In the boundless white void, oppression and despair coiled around every heart like invisible chains.
Only moments ago, they had been speaking with ease, even joking—never once truly placing that statue in their eyes.
Yet in the blink of an eye, their enemy had displayed an overwhelming, crushing power—
This was no creature that belonged in a novice trial.
Even the Multi-Eyed Lizardfiend now seemed like insignificant dust by comparison.
"Alex… looks like our luck's finally run out this time… see you in the next life."
Gregory's massive form was curled on the ground, so weak that even breathing felt heavy.
"Don't you dare say that!"
Alex's voice was a low, sharp command, his gaze like ice.
"I'll get you both out of here alive—
I swear it."
He tightened his grip on Thunder Calamity, the warblade crackling like a storm in his hand, his eyes locked on the statue's golden gaze.
Even if the gap between them was an unbridgeable abyss—
Even if he might not survive a single blow—
He would still strike.
Because if he didn't try, he would never rest in peace.
"Let me."
A clear voice rang out. A streak of black swept into his vision—
Lois, with her ink-dark twin tails, stepped forward.
"You take the big guy to safety first," she said with a faint smile, dimples showing.
"I still have one Death Immunity left. At least I can buy us some time."
Alex froze for a heartbeat. He had never noticed how striking her smile could be.
"You don't have to—"
"Stop right there!"
Lois rolled her eyes, cutting him off.
"Don't make it sound like you dying means I get to live."
From her pocket, she pulled out a chocolate lollipop and popped it into her mouth.
Her expression softened for just a moment, touched with a quiet sadness.
"Sigh… Guess this is the last candy I'll ever eat in this life."
The next instant, her eyes turned razor-sharp.
"Let's gamble.
An attack like that… that damned statue can probably only unleash it twice.
If we can survive them, you're the only one who might be able to end it."
The words fell—
And the shadows surged.
The twin-tailed girl in a black hood rushed forward like a moth to flame, daggers flashing with cold light in the dark.
"—Shadowstep: Chaos Sky Kill!"
Her battle cry was as sharp as a blade through the air, and in the next instant, countless afterimages swarmed around the statue, enclosing it in a storm of killing intent.
Alex no longer hesitated.
In a single bound, he appeared beside Gregory, hefting the massive man onto his back before retreating several steps beyond the battlefield—
Right now, Gregory had no life-saving skills left.
Even the aftershock of the fight could scatter his soul to the winds.
Boom!
On the far side of the field, Lois's assault raged like a storm, her attacks hammering the stone statue in a relentless flurry.
Her speed was staggering, and though the greatsword-wielding monster's strikes were terrifying, its movements were far from swift—forcing it into a purely defensive posture.
After several clean hits landed, a panel flickered into view in the void:
Name: Fallen Holt
HP: ??????
Level: ???
Rank: ???
Both Lois and Alex's pupils contracted at once—
120,000 HP!
Level and Rank—undetectable.
This was no enemy that belonged in a beginner's secret realm.
Even in a high-tier dungeon above Level 20, this would still be a full-fledged boss.
But the Dark Forest was supposed to cap at Level 10!
What's worse—each strike of Lois's rapid assault barely dealt a little over 1,000 damage.
Its defense and resistances were utterly absurd.
"Are we supposed to chip it down with speed alone?"
She darted back to a corner, her hood's collar damp with cold sweat.
"Gluttonous one… let the holy flames cleanse you!"
The statue's merciless voice thundered again as it raised its massive sword high, flames surging along the blade until the very air rippled from the heat.
"It can cast?!"
Lois's eyes went wide—her earlier plan shattering instantly.
"Damn it!"
Seeing that burning sword, Alex abandoned the plan entirely.
With a thought, the pendant at his chest blazed, unleashing a streak of azure light—
—Starfall Pendant's Active Skill!
Consumes 5% Mental Energy. Releases a guaranteed strike. 1% chance to permanently reduce target's racial rank.
The blue blade slammed into the enemy.
The damage wasn't high—
But it was enough to forcibly interrupt the cast.
For the first time, Holt's golden eyes turned toward him, their depths cold and brimming with fury.
Alex didn't feel the slightest disappointment that the special effect hadn't triggered—
After all, it had only been a one-percent gamble.
He gritted his teeth, channeling power again and again—blue blades of light streaked through the air in rapid succession.
[Congratulations, Starfall Blade effect triggered!]
[Target "Fallen Holt" racial rank decreased by 1 tier.]
The statue's panel flickered into view at last:
Level: 21
Rank: King
King!
Alex's heart gave a violent jolt—if this was its weakened rank, then at full strength… it had been a Sovereign-class monster!
A Sovereign—
In an age before the Demon Gods' return, it was the apex of the dungeon food chain, capable of crushing anything in its tier.
When Lois and Gregory read the panel, a chill seeped into their bones.
On the statue's face, rage twisted into something disturbingly human—a hideous snarl.
"Bearer of all Seven Sins… your crime is annihilation!"
Deep orange fire surged along the greatsword, this time sweeping in a flat, horizontal arc—
Its speed absolute, far beyond anything that could be interrupted.
"No—!"
Alex's expression changed sharply. This was without a doubt a King's Ultimate Art!
A world-scorching wave of flame tore across the void, skimming just a meter above the ground, sweeping outward in all directions.
There was no time to think.
Alex lunged toward Gregory, using his own body as a shield against the destruction.
BOOM—!
White light flared around both Alex and Lois at the same instant—Death Immunity triggered.
But the searing wounds it left were carved deep.
Alex's back was charred black, while Lois's hood and half her garments were burned away, revealing pale yet unyielding skin beneath.
They knelt on the ground, gasping for breath.
A King's Ultimate Art—especially from a Level 21 King—was something no novice Heaven-Slayer could endure.
"What now…"
Lois's gaze locked on the frenzied statue striding toward them, despair flooding her eyes.
And yet—
Even in that despair, her eyes drifted toward Alex, almost against her will.
It was absurd—she knew it.
But still, a spark of expectation lingered—
Did this man… still have one last card to play?