Chapter 237: A Sanctuary Of Ruin.
The moment Simon’s hand dropped, the air erupted.
Hundreds of weapons came alive at once. Blades ignited with concentrated energy, bows were drawn and released in rapid succession, and the mages positioned in the rear ranks began chanting in unison, their hands glowing as prepared spells gathered around them.
In the span of a few seconds, an overwhelming amount of firepower converged upon Kael from every direction, forming an overlapping kill zone designed to erase anything caught within it.
Morgan had already slipped behind the front line, watching the scene with grim satisfaction.
This was how the Dark Viper Guild dealt with threats they couldn’t defeat one-on-one.
A single target, no matter how powerful, could only block so much. If enough attacks were thrown at them continuously, even the strongest opponent would eventually be worn down.
The first wave arrived.
Explosions bloomed across the ground where Kael stood, each blast tearing through concrete and sending chunks of earth flying into the air.
Dozens of arrows condensed from lightning followed immediately after, their crackling forms arcing through the air before converging on Kael’s position from every direction, spells crashing down alongside them.
The area became a storm of destruction, dust and debris swallowing Kael’s figure completely.
For several seconds, nobody could see anything.
Then the smoke began to clear.
The expressions of everyone present changed.
Kael was still standing exactly where he had been.
He hadn’t moved an inch.
One hand remained casually tucked inside his pocket while his other arm hung naturally at his side. Around him, the ground had been transformed into a field of craters, the concrete shattered and the air filled with dust, yet not a single attack had touched him.
Not one.
It was as though the countless projectiles and spells had simply ceased to exist the moment they came close to his body.
Simon’s eyes narrowed.
Now that the smoke had cleared, he could finally see it.
A faint gray aura clung tightly to Kael’s body. It was so thin and subtle that it almost looked like the ghost of a flame flickering against his skin.
Kael glanced down at himself before a grin slowly spread across his face.
"Well, seems like it worked."
The method he had used to defend against the attack wasn’t something unfamiliar to him.
It was the Aura of Destruction.
More specifically, World-Eroding Halo.
The skill allowed Kael to expand an aura of ruin around himself, destroying everything that came into contact with it within a radius of thirty meters. The range could also be reduced, allowing him to concentrate the destructive force into a much smaller area.
That had given Kael an idea.
If he could compress the aura enough that it only covered his own body, then perhaps he could use it like armor.
Not armor that blocked attacks, but one that destroyed them before they even had the chance to graze him.
And judging by the result, it worked.
The attacks hadn’t been deflected.
They had simply been destroyed before they could reach him.
Of course, maintaining World-Eroding Halo consumed a considerable amount of mana, especially when its destructive properties were concentrated so tightly around his body. It wasn’t something Kael could maintain indefinitely, nor was it particularly practical against every opponent.
But when used correctly, it could be extremely useful.
Kael didn’t dwell on the matter for long.
He had already confirmed what he wanted to know.
Now it was time to get on with the fight.
The gray aura surrounding his body suddenly expanded.
Thirty meters.
The moment World-Eroding Halo reached its maximum range, the world around Kael began to decay.
The ground darkened as cracks spread across the concrete. Weapons began corroding in the hands of their owners, the metal rapidly losing its strength as rust crawled across their surfaces. Armor darkened and deteriorated, while exposed flesh began to blister and peel away at a terrifying rate.
The soldiers caught within the aura immediately realized something was wrong.
"What’s happening?!"
"My armor!"
Cries of confusion rang out from every direction, the weaker members of course suffered the worst.
Those in the D-Rank and lower C-Rank range were simply incapable of enduring the destructive aura for long. Their skin blistered almost immediately, their breathing became labored as the aura invaded their bodies, and some collapsed to the ground while clutching their throats.
Their lungs seized.
Their bodies could no longer withstand the decay.
Screams erupted throughout the battlefield as men stumbled backward, desperately trying to escape the thirty-meter radius.
The stronger members fared better.
Their bodies were more durable, and their equipment could resist the destructive force for longer, but even they understood that remaining inside the aura for an extended period would be dangerous.
Simon’s jaw tightened.
He looked down at his own silver armor.
The once-brilliant metal had already darkened slightly, gray corrosion creeping along its edges as the destructive aura continuously attempted to eat through it.
He could feel the constant pressure.
It wasn’t simply attacking his armor.
It was trying to unmake everything within its range.
Simon immediately understood that the situation had taken an unexpected turn.
They had come prepared to overwhelm a single S-Rank Hunter through numbers.
Instead, they had walked directly into an area where numbers had become a disadvantage.
"All lower ranks, fall back!" Simon roared. "Provide ranged support from behind! Those who can resist the attack, stay with me! We push forward together!"
His command was carried out immediately.
The wounded and weaker soldiers scrambled backward, some dragging their fallen comrades with them as they desperately escaped the range of Kael’s aura. Once they reached a safe distance, they began reorganizing into firing lines around the edge of the lot, preparing to provide ranged support from outside the destructive field.
The remaining elites, those capable of resisting World-Eroding Halo for longer periods, gathered around Simon.
With the battlefield reorganized, Simon shifted his attention back toward Kael.
His hand moved to the hilt of his weapon.
He drew his blade.
It was long and curved, forged from a dark metal that seemed to drink in the surrounding light. The instant Simon’s fingers tightened around the hilt, his aura changed.
The pressure surrounding him became sharper.
Heavier.
The wildness in his eyes intensified as his killing intent began spreading through the battlefield.
Behind him, Morgan realized that their opponent was far more troublesome than they had anticipated.
This wasn’t going to be as simple as surrounding an inexperienced S-Rank Hunter and overwhelming him through numbers.
The captain would need assistance.
Morgan immediately reached into his inventory and pulled out his weapon.
A massive axe appeared in his hands, a slab of blackened steel mounted upon a heavy haft wrapped in worn leather. The weapon was taller than most men, and Morgan spun it once through the air to test its weight.
The massive blade cut through the air with a deep hum.
Mana pulsed around it.
The remaining elites quickly formed a tight semicircle around Simon and Morgan, weapons ready as they prepared to attack together.
The battlefield became strangely quiet.
On one side stood hundreds of guild members positioned outside the range of Kael’s aura, ready to provide ranged support.
On the other stood Simon, Morgan, and the guild’s remaining elites, all prepared to fight within the deadly gray field.
And in the center of it all stood Kael, a calm expression on his face.
Simon tightened his grip around his blade and stepped forward, his fierce eyes locking onto Kael.
"Come, then."