Transmigrated with my corruption system-Chapter 34: Monsters Among Mortals

Elsewhere across the dungeon, time slowly slipped by, a few hours passing since the awakened entered.

Inside one dungeon tunnel, a well-coordinated group of seven came into view, currently locked in battle against a pack of three level-5 beasts.

Something that would have posed grave danger at the beginning was now handled with relative ease.

At the front, a brawny youth stood, a massive shield clenched tightly in his arms as he formed a wall of defense for the team behind him, preventing the three wolves from charging.

At his side were two slim youths holding gleaming swords, charging alternately, trying to relieve the wolves’ attention from their tanker.

Closing in for close combat, they dealt a couple of blows with each exchange, trying as much as possible to sustain the least amount of injuries.

At the center were three mages unleashing a barrage of elemental attacks in between breaths.

Taking a pause after every exchange to replenish their energy. Still, even with all this, they barely stood a chance, only managing to withstand the beasts’ attacks for a while, keeping them in place.

But no glint of fear or panic flashed across their eyes. They had learned the hard way that it didn’t help their odds in battle.

But that wasn’t the reason for their calmness.

At the back stood a lone figure, draped in a simple robe, with a bow clenched in his arms and a quiver at his back.

They were buying time for him. Once he made his move, the direction of the battle would greatly change.

The youth in question seemed the most calm, eyes sharp as they trailed across the three beasts, watching the battle unfold smoothly just as he had anticipated.

The formation was holding.

As he stared, a slow smile spread across his lips as a breath escaped his lips.

"There it is."

From the time he was a child, he had always been a great observer, seeing things others failed to notice or simply glazed over.

And as time passed, this simple ability grew naturally.

An ability developed from it. When observing things long enough, it wasn’t long before a pattern emerged. And with pattern came prediction.

Now with his archer class, Kaiden was far from a regular archer. And he was just about to prove it once more. Inhaling sharply, the smile on his face widened.

Extending his hand to the quiver on his back, he grabbed three arrows in one go. Nocking them on his bow, his eyes narrowed, focusing up ahead as he tapped into that sensation.

He exhaled. The pattern was clear. As he did, his grip loosened. The arrows streaked forward with blinding speed.

Barely a few seconds passed before howls of agony echoed, the arrows hitting their mark.

Each arrow lodged deeply into one of the wolves’ eyes with frightening accuracy.

They had seen the attack, but no matter where they retreated, it was as if they were leading themselves straight into it.

Blood gushed out, their vision halfway blinded as they thrashed wildly. Unable to see the second barrage of attacks as another set of arrows flew by, lodging into their other eyes, now completely blinding them.

The members at the front froze for a few seconds. The accuracy was frightening, which couldn’t help but make them glance at the figure behind them standing as if nothing had happened.

Only a single thought flared at the back of their minds. A prodigious genius.

At his nod, they snapped out of it, charging forward to finish the attack. With the wolves fully blinded, the advantage was overwhelming.

Allowing them to claim an easy victory, easily slaying all three beasts. As the beasts fell, they burst into motes of golden energy a few moments later, surging into every team member according to their contributions.

The most flowed to Kaiden. Then, without another word, they rushed deeper into the dungeon.

***

At another dungeon tunnel, boisterous laughter echoed out.

"Hahaha! Haha! Did you see how awesome I was?"

A girl at the center muttered shamelessly, a smirk resting on her lips.

Her figure was clad in a white robe, now drenched in sweat as it tightly clung to her body, highlighting the subtle curves of her frame.

In her grasp was a massive shield, easily towering above her height, yet she held it effortlessly, almost as if it weighed nothing.

Before her, the corpse of a level-7 beast came into sight.

Heavily battered by her shield. The team behind her showered her with praise.

"Indeed, the young miss is like an energetic tiger."

"Her stamina is just... legendary. Fighting a level-seven beast for hours. Tsk, tsk. It didn’t even stand a chance."

Just as the murmurs were about to get outrageous, the young girl scowled, pointing at a black-haired youth in the team who remained silent.

"You. Why aren’t you praising me?"

"Uh... this..."

The youth gulped, his lips twitching rapidly.

The request might have seemed absurd.

But after seeing the little adorable girl smash apart a level-seven beast, he didn’t think so anymore.

Clearing his throat, he began spouting a bunch of nonsense as well.

"I was... just thinking. With your figure and strength, you’re a perfect match with Lord Ulric."

A moment of silence passed as the words settled. Dawning on the young miss.

A flush spread across her face as fantasies ran wild in her mind.

The rest of the figures inhaled cold breaths of air, reminded of the young lord. It had already been a few hours, and they couldn’t help but wonder how far he had progressed.

But one thing was certain.

He had definitely advanced to a terrifying level the rest couldn’t even begin to imagine.

***

Almost similar events unfolded across the dungeon. Battle geniuses springing up while the teams’ battle experience slowly increased. Allowing them to face beasts like a well-oiled machine.

The number of casualties drastically decreased from the time they entered the dungeon.

***

At the depths of the dungeon, another sight came into view. Far more terrifying.

A black-robed youth stood, an indifferent glint flashing across his eyes.

Holding both hands behind his back, his mouth slowly parted, a single whisper escaping his lips.

"Decimate."

As soon as the word echoed, the air around him shimmered violently. Darkness slowly seeped out of his body. And from the darkness, spectral blades of death coalesced.

Each a massive three meters in length, their edges fully serrated, oozing a chilling aura.

Wisps of corruption slowly drifting into the air.

Their numbers kept increasing, only stopping at ten. A pack of massive wolves rushed from ahead

.

Each towering over four meters, their frames packed with muscle. Still, even with all this, they halted upon seeing the sea of blades and sensing the deathly aura emanating from them.

Their charge turning into a retreat.

But it didn’t matter. The blades pierced into them.

Slicing them in half, corroding their innards and reaping their lives before absorbing their corpses altogether.

Until a deathly silence descended. Another pack of wolves defeated so easily by the rising might of the black-robed youth.

[Ding! You have killed a Level 20 Extraordinary Dire Wolf! +10,000 Experience Points!]

[Ding! You have killed a Level 20 Extraordinary Dire Wolf! +10,000 Experience Points!]

[Ding! You have killed a Level 20 Extraordinary Dire Wolf! +10,000 Experience Points!]

[You have gained 30,000 / 30,000 Experience Points!]

[Congratulations! You have leveled up!]

[+5 free attributes]

[Level 23: 0 / 40,000]

[Ding! Your darkness has devoured a Level 20 Extraordinary Dire Wolf! +20 blank attributes]

[...]

[Total unallocated attributes: 63]

Staring at the cascade of notifications, Ulric breathed out.

"Weak... too weak."

After Lyra’s departure, he had submerged himself in endless battles. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

But as it continued, he slowly grew bored.

He had simply grown too strong. These beasts no longer posed any challenge to him, and it was starting to irritate him.

Raising his hand, he beckoned as a familiar figure walked up to him. Lena.

She had now leveled up to level 5 with his help after choosing the assassin class.

Her pale black eyes were filled with the same awe as when he had rescued her the first time.

Only this time, it seemed amplified.

With the feats she was watching the young lord pull off repeatedly, she just couldn’t help it. He was too monstrous.

Achieving in a few hours what took others months. Her form only settled when she locked eyes with Ulric’s crimson gaze. His mouth opening to speak.

"You’ve been of great help to me," Ulric muttered, staring at Lena.

If it weren’t for her, he would still be circling the dungeon instead of killing monsters.

And to a point, he had repaid her. Allowing her to slay beasts that were already on the brink of death, which was why she had leveled up this fast.

But all things had to come to an end.

"I tire," he growled.

Causing Lena’s brows to soften. It was good to know even a figure like him had limits.

Only for his next words to completely subvert her expectations.

"I tire of these beasts’ weakness. Lead me to the final boss."

He muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Maybe that would pose a worthy challenge.

But he doubted it.

Lips twitching rapidly, Lena clenched her fists tightly, admonishing herself for thinking the young lord had limits.

Or worse, that these weak beasts as he called them, could bring them out. Still, she couldn’t help but ask.

"A-are you sure?" She could feel the presence of the monster lurking deep within the dungeon.

And it gave her shudders. Pausing for a moment, Ulric smiled.

"Yes. I’m quite sure, Lena."