Chapter 94 – The One He Feared Most
"Be careful. That guy’s over level 200."
Cramp drew his long sword and closed the gap in a flash. When Jhin met his attack with the Master of Chaossword, he could roughly gauge the opponent’s level.
’He’s not really at level 200.’
But that didn’t mean the swordsmanship Cramp had honed as an NPC had vanished. Like a monster’s innate trait, his refined sword techniques struck fast and clean at blind spots.
It was the swordsmanship of the Empire—more specialized in thrusting than slashing.
Jhin could feel his eyes being drawn in by the dazzling movements. He had to swing his sword loudly and forcefully just to keep up.
But—
’It’s not like I can’t win.’
Clang!
He deflected a thrust aimed at his flank and slashed diagonally across Cramp ’s wide-open chest.
He didn’t have the technique, but the power difference gave him the advantage—enough to win through brute strength.
He caught his breath as he looked down at Cramp ’s now cold corpse.
’Good thing he didn’t have anything going for him besides swordsmanship.’
But Jhin knew—this guy wasn’t the real problem.
He couldn’t help but vaguely recall that one—the thing he feared most.
If that one were to show up here... what would happen?
...Damn it.
"Let’s move. Quickly."
His nerves on edge, Jhin picked up the pace.
This was a battle they could win—as long as they got the Goblin Orb.
If they could steal that, they could end everything before that one ever appeared.
"Jhin ! On the roof!"
Soon, Millie spotted it—the rabbit mask running across the rooftop.
It clutched the Goblin Orb in its arms like it was something sacred.
Jhin called out, "I’ll leave the rear to you!"
Without hesitation, he jumped onto a nearby utility pole and vaulted up to the roof.
There was no way he’d let it escape again.
[Skill ’Power Focus (F)’ activated.]
He focused his Power into his legs and released it in a single burst. It exploded like a jet engine beneath him, launching him forward at high speed.
The rabbit mask quickly came into range.
"...!"
He saw the creature glance back and visibly flinch in surprise.
Jhin drew the Master of Chaos sword and activated another skill.
[Weapon skill ’Frost Edge’ from ’Grudge-Bound Master of Chaos Sword’ activated.]
As icy air gathered around the sword, snowflakes scattered in the air.
With golden eyes glowing, Jhin tracked the rabbit’s movement—then, at just the right moment, slashed its back cleanly.
KRAAAGH!
Letting out a pained cry, the rabbit mask tumbled forward. The Goblin Orb slipped from its grasp and rolled across the roof before falling to the ground.
At that moment, some nearby lizardmen, who had been idling nearby, tilted their heads and looked curiously at the orb.
Jhin ’s eyes locked onto it.
Then—
Zzzzt!
A dark shadow rose up from beneath the Goblin Orb and quickly took shape.
A bear mask.
It grabbed the Goblin Orb and started sprinting off in the opposite direction.
"...What the hell are you?"
Frustration etched across Jhin ’s face as he looked back at the rabbit mask, which was now slowly melting into the roof below.
It was like trying to fight a ghost with no real form.
"Damn it."
He turned and chased after the bear mask. Thankfully, it was slower than the rabbit, so keeping up wasn’t difficult.
"Let’s see who wins this."
But in the end, Jhin couldn’t catch it.
A sudden chill shot through his body, and he instinctively leapt sideways.
[Skill ’Crisis Detection (B)’ activated.]
BOOOOOM!
Something massive swept past him.
If he’d moved a second later, he would’ve been crushed.
And then he realized.
"...So you finally showed yourself."
From somewhere nearby, a familiar sound rang out.
Whenever that thing appeared, it always came with that awful, skin-crawling BGM—like fingernails scraping a chalkboard.
This time was no different.
Of course it wasn’t. It was the same thing.
No reason it would change.
Jhin slowly looked up at a massive creature that had lowered its head and was staring straight at him.
A dragon, its serpentine body coiled in place, its wide-open eyes overflowing with killing intent.
"Arman ..."
A boss of an S-rank dungeon, nearing level 500.
The Black Dragon Arman .
KRRROOOOOAAAAAARRRR!!
Its roar ripped through the air.
Every monster nearby instinctively slammed their heads to the ground.
The overwhelming presence of an S-rank boss wasn’t something to take lightly.
Just its appearance made Jhin ’s knees weak.
He bit his lip hard.
"Why did it have to be you..."
As Arman roared and made its dramatic entrance, the bear mask was leisurely slipping out of sight.
He wanted to chase after it right away, but Jhin couldn’t move.
That sharp gaze. If he let his guard down even for a second, he’d die.
Stat-wise, Arman probably wasn’t stronger than a level 100 monster right now.
But it felt like the real thing—like the actual boss of an S-rank dungeon had come.
Even the rest of the party, who arrived moments later, stood frozen, unable to move.
Millie looked shaken and asked, horrified, "Jhin ... what did you summon?"
"Sorry. To me, this one’s the scariest."
THUD. THUD.
Arman exhaled hot breath as it approached. Its glossy eyes gleamed with the intent of a predator sizing up its prey.
The stench was overwhelming.
This is bad.
There was a reason it was his greatest fear.
In Exodia1, Arman was the only monster known to have ever killed ’Kyle.’
It was a member of the dragon species—beings without any real weaknesses.
To kill Arman , you had to use a dragon weapon crafted from the Dragon Fang and stab its heart.
’Arman can’t be killed without a Dragon Fang weapon.’
It was a monster made not to die.
Jhin bit his lip again and spoke:
"I’ll hold it off. You all escape."
"What? But Jhin —"
"I can’t kill it, but I can stall it. While I keep it busy, just grab the Goblin Orb and get out."
There was no other option.
Arman could fly—there was no running from it.
"I’ll give the signal. We run on three."
Millie looked over, tension all over her face.
Jhin steadied his breathing and began the countdown.
"One... two—"
And just before he could say "three"—
BOOOOOOM!!
Suddenly, with a deafening explosion, Arman ’s head was blasted to the side.
Its skull slammed into a wall like it had been struck with overwhelming force.
The sight unfolded in slow motion, like a scene out of a dream.
"...!"
And from within the smoke, the one who had sent Arman flying stepped into view.
"...No way."
Jhin was speechless.
Even Millie looked completely stunned.
Luke stared at the man, his voice trembling.
"...K-Kyle...?!"