In the midst of the intense battle, a man who appeared scholarly at first glance unleashed a maniacal laugh that reverberated through the battlefield. The way the blue team members gazed at him indicated that he belonged to their faction. Despite the brutal demise of his own teammate, he seemed to revel in the chaos, clapping his hands in delight.
"I haven't come across something this intriguing in ages. Once this is all over, I might spare your life as a token of appreciation for providing such an entertaining spectacle," he proclaimed, leaving the red team bewildered as to whom he referred. However, Kuber knew with certainty that the odd scholar's words were directed at him.
"Young master, be cautious. This person appears suspicious. Best not to engage with him; he could be a scammer," Alvin cautioned, ever watchful of his young master's safety, prepared to shield him from harm.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kuber activated his unique skill, opening the scholar's status window, hoping to uncover the mystery surrounding this enigmatic individual.
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[Level] – 4
[Name] – Joseph Morrison
[Title] – Joseph the wise
[Lifespan] – 27/91 years
[Class] – None
[Unique skill] – Void Ensnarement Circle(S)
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Joseph Morrison—a name that resonated in Kuber's memory. He was none other than the leader of the blue team, a formidable adversary. "Alvin, we have to be cautious. He's the blue team's leader, and staying here any longer could be fatal," Kuber warned anxiously. His life had been a relentless struggle since entering this world, facing one powerful enemy after another. Now, a level 4 super-strong individual was praising him for entertainment, further heightening his concerns.
"Master, it seems you've aligned yourself with the wrong side this time. That Stalin guy hasn't even shown up, despite the cruelty inflicted upon his subordinates."
"Yes, you're right. Let's focus on leaving this place first."
Joseph's intense gaze remained fixed on Kuber, making him feel like a mere lab rat under scrutiny.
"You demonstrated cunning by eliminating Thomas. Whatever your name may be, why not contemplate joining forces with me?"
Joseph's question left Kuber in a perplexing dilemma, torn between joining him or staying with Stalin's side. After a moment of consideration, Kuber mustered the courage to respond firmly, "I refuse to join you, Joseph. While you may possess wisdom, I cannot shake the feeling that your sanity is questionable."
Kuber's refusal stirred anger within Joseph, evident from the twitching nerves on his forehead. However, to Kuber's surprise, Joseph managed to control his emotions, taking a deep breath to calm himself before responding, "I see. It's regrettable that you won't be on my team. Nevertheless, I'm curious to know how you learned my name."
Kuber's inadvertent slip of tongue only piqued Joseph's interest further, transforming him from being a mere lab rat to a guinea pig under Joseph's scrutiny. Feeling uneasy, Kuber stumbled with his words, trying to downplay his revelation, "I... It was just a random remark. Please don't pay much attention to it."
As the tension thickened between them, Kuber couldn't shake the feeling that he had inadvertently dug himself into an even deeper hole.
Kuber's nervous response only seemed to fuel Joseph's sinister intentions. As Joseph's eyes narrowed and a malevolent smile emerged, he ominously remarked, "Ah, I see. You shall be my next experiment."
With astonishing speed, Joseph closed the distance between him and Kuber, leaping forward, aiming directly for Kuber's vulnerable neck. Time seemed to slow down as Kuber, injured and relying on Alvin for support, felt helpless in the face of this imminent attack.
However, in the nick of time, a man in an army uniform emerged before Kuber, effortlessly deflecting Joseph's assault. It was none other than Stalin, who had been silently observing the chaos until now.
"You chose to reveal yourself just now, Stalin?" Joseph's tone was tinged with annoyance. "You truly are ruthless, watching your men being mercilessly slaughtered without intervening."
Stalin's expression remained impassive as he responded, "I bide my time for strategic advantage, Joseph. You've become reckless, letting emotions cloud your judgment. Now, it's time to put an end to this madness." The atmosphere crackled with tension as the two powerful figures prepared to clash in a battle that could determine the fate of all involved.
As the confrontation intensified, Joseph's intentions became clear: he sought to eliminate Stalin, seeing him as a major obstacle. Swiftly conjuring a ball of water, Joseph hurled it at Stalin, aiming to take his life. Reacting with lightning reflexes, Stalin blocked the water ball with his right hand, but it resulted in a painful burn.
Fueled by rage, Stalin called forth a spear from his inventory and lunged at Joseph, targeting his head. However, Joseph evaded the attack just in time, retreating to a safer distance. Unfazed, Stalin taunted him, acknowledging Joseph's strength but asserting that he wouldn't let him win this time.
Joseph condensed five more fireballs and launched them at Stalin, who relied on his agility to dodge the projectiles. Though he managed to evade four of the fireballs, one struck his shoulder, causing some pain. Yet, Stalin refused to be defeated, declaring, "I admit you've gained new powers, Joseph, but that doesn't mean you're any stronger than me."
The smoke enveloping the battleground obscured Stalin's vision, making it difficult for him to locate Joseph accurately. However, Joseph's nimble movements allowed him to swiftly appear behind Stalin, readying another fireball. But to Joseph's surprise, Stalin anticipated the attack and tried to pierce Joseph's stomach with his spear.
Defying expectations, Joseph didn't retreat; instead, he confidently moved forward, a smirk adorning his face. As the spear neared Joseph's stomach, he summoned a black void-like circle with his free hand, effortlessly swallowing Stalin's weapon without any resistance.
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[Void Ensnarement Circle]
A circle that taps into the power of the void, allowing the user to trap or banish creatures or objects to the void realm.
[Type] – Active skill
[Rank] – S
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Stalin was taken aback by this strange occurrence. "What... What is this?" he stammered, his eyes widening at the sight of his spear being consumed by the inexplicable void. Before he could recover, Joseph seized the opportunity and hurled the fireball he had previously condensed, inflicting further injury on Stalin's other hand.
The tension escalated as Stalin's rage intensified. His determination to eliminate Joseph surpassed any pain he felt from his injuries. Ignoring the pain in his hands, Stalin retorted, "Joseph, you underestimate me far too much. You won't defeat me with mere tricks."
Joseph couldn't resist taunting Stalin in return, "Well, it seems like you're the one being pushed back now, aren't you?"
Fuelled by anger and pride, Stalin summoned another spear from his inventory and swiftly launched it toward Joseph's head, taking an offensive stance. Joseph initially underestimated the attack, perceiving it as slow and predictable. However, he soon realized his grave mistake as Stalin unleashed his fearsome skill, "Dragonheart's Dominance," exerting an overwhelming pressure that left Joseph immobilized and unable to evade the incoming spear.
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[Dragonheart's Dominance]
With this skill, the user will be able to paralyze his opponent for a short period of time using dragon aura.
[Type] – Active skill
[Rank] – EX
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Feeling the restrictive effects of Stalin's skill, Joseph narrowly avoided the spear by a hair's breadth, but the edge of the weapon grazed his face, leaving a cut. At that moment, Joseph came to a swift realization – he was no match for Stalin's power and skill.