Chapter Forty-Five: The Ferocious Crocodile (Part Two)

On the other side, Yin Seventeen and Rekton were locked in a fierce duel.

Though Rekton's half-man, half-crocodile appearance seemed clumsy, the reality was far from it. Silver-ranked warriors were silver-ranked for a reason; no matter how unwieldy they appeared, they could never be outmatched in agility by those of bronze rank. Yin Seventeen only managed to gain a slight edge thanks to his smaller stature, granting him a bit more nimbleness.

"Holy Sword: Thrust!"

He leaped into the air, narrowly evading Rekton’s sweeping tail, and seized the opportunity to strike at his opponent’s eyes. Although Rekton wasn't the brightest, he wasn't a fool either; he knew he couldn’t let his eyes be injured. Instantly, he covered his eyes with one hand and swung at Yin Seventeen with the other.

Clang!

The sword blade pierced through the scales on the back of Rekton’s hand but could go no further. Compared to the relatively 'soft' neck from before, this was far more challenging.

Boom!

Rekton’s other claw followed swiftly. Yin Seventeen, unable to dodge in time after committing to his strike, was struck squarely and sent flying like a cannonball. An unfortunate crocodile gladiator below, unprepared for disaster from above, was struck dead on the spot.

"Tyrant’s Rampage!"

Sensing his chance, Rekton charged, vaulted, and brought his axe cleaving down in one seamless motion, pursuing Yin Seventeen to where he landed.

"Not good!"

Seeing the ferocious leaping strike, Yin Seventeen had no time to defend and immediately rolled out of the way.

Crash!

Rekton’s axe smashed down, shattering the ground within a hundred-meter radius with a single blow. Though Yin Seventeen avoided the direct attack, he was caught in the following shockwave and instantly engulfed in the crumbling earth.

When the tremors finally subsided, his figure was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is he? He can't be dead that easily, can he?" Rekton sniffed the air desperately, but the thick layers of earth and the bloody stench of battle in the dungeon ruined his sense of smell.

Just then, a chilling sensation shot from his feet up to his skull.

"Holy Sword: Thrust!"

A silver flash burst from the earth at his feet, stabbing straight at his lower body.

"What!!"

Terrified, Rekton hastily retreated, but he was still a beat too slow and couldn’t fully evade.

Yin Seventeen burst from the ground in pursuit, his right arm transformed into a blade, grazing Rekton’s belly and piercing his long lower jaw.

Clang!

Compared to the scales on his back, Rekton’s jaw and abdomen were softer, but he wore some kind of strange armor, so his belly was barely harmed. However, his lower jaw was unprotected; Yin Seventeen’s sword drove right through it, blood gushing forth.

The sight of his own blood seemed to awaken a savage fury in Rekton. He went berserk, abandoning all thought of defense. Instead, he lunged forward, arms wide, intent on crushing his opponent in a deadly embrace.

Though clad in sacred armor, Yin Seventeen had no desire to be seized by such a terrifying beast. He raised his leg and kicked Rekton hard in the abdomen.

Thud!

Before Rekton could close his arms, the heavy kick landed. He was sent flying.

"D-d-damn you..." Rekton scrambled to his feet, clutching his wound and roaring. But with a gaping hole in his jaw, his words came out oddly, making him sound more ridiculous than fierce.

"Well? My sword is still quite sharp, don’t you think?" Yin Seventeen spat out a mouthful of blood and smiled at Rekton, not rushing to attack again. Even with his sacred armor, being struck by Rekton’s claw and caught in the aftermath of the axe blow had left him shaken; his internal organs were injured.

Meanwhile, having finished off the remaining crocodile gladiators, Ruo Lan and her companion hurried over.

"How’s your wound?" Ruo Lan asked with concern, seeing how battered he looked.

"I’m fine, it’s nothing serious for now," Yin Seventeen waved her off.

Gamian, meanwhile, stared intently at Rekton and declared confidently, "That brute is already wounded. Rest for a bit and watch how I deal with him!"

"Wait, you—"

Yin Seventeen tried to stop him, but Gamian, eager to claim the credit, had already charged ahead before he could finish speaking.

"Night Raid of the Raven Flock!"

As soon as his target entered range, Gamian unleashed his ultimate move. The force of his cosmos merged with his fists, transforming into a swarm of black ravens that swooped down upon Rekton.

"You think you can kill me? Dream on!"

Seeing this scrawny upstart dare to attack him, Rekton was enraged, disregarding his bleeding wound.

"Berserker’s Charge!"

Gathering his cosmic energy, a massive axe materialized in his hands, and Rekton crashed forward. The swarming black ravens dissolved into sparks under his axe, unable to halt his ferocious advance.

Gamian panicked at the sight.

"How is he still so strong?!"

He tried to retreat in terror, but it was too late.

Rekton leveled his axe before him, pierced through the raven swarm, and rammed into Gamian without mercy.

Crash!

The massive axe struck Gamian’s chest; he spat blood and was sent flying, tumbling across the ground like a rag doll until he lay motionless, his fate uncertain.

"Pathetic!" Rekton spat viciously, clutching his wounded jaw. "Useless trash! Stay out of my sight!"

Though injured, Rekton was not about to let a bottom-tier silver like Gamian claim victory.

Yin Seventeen quietly told Ruo Lan, "Go see if that Crow fellow is dead. If he’s alive, get him out of here and stay back."

"It’s not your turn to fight yet."

Though he and Rekton had exchanged blows, both retained at least eighty percent of their strength. To take on Ruo Lan and the others would be no trouble for Rekton. If they joined in now, they would only be throwing their lives away.

"Understood," Ruo Lan replied, knowing the gravity of the situation. She silently retreated toward Gamian’s fallen form.

Just as Yin Seventeen prepared to attack again, an unnatural aura suddenly swept through the dungeon.

With the sense granted by his roots, he 'saw' countless wraiths rising from the depths, drawn by some unseen force, all converging on a single point.

On the other side, Rekton panicked as he saw the apparitions drifting through his body one after another.

"W-what are these things?!"

He didn’t recognize the dead; he swung his fists in terror, striking at the phantoms, but it was useless.

He couldn’t harm them in the slightest.

The more he tried, the more terrified he became. With the sturdy body granted by the Crocodile God, he had torn apart countless foes, but now, against these ghostly apparitions, he was powerless. It was utterly terrifying.

At that moment, a commanding voice rang out in the dungeon:

"Life is but one part of the cycle of reincarnation. And your part in it is now over.

Your souls shall be weighed by the Goddess.

Burn, all you tormented ones!"

In an instant, the pallid wraiths burst into flames, merging into a surging tide of fire that swept upward toward the summit of the pyramid.