CLASH!

Ethan’s blade collided with that of Rocky, a spiky-haired senior student who had also been assigned to oversee the Practical Dungeon Diving.

The impact sent a sharp vibration through both their arms as they pushed against each other.

"For you to notice something was wrong this early... no wonder you were able to foil the cultists’ plans before," Rocky said as he leaped back, creating distance between them.

His expression, which had once been casual, now turned somber.

"Already standing at the threshold of an Expert... it’s no surprise so many people want you dead."

Ethan narrowed his eyes.

Rocky’s eyes had turned completely black.

’How is he matching me in power?’ Ethan thought, his grip tightening on his sword.

Earlier, when he had attempted to warn the other senior students about the uneasiness he felt within the dungeon, most of them had initially dismissed his concerns.

However, due to his reputation, they eventually agreed to gather the students as a precaution.

That was when everything went wrong.

The moment the dungeon began to shake, Rocky attacked.

Now, Ethan was holding him back while the remaining seniors moved quickly to gather and secure the scattered students.

Ethan didn’t know the full extent of what was about to happen, but the fragment of future knowledge he possessed made one thing clear, something catastrophic was meant to occur here, something that would shake the Imperial Zenith School.

From that, he had drawn a grim conclusion.

Everyone inside this dungeon was likely supposed to die.

As a precaution, he had already handed a magical artifact to an old man he trusted and sent a distress signal.

Technically, he did not break the system’s rules, as he did not ask for direct help for his quest.

Now, everything depended on whether that man would respond in time. Until then, Ethan’s responsibility was clear, ensure that no one died.

And the fact that the teachers had yet to intervene... meant they were likely being held back as well.

Morvendrell Style Swordsmanship – Heavy Earth.

Ethan moved.

His blade descended with crushing force, each strike carrying the weight of earth itself.

Rocky was pushed back under the relentless assault, the sheer impact causing his bones to ache with every collision.

"Wow... how fierce," Rocky said with a faint smile, though the pressure was evident in his stance.

"Still, my role here wasn’t to fight you head-on. I was supposed to provide support... which makes it unfortunate that you’ll have to die here," he continued, as a black aura began to envelop his sword.

"Aura Blade..." Ethan muttered, his expression hardening.

That explained everything.

Rocky wasn’t just strong. He was an Expert, capable of projecting aura externally.

Ethan, on the other hand, was still an Adept, limited to internal aura usage to strengthen himself.

The difference in density, control, and overall combat capability between the two levels was immense.

Rocky swung his blade.

A crescent of black aura tore through the air, forcing Ethan to retreat as it grazed him, leaving behind a shallow but painful wound.

’I can’t defeat an Expert through swordsmanship alone... not yet,’ Ethan realized.

He would have to reveal more of his strength.

However, for this exact situation, he had prepared something else.

Reaching into his pocket, Ethan pulled out a card inscribed with intricate runes and marked with the symbol of a great flood.

Though he could not understand the ancient language on it, he knew it held immense power.

Without hesitation, he poured his mana into the card.

The moment it activated, the runes ignited with light.

Ethan leaped high into the air.

Rocky’s instincts screamed danger.

A sense of impending doom gripped him as he watched the artifact glow in Ethan’s hand.

Suddenly, mana in the atmosphere churned as the moisture in the surrounding air began to condense at an alarming rate, gathering behind Ethan as he prepared his attack.

"What the hell...?" Rocky muttered, a chill running down his spine as he witnessed something resembling a natural disaster forming before his eyes.

And then, it descended.

A massive flash flood erupted into existence, crashing down with overwhelming force and swallowing Rocky whole.

When the torrent finally subsided and the water settled, Rocky was revealed slammed into the ground, his body soaked and his breathing heavy.

"How the hell is that artifact comparable to a Fourth Circle spell?!" he roared in disbelief.

Before he could recover, a spear shot down from above and embedded itself deep into his left arm.

"AAAHHHHH!" Rocky screamed, his face twisting in agony as pain surged through his body.

"Y-You little brat! I was planning to kill you quickly, but now I’ll make sure you die a slow and painful death!" he bellowed.

As his anger peaked, his body began to change.

A dark, sinister energy seeped out of him, thick and oppressive, distorting the air around him.

Ethan’s eyes widened.

"What the hell... a Demon Contractor?!" he exclaimed as he instinctively widened the distance between them and immediately turned to retreat.

There was no way he could handle this alone.

Rocky was already an Expert-level fighter, and now, enhanced by demonic energy, his strength had risen to an entirely different level.

Engaging him directly would be suicide.

Right now, the only option was to buy time until that old man arrives.

However, before he could even take a few proper steps, a powerful kick slammed into his abdomen.

The force sent him flying across the ground.

’Shit... did that break my ribs?’ Ethan thought as he crashed, pain spreading through his body. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Get ready for a painful death," Rocky said coldly as he approached, his left arm still bleeding, though the wound was already beginning to regenerate at a visible rate.

Ethan clenched his teeth.

’Do I have to use that card...? But if I do, I’ll be left completely paralyzed afterward...’

His thoughts raced, weighing the cost.

"Haha... by now those two should have completed their task as well. Once that’s done, I’ll teleport out with Master," Rocky continued, his tone turning almost gleeful.

"I wonder what kind of expression the Duke will make when he learns that his son died here."

His sword began to emit a dark, ominous glow as he raised it.

But just as he prepared to strike, Rocky froze.

His demonic instincts flared violently, screaming of imminent, life-threatening danger.

And suddenly, the surroundings turned blue.