Chapter 24: Wave 2
"What's going on?" Fey asked in a low tone after hearing the consecutive screams and monstrous roars echoing from all over the room.
Asher took a moment to think before giving his reply. "Let's just say it's exactly what was written on that red thingy. And the worst part? It's just starting... so get ready because we might not survive this either."
He tightened his grip around his sword hilt, his thoughts spiraling—
'If only I was stronger.'
---
Meanwhile...
Redrics had been following the agonized screams of the students, his steps careful but steady.
It didn't take long before he reached the exit of the monastery.
The moment he stepped outside, his footing instinctively halted.
Right before him lay a grotesque sight—corpses.
Students, their bodies torn apart limb from limb in the most horrific ways imaginable. Some had their guts sprawled across the cold ground, others had no heads left to identify them.
Among the slaughtered were the fallen bodies of his exorcist brothers—men he had trained with, fought alongside, and once called family.
A lump formed in his throat.
"Brothers... what has befallen you all?" He whispered, stepping forward.
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His gaze soon landed on a massive, lifeless creature sprawled on its side.
The beast was unlike anything he had ever seen before. It had the predator-like build of a lion, except it was enormous—its fur pitch-black, its fangs long and jagged, dripping with drying blood. The dark mane it bore wasn't made of ordinary hair; each strand was braided into a tentacle-like blade, sharp enough to cleave through steel.
From just one glance, it was clear—this thing wasn't just a beast. It was a weapon designed for carnage.
"What the hell is this?" He muttered under his breath, stepping closer.
And then, his gaze shifted.
Another one.
Another body—this one of a different beast—lay a few feet away, its head bashed apart into a gory mess of flesh and blood.
The sight made his heart palpitate.
If this was the fate of the exorcists...
Then what about those still trapped within the smoke?
His instincts flared. His mind screamed at him.
His body moved on its own as he threw his head back and roared—
"PRINCESS NIMORA! I'M COMING!"
His sword was drawn in a flash, his voice echoing through the fog.
But he wasn't the only one screaming.
From within the clearing smoke, a deafening roar erupted in response.
Two figures emerged from the haze, their monstrous silhouettes coming into view.
The same creatures that had butchered his brothers.
They were Night Terrors.
---
Meanwhile...
Redrics' scream hadn't just alerted the beasts to his presence.
It had also drawn them toward the remaining students.
From the surrounding walls, cries and shrieks of agony rang out, each quickly silenced by the unmistakable sound of tearing flesh.
Asher clenched his jaw, calculating every sound, every movement.
'Judging from the crashes and echoes in this place... there should be about seven Night Terrors. And one is coming right for me.'
His fingers curled tighter around his sword. His stance shifted into one of the Soul Arts—primarily defensive, but with just enough aggression to strike back if needed.
"Fey! RUN! NOW!" He bellowed.
Fey didn't hesitate. He turned on his heels and sprinted away.
Just in time.
A monstrous blur shot through the smoke, leaping toward Asher with its fangs bared.
He was ready.
In one swift motion, he dodged, narrowly avoiding the beast's jaws. The Night Terror crashed into the impenetrable walls of the Oramon room—
—or so Asher thought.
The wall cracked.
Dust exploded from the impact.
The word impenetrable was immediately scratched off his list.
The beast recovered almost instantly, its massive form twisting back toward him, its maw stretching open to reveal rows of gleaming, dagger-like teeth. Drool pooled from its mouth, falling in thick streams to the ground.
The pressure it exuded was suffocating.
'Even after canceling out most of the pressure with my mana... the presence of a Night Terror is still overwhelming...'
Asher steadied his breathing, tightening his grip around his sword.
He moved carefully, adjusting his footwork—not to provoke it into attacking prematurely. He needed a plan.
'I can't win head-on. I have strong attacks, but one hit from this thing might kill me instantly. I need to strike below its neck—'
He grimaced.
That strategy had worked in the game.
But this wasn't a game.
If he failed here, he wasn't going to lose HP.
He was going to lose limbs.
Maybe even his life.
'I have to stun it. After all, these things aren't very intelligent—'
The Night Terror lunged.
This time, Asher didn't dodge.
He attacked.
The beast swung its claws.
He parried.
The clash sent shockwaves through his arms, the sheer force making him skid several feet back before he could regain his footing.
The Night Terror, realizing how easily it had pushed him back, grew even bolder.
It charged again.
Faster. More relentless.
Its claws tore through the air with terrifying precision.
Asher barely dodged, each swipe coming dangerously close.
Until—
"KAAAH—DAMN!"
He cried out in pain as the creature's claws raked through his left arm, ripping flesh clean off.
[You have been poisoned. All stats will begin to decrease.]
'Shit. Poison effects—'
His breathing grew heavier.
The Night Terror, sensing its prey had weakened, became even more aggressive.
Its attacks came in quicker successions, each one harder to dodge.
The scratches piled up. His movements dulled.
His body—weakening.
His stamina—fading.
His mind—fraying.
'I can feel my limits already... My bones... My stamina... It's all draining...'
'Fuck...'
'Why didn't I train harder?'
'I'm... I'm fucking going to die twice—'
His vision blurred.
His mind blanked.
The final strike came—aimed directly at his skull.
And at that moment, he understood what it meant to see life flash before his eyes.
This was it.
---
"ASHER!"
A scream tore through the chaos.
And then—
A blur.
Fey.
Jumping between him and the beast, his eyes blazing with determination.
His sword, drawn.
His aura, pulsing with a green, seething energy.
With a single slash, Fey's blade cut through the Night Terror's arm—severing it.
The beast roared in agony.
But its recovery was instant.
It turned its fury toward Fey, lunging—
Asher's body moved on its own.
With every ounce of strength he had left, he propelled himself forward like a bullet.
His sword ignited in a violent red aura.
And with a final, decisive swing—
He tore through the beast's throat.
The blade sliced clean through, exiting the other side.
The Night Terror collapsed.
[Ding!]
[You have killed a Night Terror.]
[You have successfully killed your first beast.]
[You have received a reward.]
Asher exhaled, his body trembling.
A sense of victory... but also impending doom.
His legs gave out.
The poison was taking full effect now.
'If the beast doesn't kill me... this poison surely will...'