Chapter 63: Monsters

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Monsters

The man got back up.

His body was broken. His arm was bent at the wrong angle. His face was a mask of blood and bruises. But he was smiling. A wild, crazed smile.

He started walking toward Daniel. Mana surrounded his body. Blue energy crackled and hummed. The air around him distorted. The ground beneath his feet cracked with each step.

"Female feelings," he said. His voice was hoarse. Broken. But still loud. "Female feelings are precious. They must be protected."

Paul’s eyes widened. His face went pale.

"Dude," he shouted. "That’s too far! You can’t go stage three on an F rank!"

The man turned to look at him. His crazed smile widened.

"Shut up," he said.

Paul’s jaw tightened. He stepped forward. Wind swirled around his body. Green energy mixed with the blue of his mana. His hair blew back. His eyes glowed.

"Then I’m joining the fight," he said.

The man laughed. "You? You’re still in the early stage three. I’m in middle stage three. You can’t beat me."

Paul smiled. A cold, determined smile.

"After the wolf fight," he said, "I was able to achieve stage three. I’ve been waiting for a chance to test it out."

The man’s laughter stopped. He looked at Paul. Really looked at him. At the wind swirling around his body. At the power radiating from him.

"Fine," the man said. "Let’s see what you’ve got."

Daniel looked at Lyra. She was standing near Fluffy, her guns drawn. The serving girl was still unconscious on the floor.

"Lyra," Daniel said. "Get them out of here."

Lyra shook her head. "I’m not leaving you."

"That’s a command."

Lyra’s body moved. Her face twisted with frustration. But she couldn’t resist. She grabbed Fluffy’s hand. She grabbed the serving girl by the collar. She dragged them toward the door.

"Daniel!" she shouted. "Don’t you dare die!"

Daniel didn’t answer. He was focused on the man.

Paul stepped beside him. His wind swirled faster.

"Together?" Paul asked.

Daniel nodded. "Together."

The man laughed. "Two against one? That’s not fair."

"You hurt my family," Daniel said. "I don’t care about fair."

The man’s aura exploded.

Wind erupted from Paul’s body. A massive gust tore through the dining hall. Chairs flew. Tables shattered. Debris scattered in every direction.

The man’s mana erupted too. The ground beneath him cratered. The floor cracked. The walls shook.

For a moment, they stood there. Two monsters facing one. The air crackled with power.

Then they moved.

The man charged at Daniel. His fist was glowing with mana. Daniel dodged. He countered. The man teleported. He appeared behind Daniel. Paul was there. A blast of wind sent him flying.

The man crashed through a wall. He came back. He was faster now. Stronger. His mana burned brighter.

He punched Daniel. Daniel caught it. He squeezed. The man teleported. He appeared above. He kicked. Daniel raised his arms. The impact drove him into the floor.

Paul attacked. Wind blades shot from his hands. The man dodged. He teleported. He appeared in front of Paul. He punched. Paul blocked. The impact sent him sliding backward.

Daniel got up. He charged. He punched the man in the back. The man stumbled. He turned. He punched Daniel in the face. Daniel’s head snapped back.

They fought.

Fist against fist. Mana against mana. The dining hall crumbled around them. Walls collapsed. Pillars shattered. The ceiling cracked and groaned.

Daniel punched. The man dodged. Paul attacked. The man blocked. Daniel kicked. The man caught his leg. He threw him. Daniel crashed through a wall.

Paul used the opening. He summoned a tornado. It engulfed the man. The man screamed. He pushed through. His mana was too strong. Too dense.

The man punched Paul. Paul flew. He hit a pillar. The stone broke. He slumped.

The man turned to Daniel. He was breathing hard. His body was covered in wounds. But he was still standing.

"You can’t win," he said. "I’m stronger. I’m faster. I’m better."

Daniel got up. He wiped blood from his mouth. He smiled.

"You talk too much," he said.

He switched classes.

[Class Change: Shadow Scout]

He activated Shadow Step. He disappeared.

The man’s eyes widened. He looked around. He couldn’t see Daniel.

Daniel reappeared behind him. He slashed with his daggers. The man’s mana blocked the attack. But it left a mark.

Daniel disappeared again. He reappeared to the left. Another slash. Another mark.

The man roared. He sent out a wave of mana. It hit everything. The walls. The floor. The ceiling.

Daniel was thrown back. He switched classes.

[Class Change: Harem Overlord]

He landed on his feet. He charged.

Paul got up. His wind swirled around him. He charged too.

They attacked together. Daniel from the front. Paul from the side. The man was overwhelmed. He couldn’t block both.

Daniel punched him in the stomach. Paul blasted him with wind. The man flew backward. He crashed through three walls.

He didn’t get up.

Daniel stood there. Breathing hard. His body was broken. His fists were bloody.

Paul collapsed to his knees. His wind died. His mana was spent.

"We... we did it," Paul said.

Daniel nodded. "Yeah."

They looked at the destruction around them. The dining hall was gone. The walls were rubble. The ceiling was open to the sky.

"I think we’re going to be in trouble," Paul said.

Daniel laughed. Then he winced. His ribs hurt.

"Probably," he said.

Then the rubble moved.

The man pushed himself up. His body was a wreck. His bones were broken. His mana was flickering. But he was still standing.

"Female... feelings..." he muttered.

Daniel’s eyes widened. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

The man’s aura exploded again. Brighter. Hotter. More intense.

Paul’s face went pale. "He’s going stage four."

Daniel stared at the man. At his broken body. At his crazed eyes. At his overwhelming power.

"This guy is a monster," Daniel whispered.

The man smiled. A bloody, broken smile.

"So are you," he said.