Chapter 157: A Step from All Sides
Ruvian launched himself forward, colliding with the remaining four demons in a swift, decisive charge.
His movements were sharper now — faster, more refined — as his body steadily acclimated to the potion’s enhancement.
[You have killed a Lesser Demon!]
[You have gained +1 Mana Resonance!]
[You have killed (3/5) enemies!]
The first demon fell almost instantly, unable to keep pace with his acceleration. Ruvian flowed seamlessly into the next strike, his blade carving a clean, lethal path as he adjusted his footing with practiced ease.
He didn’t create any wasted motion, only a continuous, fluid advance.
Before the moment could settle, four more figures burst back into the fray — the very demons that had been hurled through the wide window earlier.
Their attention snapping toward him.
"There, get him!"
’So they’ve already returned...’
’Can I hold against seven of them at the same time?’
The question lingered only briefly.
In truth, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. His adrenaline was surging, and his body felt more than ready to take them all on.
Ruvian tightened his grip on his weapon, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his lips.
Seven or not, it hardly mattered now.
Charging at him in perfect synchronicity, three sword-bearing demons lunged forward. Their blades came from different angles — one aimed high, one from the side, and one low to cut his legs.
And still... Ruvian met them head-on!
His weapon moved with precise timing, deflecting the first strike, turning to catch the second, and lowering just enough to stop the third.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel clashed again and again, the sound ringing in a tight rhythm.
The force behind their attacks pushed him back step by step. His boots scraped across the ground, leaving faint marks as he gave way under their combined pressure.
And even so, there was no panic in him. His eyes remained sharp and steady, following each movement.
The moment he found a small opening, Ruvian invoked a single spell.
[Wind Blast]
Instead of releasing it outward, he directed the spell beneath his footing while angling his legs and stance to carry the force forward.
The burst of wind struck the ground and drove him ahead in a sudden surge of speed.
The distance closed in an instant. One of the demons failed to react in time, its guard still mid motion.
But Ruvian’s blade passed through its neck in a single clean cut, ending it before it could recover.
[You have killed an Elite Demon!]
[You have gained +3 Mana Resonance!]
[You have killed (4/5) enemies!]
’Not bad. I’m slowly getting used to this now.’
Without stopping, Ruvian carried that momentum into a roll across the floor, lowering his body to avoid the next threat.
The remaining demons at the back had already finished their casting. As he rose from the roll and advanced toward them, their spells were already being chanted.
’Tch.’
Bolts of lightning cracked through the air. Flames surged forward in a wide burst. Even sharp projectiles followed, cutting through space with deadly intent.
The attacks came together, layered and fast, leaving little room to escape!
But Ruvian had already read their timing.
And so, he casted—
[Magic Barrier]
However, to all the demon’s surprise...
The barriers did not form around Ruvian. Instead, they appeared right in front of them as they were preparing the spells — placed at a careful distance!
"Cancel the spell!"
"I don’t know how!"
The demons shouted.
Then, the spells collided with those barriers almost the moment they were released.
Boom!
The impact caused the attacks to break violently. While the backlash spread close to the casters, thick smoke rose from the explosion, covering their vision.
Ruvian immediately used that smoke to his advantage and cast three rapid succession of [Magic Missile].
Soon, the spells cut through the smoke with perfect accuracy. And each one struck its target cleanly.
[You have killed a Lesser Demon!]
[You have killed an Elite Demon!]
[You have killed a Lesser Demon!]
...
[You have gained +1 Mana Resonance!]
[You have gained +3 Mana Resonance!]
[You have gained +1 Mana Resonance!]
When the smoke began to clear, the three demons were already down.
With that, only a few remaining demons were left.
’So, only three left.’
Ruvian couldn’t help but let out a satisfied smile.
*****
Breathing lightly, Ruvian stared at the last two demons standing in front of him, both of them stiff and overly cautious as if staying alert would somehow save them from what was obviously coming.
One of the demons had already lost a hand, yet he was still trying to act intimidating despite the fact that dark blood kept pouring from the stump and dripping onto the floor.
His breathing sounded terrible, uneven and shaky, and every now and then his body twitched.
The other demon, meanwhile, tried very hard to stand properly, but even Ruvian could tell his condition was not good.
One arm kept pressing against his side, and the way he struggled just to breathe made it painfully obvious that something inside his chest had gone wrong.
Perhaps, a few broken ribs?
Even so, it was impressive he was still standing at all.
Not that it would help him much anyway.
’Well, I’m almost done here.’
Ruvian briefly turned his eyes to the side.
There, Silvena was still fighting on the other side of the lounge. Her [Wildvine] whip danced smoothly together with her body, drawing sharp curves in the air as she continued attacking.
Seven demons had already died by her hands, and only a few were still trying to surround her.
’I guess she’s doing alright.’
Soon after, the two remaining demons in front of him suddenly rushed forward.
Fear was clearly visible in their eyes, but they still attacked because they did not want to die here in such a helpless way.
Their attempts came together at the same time.
But their effort did not change anything.
Ruvian moved his foot slightly and let the first attack pass beside him.
At the same moment, he turned his body smoothly and guided the sharp edge of his blade across both of their necks in one clean motion.
Slash!
’Looks like I haven’t grown sloppy with the blade yet.’
For a short moment, both demons stood still. Their eyes widened in disbelief as their weapons slipped from their weakening hands.
Then, the cut slowly appeared across their throats.
Dark blood soon flowed out, and not long after, both of their bodies fell to the floor almost at the same time.
Lowering his katana slightly, Ruvian watched as faint glowing runes began to gather before his eyes.
He could also hear the soft resonance of the runes as they completed their message.
[You have killed (10/5) enemies.]
[All requirements have been fulfilled.]
[Previous configuration has been reset to default.]
For an instant, the katana trembled faintly in Ruvian’s grasp, as though something within it had finally awakened.
Then...
Another rune appeared...
[From this moment onwards, ’The Endseeker’ has accepted your claim.]
[You have received +1250 Plot Points!]
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[Chapter 157: A Step from All Sides]
Plot Points= 10,800
