"Girl, even though I’d love to play with you a little longer, I’ve got other things to do," Velkan’s voice echoed.
He raised his hand, and a massive palm formed in the sky. Serys, upon seeing it, panicked and activated all her defensive skills to block it.
But it was useless. The giant hand broke through all her defense layers and was about to crush her to ashes.
However, suddenly a light flashed from a sword strike, cutting the massive hand in half.
"This?" Velkan frowned, his eyes widening slightly as he saw two figures appear behind the girl.
"Are you okay?" Daniel looked at Serys and asked, completely ignoring Velkan.
Daniel nodded and then turned his attention to the man in front of him. Both sides seemed to be analyzing each other.
"I didn’t expect General Rynor to join your side. Whatever offer you got, I can double it," Velkan said with a smile, looking at Rynor.
But to his surprise, Rynor didn’t respond. He just stood there in the sky, staring at him with indifference.
"Something’s not right." Light flickered in Velkan’s eyes — he seemed to realize something.
"You’re not Rynor. A slave seal? Or maybe something like it..." he frowned. He hadn’t expected that this young man, dressed in black robes with a black mask, had such power.
It’s not just about defeating the elf — it’s about beating him and enslaving him. Even he wouldn’t be confident enough to pull that off.
His guard fully went up as he cautiously looked at Daniel.
"How about we both take a step back? I’ll let you go and won’t follow you. No need to fight."
"You think we’re idiots?" Daniel laughed mockingly.
There’s no way this man would let them go. Besides, their mission was to capture him and recover the weapon.
"You want the weapon? I’ll give it to you. You don’t even have to pay 15 Chaos Crystals. Seven will be enough," Velkan frowned.
Daniel looked at Serys, and they both nodded.
"We want the identities of those who leaked the location of that weapon," Serys said coldly.
"Oh? I see..." Velkan’s eyes gleamed again, as if he was starting to understand who they were.
He entered a battle stance. Unfortunately, the fight was unavoidable. Even as a Half Step Divine Climber, he wouldn’t dare underestimate the three in front of him.
On the other side, the three looked at each other — and then attacked.
The battle began with a coordinated strike.
Rynor attacked with [Bloodroot Arrows].
Green and crimson arrows exploded from the Bow of Sunlight, like living roots twisting through the air, surging toward Velkan, trying to wrap around him.
Serys struck with [Origin Light].
A radiant wave of pure light burst from her hands, like a newborn sun that weakened Velkan’s magical laws and lit up the area.
Daniel vanished into the shadows with [Bloody Shadow Dance] and struck with [Strike of Destruction].
Heavens Honor gleamed with a halo of black and white destruction — as if death and the moon had fused in the blade. The strike slammed into Velkan, cracking the ground and leaving a surface wound on his arm.
Velkan countered with [Molten Fist].
His molten fist smashed the ground, sending waves of fire burning through the courtyard, melting the crystal pillars. The wave hit all three, throwing them back.
Daniel healed with [Mana Healing], Serys blocked with [Shield of Balance], and Rynor recovered with [Breath of Wild Life].
But Velkan laughed with a roar. "That’s the best you’ve got?"
"If this is your full power, you’d better give up. At least I’ll give you a peaceful death," he grinned, revealing his gold-colored teeth.
He followed up with [Wall of Eternal Flames].
A wall of white and red flames formed around him — a living wall of fire that burned through attacks and flooded the yard with intense heat. The crystals began to melt, and the magical mist evaporated into steam.
Rynor struck with [Dance of Bladed Leaves]. Razor-sharp magical leaves spun through the air like a green storm, trying to pierce the wall of fire — but the flames incinerated them instantly.
Serys responded with [Blade of Creation].
A blade of pure energy formed in her hands, like light slicing through matter and magic. She attacked the wall, but the flames devoured the blade.
Daniel activated [Aspect of the Moon Law: Gravity] to launch Velkan into the air, and followed up with [Eyes of Destruction].
His eyes glowed like black and red suns. Beams of destruction slammed into Velkan like a death storm, shattering crystal pillars and leaving a wound on his shoulder.
But Velkan countered with [Ashen Breath].
A wave of burning ash filled the courtyard, draining the mana and life force from all three. Serys and Rynor dropped to their knees, and Daniel screamed as he crashed to the ground, seemingly dead.
He rose again with [Burning Mana Armor] — red and black armor wrapped around him like a living flame, and he healed with [Mana Healing].
Still, the result was worse than expected. All three had to take several steps back, glaring at Velkan with frowns.
If it weren’t for their healing skills, they would’ve been paralyzed by now. But their mana reserves were limited — especially Rynor and Serys, who were running dangerously low.
"Fight with everything you have. This isn’t a place where we hold back."
Both of them nodded. Even in this brief battle, they realized that defeating the bastard in front of them wouldn’t be easy.
Of course, they already had some idea — with their current power, they didn’t stand much of a chance against a Half Step Divine Climber. After all, the person before them was only one step away from reaching the rank of Divine Climber.
And Divine Climbers belong to an entirely different league — the dimensions of their life and the level of their creation exist on completely different layers of existence.
"What’s wrong? Scared?"
"Sorry, but I can’t let any of you live... Otherwise, that person’s plan will fail." Velkan laughed when he saw the looks on their faces.