The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 154: Round Two

[00 Months: 17 Days: 10 Hours]

~BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~

Perhaps it was because I was changing my tactics a little in this round, but Hakeem now displayed a slightly different set of Skills from last time.

Of course, he still tried to use his explosive projectiles on me, as well as the land mines, both of which I deftly evaded.

But, he also used new moves that I didn't see previously.

Once I tried to get close to me, he stretched out his palm towards me, and thanks to <Visualize>, I knew I was going to explode if he came into contact with me.

It seemed the Skill allowed him to combust anything he came into contact with.

'The attack won't kill me, but it'll damage me considerably.'

Fortunately, I was able to evade it just fine.

I also observed that he was was using several buff abilities, so that also made a lot of sense considering how he was capable of somewhat keeping up with me.

Of course, if I used <Turbo> to the maximum, it would be a completely different story.

I also made sure to keep projectiles out of this, considering how useless they would be in his case.

When faced with his many explosives, I instead used <Haven> as a defense.

In severe cases of emergency, I planned on utilizing <Grand Teleportation>, though that moment never came.

After battling with him for a while, calculating the time and strategy he employed, I was able to completely figure this man out.

'He doesn't have many offensive Skills. He mostly relies on buffs and long-range attacks.'

The only close-range Skill he had was that exploding touch, and it seemed to be something he couldn't use often, considering how he never tried to do it again even though I intentionally showed openings in the course of our fight.

'He probably relies heavily on his Exclusive Skill.'

I would understand why, considering how he wouldn't necessarily need to fight if he had subordinates doing his bidding.

'Not bad, all things considered...'

For a Ranker, one whom I guessed was probably meant to be just slightly less powerful than I was, he wasn't as adept at fighting as me.

'Well, that's enough analysis. Looks like it's time already. Let's reach the climax.' I grinned.

~WHOOOOSSHHH!!!~

I swiftly leaped in the direction of Hakeem, my adversary, now increasing the effects of <Turbo>, thus making me much faster than ever before.

"W-wha—?!" As expected, he grew flustered and tried to create some distance between us. Unfortunately for him, we had already been through this already.

I knew his tactics in and out.

I increased my speed again, closing in on him at a rapid pace.

I had already made sure to wear down his defenses before this, and judging by how flustered he was, an attack on him now would render him as good as dead.

Brandishing my dagger, I closed in, coating my blade with the lightning element.

As I neared his neck, ready to slice it clean, I heard a powerful roar behind me, and noticed it was coming from a sharply descending wyvern.

Just as expected, it was happening the same as last time.

However, this time... things were going to be a little different.

~FWIIIIIISSSSSHHHH~

I sliced through the neck of Hakeem, watching as his crimson blood splattered in the air.

As for the wyvern, I had already been expecting it, so I was saving a gift for this particular moment.

"Grand Rock."

~WHOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!~

In a flash, a glowing sphere appeared behind me, coated in multicolored energy, as it flew in the direction of the wyvern.

~BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!~

In an explosion of powerful light, it sent the approaching monstrosity flying away, causing a shockwave of power rippling around.

The nearby buildings crashed as a result of the impact, and the wyvern was pushed far away, creating a sharp crater where it landed.

"Haha... as expected, it didn't die." I grinned, standing over the corpse of Hakeem, my first kill.

~DING!~

<You Have Leveled Up>

<You Have Leveled Up>

<You Have Leveled Up>

Just like that... I was now in Level 45.

The multicolored orb from earlier slowly began to draw closer to me, whirring as smoke rose from its smooth surface.

'Good job, buddy...' I smiled at it.

My Grand Rock.

Combining all five Great Energy Rocks, I formed the Grand Rock.

It's stats were unbelievably higher than the rest combined, causing my current level of power to increase even further from my past state.

'The only thing that's in the red is my Currency...'

But at this point, I didn't care.

'I'll be taking everything they plundered anyway.'

When I considered that, this didn't seem to be a terrible deal, after all.

"Y-you... you killed him? Who the hell are you?" I heard the disgustingly familiar voice of Sasha, Hakeem's partner.

I would have told her "Long time no see," if she could relate to that.

Unfortunately, only I knew how much I had suffered at their hands.

And only I knew how much I had been anticipating a reunion.

"Pfft. Who I am doesn't matter." I smiled, watching the injured wyvern get up to its feet.

I could already see the remaining twelve in the sky draw closer to me.

In the past, I would have been immensely apprehensive of this, but I currently didn't care.

"Sasha... you... you'll be going your partner very soon." I chuckled.

"What? How do you know my name?"

Good. It seemed I now had her complete attention.

Since she was flustered and angry, coupled with the fact that she was now controlling all thirteen of her subordinates, it wouldn't be a stretch to say I was currently receiving as much of her attention that I could possibly have.

As a result...

"You have more important things to worry about."

... I could finally give my subordinates the order they had been waiting for.

'Devour her.'

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[A/N]

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Cheers!