Death Ascension - Chapter 54

[Warning: Profanity]

Upon hearing Mikael’s signal, Deon ran out of the food storage.

But even without the warning, Deon definitely felt the ground vibrate as the monstrous replete approached him like a massive bowling ball.

Sshhk…

His heel dug deep into the ground as he ran in desperation.

His hurried steps resounded with the tunnel walls, yet Deon could not hear any of it. His mind was consumed by one thought and one thought only—Don’t look back!

Because if he did, he was sure to be frightened out of his wits and be rooted to the spot.

Deon concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other as fast as he could.

Clank! Clank!

His iron armor clanged like a gong, beaconing the replete to his direction.

Excited, the monster accelerated as it got closer to Deon.

“F*CK! It can still go faster?!” Mikael cursed as it became increasingly harder to keep up with the replete.

“SIR DEON! COME HERE!” Finn called out.

A shining brown mana circle was drawn on the ground a few meters away from them.

In his tunnel vision, literally and figuratively, Deon forgot that he had to lead the replete into Finn’s trap.

Deon turned to the last corner.

At his back was the maniacally rolling replete who screamed “F…OO…OOOD!!!”

“TELEPOOORT!!” Deon yelled at the top of his lungs, but Mikael was too far behind.

“SH*T! I’M SUCH AN IDIOT!!”

Only then did it occur to Mikael that he was not using his advantage to its fullest.

“I’M A FREAKING SPIRIT FOR F*CK’S SAKE!”

Indeed, he did not need to follow the replete as it traveled through the tunnel since he can just go straight to Deon.

“Haaah… Being dead is making me dumb.”

As the monster continued to chase Deon right around the corner, Mikael took the shortcut and passed through the walls.

Poof!

He popped out of the tunnel wall and crashed into Deon.

<Skill: Partial integration Lvl. max is activated.>

Ping!

<System Notification: Due to Partial Integration, the System has switched player mode from ‘Solo’ to ‘Duo’>

<System Notification: Percent Assimilation with Co-player Deon Hensworth has increased to 47%>

<System Notification: Percent Assimilation is less than 66.66%, Level 3 active skills are sealed.>

<Skill: Teleportation Lvl. 1 is activated.>

<Skill: Teleportation Lvl. 1 is activated.>

<Skill: Teleportation Lvl. 1 is activated.>

Kaede’s body vanished just as he was about to be crushed under the tumbling ant, leaping nine meters of space in an instant!

Mikael canceled the skill as Deon regrouped with Finn and Nora.

Meanwhile, Finn carefully watched the rolling replete.

He needed to get the timing right or else the three of them will become bowling pins for the monster to strike.

‘three…’

‘two…’

‘…’

‘…’

‘..NOW!’

“ERODE!” Finn bellowed!

The brown mana circle flashed, and the ground disintegrated into dust, leaving a gaping sinkhole in its place!

Guruggurugg!

The replete dropped right into the sinkhole like a gutter ball.

After successfully immobilizing the ant, Finn cried,

“ATTACK!!!”

This prompted Deon and Nora to take out their weapons and charge at the monster!

“DIEEEEEE!!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

Dame Nora laughed like a madman as she jumped into the hole, landing on top of the monster.

She felt exhilarated that their strategy worked just as planned.

Truly, nothing beats fighting a monster who’s already down.

As the ant perfectly fit into the hole, it could no longer expand thus taking out its most threatening move—the vacuum.

The Dame danced with the ant’s needle-like antennae, parrying its strikes and dodging its stabs.

It was like a battle between a dual-wielding fencer and a swordswoman.

Dame Nora slashed at the replete’s head, keeping it busy as Deon stabbed its abdomen.

<Skill: Stab Lvl. 1 is activated.>

Deon felt the familiar motions of the skill.

With the system guiding his body and Mikael using his Psychokinesis on the spear, the weapon pierced the ant’s tough armor with a terrifying power!

CRACK!!

Webs of fracture lines propagated from the point of impact and the spear tip successfully penetrated the abdomen…

Deeper and deeper… until it reached the ant’s beating tube heart.

‘More!’

Mikael and Deon gave the weapon one last push, driving it further in.

“KIEEEHHHHHH!!!!” the replete screamed in agony.

As if that wasn’t enough, Deon twisted the spear shaft; The blade wrenched the monster’s heart without mercy.

The replete writhed in pain, forgetting its fight with the Dame who executed her last attack.

‘This is for my brother.’

Her sword drew an arc and, with all her resentment for the ant species, Nora beheaded the replete.

Hot, dark green blood splattered into the Dame’s white face.

“hah! Hah! Hah!’ Nora breathed laboriously as she wiped the blood off her face with the back of her hand.

They had killed yet another ant but the pain and anger in the Dame’s heart remained undiminished.

No matter how many ants she slew, her younger brother would never come back.

Nora’s eyes burned and tears flooded her vision.

It wasn’t enough.

She hadn’t killed enough.

Her brother… her last remaining family… died… right in front of her.

All for a prize amounting to nothing but pocket change for the d*mned nobility.

Dame Nora hated nobles, but she hated her poverty even more.

Despite being a woman, Nora did her best to become a strong knight.

Her reason?– Money.

Knights are paid handsomely wherever they go. They get hired by nobles, given a roof over their heads, and provided with food.

This hunting competition was supposed to change hers and her brother’s life for the better. She was confident in her abilities and she thought it would be easy for her to attract the attention of nobles.

Female Knights are rare, but strong female knights are even rarer.

However, her dream had now turned into a nightmare.

Her brother’s sad smile as the soldier ants tore his limbs apart remained etched in the Dame’s memory and fueled her wrath against the monsters.

‘Live well, sister.’— These were her brother’s last words before the ants claimed his life, but Nora knew it was impossible.

Dame Nora was now alone.

So, she didn’t care whether she lived or died after this mission.

‘I will kill every one of you even if it’s the last thing I do!’

‘Brother…’

‘My dear brother… watch me…’

‘I will avenge you!’

–Chapter end–