Chapter 183: Bullying the Weak? (3)

With rapid, slicing motions, Alfia's twin blades sliced through the air, severing the tentacles mid-strike. They were softer than its outer shell, making them easy to cut.

However, the tentacles quickly regenerated, surging at her in greater numbers.

Alfia dodged skillfully amidst a storm of writhing tentacles. Though the tentacles formed an impenetrable net around her, they failed to capture her even once.

Originally, Antares intended to use Artemis's divine power to unleash a massive attack that would clear the field. However, before it could act, Alfia had already anticipated its move.

While her ability Peace of Soul couldn't disrupt attacks fueled by divine power once they were released, she could prevent Antares from gathering the power in the first place.

Antares's movements during the power-charging phase were far too obvious, practically showcasing Artemis, who lay dormant within a crystal embedded in its abdomen.

It was as if it were openly inviting an attack on its weak point. The struggle between them was reaching a stalemate, with Alfia leaving new scars across Antares's body. Although these wounds would quickly heal, they forced Antares to divert most of its energy toward recovery.

In terms of raw strength, Antares was indeed powerful. Combined with its terrifying resilience and the added divine power, an ordinary Level 7 adventurer would stand little chance against it. But this was Alfia it was facing.

Known as the "embodiment of talent," Alfia was virtually unmatched at her level, let alone now as a Level 8. Against her, Antares was nothing more than a helpless punching bag, unable to retaliate effectively.

Its one hope—a divine power attack—was rendered ineffective as Alfia consistently interrupted its charging phase with her skill. Moreover, her agility made her an elusive target, a type that Antares was ill-suited to counter.

The outcome seemed certain from the outset. It was only a matter of how long Antares could withstand the beating.

Technically, Antares could try to outlast Alfia, hoping her stamina would give out. But Antares, being a mere monster, lacked the strategy and patience for such a plan.

"Is there a way to separate Artemis-sama from this thing?" Alfia wondered aloud as she deftly dodged another wave of tentacles.

What had started as an enjoyable battle had turned repetitive. Each time she landed a hit, Antares would heal almost immediately, a frustrating loop for any fighter.

It was like facing a foe with recovery that outpaced one's own damage output—a grueling and seemingly endless fight.

She even considered blasting it to pieces with magic, wondering if it could heal after being shredded entirely.

"If you're done having fun, let me handle it," Sol called out confidently.

Alfia glanced at him suspiciously—Sol was unarmed, yet she gave up her position.

"What's your plan?" she asked, skeptical.

"Just watch."

With a smile, Sol clapped his hands, summoning a distorted portal beneath Antares. The monster dropped through before it could react.

"You're sending it to Valoran?"

She wasn't sure whether Valoran could handle such a creature.

Sol had seen firsthand how powerful Antares was; the champions of Valoran alone wouldn't be able to defeat it.

"Not exactly. I'll handle it there myself," Sol replied confidently. "You stay here and make sure no monsters slip away. I'm heading back to Valoran to teach this scorpion some manners."

With that, Sol disappeared into the portal, leaving Alfia behind.

Antares, having been beaten by Alfia just moments ago, was now in a completely foreign environment. It was tense and alert.

Spotting Sol, Antares immediately recognized him. During the previous fight, he had been watching from the sidelines while Alfia pummeled it. Now, with her absent, Sol had dared to face it alone.

Antares's fear of the unfamiliar surroundings quickly turned to rage.

Finally free to unleash its pent-up anger, Antares charged at Sol, tentacles thrashing wildly.

"Hah! So I look like the weaker target?" Sol smirked, instantly grasping its intentions.

It had been a while since he'd had a good fight. Maybe it was time to give Antares a lesson it wouldn't forget—one painful enough to curb its rampage.

"Alright, let's start by freeing Artemis," he muttered, hand on his chin in thought.

Antares was nearly upon him, its tentacles reaching him first.

Sol's eyes narrowed as an intense aura of pressure radiated from him. The ground around him seemed to press down heavily, and Antares's tentacles were suddenly locked against the earth.

"Stay still," Sol ordered, advancing toward the immobilized monster.

For the first time, Antares felt a true threat of death. Despite its struggles, it couldn't move under Sol's oppressive force.

Roaring in defiance, Antares suddenly activated the crystal holding Artemis within its chest. A brilliant light burst forth, forming a crescent moon in the air. With Artemis's divine power surging, Antares finally broke free from Sol's grip.