One thing you must understand is this:
Just as there exists a wide gap between Sequences from low to mid tiers, and then from mid tiers to high tiers, so also is there a massive difference between Chaos Dwellers in terms of their Tiers.
In fact, for Chaos Dwellers, the difference is pronounced even from the low tiers.
Tier 9 can be defeated by normal people.
Tier 8 can only be defeated by those who possess Ancient MajiK and can use corresponding Sequences of a Technique.
As for killing a Tier 7...
... One must at least be a Senior of the Academy to achieve this feat.
Normal people would be dead before they knew it. Even those who had awakened their Ether Core and could use Ether would be re fodder before a beast like this.
Only those properly trained by the Academy, having reached a sufficient level of mastery in their respective Arts could stand a chance.
That, or being a genius like Amara.
But Rey didn’t belong to any of those categories.
He was neither a genius or an Academy senior.
In fact, he had only begun learning Ancient Majik very recently. It wasn’t even up to six months yet.
In essence...
... Victory was impossible!
’I have to run!’
Rey’s instincts scread at him as he took a few steps away from the Chaos Dweller until he was backed against the wall.
’Damnit! Retreat is impossible. Which ans...’ His eyes narrowed as he eyed the path leading to the next room ahead.
But the Chaos Dweller was in the way.
Not just that.
’Are those... corpses of other Chaos Dwellers?!’
Rey saw many mangled and brutalized body parts that laid strewn in the hall he and the beast occupied.
The thing had killed them all.
’It does not recognise lower Chaos Dweller as part of its kin. It cannot be reasoned with.’
Rey also noticed the stain of human blood on its body and quickly realized that this creature was likely behind the sudden surge of deaths among participants.
It was no wonder so many were dying when it hadn’t been up to an hour yet.
Normally, in these kinds of events, the climax was during the last hour of thirty minutes. That was when most participants would be struggling in the upper floors.
Tension would be high and deaths would be more common.
But having so many deaths so early?
It could only be because of an anomaly like this Tier 7 Chaos Dweller!
’Are you people insane?’ Rey glared at the beast, but his rage was directed at the organizers of this event. ’Do you even want this to be a fair challenge at all? At this rate, all of us will die!’
Even if so survived, it wouldn’t be due to skill, but as a result of the luck they had for not encountering this Chaos Dweller.
’I just had to be unlucky and et it!’
Rey swallowed his saliva and prepared his body for an intense escape.
Fighting was useless.
Victory was impossible.
In such a situation, running away was the most optimal choice.
WHOOSH!
Right as he was still strengthening his legs, the Tier 7 Chaos Dweller suddenly appeared in front of him.
’A-ah!’
He had a split second to make his decision.
Or he would die.
Thankfully, Rey was a quick thinker and quickly activated two Techniques at the sa ti. In fact, he activated three Sequences at omce—his very limit.
Inverse Technique #9 and #8: Minor Flipped Axis.
Then...
Reversal Technique #8: Outco Flip
Combined, these chaotic abilities gave birth to a new Joint Technique he was using for the very first ti.
An unknown power on which his survival hinged on!
’Joint Technique: Minor Flipped Outco!’
BOOOOOOM!!!
His body imdiately vanished from his position, replaced by his shield, which shattered upon impact.
As for Rey himself, he took the place of his shield, completely unscathed but absolutely exhausted.
He didn’t have the ti to relax, however, as one of the Chaos Dweller’s six hands swiped with an unreal level of speed. Rey could only lightly lift up his sword before it made impact and the two clashed.
"Gahh"
Shockingly, the sword did not shatter, but Rey’s bones did.
His body was flung to the wall, causing the spiderwebbed cracks to form along the line of impact.
Rey imdiately coughed blood, his bloodshot eyes nearly losing focus.
But he had to concentrate.
He couldn’t afford to let his attention go for even a mont.
’It really hurts!’ Rey gritted his teeth and stifled a scream. Instead of dwelling on the pain, he made a quick assessnt of his situation and what he could do to make it turn in his favor, even if slightly.
"Potion."
Rey quickly gulped one of the three Potions, recovering his vitality to a large extent.
He was consuming his second Potion, which would heal his injuries, when the Chaos Dweller appeared in front of him again.
’T-this—!’
It didn’t feel like speed.
The creature’s movent was more like defying distance itself.
But Rey didn’t have ti to analyze things any further. If he didn’t act fast, he would be crushed in an instant.
So—
He flung his blade to the side and activated the Joint Technique again.
’Minor Flipped Outco!’
Rather than being crushed by the Chaos Dweller, he appeared where he flung his sword, and the blade bore the brunt of the attack.
Surprisingly, it was yet to shatter.
’That sword... It might be the key to beating this thing!’ Rey felt much better after drinking the Potion.
His broken arms were now healed, but he felt a different kind of deficiency.
’My Ether...!’
Using Joint Techniques twice was enough to drain him considerably. He did have one more Potion which would solve that problem, but would he even have the ti to drink it?
If he took the risk to consu it and the creature attacked, he wouldn’t have the opportunity to use his Joint Technique a third ti.
Even if he did, it would only further reduce his pool of energy.
’If I can switch places with sothing close to the exit, I’ll be able to leave here alive. Forget fighting back, I need to escape!’
Rey narrowed his gaze and leaped far away from the Chaos Dweller.
He decided to take the gamble!
’Here goes...!’ With an anxious emotion flickering in his eyes, he unsealed the Potion and poured it into his mouth.
As expected, the Chaos Dweller quickly recovered from its confusion and cast its attention on Rey.
WHOOSH!!
Its body flickered, appearing in front of Rey once again.
Thankfully, Rey had just finished the Potion.
Refusing to waste an ounce of ti, he flung the bottle as far away as he possibly could—infusing it with his Ether.
Then, the blow ca.
But Rey was prepared this ti, activating the Joint Technique for the third ti.
He tid it perfectly too.
Right as he was about to be crushed by the Chaos Dweller, he vanished from his position and was replaced by the Potion vial.
As for where he reappeared... it was exactly a ter away from the exit.
Indeed!
Earlier, when Rey threw the bottle, he had targeted the exit. By switching places, he was now dashing in that direction.
’Just a little further!’
The determination to live soared within his heart as he gritted his teeth with powerful emotion.
’I won’t die here!’ Rey told himself. ’I’m going to live and have my re—’
SQUELCH!!!
All of a sudden, a loud sound of tearing flesh filled the room.
At first Rey wasn’t so sure it was his, but after realizing that his body was suspended in the air, he looked down and found one of the monster’s hands burrowing through his chest.
"Y-you..."
Rey chanically turned his head, looking at the Tier 7 Chaos Dweller who still stood a distance away.
It had stretched its limbs so it could reach Rey from where it stood.
"... Monster."
The creature didn’t answer.
It had a broad grin on its monstrous face.
Almost amused.
Perhaps it always knew.
From the very beginning... there was no escape.
Rey was fated to die in this place.
’Fuck...’
As the Chaos Dweller’s arms slithered away from Rey’s chest, his body plopped to the ground and he felt his consciousness rapidly fading away.
He didn’t even have ti to think properly.
He knew it instinctively.
This ti for sure... there was no saving him.
Amara wasn’t around to rescue him.
He didn’t have friends or family from H’Ttrae that would co and support him.
Ater couldn’t co and—
’W-what?’ Rey’s eyes suddenly had a flash of recognition and then confusion.
’Who is Ater?’
Before he could answer that question, darkness enveloped him.
At that point, the naless slave died.
[A/N: We have finally reached this point! I really am excited for what cos next. For new readers, you might be slightly confused, but it will all make sense eventually. And as for old readers, it’s the mont you have all been waiting for!]
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