[09:48]
The blood-red number in the sky had begun counting down, leaving humanity stunned by this developnt.
"What the hell is this? This is definitely a trap!" Maya shouted.
"Everyone, stay calm! If we slaughter each other, our chances of leaving this place will only get smaller!" Matthew said in a grave and serious tone. The others all agreed with him.
Just then, Ace’s deep voice suddenly rang out:
"So, is there a way to increase our chances of escaping this dungeon? Fighting that monster? That sounds even more hopeless to . Or do you believe we can defeat it?"
Ace looked at Matthew and the others with a mocking gaze.
At that mont, Jack sneered as well.
"Exactly! They are a bunch of useless idiots. You only think like that because you’re too weak! Captain—"
"Slash!" A sharp, wet sound of flesh being pierced abruptly cut off Jack’s words.
His eyes widened as if unable to believe what had just happened. Stunned, he stared at Ace.
Ace scoffed.
"Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours. Die!"
A sharp vine impaled Jack’s chest, lifting him high into the air. He died without even having the chance to fight back, only able to glare venomously at Ace in his final monts.
Jack’s gaze didn’t faze Ace in the slightest. He tossed Jack’s body toward the swirling, watery veil of the monster. The mont Jack’s body touched it, the spirits of countless brides lunged at him, tearing him apart until not a single piece remained. The vortex ground his flesh and blood into nothingness, disappearing instantly.
Watching the grueso scene, Ace only laughed louder.
"See? Do you see now? We don’t stand a chance, you fools!"
With that, he spun around and lunged straight at Matthew’s group.
Matthew swiftly dodged the attacking vines and shouted,
"Kill him!"
At the sa ti, countless radiant arrows appeared behind him, raining down upon Ace and pinning his massive vines to the ground.
The massive vines thrashed violently, but the relentless rain of arrows left them no room to escape.
At the sa ti, bright red threads erged from behind, wrapping tightly around Ace’s body and binding him.
"Now!" Maya roared.
Matthew raised his hand, and a gigantic arrow of light materialized in midair. He had never imagined using sothing like this to kill a person—but Ace had to die. If not, all of them would.
"Whoosh!" The arrow of light shot straight toward Ace.
"Boom! Crash!"
But just then, a massive vine suddenly sprouted from Ace’s arm, replacing his limb. With a mighty sweep, he deflected the arrow and, in the sa motion, sent both Maya and Matthew plumting into the water below.
Maya gasped in pain, struggling to get back on her feet, while Matthew lifted his head to see Ace standing above them.
By now, Ace’s body had undergone a complete transformation. His skin had turned a sickly bluish-gray, shriveled unnaturally. His arms were no longer human but had been replaced by two writhing vines. A manic grin stretched across his lips as if he had finally obtained the power he had always dread of.
"You let yourself be consud by your ability!" Matthew shouted.
From the beginning, becoming an esper had always been a double-edged sword. Special abilities granted humans the power to fight against the monsters within the dungeon, but they were also incredibly dangerous. If used too often, improperly, or without control, these abilities could turn against their wielder, becoming the very thing that destroyed them.
Like Drake—his ability was so overwhelmingly powerful that it constantly teetered on the edge of his control. He had always struggled against it, never daring to unleash his full strength. If he did, the process of being consud by his power would begin.
Once the assimilation was complete, a human would fully transform into a monster—the very source of the ability they had been granted.
To this day, only powers bestowed by the angels are safe and free from the risk of corruption. Every other ability carried its own hidden cost.
And yet, Ace had willingly let his power consu him, all to gain overwhelming strength in this mont.
"So what?! Ha ha ha! I will escape this dungeon no matter what!" Ace roared.
Even his voice had changed—harsh and grating, like sand scattering in the desert or the static of a broken television.
Ace swung his arms—now massive, writhing vines—launching a fierce attack on Matthew and Maya, who were struggling in the water below.
At that mont, the water severely restricted their abilities, leaving them barely able to dodge.
But how could they possibly evade Ace’s relentless power? The vines lood directly above them in no ti, striking down with lethal intent! Matthew and Maya were nearly exhausted!
"Aren’t you going to do sothing? If you let Ace continue like this, he’ll kill both Taylor and ."
Leonard flinched at the sudden voice in his ear. Turning, he saw Nerio standing right beside him.
Instinctively, Leonard glanced back to where Nerio had been sitting just monts ago. But he had only blinked once—how had the boy appeared here so quickly?
Sensing Leonard’s confusion, Nerio tilted his head and said, "Aren’t you planning to kill ? If you let Ace do it, he will kill ."
Leonard’s eyes widened in shock as if unable to believe what Nerio had just said.
"I told you—I’ll protect you!"
"Are you sure? You only have one chance to choose," Nerio murmured, narrowing his eyes.
Leonard furrowed his brows, saying nothing more. Then, without hesitation, he lunged straight at Ace.
The countdown tir had less than four minutes remaining!
Nerio could even see Leonard’s hands trembling just before he charged forward. But still, he ran as if unafraid of death. Or perhaps... he had found his courage. No one would ever know.
"Aaaaaaaa!"
Leonard tackled Ace and sank his teeth directly into his carotid artery.
Ace scread in agony as his vines, which had been re monts away from impaling Matthew and Maya, suddenly twisted midair, redirecting their attack toward Leonard instead!
"Slash! Slash!"
Two massive vines pierced straight through Leonard’s body with ease. Blood erupted from the wounds like a fountain, causing those watching to fall into utter despair.
"AGHHHHHH!" Leonard threw his head back and let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"Die, you filthy insect!" Ace roared, his vines writhing violently as they prepared to tear Leonard apart.
But just then—Leonard’s eyes changed.
His pupils turned a vivid, blood-red. He let out a guttural snarl.
"Hungry... so hungry...!"
Ignoring the pain, he bared his teeth and bit deeper into Ace’s throat.
Ace’s crazed grin faltered, turning into a sneer of disdain.
"You think you can kill with that pathetic ability of yours? Ha ha ha!"
But then—his arrogance twisted into sheer panic.
"No... no! Damn it, let go! Let go, you bastard—NO!"
Before their eyes, Ace’s body began to wither at an impossible speed. His vines shriveled and snapped apart, unable to regenerate against the terrifying power coursing through Leonard.
Ace was nothing but a dried-up husk in re monts, which Leonard casually tossed aside.
A formidable "monster" had been slain.
But now—they would have to face a real one.
Leonard panted heavily, steam and blood spraying from his mouth with every breath.
It was as if he were burning from the inside out. His crimson eyes glead with unhinged madness.
"Ha... ha ha ha... So hungry... so hungry...!"
With a crazed scream, he lunged straight at Taylor!
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