Chapter 59: A Desperate Stand in the Dark

“Kid! Get out of the way!”

After a brief struggle, the Second-Stage Peak Fighter, bow in hand, pulled his bow with all his might.

Although Yenir was only a Second-Stage Beginner and ranked among the weakest in the field, his use of the Void Control Dagger skill during the previous rounds had been crucial. Among the ranged combatants, his performance was undeniably impressive.

Especially when compared to the awakened who relied on exhausting their stamina, Yenir, brimming with spirit energy, clearly boasted greater endurance in battle.

Keeping Yenir alive until Round Six might even yield unexpected benefits!

However, aside from that one Second-Stage Peak Fighter trying to rescue Yenir, the others were too busy scrambling away from the monster.

At this life-or-death moment, they couldn’t afford to think about what came next.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As a series of slicing sounds pierced the air, the centipede—its flesh already lacerated by arrows—grew even more furious.

Its tiny compound eyes darted around frantically, and in its pain it rampaged along the City Wall, attempting to crush the nimble little target beneath it.

It just wouldn’t die!

Desperation mounted.

The bow-wielding Second-Stage Peak Fighter was clearly frantic; without resorting to his skill, his normal attacks simply couldn’t dispatch the creature quickly enough!

As he watched Yenir desperately dodge beneath the centipede’s crushing weight, a flash of determination crossed his face.

His final skill… Should he use it!?

ShAA!!

Seeing that it could never crush Yenir beneath it, the centipede, in a blind rage, hoisted its massive body high before slamming down like a mountain.

Boom!!

Debris and dust burst into the air as the already battered City Wall crumbled in an instant.

Is he dead!?

With his pupils contracting, the Second-Stage Peak Fighter managed a bitter smile as even his bow’s pace faltered.

It was his own hesitation, after all. But there was no time to waste—Round Six was coming, and he wasn’t intending to become a sacrificial lamb.

In the very next moment, just when everyone thought Yenir was doomed under the crushing weight of the centipede, a streak of electric brilliance scaled the creature’s body like a phantom.

That—was that kid!?

Before anyone could even react in surprise,

Yenir, moving so fast he left behind afterimages, surged upward relentlessly, and within a single breath reached the centipede’s compound eyes.

His speed was such that even the mutated creature couldn’t react in time.

The next moment:

A swiftly flying dagger suddenly accelerated; targeting one of the compound eyes, the spinning blade drilled into it like a drill.

Splat!

Accompanied by the sickening sound of an exploding eyeball, the fragile compound eye nestled within wrinkled skin was instantly pierced.

Taking a deep breath, Yenir channeled all his mental strength and drove the dagger deeper in one relentless motion.

“Break it!”

Under the massive, mutated centipede, the slender dagger acted like a scalpel, aiming straight for its brain center.

The beast shuddered and let out a hissing cry in pain.

Seconds later, the giant centipede—constantly trying to shake Yenir off—suddenly froze. A barely perceptible buzzing sound preceded its massive body crashing down to the ground.

Boom!!

A bloodstained dagger slowly drifted out from the shattered compound eye, trailing thick, sticky brain matter.

In an instant, the fleeing crowd was stunned, staring in disbelief as Yenir leapt down from the insect carcass.

He actually… killed it!?

The hand that had been drawing the bow halted, and even the young man who had been sighing just moments before parted his lips in surprise.

A Second-Stage Beginner taking down a Second-Stage Intermediate? Or was it the result of a prolonged battle?

Yenir’s performance had truly shattered their preconceptions.

After all, even the strongest melee fighters among the awakened could only take down their peers when surrounded. Taking down someone of a higher rank was a feat reserved for those with exceptional talent.

And not only had Yenir slain above his level, he himself was a Willpower Type awakened fighter.

The combination left them utterly stunned.

Previously, the kill on the Howling Banshee might have been attributed to someone drawing aggro, but this time it was an undeniable solo feat.

At the rear of the defense line, a woman from the Blood Wolf Squad glanced at Yenir’s leap with surprise.

“Interesting…”

“Blue Equipment Special Skill… seems like someone from a major faction groomed him…”

With keen eyes, the woman immediately noticed that Yenir’s combat boots were at least of blue grade.

Waving her hand to summon her subordinates, her eyes gleamed with deep interest:

“At the end of Round Six, you don’t have to kill him. Just crush his limbs will do.”

“This kid is definitely the big target.”

“Yes.”

The Blood Wolf Vice Captain, sporting a scar on his face, nodded in understanding with a cruel glint in his eyes.

They were all too experienced with handling such lone targets.

……

“Round Five is over. Round Six is about to begin. All awakened fighters, prepare yourselves.”

Bloodstained from head to toe.

After the battle, the four-member melee squad, exhausted and battered, trudged back to the defense line.

One young fighter, his right leg ripped off by the mutated creature, wore a look of utter despair. Although Song Gang had rescued him, his fate in the next round was all but sealed.

In his seething resentment, he glared fiercely at the woman from the Blood Wolf Squad, his teeth grinding audibly.

Every Second-Stage Awakened fighter was a ‘genius’ chosen from countless survivors. Without above-B talent, one would never reach this stage. He had a bright future ahead, dreaming of earning extra Credit Points after the dungeon to provide a better life for his family.

But who would have thought they’d come up against such heartless, bestial human demons!

While other awakened fighters and ordinary humans fought against impending doom, these human scum feasted on their own kind!

“What are you staring at!?”

“Keep looking and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

At the rear, several members of the Blood Wolf Squad sneered cruelly, with some licking their lips in gleeful anticipation.

Accustomed to slaughtering their own kind, they even regretted that there weren’t more attractive women among the awakened. Otherwise, forcing these fighters to fight to the death while savoring their agonized screams would have been an exquisite thrill.

Disregarding the overt hostility, the Blood Wolf Vice Captain chuckled lightly as he stepped forward:

“Once Round Six begins, toss this waste around as bait—it might even save some lives.”

“No need to look at us with so much hatred.”

“During Round Six, we’ll also intervene. As long as you survive and turn in your rewards, we’ll let you go.”

The man turned to look at Yenir:

“Ye Lin, right? Kid, if you survive, you’ll have to hand over the equipment on your feet before you can leave.”

After saying that, the man turned and walked away.

Watching the Blood Wolf Vice Captain’s figure recede, one of the awakened murmured in the silence:

“Do you think they’d really let us go?”

“I don’t know, but they specifically mentioned turning over your equipment. It doesn’t seem like they’d actually kill us… otherwise, why mention it?”

Clinging to a sliver of hope, many awakened fighters felt a spark of possibility rising in their eyes.

Although their demands were extreme, the fact that they asked for equipment might actually mean they wouldn’t kill them.

Within the team, two Second-Stage Peak Fighters exchanged a knowing glance, each silently sighing as they watched hope flicker across everyone’s face.

Letting them go? That was clearly a ploy to quell any thoughts of resistance.

Compared to these newcomers among the awakened, they knew all too well the brutal methods of the Breeders’ Squad.

These scum—if they didn’t drain them completely, it would be considered mercy!

Ignoring the gradually easing expressions around them, the two exchanged subtle hand signals, communicating silently.

Just as they had anticipated, the Breeders’ Squad would make their move in Round Six!

Once these lowlifes joined the fight, they’d still have a chance to strike back!

This was their last hope!

At the edge of the team, Yenir silently watched as Song Gang returned his hand signal, shaking his head inwardly.

He could already guess that these two Second-Stage Peak Fighters planned to risk everything in Round Six—how could the Blood Wolf Squad not see it coming?

Hoping for a turnaround in Round Six? Their chances were far too slim.

Their real opportunity… would come in Round Seven, when the Third-Stage Mutant appeared!