Chapter 25.1: Operation Bunker Buster
Year 0003, Month VIII-X: The Imperium
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Day 63.1: Operation Bunker Buster - The March
At the break of dawn, the massive horns that traditionally warned the city of impending attacks sounded their deep, resonant call across the settlement. The sound reverberated through every street and alley, causing shutters to slam shut and citizens to peer nervously from their windows. All of the city's gates clanged closed with the finality of a tomb sealing, their heavy iron bars dropping into place with thunderous crashes. Soldiers rushed to their designated posts with practiced efficiency, their boots creating a rhythmic thunder on the cobblestones, while key installations that had been strategically prepared the day before were now fully manned and operational.
This was undoubtedly a full-scale military operation, the kind that would be remembered in the annals of the city's history. Lord Gremory had already donned his battle-worn armor, each piece bearing the scars of countless conflicts. He was not merely any Category IV Master—he was a formidable hybrid between warrior and tank classes, a rare combination that made him both a devastating attacker and an impenetrable defender. His level 35 (110) status, combined with his extensive experience as a seasoned veteran of numerous wars, made him a force to be reckoned with on any battlefield.
Standing beside him was one of his most trusted commanders, the man who had served as his proxy during the final, decisive battle against the Fresco League of Kingdoms. Commander Eli Ponce, himself a Category IV Master at level 25 (110), possessed the tactical acumen and battlefield experience necessary to lead such a critical assault. While Lord Gremory would oversee the operation as supreme commander, Eli would spearhead the direct assault, his expertise in siege warfare proving invaluable for the mission ahead.
The force that Lord Gremory commanded was impressive in both size and quality. His personal retinue consisted of 100 seasoned veterans, each commanding 30 elite warriors under their direct authority. This brought his personal force to a formidable 3,000 battle-hardened soldiers. However, this number paled in comparison to the total military strength now under his command.
Commander Eli led an additional 10,000 garrisoned troops, soldiers of the Kingdom of Ogind who had been stationed in the city but now fell under Lord Gremory's direct control and jurisdiction for this operation. These men were well-trained, disciplined, and familiar with the layout of the city terrain—advantages that would prove crucial in the coming battle.
Completing the military assembly was the City's own Guard Force, 2,000 strong and led by Lieutenant Gordon Piña, a grizzled veteran who had retired from active military service only to find himself called back to duty as the city's primary defensive commander. His intimate knowledge of every street, building, and defensive position within the city walls made him an invaluable asset to the operation.
The combined force, numbering 15,000 battle-ready soldiers, had taken their positions with military precision. Every exit point from the city was covered, every section of the walls was manned, and every strategic location was secured. The city had effectively become a fortress, sealed from the outside world and ready for whatever was to come.
With all preparations complete and every soldier in position, the massive army began its march toward the estate of Baron Toffer. The very air seemed to thicken with anticipation as the sound of thousands of marching feet echoed through the streets. The battle that would determine the fate of not just the baron, but potentially the entire region, was about to begin.
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Day 63.2: Operation Bunker Buster - The Wheels in Motion, A War in Sight
As the wheels of fate began their inexorable turn, the city's transformation from a bustling commercial hub to a military stronghold became complete. All gates had been sealed with both physical barriers and magical wards, their massive doors reinforced with iron bars and mystical protections that would take considerable force to breach. The morning air, once filled with the cheerful calls of merchants and the general bustle of daily commerce, was now heavy with the weight of military discipline and impending conflict.
Soldiers moved through the streets with purpose, their armor clanking rhythmically as they enforced strict movement restrictions throughout the city. Citizens found themselves confined to their homes, while the long caravans of merchants who had arrived hoping to conduct business were turned away at the sealed gates, their confused protests falling on deaf ears. The normal flow of trade and commerce had ground to a complete halt.
The military commanders, their faces grim with the weight of their responsibilities, began issuing strict orders to their subordinates. It was only now that the rank-and-file soldiers learned the true nature of what they had initially believed to be a routine military drill. The reality was far more serious: they were being deployed to arrest a noble envoy, an action that could have far-reaching diplomatic and military consequences. Charges had been formally pressed, and the entire military apparatus of the city had been mobilized to ensure those charges were properly investigated and, if proven true, acted upon.
Meanwhile, August could feel the transformation in the very atmosphere around him. The cold morning air seemed to warm with the heat generated by thousands of men moving in full combat gear, their collective presence creating an almost palpable sense of impending violence. He had made the strategic decision not to return to the estate the previous evening, instead positioning himself in the shadows where he could observe and act when the moment was right.
His role in the coming confrontation was clear: he would wait for the perfect moment when both Baron Toffer and his guard captain were fully occupied dealing with Count Gremory's forces. Only then would he make his move to infiltrate the estate and secure the crucial evidence needed to ensure the baron's conviction. The timing would be critical—too early, and he would face the full strength of the baron's defenses; too late, and the evidence might be destroyed in the chaos of battle.
The morning sun had barely begun to climb when the full-scale army of elite soldiers arrived at the imposing gates of Baron Toffer's fortified estate. The sight was magnificent and terrifying in equal measure: thousands of armored warriors arranged in perfect formation, their weapons gleaming in the early light, their banners snapping in the morning breeze. The very ground seemed to tremble under the weight of their collective presence.
Then, cutting through the relative quiet of the dawn, a voice echoed across the estate grounds with supernatural clarity and power. Commander Eli had infused his words with magic, ensuring that every syllable would carry clearly to every corner of the Baron's stronghold. His voice boomed with authority and the weight of law:
"Baron Toffer, Envoy of the Arwen Sovereignty! You are hereby required to allow Count Gremory's forces immediate entry to this estate and to permit a full military search for evidence of alleged violations of the laws of this land! The charges against you are as follows: First, the unlawful abduction of humanoids and demi-humans. Second, the torture and mistreatment of such individuals. Third, as a noble of a foreign kingdom and an envoy at that, you stand accused of violating the laws and customs of both our nations!"
The commander's voice grew even more powerful as he continued: "If you are innocent of these grave allegations, you are required to open your gates immediately and submit to lawful authority. You are hereby given one full hour—precisely 120 minutes—to comply with this lawful order! Should this time pass without your compliance, we will be forced to interpret your refusal as an admission of guilt! At such times, we will forcefully breach these gates and batter them down. Any forces who choose to oppose us without surrendering will be cut down where they stand, while those who surrender before violence becomes necessary will have their cases heard and tried in the proper courts of law!"
The ultimatum hung in the air like a blade poised to fall, its implications clear to everyone within earshot.
Meanwhile, within the inner sanctum of the fortified estate, chaos reigned. The baron's advisors, guards, and servants had gathered in the main hall, their faces pale with fear and uncertainty. It was clear that this was no mere siege based on suspicion or political maneuvering—their enemies possessed detailed knowledge of the baron's crimes, suggesting that someone had already gathered substantial evidence against him.
The discussions that erupted among Baron Toffer's people were heated and desperate. Some advocated for immediate flight, others for negotiation, and still others for a fight to the death. Escape routes were frantically discussed, defensive positions analyzed, and contingency plans debated with the urgency of men who knew their lives hung in the balance.
But Baron Toffer himself understood the situation with crystal clarity. This was not merely about his personal crimes or even his individual fate. He had always known that his role in this foreign land was more complex than that of a simple diplomatic envoy. He was, in truth, a carefully placed pawn in a much larger game being played by the Arwen Kingdom—a spark deliberately positioned to ignite the flames of war should the need arise.
"Silence!" he roared, and the room fell instantly quiet. His voice carried the authority of a man who had made his decision and would brook no argument. "I suspected yesterday's military drills were unusual, and I have already instructed our men to prepare for possible confrontations within the week. It seems the old count is determined to force this issue now rather than later. But do not despair—we shall make them pay dearly for every inch of ground they seek to claim."
His voice grew stronger, more commanding: "As of this moment, this estate is sovereign territory of the Arwen Kingdom itself. We shall defend it with our lives, our honor, and our loyalty to the crown. Though we number only 1,100 souls, we hold the defender's advantage! Let them come—let them bleed for every stone, every wall, every room they seek to take!"
The room, which had been filled with uncertainty and fear moments before, suddenly erupted in a fervent uproar of approval. The people gathered there were not mere servants or common soldiers—they were handpicked special forces of the Arwen Sovereignty, men and women who had been carefully selected for both their combat abilities and their unwavering loyalty to their kingdom's goals.
They were ardent supporters of Arwen's grand ambition: the unification of the two most strategically important regions of the northern subcontinent of Arkanus. The central north and central south near the western Subcontinent, were the key territories that currently held the balance of power in the region. The central north was dominated by the Kingdom of Ogind and its buffer state, the Principality of Ogind, which fell under Count Gremory's authority and included the frontier village of Kirka—the first line of defense against any potential southern invasion.
However, the leadership of the Arwen Sovereignty remained unaware of the current crisis unfolding at their unofficial embassy. The two nations had previously agreed to establish diplomatic outposts in each other's territories, ostensibly to strengthen their friendship and maintain the existing truce. These embassies had been strategically placed near the borders rather than in the capitals, which should have facilitated communication and cooperation.
In reality, both sides had been using these diplomatic missions as covers for espionage and occasional acts of disruption against their hosts. The embassy system had become a carefully maintained facade hiding a much more complex and dangerous game of international intrigue.
Now, even though Baron Toffer's forces had no immediate contact with their homeland, both kingdoms understood the implicit threat: any attack on these diplomatic compounds would serve as an automatic declaration of war. The stakes could not have been higher.
The baron's estate had been sealed with powerful magical barriers, but these defenses were currently being countered by an equally powerful city-wide magical jamming field deployed by the Kingdom of Ogind's most skilled mages. The two magical forces were locked in an invisible battle of wills and power, each side striving to gain the upper hand in the mystical realm even as physical forces prepared to clash on the material plane.
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Day 63.3: Operation Bunker Buster - Explosion and the Beginning
Desperate to destroy the evidence of his heinous crimes, Baron Toffer issued what was perhaps the most painful order of his entire life: the complete eradication of his "collection"—the humanoid and demi-human victims who had suffered under his twisted desires for so long. These innocent souls, whom he had callously referred to as his "toys," represented his most prized possessions, the objects of his deepest obsessions and cruelest pleasures.
The decision to order their deaths was an unprecedented move that tore at even his blackened heart. The collector in him was bleeding internally at the thought of losing what he considered his most valuable and irreplaceable acquisitions. Yet he knew that allowing them to be discovered alive would provide irrefutable evidence of his crimes—evidence that would not only damn him personally but could potentially spark the very war his kingdom desired.
Unfortunately for the baron, his plans had already been anticipated. August had spent the previous night positioning himself strategically to intercept exactly such an order. He had already secured all the documented evidence needed to indict the baron on the charges 15 minutes ago—carefully stored within his magical item pouch where they would be safe from discovery or destruction. Now, his primary mission was to ensure the survival of the victims themselves.
Before the deadline had even begun to approach, a battle erupted within the estate itself. The soldiers who had been tasked with eliminating the evidence made their way to the underground chambers where the victims were held, only to discover a scene that would haunt their nightmares forever. The guards who had previously been stationed at the entrance to the torture chambers lay dead, their bodies arranged in ways that spoke of both skill and terrible purpose.
Standing among the carnage, like a figure from their darkest nightmares, was a being dressed in the terrifying regalia of the Blurred Devil. The soldiers who had come to commit murder found themselves face to face with something far more dangerous than they had ever imagined. In their panic and desperation, most rushed forward in a coordinated attack while one managed to retreat, racing back through the corridors to warn Baron Toffer of this unexpected development.
The explosion that followed shook the very foundations of the estate. August had unleashed one of his most powerful abilities—a Guardian Beast Exclusive Active Skill called "PIERCING BOLT," channeled at 15% of his maximum capacity. The devastating attack consumed 7,500 MP from his total of 42,700, leaving him with 35,200 MP remaining. The raw destructive power of the attack was almost incomprehensible: 916,175 Magic Attack Damage Points (MADP) concentrated into a single, focused assault.
The blast was so powerful that it not only eliminated the soldiers who had come to murder the innocent victims but also created a massive hole in the structure of the building itself. The sound reverberated throughout the entire estate and beyond its walls, reaching the ears of the besieging army waiting outside. The explosion served as an unmistakable signal that the time for negotiation had passed—the formal battle was about to begin.
In siege warfare, defenders traditionally held significant advantages over attackers. Fortified positions, knowledge of the terrain, and the ability to force enemies into predictable attack patterns usually made assault operations costly and difficult. However, the current age of magical warfare has changed many of these traditional calculations. Modern city walls and fortifications were typically reinforced with powerful magical arrays designed to repel both physical and mystical attacks.
In this case, however, the magical jamming field being maintained by the Kingdom of Ogind's mages had effectively neutralized the defensive magical arrays that had been layered throughout Baron Toffer's estate. This magical suppression was not absolute—individuals with magical aptitude significantly higher than those maintaining the jamming field could still access their powers—but it leveled the playing field considerably.
August found himself in a unique position regarding the magical suppression. While he was not as magically proficient as the mages who had cast the jamming spell, he remained largely unaffected by its power. This was because August, despite his human appearance, represented an anomaly within the world of Centuury. His SYSTEM, while technically integrated with Centuury's own magical framework, operated as a separate and distinct entity. It was as if he represented a glitch or bug in the fundamental code of reality itself—one that had not yet been identified or corrected by the cosmic forces that governed this world.
With the explosion serving as the unofficial declaration of hostilities, the formal siege began in earnest. Count Gremory's forces initiated their assault with massive battering rams and siege engines, their thunderous impacts echoing across the courtyard as they systematically attacked the estate's main gate. The defenders, meanwhile, had taken positions along the ramparts and walls of the fortified compound, their archers raining down deadly volleys of arrows upon the attackers below.
The Arwen forces, despite being cut off from most of their magical support, proved to be fierce and determined opponents. These elite zealots were more than capable of holding their ground through pure martial skill and unwavering determination. They made Count Gremory's soldiers pay dearly for every foot of ground they managed to gain, turning the courtyard into a killing field where every advance came at a terrible cost in blood and lives.
As the battle intensified, bodies from both sides began to accumulate in growing piles throughout the contested areas. Ogind soldiers fell to precisely aimed arrows and desperate counter-attacks, while Arwen defenders were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and superior equipment of the besieging force. Blood soaked into the earth of the courtyard, turning the ground into a muddy, treacherous quagmire that made movement difficult and footing uncertain.
Despite their fierce resistance, the defenders were gradually forced to give ground. The overwhelming numerical superiority of Count Gremory's forces, combined with their superior siege equipment and the loss of magical defensive support, eventually began to tell. The outer defensive line crumbled under the relentless assault, forcing the surviving Arwen soldiers to fall back toward the main villa itself, where they hoped to make their final stand.
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Day 63.4: Operation Bunker Buster - The Final Push Towards the Main Villa
While blood continued to flow freely across the courtyard grounds, August was engaged in his own deadly battle outside the underground chambers. The soldiers who had rushed to confront him had been dispatched with lethal efficiency, his superior skills and equipment proving more than adequate to handle conventional opponents. Most importantly, he had confirmed that several victims remained alive within the torture chambers—innocent souls who still had a chance at survival if he could hold his position until Count Gremory's forces secured the estate.
However, his situation was about to become significantly more dangerous. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridors, but these were different from the panicked running of common soldiers. These steps were measured, confident, and carried with them an aura of power that made the very air seem to thicken with menace.
One of the masters had arrived. While the other ten experts remained above ground, supporting their other companion master and desperately holding the defensive line against the overwhelming enemy forces, Baron Toffer himself had descended into the underground chambers to deal with this unexpected threat personally.
The baron cut an imposing figure as he emerged from the shadows of the corridor. His full suit of armor was a masterwork of both craftsmanship and magical enhancement, each piece carefully fitted and reinforced to provide maximum protection without sacrificing mobility. The massive battle axe he carried was equally impressive—a weapon whose very presence suggested that a single swing could deliver devastation on an almost unimaginable scale.
As Baron Toffer approached, August could sense the dramatic change in the aura surrounding his opponent. This was no ordinary soldier or even expert-level fighter. The raw power radiating from the baron's form was palpable, creating an almost physical pressure that filled the confined space of the underground corridor. This was a true master of combat, someone whose very presence on a battlefield could alter the course of an engagement.
August immediately understood the vast difference in their respective capabilities. While he had grown significantly in power since beginning his journey, he was still fundamentally outclassed by a true master-level opponent. If he hoped to survive this encounter, he would need to access more powerful abilities from his mysterious connection to his master's magical index.
Recognizing the desperate nature of his situation, August reached deep into his repertoire of available skills and selected one of the most powerful techniques at his disposal:
**"Zephyr's Arcing Bolt Gale-Tempest"**
*(CLASS V - GRANDMASTER) | (Mid-Tier Skill ★★)*
This devastating ability allowed the caster to weave together the primal forces of wind and lightning in a spectacular display of elemental mastery. With a sweeping gesture, the user could summon forth a concentrated gale that spiraled and accelerated through the air, drawing ambient electrical energy into its vortex as it moved. The resulting tempest would launch a piercing bolt of lightning that tore through the atmosphere with supernatural accuracy, its path guided and enhanced by the wind's embrace.
Upon impact, the bolt would not simply dissipate but would fragment and arc outward like branching lightning, seeking additional targets within its effective range. The residual electrical energy would spread in a wide cone, creating a crackling field of stunning force capable of paralyzing multiple enemies while the wind continued to howl, amplifying and extending the destruction far beyond what either element could achieve alone.
The skill's combat effects were truly formidable: the primary strike consisted of a precision lightning bolt guided by wind currents for guaranteed accuracy, followed by secondary arcing that would branch to nearby enemies within the cone area. The attack would also create area control through a stunning field that could immobilize multiple targets, while the elemental synergy between wind and lightning would amplify damage and extend the effective range far beyond normal parameters.
Combat Effects
Primary Strike: A precision lightning bolt guided by wind currents for guaranteed accuracy
Secondary Arcing: Lightning branches to nearby enemies within the cone area
Area Control: Creates a stunning field that immobilizes multiple targets
Elemental Synergy: Wind and Lightning, the wind amplifies lightning damage and extends effective range
**SUB-STATS**
Base Damage Output
Core Damage: 4,950 (Lightning + Wind Synergy)
Subsequent Damage: +135 for 5 seconds inside area-or-effect
Area Effect: 180° cone extending 100 meters forward
Crowd Control: 3-second paralysis effect on all affected targets
MP Consumption: 1,000 MP per 1% Guardian Beast Power utilized
Guardian Beast Integration: 1% (58,806 damage) up to 20% (1,176,120 damage)
Scaling Type: Magic Attack (Offensive) / Magic Defense (Damage Mitigation)
Advanced Mechanics
Chain Lightning: Each primary target has a +135% chance to arc to 5 additional enemies, with no diminishing damage as the first
Wind Acceleration: Increases projectile speed by 135%, reducing enemy reaction time
Electrical Residue: Affected area remains charged for 5 seconds, dealing minor Damage Over Time (DOT) to enemies who enters the space, dealing an additional damage of +135% to 675% (maximum) for each second, distributed to all entity that is still inside the area-of-effect
Precision Targeting: Wind guidance provides +135% accuracy against moving targets
August now possessed a new and incredibly powerful skill that could potentially turn the tide of this desperate battle. However, he was acutely aware that using such a technique would significantly reduce his already limited mana capacity. After this confrontation, regardless of the outcome, he would need to take time to rest and work on enhancing his mana reserves, which were currently laughably inadequate for sustained high-level combat.
As he prepared for the battle of his life, August took a moment to assess his opponent's capabilities through his system's analysis function:
**NAME:** Toffer Mina
**LEVEL:** 85
**AGE:** 60
**GENDER:** Male
**RACE:** Human (Arkanian)
**CATEGORY:** IV - (MASTER)
**CLASS:** BERSERKER WARRIOR [+1,000 (ATTACK) DAMAGE AND +1,500 STAT AND SUB-STAT]
**TITLE:** THE BERSERKER BEHEMOTH [+1,500 (ATTACK) DAMAGE, +1,000 STAT AND SUB-STAT]
**JOB:**
I. NOBLE (BARON) [+1,000 CHARISMA +1,000 STAT AND SUB-STAT]
II. ELITE WARRIOR [+1,500 (ATTACK) DAMAGE AND +1,000 (DEFENSE) DAMAGE NEGATION, +1,000 STAT AND SUB-STAT]
**EQUIPMENT:**
I. CUSTOM MADE TOFFER'S ARWEN ELITE ARMOR [+600 (DEFENSE) DAMAGE NEGATION (×6), +600 STAT AND SUB-STAT (×6)]
II. TOFFER'S CUSTOM BATTLE AXE [+600 (ATTACK) DAMAGE]
**HP:** 85×200 = 17,000 + 11,325% = 1,942,250 HP
**MP:** 85×100 = 8,500 + 11,325% = 971,125 MP
**DAMAGE (ATTACK):** 11,325 + 4,600 +11,325% = 1,819,431
**DAMAGE NEGATION (DEFENSE):** 11,125 + 4,600 +11,325% = 1,819,431
**STAT/SUB-STAT:** (Base: +3,225) (Class/Title/Job/Equipment: +8,100) = +11,325%
The numbers were staggering. Baron Toffer was not merely powerful—he was a walking engine of destruction whose capabilities far exceeded anything August had previously encountered.
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Day 63.5: Operation Bunker Buster - The Battle of the Two Devils - One of Good and the Other of Pure Evil
Baron Toffer regarded August with a mixture of curiosity and contempt, his experienced warrior's instincts analyzing the being before him. The figure shrouded in a cloak of swirling darkness appeared to possess the power level of a Category III Expert, which should have made him little more than an annoyance to a master of Toffer's caliber. However, there was something unsettling about this opponent—a foreboding aura of death that seemed to cling to him like a living thing, suggesting that appearances might be deceiving.
"What are you, you fucking bastard?" Toffer snarled, his voice carrying the rough edge of a man who had spent decades on battlefields and in blood-soaked arenas.
August replied in the distorted voice of his alter ego, the sound echoing strangely in the confined space: "I am the defender of the weak, the executioner of evil, and I have deemed you as evil, Baron Toffer."
Despite his caution in approaching this unexpected opponent, Toffer was no coward when faced with the prospect of death. In fact, his berserker nature meant that the longer a battle continued and the more injuries he accumulated, the more dangerous he became. His particular fighting style and psychological makeup meant that unless an enemy could kill him with a single, decisive blow, they would find themselves facing an increasingly powerful and unpredictable opponent whose stamina and pain tolerance seemed almost superhuman.
This was not merely a matter of physical endurance—Toffer's defensive capabilities were just as impressive as his offensive power. His custom armor had been specifically designed to balance his naturally high attack damage with equally formidable defensive capabilities, creating a warrior who could both dish out punishment and absorb incredible amounts of damage in return.
With a burst of speed that seemed impossible for a man of his size and apparent bulk, Baron Toffer launched his first attack. This was no clumsy charge or telegraphed assault—this was the precisely controlled violence of a master warrior who had survived countless battles through a combination of skill, power, and tactical awareness.
August barely managed to evade the killing blow, his enhanced reflexes and agility allowing him to slip away from an attack that would have cleaved him in two. He was beginning to understand that this opponent was more powerful than anything he had faced before—perhaps comparable to the bloodhounds they had encountered in the forest, the same people that had been ultimately responsible for Uncle Christopher's death.
The confined space of the underground corridor was far from ideal for August's fighting style. He was, at his core, a hunter who had learned to live and breathe in the natural environment of forests and open spaces. His skills had been honed for ranged combat and tactical movement through varied terrain. However, he was also a warrior, an archer, and a mage—a unique combination of classes and abilities granted by his "ALL ROUNDER CLASS" designation.
While he might not possess the single-minded focus and specialization that made Baron Toffer so formidable in direct combat, August's versatility allowed him to adapt to different situations and exploit opportunities that a more specialized fighter might miss. His base damage output, while not insignificant, was indeed lower than Toffer's overwhelming offensive capabilities. More critically, his defensive statistics were substantially below those of his heavily armored opponent.
The reality was stark and unforgiving: a single solid hit from Toffer's massive battle axe would likely sever a limb or kill August instantly. This forced him to adopt a strategy of constant movement, evasion, and careful positioning while studying his opponent's attack patterns and looking for potential openings.
Baron Toffer, meanwhile, was conducting his own analysis of the enemy before him. Rather than committing to an all-out assault, he chose to probe August's capabilities and responses, testing his speed, reflexes, and tactical thinking. The underground corridor had effectively become a private arena where only one combatant could survive.
August had positioned himself strategically in front of the door to Toffer's torture chamber, using the narrow space to limit his opponent's movement options while maintaining his own escape routes. Every attack that Toffer launched and August evaded sent chunks of stone and debris flying from the walls and ceiling, testament to the incredible destructive power behind each swing of that massive axe.
Despite his best efforts, Toffer found himself frustrated by his opponent's nimble and evasive fighting style. August seemed to flow like water around his attacks, never quite where the baron expected him to be when his weapon arrived. The combination of speed, agility, and tactical awareness was proving to be a significant challenge, even for a master-level combatant.
"Haaa! I see I've figured you out already, you fucking bastard! Now prepare yourself!" Toffer roared, his voice echoing through the corridor with barely contained fury.
What followed was a display of combat prowess that demonstrated why Baron Toffer had earned his fearsome reputation in the battlefield. With a powerful charge that seemed to blur the line between movement and teleportation, he launched himself forward in a flying kick that struck August square in the chest before the younger man could even begin to react.
The impact was devastating. August felt his ribs crack as he was launched backward through the air, his body slamming into the stone wall with bone-jarring force. The attack had reduced his health to a critical 20% in a single blow—only the protective enchantments of his armor had prevented instant death.
However, the near-fatal injury triggered several of August's passive abilities and emergency protocols. His berserk state activated automatically, sending his attack power soaring to new heights while his emergency regenerative abilities began working overtime to repair the internal damage from Toffer's devastating assault.
As Baron Toffer charged forward to deliver what he assumed would be the finishing blow, August seemed to vanish into the smoke and unsettled dust that filled the corridor. Using his stealth abilities and intimate knowledge of background manipulation, he became one with his surroundings, disappearing from direct sight while positioning himself for a counterattack.
What followed was a masterful display of guerrilla warfare tactics. From seemingly everywhere and nowhere at once, a barrage of attacks rained down upon Baron Toffer. August struck from multiple angles and positions, never remaining in one place long enough for the baron to mount an effective counterattack. Some strikes Toffer managed to block, deflect, or evade through his superior reflexes and combat experience, but the sheer volume and unpredictability of the assault began to take its toll.
In the midst of this chaotic exchange, August managed to position himself for a shield bash that caught Toffer off-guard. The impact stunned the baron momentarily—though his superior physical stats allowed him to reduce the duration of the status effect, it was still long enough for August to prepare his next move.
Seizing this critical opportunity, August unleashed one of his most favored and well versed powerful attacks: a PIERCING BOLT channeled at 20% of Aetherwing's full power. The technique consumed an additional 10,000 MP, leaving him with only 25,200 out of his total 42,700 MP, but the resulting damage was catastrophic: 1,213,219 points of pure destructive force.
The speed of the bolt was so incredible that even Baron Toffer, with all his combat experience and enhanced reflexes, was unable to evade the attack. The concentrated energy beam tore through his armor and flesh, boring a gaping hole through his chest that would have killed any lesser opponent instantly.
However, Baron Toffer's incredible vitality and the full activation of his own berserk state meant that he remained standing despite the massive wound. The life-threatening injury had triggered his most dangerous combat mode, causing his already formidable capabilities to surge to even greater heights.
But August was not finished. Even as his mana reserves dwindled to dangerously low levels, he began channeling his newly acquired technique Guardian Beast Exclusive Active Skill: "Zephyr's Arcing Bolt Gale-Tempest." The air around them began to crackle with electrical energy while powerful winds started to surge and spiral through the confined space.
Before Baron Toffer could properly assess the nature of this new attack or mount any kind of defense, the devastating combination of wind and lightning struck him with the full force of a natural disaster. The initial impact dealt 1,214,629 points of damage while consuming 20,000 MP and leaving August with a mere 2,200 out of his total 42,700 MP.
The electrical component of the attack proved to be particularly effective against the weakened baron. The paralysis effect, which Toffer might normally have been able to resist through sheer force of will and superior statistics, took hold as his severely injured body could no longer muster the strength to fight off the status affliction. For five crucial seconds, he was completely helpless.
Even worse for the baron, the unique properties of the Gale-Tempest technique meant that since he was the only target in the immediate area, he received the full benefit of the skill's damage amplification. The +135% damage per second (maximum of +675%) increase that would normally be distributed among multiple targets was concentrated entirely on him, bringing the total damage to a staggering 9,413,375 (MADP) Magical Attack Damage Points.
The combined effects of wind and lightning literally tore Baron Toffer's body apart at the molecular level. The electrical discharge boiled every liquid in his body while the wind forces shredded his flesh and armor. The extreme heat generated by the lightning carbonized his skin and muscle tissue, leaving him burned and unrecognizable, some parts even turned to dust. When the devastating attack finally ended, what remained of Baron Toffer Mina bore no resemblance to the proud and dangerous warrior who had entered the corridor.
August stood gasping for breath amidst the devastation his attack had wrought. The landscape around them had been completely transformed—the corridor was now filled with holes and structural damage that extended far beyond the immediate battle site. His mana reserves were critically depleted, and while his health was rapidly regenerating thanks to his enhanced healing abilities, he knew that he was in no condition for another battle of this magnitude.
The victory had come at a tremendous cost and had taught August a valuable lesson about his place in the grand hierarchy of this world's power structure. His assessment of the previous night regarding powerful enemies had been woefully inadequate. He was still far from being able to face masters in direct combat on equal terms, and Baron Toffer, despite his fearsome reputation, was not even considered among the cream of the crop when it came to master-level combatants.
The realization was both humbling and motivating. If August hoped to survive in this world and protect those he cared about, he would need to grow significantly stronger than he currently was. The path ahead would require not just additional power, but wisdom, strategy, and perhaps most importantly, a better understanding of when to fight and when to find alternative solutions.
As the dust settled and the immediate danger passed, August prepared to make his way back to the surface. The battle for the estate was still raging above, and there were still innocent lives that needed to be protected. His confrontation with Baron Toffer was over, but the larger conflict—and his role in it—was far from finished.