Journey to Become the Zenith-Chapter 18: The Weight of Overwhelming Might
The Weight of Overwhelming Might
Some of the adventurers had already begun to rise from their seats when the greatsword descended.
They were ready to intervene.
Ready to stop what they assumed would be a one-sided slaughter.
But then—
The blade stopped.
On Victor’s pinky finger.
The entire guild hall froze.
The receptionist who had moments ago assumed the arrogant boy would be cleaved in half now stared with wide eyes, lips slightly parted. Her mind refused to process what she was seeing.
A greatsword.
Stopped.
By a pinky.
The five-man party surrounded Victor cautiously now. They had been smirking seconds ago.
Now?
They were wary.
They glanced at Videl and Lane as well.
The two girls stood calmly.
Neither moved.
That unsettled them more than anything.
Why weren’t they panicking?
Why weren’t they rushing to help?
Victor flicked his pinky upward.
The greatsword flew back violently.
Its owner stumbled, nearly falling as his balance broke.
That was the perfect opening.
Victor did not move.
The greatsword wielder blinked, confused.
Victor smiled.
A slow, vicious curve of his lips.
"Come," he said softly. "Come, attack me. Show me everything you’ve got."
His golden eyes gleamed.
"If you don’t attack me with all your might, you’ll die while regretting it. Try to crush me. Show me a battle worth remembering."
His voice wasn’t loud.
But it carried.
It vibrated with something ancient.
Something dangerous.
For a moment, even Videl felt a chill.
That smile.
That tone.
It was the same one he wore when he fought the adult red bear.
The same one she had fallen in love with.
And feared.
"ATTACK!"
The healer moved first, casting enhancement spells rapidly.
Mana wrapped around his allies, boosting strength, speed, coordination.
The thief flicked his wrist—
Five.
Eight.
Ten knives flew toward Victor’s head.
The mage began chanting.
The short sword user dashed low, aiming for Victor’s legs.
The greatsword wielder roared and swung for Victor’s head again.
From every direction—
Steel and magic converged.
Victor laughed softly.
Yes.
This was better.
He caught three knives between his fingers.
Tilted his head to let two skim past his cheek.
The rest scraped harmlessly against his mana-coated skin.
The boss grinned.
He saw it. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
Victor couldn’t dodge both him and the leg strike simultaneously.
He had him.
Both blades connected—
CLANG.
CLANG.
No blood.
No cut.
Victor stood unmoving.
The spell [Boost] surged quietly through his body.
Strength.
Speed.
Endurance.
And hardness.
His flesh now rivaled tempered steel.
The boss’s grin died.
The short sword user’s blade vibrated uselessly against Victor’s shin.
The sound echoed painfully in the silent hall.
"Boss...?"
"Why isn’t he—?"
"Move aside!" the mage shouted.
The greatsword wielder leapt back.
Victor did not pursue.
He stood there.
Waiting.
Eager.
"Take this, you monster! [Flame Bolt]!"
A massive arrow of fire formed above the mage.
The guild’s defensive magic activated instinctively, sealing the spell’s impact within a limited radius.
The flaming projectile crashed down.
The floor cracked.
The explosion roared.
Heat swallowed Victor whole.
Smoke filled the air.
Gasps.
Whispers.
Silence.
Videl clenched her fists.
Her heart skipped—but not from fear.
She knew.
Lane lowered her bow, calm.
She knew too.
The veterans sighed.
What a waste.
Such talent.
Such arrogance.
An adventurer only counts if he survives.
And that boy had chosen spectacle over caution.
The smoke lingered.
The greatsword party exhaled in relief.
They were still wary.
Videl and Lane hadn’t moved.
Why weren’t they attacking?
Then—
Laughter.
Deep.
Rich.
Alive.
"Hahaha!"
The sound cut through the smoke.
The party’s blood ran cold.
Victor stepped forward.
Unburned.
Unharmed.
Even his clothes remained intact.
He brushed invisible dust from his sleeve.
"Who knew you had it in you?"
He grinned.
"I thought you were all bark. But your coordination? Nice. I’ll give you a B-."
He began walking toward them slowly.
"Individual strength? D. You’re young. You’d get an F if you were old veterans."
He tilted his head.
"Battle awareness? F. You didn’t even check if I was dead. You just assumed."
He stopped in front of them.
"Overall... C-. Points for effort."
The entire guild felt their hearts hammering.
This wasn’t normal.
This wasn’t human.
Victor’s expression shifted.
Cold.
"Now, as thanks for showing me something unexpected..."
His mana surged.
The air thickened.
"I’ll show you what true overwhelming might feels like."
The pressure descended.
Invisible.
Crushing.
Veterans collapsed to their knees.
New adventurers fainted instantly.
Wood cracked.
Mugs shattered.
Only the receptionists, protected by the guild’s barrier.
Videl.
Lane.
And a handful of the truly strong remained standing.
The greatsword party?
They knelt.
Struggling to breathe.
Their bones creaked.
Their minds screamed.
Regret flooded them.
They should’ve backed off.
They should’ve listened.
They should’ve never looked at the girls like that.
Some glared at their leader in blame.
Some silently cursed themselves.
But regret meant nothing now.
They had provoked a monster.
And monsters do not forgive.
"You weren’t as disappointing as I thought," Victor said lightly.
He raised his hand.
Mana condensed.
He was about to end them.
"Wait."
A clear voice cut through the pressure.
"Can you spare their lives this one time?"
The pressure shifted.
A figure stepped forward.
A woman.
Standing upright despite the crushing force.
Her presence alone stabilized the air around her.
Victor’s lips curved slowly.
’You finally took the bait.’
This.
This was the real reason he hadn’t ended the fools instantly.
He wanted her to appear.
The one who governed this place.
The highest authority in Fantom City’s Adventurers Guild.
The guild master.
And Victor smiled like a hunter whose trap had just snapped shut.
