{I'm back}
Arachna had six members. They had yet to find their missing teammates, but even with just six, their strength was undeniable.
Murphis Sterben stood at the front. Tall, composed, and exuding confidence, he was their leader. His Axion Class: Summoner, Level 70, Rank Epsilon. A powerhouse in his own right. He looked young—early twenties at most—but his sharp eyes and controlled demeanor showed the experience of a seasoned veteran.
Behind him was Erwin, one of the party's key members. His Axion Class: Contractor, Level 50, Rank Epsilon. A formidable force with the ability to form powerful contracts with entities beyond human understanding.
To Erwin's left stood Leristo, cloaked in dark garments, his expression unreadable. Axion Class: Ninja, Level 55, Rank Epsilon. Lethal, swift, and unpredictable.
Beside him was Gesine Sterben, Axion Class: Healer. Level 60, Rank Epsilon. Her presence alone ensured Arachna's endurance in battle. A healer of her caliber made even the strongest opponents hesitate.
Further back stood Liano Gravile, Axion Class: Artisan. Level 50, Rank Epsilon. He was responsible for crafting their most powerful artifacts and weapons—making Arachna an even deadlier force.
And finally, their last member, Luto Ravile. A towering presence, his muscles rippling with restrained power. His Axion Class: Berserker, Level 65, Rank Epsilon. A walking disaster on the battlefield.
Together, they were Arachna. And they had only one team left to defeat.
'Knull.'
The wind howled through the desolate ruins of the abandoned city. Crumbled buildings loomed over shattered streets, their skeletal remains casting long shadows across the rubble-strewn ground. Dust swirled in the air, the silence only broken by the distant creak of collapsing structures.
Ichio and his party moved cautiously through the wreckage, their boots crunching against broken stone. The eerie quiet made every step feel heavier—until they stopped.
Ahead, partially silhouetted against the dim light filtering through the ruins, stood Arachna Party. Six figures, standing tall, watching them.
Ichio's eyes narrowed. Valkyrie, at his side, kept her guard up. Vitalia scanned their opponents, her expression unreadable.
Then, from the opposing group, a voice rang out.
"It's been a while, Valkyrie."
The speaker stepped forward. Erwin. His piercing gaze locked onto Valkyrie, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"Your face has changed, but that aura of yours… It's still the same as back then in-game."
Valkyrie tilted her head slightly, sizing him up. A slow smile formed.
"Well, it seems you haven't been slacking off. I mean, you were the only Contractor who could keep up with me. It would be disappointing if you slacked off."
A faint chuckle escaped Erwin as he folded his arms. The tension between them hummed like a drawn bowstring, charged with old rivalry.
Then, Murphis Sterben, Arachna's leader, took a step forward. His presence was commanding yet strangely casual, his eyes carrying a certain sharpness beneath the relaxed demeanor.
"Alright, here's what we're going to do," Murphis said, rubbing the back of his neck. "We'll take two of our fighters out, leaving four. That way, this fight can be fair. Otherwise, it wouldn't really be a proper match, would it?"
Ichio arched a brow, unfazed. "You do you."
Murphis grinned. "Yep, not gonna fight you six-on-four. That's so not manly."
Ichio shot him a cold stare, as if questioning whether this guy was actually serious or just trying to sound impressive. Was he trying to brag?
Murphis, unfazed, turned to his team. "Liano, step down. Leristo, you too."
Without hesitation, Liano Gravile and Leristo nodded. Their figures flickered briefly before vanishing, teleporting them directly to the Health-Room.
Now, it was set.
Arachna Party:
Murphis (Summoner)
Erwin (Contractor)
Gesine (Healer)
Luto (Berserker)
Versus
Knull Party:
Ichio (Technologist)
Valkyrie (Contractor)
Vitalia (Alchemist)
Livia (Warrior)
The battlefield had been decided. The air between them grew heavier.
This fight was about to begin.
A flickering holographic figure materialized high above the battlefield, hovering in the space between the two opposing parties. The figure, clad in an elaborate, futuristic robe with golden accents, extended its arms dramatically.
"Attention, attention!" the figure boomed, its voice echoing across the ruins and into the massive holographic screens broadcasting to the spectators. "I am The Hoster. The one who oversees battles throughout the dungeon. And now, it's time for the final fight between two of the strongest parties in this battle royale event—Arachna and Knull!"
The crowd erupted in anticipation, the excitement palpable both in the guild hall and on Floor 5, where players and NPCs alike had gathered to witness the showdown.
The Hoster gestured toward Arachna first.
"Arachna! One of the most impressive parties in this event. And now, they have made it to the final fight! The fighters participating are—"
Murphis Sterben, The Chaos Summoner.
Erwin, The Hellish Contractor.
Gesine Sterben, The Heavenly Resurrecter.
Luto Ravile, The Lost Berserker.
The spectators roared at the announcement, cheers mixing with whispers of strategy.
Then, The Hoster turned to Knull.
"Versus Knull! Leader—Ichio!"
A pause.
The Hoster hesitated, scrolling through his system interface, looking for a title, but found nothing. His eyes flickered toward Ichio, who was watching him with an unreadable, cold gaze. The weight of that stare made him clear his throat before quickly moving on.
"Valkyrie, The Contractor from Valhalla."
The crowd responded with murmurs of recognition. But then…
"Vitalia Mortifera, The Alchemist… previously a Healer known as The Torturer from Heaven—"
A ripple of shock swept through the spectators. Some gasped audibly.
"—But now, **** The Death-Bringer from Hell."
A stunned silence. Then, an outburst of reactions—murmurs, gasps, some outright shaken by the revelation. Even Gesine, the healer from Arachna, noticeably stiffened, her fingers tightening around her staff.
The Hoster continued, his voice slightly less steady.
"And lastly, Livia Invicta, The Warrior Maiden of Ragnarok."
The atmosphere crackled with intensity. The players, the spectators, and even the fighters themselves could feel it.
The Hoster raised his hand. "Now, is everyone ready for the fight to begin?"
Before he could proceed, Murphis stepped forward with a confident smirk.
"Hold on. I have a proposition." He waved a finger. "We aren't going to fight all out like wild animals. Instead, we're going to choose who fights who. Makes things more interesting, don't you think?"
Ichio remained silent, but the others exchanged glances.
"I'm definitely fighting her," Erwin declared, pointing straight at Valkyrie.
Valkyrie smirked. "Tch. I expected nothing less."
Without another word, the two moved to a separate area within the ruined city, ready to settle their unfinished business.
"Well, sorry, Livia," Vitalia said with a shrug, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "But I want to fight that Berserker fellow. There's something I've been meaning to try out."
Livia raised an eyebrow. "You're an Alchemist. Wouldn't it make more sense to fight the Healer?"
Vitalia waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, but I really want to test something. I'll leave the healer to you."
Livia exhaled, shaking her head. "Fine by me. I do find it weird, though. Arachna left their Healer in the match instead of picking another fighter." She turned toward Gesine. "Can Healers even fight? I mean, back when you were a Healer, Vitalia, you could fight just fine. But I'm not so sure about this one."
Gesine's lips curled into a knowing smirk.
"Try me, and you'll find out."
Livia's expression sharpened. "Gladly."
With that, Vitalia and Luto moved to a different spot, and Livia and Gesine did the same.
The battlefield was set.
Now, only Ichio and Murphis remained.
Two leaders. Two unknowns.
As Livia approached Gesine, ready to engage in battle, Gesine simply held up her hand with a soft smile.
"Wait, wait," Gesine said, shaking her head. "I'm not gonna fight you."
Livia blinked in confusion. "Huh? Why not?"
Gesine sighed and adjusted her grip on her staff. "Because our fight would just last forever. I don't have an attack that can deal enough damage to actually send you to the Health Room, and since I'm a Healer, I can constantly restore myself. The more you attack me, the more I heal. It would just be an endless back-and-forth."
Livia narrowed her eyes, considering it. "So what are you suggesting?"
Gesine smiled. "Why don't we just wait it out? If either of our leaders lose, then their party loses, and the remaining members automatically forfeit. That way, we don't waste our energy for nothing."
Livia hesitated, then shrugged. "I don't have a problem with that. I mean, I would love to fight, but if that's what you wish, I won't force it."
She stuck out her hand. "I'm Livia, by the way."
Gesine took her hand with a polite nod. "Gesine. Nice to meet you."
The two stepped back, lowering their weapons, and instead started talking casually. Unlike the intensity of the other battles unfolding around them, this was an unusual scene—two opponents simply… getting to know each other.
Gesine was a young girl, around 17 years old, making her the same age as Ichio. She had a gentle but confident aura, standing gracefully in her flowing green robe. Her long green hair cascaded down her back, and in her hands, she held a tall staff with an orb on top, radiating a soft glow. Though she was polite and composed, there was no doubt that she was well-endowed and striking in appearance.
The conversation between them continued, but meanwhile, the focus shifted to Vitalia and Luto.
---
Vitalia vs. Luto – The Alchemist vs. The Berserker
Vitalia studied Luto with intrigue.
"You're definitely stronger than me," she admitted, rolling her shoulders. "But I'm not here to fight you."
Luto frowned. "Then why are you here?"
Vitalia's lips curled into an excited smirk as she stretched out her hand, causing two vials to materialize in her grasp. The liquid inside them shimmered ominously, giving off a faint glow.
Luto narrowed his eyes. "Tch. I don't care what kind of tricks you're planning."
Without hesitation, he lunged forward at impossible speed, aiming to take her out before she could use whatever was in those vials. But the moment his hand made contact with her, it… bounced off.
Luto's eyes widened. "What the—?"
Before he could react, Vitalia threw one of the potions at him.
CRASH!
Luto instinctively punched the vial, shattering it, but the liquid splashed all over him. At the same time, Vitalia poured the other one on herself.
She grinned. "Now, let's test this theory."
Luto braced himself, but Vitalia simply tilted her head and mused, "You know how when two rubber surfaces collide, they bounce off each other? Well, what happens when you introduce heat to one of them?"
She threw a punch, connecting directly with Luto's chest.
The moment of impact was followed by something horrifying—Luto's skin began to soften and stretch unnaturally, as if his body were beginning to melt.
His eyes widened in shock.
"W-what the hell did you do to me?!"
Vitalia smirked, holding up her hand.
"I altered your body's composition. Right now, you're just like rubber. And just like normal rubber, you're heat-sensitive." She clenched her fist. "As for me, I turned myself into a rubber-like substance that generates increasing heat with every second. Meaning… the more I hit you, the more you melt."
Luto gritted his teeth, desperately calling out to Gesine for healing.
"Gesine—!"
But before he could finish, Vitalia struck him again.
CRACK—!
His arms melted away before his eyes.
The system immediately detected the critical condition and triggered an emergency teleportation.
A blinding flash engulfed Luto's body, and in the next instant, he vanished—forcibly teleported to the Health Room.
"Well, that went exactly as planned." Vitalia said.
---
Valkyrie vs. Erwin – The Dual Contractor vs. The Devil Contractor
Erwin smirked, eyes burning with anticipation.
"I've been waiting for this."
Valkyrie tilted her head, unimpressed. "Oh?"
"Finally, we'll see who the stronger Contractor is," Erwin declared, cracking his knuckles. "Unlike you, I am not a Dual Contractor. I am a Devil Contractor. That means I can't make contracts with both Spirits and Devils—only Devils."
His grin widened. "But believe me, that doesn't matter. Right now, I have more contracts than you could ever imagine. And unlike other Contractors, I don't have limits. I can conjure all my contracts at once… for a limited time, at least."
Valkyrie's expression remained calm as Erwin raised his hands.
"Now, witness my power!"
A dark aura erupted around him, and suddenly, ten Devils materialized, each radiating their own terrifying presence.
"Behold!" Erwin bellowed. "The Devil of Darkness! The Devil of Deception! The Devil of Impurity! The Devil of Stagnation! The Devil of Defects! The Devil of Debuff! The Devil of Space—!"
His voice cut off.
Because… all of his Devils had already collapsed.
Erwin's eyes widened in horror.
"W-what?!"
Valkyrie exhaled, brushing her dark hair back as if bored.
"This fight is already over."
Erwin's mind reeled. "H-how?! What did you—?"
Then he noticed it.
A searing pain in his gut.
He looked down—a gaping hole had been pierced straight through his stomach.
"W-when—?"
Valkyrie tilted her head. "Oh, simple. I didn't give you the chance to fight." She shrugged. "Why let you activate all your Devils' abilities when I could just… stop time, take them out, and take you out in the process?"
Erwin stumbled backward, gasping. "Y-you stopped time—?"
Valkyrie smirked. "I am the Valhalla Contractor, after all."
Erwin collapsed to his knees.
Before he could fully hit the ground, the system detected his fatal condition—his body was instantly enveloped in light and teleported away to the Health Room.
Valkyrie exhaled, dusting off her hands.
"Tch. Too easy."
With two fighters from Arachna already eliminated, the battlefield had shifted.
Now, all eyes turned to the final match—
Ichio vs. Murphis.
CHAPTER END