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Chapter 321: Worth Killing
No matter how tricky or swift the Juggernaut's attacks were, Aiden always moved a step ahead, executing preemptive blocks accurate to the millimeter. After every block, he seamlessly chained into a vicious and cunning counterattack. Even when the Juggernaut attempted to evade through high-speed movement, Aiden anticipated its exact dodge route, launching an unbelievable predictive strike that forced the monster to practically impale itself on his blade.
Watching Aiden handle the battlefield with such ease—completely dominating the nightmarish Destroyer that had once ruined everything she held dear—Ryuu stood frozen in utter shock. Her beautiful emerald eyes were filled with incomprehensible awe.
Was this still the same Calamity that just standing before it was enough to make her body go stiff and drain her of all will to fight?
Why did it look like nothing more than a mindless beast boasting empty strength beneath Aiden's blade?
Even Asfi, standing off to the side, couldn't help but push up the glasses on the bridge of her nose; beneath those lenses, her blue eyes mirrored the same irrepressible shock and astonishment. She was more rational than Ryuu, allowing her to better understand just how inconceivable the scene unfolding before them truly was.
Through that brief exchange alone, Asfi had determined that the Juggernaut's speed completely exceeded the reaction limits of any Level 4 adventurer. Putting herself in his shoes, if she were to face that divine speed, she wouldn't even be able to catch the enemy's shadow before being instantly carved to pieces.
In that moment, she finally understood exactly how the Astrea Familia, at the height of its elite power, had been entirely wiped out four years ago. Against this utterly unreasonable, terrifying speed, and the Destruction Claw that could sever even top-tier equipment with a casual swipe, the vast majority of adventurers were no better than paper before the Juggernaut. Aside from standing still and waiting for death, there was no other option.
Yet, looking at Aiden...
Not only was he perfectly keeping up with the Juggernaut's speed and reflexes, but he was also predicting its moves, mounting a flawless preemptive defense and oppressive offense. This wasn't a victory born of raw power or sheer speed. This was an adventurer's victory. This was a triumph of pure technique.
Even with its entire body continuously shredded by the storm of slashes, leaving deep, bone-exposing gashes across its pitch-black carapace, the Juggernaut didn't retreat an inch. Instead, its assault grew increasingly ferocious and frenzied.
Aiden's face remained completely expressionless, even as the supposedly invincible Destruction Claw left a series of gruesome, flesh-peeling wounds across his own body. He seemed to have entirely discarded the sensation known as pain, pouring his entire mind and soul into this life-or-death duel with absolute, unwavering focus.
It was only now, standing face-to-face with the Dungeon's Calamity, that he truly and genuinely understood just how horrifyingly and overwhelmingly powerful Ottar—the man hailed as the strongest in Orario—actually was. During the brief clash earlier, Ottar had cleanly and effortlessly severed the Juggernaut's arm and tail. If the monster hadn't decisively and unhesitatingly chosen to flee, Ottar would have slain it with ease.
Right now, although Aiden appeared to have the upper hand, he was merely suppressing the Juggernaut by relying on the martial art of Pre-Initiative and the indestructible attribute of the Godslayer: Surtr. Therefore, Aiden clearly judged that in his current state, if he were facing that Boarman Warlord, he would have absolutely no options left aside from revealing his ultimate trump card and invoking the magic of the Lord Ravager.
Without that magic, he had zero chance of defeating Ottar.
This was the gap in levels. It was an absolute disparity spanning three entire levels between Level 4 and Level 7, a gap as vast as an uncrossable abyss. Perhaps only when he leveled up to Level 5, or even Level 6, would he have the slimmest chance of challenging the pinnacle entity of the city without relying on the Lord Ravager.
As its wounds accumulated, the Juggernaut's already chaotic consciousness was completely consumed by rage. Every single one of its movements whipped up apocalyptic gales, shattering the fragile crystal floors and walls around them. Countless glittering crystal shards danced through the air like a blizzard.
Yet, amidst the Juggernaut's increasingly rapid and savage attacks, Aiden maintained his calm. He accurately predicted every incoming strike, executing the most efficient blocks and counters.
Claw strikes—evaded.
Fanged bites—parried.
His crimson sword light wove a dense net of death, precisely stripping away the Juggernaut's pitch-black armor. Aiden himself grew fiercer with every passing second of the battle. Before he knew it, his speed had increased.
In this close-quarters slaughter where life and death balanced on a razor's edge, and his mind and body were pushed to their absolute limits, the dormant Latent Abilities he had accumulated from his successive level-ups were finally drawn out. In that moment, they erupted like a long-slumbering volcano in a brilliant, ferocious bloom.
His previously tranquil mind was slowly overtaken by a primal, unadulterated thirst for battle. Deep within his blue eyes, a blazing fire sparked to life—a flame that threatened to burn the entire world to ash.
"Excellent..." Aiden spoke. His voice carried a slight, irrepressible hoarseness. "An enemy like you... is worth killing."
Though he knew the monster before him couldn't understand his words, it no longer mattered.
The flames wrapping his body, generated by the Everlasting Flames, violently flared up. The crimson fire that had merely coated his skin suddenly seemed to take on a life of its own, surging into the sky.
He was no longer satisfied with passive defense and counterattacks. He took the initiative.
Even if the cost of abandoning part of his defense meant allowing the Destruction Claw to tear several more bone-deep wounds into his flesh. The composed swordsman who calculated every variable was vanishing. In his place stood a crazed, bloodthirsty berserker who treated combat itself as the ultimate pleasure.
His desire to attack skyrocketed, and his slashes became exceedingly wild.
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