vanished.
"The road is gone..."
"Let's move forward," Vane said, forcing himself to remain calm.
"With the boss here, everything should be fine. It's probably just the special partition effect in the boss room."
"... Let's resolve this as soon as possible."
Gorth's voice was deep, and his pace quickened noticeably.
The passageway widened, and weapons began to appear hanging on the walls on both sides.
The spears, swords, and heavy axes gleamed coldly, clearly not ordinary weapons. But the two men had no time to spare for anything else at the moment.
As the light ahead gradually brightened, they rushed out of the passage.
Before me was a huge circular arena, its ground paved with cold, black stone bricks. The towering stands around it were shrouded in thick fog, and above them was a dome sealed off by heavy iron railings.
The moment they stepped inside, a heavy rumble came from behind them—
The gate closed, blocking any escape route.
Snap... Snap...
The sound of decorations lightly colliding with armor came from deep within the passage opposite.
The blood-red lines, like living things, spread and expanded outward from the entrance of the passage.
Two longswords with dark red blades came into view first, their tips dragging on the ground, leaving long, glaring crimson marks.
Call--
A sudden gust of cold wind swept through the sealed Dungeon, stirring the newcomer's tattered cloak.
Sizzle--!
A piercing metallic scraping sound suddenly rang out as the figure crossed his arms, the blades of two blood-red longswords scraping fiercely against each other, sparks flying.
The view from behind the crosshairs window pierced through the flying sparks and locked onto the two people in front of him.
"The Dark Grand Knight... is it a stroke of luck or misfortune?"
Vane stared longingly at the twin swords in the other's hand. Gorth didn't answer, and the shadow beneath his feet silently spread.
Despite the obvious encirclement, the Dark Grand Knight remained unmoved.
"Could our previous guess have been wrong? Do these bosses lack combat intelligence?"
Vane frowned, but the disappearance of Gregor and Vera kept him from investigating further.
"Third brother, let's finish this quickly."
"Through him."
As Gorth finished speaking, the shadows suddenly surged.
The twisted giant tree burst forth from the shadows, countless terrifying wooden spears comparable to siege spikes, piercing towards the lone figure in the center of the arena.
The Dark Grand Knight finally moved. He slightly bent his knees, lowered his center of gravity, held his longsword horizontally in front of him in his right hand, and concealed the longsword in his left hand behind his waist.
Vane looked at the starting stance and sensed something was wrong.
"Third brother, be careful, this guy might..."
Buzz--!
A violent buzzing interrupted the conversation, and the blood-red patterns around the knight suddenly erupted with dark light, while the bloodstains on the sword's edge ignited with ominous flames.
The next moment, a blood-red storm descended.
This is not a metaphor; a tearing storm composed of pure sword energy erupted from the knight at its center.
The massive wooden spear that came hurtling towards them was shredded into countless fragments and wood chips in the storm, much like rotten wood.
How is that possible?! This is with a near-immunity to physical damage buffs!
Through the scattered wreckage, the incredulous Gorth met the gaze of the person behind the cross-shaped window.
The knight's charge was instantaneous.
The sword, burning with blood-red flames, was close to Gorth's face, and the resulting wind pressure caused the candlelight on the branches to flicker.
Clang--!
The blood-red scythe swung upwards, barely managing to block the descending blade.
Vane reacted in time, but another blood sword, held in reverse, followed closely, aimed straight at Gorth's chest!
"Roar--!"
A deafening roar erupted as a terrifying giant claw slashed upwards towards the knight's chest and abdomen.
The Dark Grand Knight reacted with lightning speed, instantly crossing his twin swords to parry.
Bang!!
The knight successfully parried, but his entire body suddenly stiffened, and his movements became fatally frozen.
Skill: [Summon Giant Bear]
Special effect triggered: The first attack when summoning or switching mounts inflicts a powerful stun.
Not missing this fleeting opportunity, the other giant claw lashed out fiercely.
[Frost Ash Wolf Assault] + [Berserk] + [Pet and Follower Enhancement]
The Wendigo Spirit's claws enlarged dramatically during the swing, until they completely enveloped the frozen knight.
Boom--!
With a deafening roar, the Dark Grand Knight was sent flying backward at high speed!
Its twin swords were driven firmly into the ground, carving deep trenches tens of meters long into the hard black stone bricks with a shrill cry, forcing the knight to halt his retreat.
"[Vampire curses!] What kind of speed is that?!"
Cold sweat beaded on Vane's forehead. If he hadn't been keeping a close eye on his opponent, that sword strike would have definitely succeeded.
"Huff... huff..."
Heaving heavy breathing came from the side, Vane quickly looked over.
Gorth's chest heaved violently, and scorching steam billowed from both sides of his mouth.
"Third brother! Wake up!"
There was no response, and the shadows began to stir again.
Shadow Wolves and Shadow Crows appeared rapidly, expanding wildly as they appeared.
In the blink of an eye, three shadowy Behemoths exuding overwhelming ferocity stood together in the arena, letting out murderous roars at the proud, dark red knight.
The Shadow Wolf could not restrain itself any longer, and its massive body suddenly sank into the shadows.
The next instant, beneath the knight—
The menacing maw, shrouded in shadow and sharp teeth, snapped upwards, compressing the air and creating a deafening roar.
It missed.
The knight leaped into the air, and the Shadow Crow, which had been poised for battle, swooped down from high above, its claws burning with illusory flames, and slashed down fiercely!
The knight remained calm, wielding his greatswords in a crisscross motion. In an instant, countless dense barrages of scarlet energy shot towards the Shadow Crow's body, causing it to freeze in mid-air.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, the knight twisted in mid-air and kicked Shadow Raven hard in the Shadow Crow and abdomen, using the force to plummet down.
Like a crimson meteor, the knight crossed his twin swords and slashed down at the Shadow Wolf below.
"Sizzle--!"
A cross-shaped blood-red blade flashed, the Shadow Wolf howled in pain, and its figure shrank back into the shadows.
As the knight landed, propelled by the momentum of his strike, the Wendigo Spirit, its arms outstretched, awaited him below.
The demon's arms shone with a brilliant icy blue light—upon contact, the power of frost would create an absolute opportunity for the subsequent freezing!
(Skill 1 enchantment effect: Fire enchantment results in explosive attack, Ice enchantment results in freezing and an ice circle field.)
However...
The falling knight suddenly raised his hands high, and the blood-red patterns on the two greatswords emitted a high-frequency, ear-piercing buzzing sound at the same time!
At the point where the blades intersected, the blinding scarlet light compressed rapidly, and a condensed dark red beam of light burst forth from the intersection.
"Boom--!"
The demon's body trembled violently, thrown backward by the immense kinetic energy contained in the beam of light.
The knight, using the recoil, landed lightly dozens of meters away, his twin swords falling to the ground once more.
Three breaths.
The knight's three-headed shadow Behemoth's consecutive attacks were easily thwarted, and he emerged unscathed.
Vane stared at the motionless, dark red figure in the distance, and swallowed hard.
"... This... could it be the Dark Grand Knight himself?!"
"Fourth brother!"
Gorth's voice pulled Vane back from his shock.
"Help me."
Vane paused for a moment, then grinned, hoisting the Blood Scythe onto his shoulder and spun it around before firmly gripping it.
"No problem!"
As soon as he finished speaking, countless twisted giant trees burst forth from the ground, attempting to restrict the knight's movements.
The Dark Grand Knight reacted swiftly, using the giant tree as a fulcrum, his figure flashing several times as he lunged at the two!
Just as it was about to take off for the last time, its body suddenly froze.
Below, a rotating vortex of crimson energy has already taken shape.
Vane maintained the vortex with his right hand and pulled it backward forcefully.
"Come here!"
The knight in the air lost control of his body, and at the same time, several Wendigo skulls emerged, opening their chilling jaws.
Energy claws burst forth from it, but the knight remained calm in the face of danger.
The chains wrapped around his torso suddenly slid and straightened, connecting to the ends of the hilts of the twin swords.
With a flick of his arms, he hurled two greatswords like spears, which embedded themselves deeply into the ground some distance away.
Using the chains to hold it in place and the recoil from being thrown, it abruptly stopped in mid-air, resisting the pull of the vortex.
The chains slid again, the twin swords flew back, and the knight gripped the hilts mid-air, the sword light shattering everything that came at him!
Clang--!
A deafening clang of metal clashing!
Vane's blood scythe had somehow advanced behind the knight, but its slash was barely blocked by the knight's crossed chains.
The crimson cross-shaped viewing window met Vane's bloodshot eyes at close range.
"Do you have eyes in the back of your head?!" Vane spat.
The knight ignored him, clenched his free left fist, and threw a heavy punch at Vane's face.
The fist struck, but Vane didn't budge, even wearing a mocking expression.
The Immortal Body took effect, the impact was absorbed, and the knight, without any recoil feedback, was briefly stunned.
"Now!"
Boom!
Countless light projectiles rained down on the knight, the first one hitting its mark and imbuing his armor with a scorching "fire element" imprint.
Following this, all subsequent light projectiles triggered a chain reaction—
Explode!
The deafening roar continued unabated, and the knight was instantly engulfed in layers of raging flames, transforming into a blinding fireball that continued to expand in mid-air.
Gorth's offensive continued, with countless giant trees below, like living Titan serpents, swarming upwards towards the fireball in the sky.
At the center of the fire, an ominous cross suddenly appeared.
The flames dissipated, revealing the knight within.
Its armor was broken in many places, and its exposed body was oozing a dark energy substance.
But the dark red flames on its body became even more violent!
[The boss has entered a half-health berserk state]
The chains binding him snapped completely, and the knight hurled his twin swords high into the air.
The next moment, the sky suddenly darkened.
A gigantic, tower-like phantom sword tore through the mist and slowly fell.
It was none other than the ability of the Dark Grand Knight Red Weapon in the game!
"[Vampire curses!] You can use the weapon effects of a red-tier weapon?!"
Vane felt a chill run down his spine. Suddenly, his crimson wings unfurled, propelling him skyward against the terrifying attack!
"Fourth brother!" Gorth called out urgently.
"Never mind me! Keep suppressing it!"
Without turning his head, Vane roared, raising his right hand toward the giant sword phantom falling from above.
A compressed energy black hole instantly formed in his palm.
At the same time, the damaging energy absorbed and stored by the Immortal Body was injected into it without reservation.
The second effect of Immortal Body: After absorbing damage, it can release a powerful, spreading shockwave.
Instead of releasing it, Vane forcibly compressed this violent shock energy into the energy black hole in his palm.
"This is a parting gift!"
The instant the sphere contacts the sword tip --
The ever-expanding crimson plane unfolded in mid-air, like a spatial fault, firmly blocking the descent of the giant sword phantom.
The clash between the two forces sent tremors through the entire arena!
The stalemate lasted only a moment.
Boom--!
The terrifying energy surge finally erupted, Vane plummeted downwards like a bird with broken wings.
The shockwave he generated slammed the knight below, who was about to make a move, into the ground, creating a shallow crater.
"Now!"
The Shadow Wolf, which had been waiting in the shadows for its chance, suddenly pounced and bit the knight's upper body.
The Knight's crosshair indicator glowed a bright red!
Even while being bitten, he managed to gather strength in one arm and deliver a powerful elbow strike, slamming it into the base of the Shadow Wolf's jaw!
"Woo--!"
The Shadow Wolf howled in pain, and the knight seized the opportunity to escape.
Just as they were about to retreat and regroup, the Wendigo Spirit's massive arm closed in like the embrace of death.
There's no way to avoid it!
The knight twisted his body at the last moment, but the demon still managed to grab his left arm.
The icy chill instantly spread upwards along his arm, freezing his armor and energy.
Sizzle--!
A chilling tearing sound rang out.
The knight severed his frozen left arm at the shoulder!
At the cost of losing an arm, they escaped again!
However, after escaping, it did not choose to flee or defend itself; instead, the crosshair window remained fixed on Gorth was just a few steps away.
With his remaining right arm gripping the longsword, he launched a charge.
It's too late to recall the summoned creatures for defense!
"Hide behind me!"
The blood-red shadow swooped down, and Vane and the knight closed in at lightning speed.
The knight raised his longsword and thrust it at Vane.
He knew perfectly well that the attack would be ineffective, but since the impact would be absorbed, he would take advantage of the opponent's change of direction.
Touch--
Sizzle!
The blade pierced through Vane's abdomen, causing the knight's prepared movement to falter, and the force of the impact deflected.
Vane did not use Immortal Body!
At this moment, the knight had no time to adjust his body.
"Got you..."
Despite the excruciating pain, Vane gripped the knight's arm tightly.
"Kill him! Third brother!!"
Phew--!
The circling Shadow Crow swooped down, its claws, already brimming with frost power, viciously grabbing at the temporarily restrained knight.
They vowed to freeze the knight.
But the Wendigo Spirit's enchantment has faded; will the attack still be effective?
Click--
The frost spread across the entire body upon contact.
The knight looked down at the ground one last time.
The vines of death had already spread into poisonous circles, and their point of impact... was right beneath his feet.
A barrage of attacks rained down on the immobilized knight, the last glimpse of the two figures sweeping across the crosshairs behind the sniper window.
The knight nodded, and the attack landed.
Boom--!
[The Dark Grand Knight has been defeated.]