As Yuno's punch sent another Shadow Sprout crashing into the stone wall, Hugo reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metallic cube.
He glanced at it for a brief moment, then tossed it into the air without hesitation. The cube emitted a pulse of mana, faintly glowing as it ascended.
With a soft hum, it split into two seamless halves, the pieces swirling through the air in a fluid motion. Each section rapidly reshaped itself, expanding and reforming with intricate mechanical precision.
In less than a second, the two halves merged into sleek, armored gauntlets that fell smoothly into Hugo's waiting hands with a soft metallic clink.
Yuno blinked, eyes widening in surprise. "Huh? Where did those come from?!"
Shine, who had already witnessed Hugo's gear in action, smirked without missing a beat. "I've seen them in action before. Those gauntlets are more than just show."
Hugo didn't reply, instead bringing his fists together with a resounding clap as the gauntlets locked into place.
The sound echoed through the dark dungeon, cutting through the tension like a challenge.
His gaze turned back to the advancing Shadow Sprouts, who were regrouping with renewed aggression, their glowing eyes now fixated on the trio.
Yuno opened his mouth to say something else, but then shut it, glancing at the gauntlets and simply shaking his head.
No questions, no further comments. He just muttered to himself. "Guess I'll just roll with it."
Just then, a swarm of Shadow Sprouts surged from the darkness, their roots creeping along the ground.
Shine stepped back with deliberate calm, his hawk-like eyes narrowing as he raised his sniper rifle.
Hugo remembered what Shine had told him yesterday, the way he could channel mana into his rifle, boosting its power. He had always been curious about it, but hadn't seen it in action because of his injury. Until now...
Shine, his hand already poised on the grip of his sniper rifle. "Let's make this count."
Shine pulled the trigger, and in that instant, the air seemed to crackle. A faint glow surrounded the rifle, and the bullet that shot out was not a typical projectile.
It moved faster, more forcefully, and with a power that resonated in the surrounding space.
The shot pierced through the cluster of Sprouts, obliterating three of them in one hit. The force sent a shockwave through the air, knocking another few Sprouts off their roots.
Meanwhile, Yuno's mouth hung open. "No way... that was insane! What just happened?"
Hugo stared, eyes wide, the realization dawning on him.
He has already fully understand about Shine's ability to infuse mana into his weapon not long ago, but he hadn't expected to have such sheer power.
The precision, the speed, it was unlike anything he'd imagined.
Shine lowered his rifle, the glow fading, and gave a small shrug. "Mana Fusion. It lets me channel my mana into my weapons, making them more powerful. Though... it's not just the firepower that's impressive."
He grinned, looking at Hugo. "It's the precision that comes with it. That's my specialty!"
Hugo nodded, a mix of admiration and thoughtfulness in his gaze. He had underestimated the potential of Shine's ability.
This wasn't just about hitting harder; it was about turning every shot into a deadly, focused strike.
Yuno let out a whistle. "Damn. Guess it's not all about brute force, huh?"
"Focus, Yuno." Hugo said, the edge returning to his voice as the room grew tense again. "We've got more coming."
Without another word, the trio moved in. The Shadow Sprouts, now emboldened by their numbers, erupted from the shadows, their root-like feet moving quickly across the uneven terrain.
Some tried to blend into the darkness, while others came charging in, claws extended.
Shine was the first to act. He lifted his sniper rifle and infused his mana into it, the weapon glowing with a bright cyan light.
The air around him seemed to crackle as his mana poured into the rifle, imbuing it with enhanced power.
With an expert eye, Shine aimed at one of the Sprouts darting across the room. He pulled the trigger, the bullet shooting through the air at lightning speed.
The shot hit the target with precision, and the Sprout disintegrated into a cloud of shadowy mist, vanishing instantly.
"That's one down." Shine said, his voice steady, but the excitement of the fight still apparent in his tone. "Infusing mana into my weapon boosts its power. Makes every shot count."
Yuno grinned wider, cracking his neck as he dashed forward, ready for his own fight.
He swung his fist with immense force, sending another Sprout flying into the stone wall. "Nice. But I like to rely on my fists. Show me what you've got next, Hugo!"
Hugo, still standing in the midst of the chaos, nodded in acknowledgment. He slammed one gauntleted fist into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling outward.
The roots trying to ensnare them splintered under the force, and several of the Sprouts were knocked off balance, their attacks interrupted.
"Stay focused." Hugo said, his voice steady but firm.
Yuno, always ready for a challenge, didn't need any further encouragement.
He lunged forward, his fist hitting the nearest Sprout with such force that it crumpled under the blow. The creature collapsed into a puddle of shadowy mist.
"These things are weak, but thanks for the concern." Yuno said with a wide grin, his energy uncontained. "Bring on the next wave!" He spun on his heel, eyes searching for more targets.
Shine, however, stayed composed, his rifle poised. His hawk-like eyes scanned the surroundings, quickly locking onto another Sprout attempting to ambush them from the darkness.
With a precise motion, he fired again, the shot ringing out clearly in the silence. The bullet tore through the creature, and it, too, disintegrated in an instant.
"One down." Shine muttered, satisfaction in his tone. His grip on the rifle tightened, his next target already in his sights.
Hugo wasn't about to let his teammates take all the action. His gauntlets pulsed with energy as he stepped forward, his movements swift and deliberate.
With each punch, the Shadow Sprouts were knocked back, their attempts to overwhelm him with speed and numbers falling short.
His gauntlets crushed through their defenses like they were made of paper, sending the smaller creatures flying.
As the group advanced deeper into the dungeon, the Shadow Sprouts tried to use their numbers to their advantage, leaping from the shadows and using their ability to camouflage in the darkness.
But the trio was well prepared. Hugo's keen sense of hearing let him see the dark like an second eye.
while Shine's enhanced vision picked off threats before they even had a chance to strike.
Yuno's brute strength left a path of destruction wherever he went.
The battle raged on, the three working seamlessly together.
The Sprouts seemed to appear from every corner, but none could keep up with the trio's relentless assault.
Roots burst from the ground, attempting to trip them up, but Hugo was always one step ahead, stomping down hard with his gauntleted fists to shatter the ground beneath them.
Yuno charged forward, his fists and feet a blur, scattering the Sprouts with every strike. And Shine remained a deadly presence, picking off any Sprout that tried to get the drop on them.
After what felt like an eternity of nonstop fighting, the last of the Shadow Sprouts finally dissolved into shadowy mist, vanishing from sight.
The dungeon grew silent once more, the flickering torches along the walls casting faint light over the now-empty space.
Hugo took a moment to adjust his gauntlets, his breathing steady despite the intensity of the battle. "Not bad." he said, his voice calm, though there was a glint of excitement in his eyes.
Yuno, his grin never fading, cracked his neck. "That was awesome. We make a pretty good team."
He rolled his shoulders, looking ahead. "What's next?"
Shine, still buzzing with energy, adjusted his stance, his eyes glinting with the thrill of the fight. "This is just the warm-up. There's definitely something bigger coming. And I'm ready for it."
Hugo glanced at his two companions, his expression unreadable. "Stay sharp. We're not done yet."
The low hum of the approaching swarm grew louder, the ground beneath their feet vibrating with each passing moment.
Hugo's eyes scanned the air, his instincts kicking in as he recognized the sound.
"Watch out!" Hugo shouted, his voice cutting through the silence of the dungeon. "We're dealing with fast and fiery creatures! Don't let them overwhelm you!"
His warning came just in time.
From above, a flurry of dark shapes streaked through the air, their glowing wings lighting up the darkness like sparks of fire.
They were small but agile, moving with unnatural speed and precision.
Hugo's sharp gaze caught the flicker of their fiery wings as they dove toward them.
"They're E-rank, but don't underestimate them." he muttered, his voice steady but tense. "Cinder Bats. Fast and relentless. They attack in swarms, and their flames can burn through anything."
Yuno cracked his knuckles, excitement lighting up his face. "Finally, a real fight!"
Shine rolled his eyes but kept his rifle trained on the approaching swarm. "Don't get cocky. These things aren't slow like the Sprouts."
The creatures dove at incredible speeds, their fiery wings creating a trail of heat as they attacked.
With a sudden burst of speed, one of the Cinder Bats shot down toward Hugo, its wings igniting as it aimed to scorch him.
Hugo raised his gauntlet-arm, preparing to block the strike.
When the bat collided with his arm, the heat was intense, but his gauntlet absorbed the impact.
"They're faster than I thought." he said, stepping back as the bat zipped away.
Shine's rifle fired, the blast whizzing through the air as it hit one of the bats mid-flight, sending it spiraling toward the ground in a puff of smoke.
Yuno dashed forward with a wide grin. "Got one!" He leapt to meet another, catching it mid-air and slamming it into the ground with a swift punch.
The swarm continued to dive, their fiery wings lighting up the room with each pass. The Cinder Bats attacked in a whirlwind of speed, but the trio was ready.
They dodged, countered, and retaliated with flawless teamwork.
Shine kept his sniper rifle steady, his mana-infused shots cutting through the swarm with precision, picking off bats as they dove.
Yuno laughed, his energy infectious as he continued to charge through the swarm, his fists landing blows on the fiery creatures as he moved with unstoppable force.
Together, they cut through the swarm, the Cinder Bats unable to keep up with their speed and precision.
Despite their fiery wings and swarming tactics, the three of them were a much more formidable team.
Continue...
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Although, I'm quite exaggerating the teamwork and stuff but you will soon get a satisfied feeling about Hugo bad luck continuation. Also I apologize for the late release, since I was busy with personal stuff.
Thank you for supporting me by reading my novel 🙏