Chapter 82: Shackled by Light, Roaring Against Fate
"Young Star, dodge!" Malik roared, his voice laced with urgency as he swung his dagger in the direction of his party member.
Young Star didn't hesitate. He immediately activated [Charge], his body becoming a blur as he surged toward White Emperor. A blade sliced through the space where his throat had just been. The attack missed by a hair's breadth—he had narrowly escaped death.
Malik's eyes narrowed.
A red player had appeared out of nowhere, using [Stealth] to ambush Young Star. Malik's dagger had already lashed out like lightning, but before it could land, the red player melted into the shadows once more, vanishing just inches from Malik's blade.
"Tch…" Malik was about to dash after him when a chilling realization hit.
They weren't alone.
Far from it.
More footsteps. More presence. He felt it in his bones—the ground wasn't just littered with loot anymore. It was swarming with danger.
"White Emperor, band up with the others. Check the loots for potions," Malik ordered coolly through the party chat. His voice held no panic, just cold command. "I'll deal with the newcomers."
He turned slowly, like a predator sizing up his prey, and met the gaze of five armed figures now stepping out of the surrounding fog. Each wore different gear, but they had one thing in common: bloodlust.
All of them were Level 50.
"They're six," Malik muttered. "That includes that slippery assassin still hiding in stealth... Damn it."
He gritted his teeth.
"They'll be tough to handle…"
"You've created quite a mess, Man Like Malik," a voice rang out from the left. "Time to clean it up."
The speaker stepped forward.
[Player: Juggernaut]
HP: 100,000
Level 50 Tier 1 Berserker
Description: A red player with a chaotic mismatch of equipment and weapons. Mastery of [Battle Roar] has reached Level 3.
As Malik activated [Eye of Insight], the player's stats and description flashed before him—and immediately, Juggernaut activated his signature skill.
[Battle Roar]!
A thunderous bellow tore through the air, warping the atmosphere with raw intimidation. Malik's movement speed dropped by 40%, and his attack speed took a hit, slowed by 20%.
"This is bad..." Malik muttered, barely finishing the sentence when the Swordsman among them lunged forward.
[Phantom Slash]!
A flurry of ghostly blades whirled toward him. But with [Eye of Insight] still active, Malik could predict the trajectory of the blades like a psychic peering into the future.
With a sharp inhale, he triggered the skill on his Feral Boots—his agility surged by 30%.
He ducked. Slid. Twisted. Evaded every last one.
His dagger came out in a blur as he flipped into the air, descending toward the Swordsman's back like a reaper's scythe—
CLANG!
A chain suddenly wrapped around his leg mid-air and yanked him backward.
"Have you forgotten you're facing multiple opponents?" came a cold voice—female.
Malik crashed into the ground, the breath nearly knocked from his lungs.
He barely had time to register the hit when the Assassin appeared from stealth, plunging his blade toward Malik's chest.
Clang!
It met flesh—but not the kind the assassin expected.
Malik caught the blade with his hand.
"What?!" the Assassin blurted.
"I'm a Martial Expert, fool," Malik growled, twisting the wrist of his attacker with one hand while the other buried his Corrosive Dagger into the Assassin's neck.
The Assassin disappeared into stealth again, but Malik only chuckled darkly.
"What's the point of hiding when you're already dying from corrosion?"
Before he could move again, the chain user yanked him from behind once more, flinging him into the air like a ragdoll.
'Shit—I forgot about the chain user again! I can't use Iron Fang Kick like this... Wait.'
His eyes gleamed with realization.
'There's one skill I haven't tested yet.'
He gritted his teeth, spiritual energy erupting from his leg.
"Vicious Trampling!"
Purple spiritual energy exploded beneath him as he stomped down in mid-air, the force ricocheting toward the ground.
It landed.
Right on the face of the female Berserker.
-120,000!!
Her HP bar evaporated in an instant. She didn't even scream. Her body shattered into particles before hitting the floor, dropping loot in her place.
"Overkill…" Malik whispered, eyes gleaming with savage light. His dagger snapped back into his hand with a glint.
<
System Reminder: You're now Level 43
<<40,000 / 8,000,000 EXP>>
"Man Like Malik...!" Juggernaut bellowed, eyes going bloodshot as the death of his comrade sent his rage skyrocketing.
His battle aura erupted like a volcano, and his passive rage boost activated—granting 40% bonus HP to two of his remaining teammates.
Malik tensed.
He made to move—but couldn't.
His limbs froze. His breath hitched.
"What the hell…?"
He turned his gaze behind him.
A female Priest.
Staff raised. A beam of light wrapped around his body like chains of holiness.
'That Level 50 Priestess... She's locking me down!'
CRACK!
Juggernaut's massive greatsword smashed into Malik's torso, knocking 5% of his HP away.
"Take this!" the Swordsman cried, slashing again.
-13,000
Malik's vision blurred.
"And this!" A sharp arrow whistled through the air, slamming into his forehead.
-15% HP
Malik activated [Iron Mountain Stance] in desperation—but even that failed.
[System Warning: Due to your body being in an immobile state, all skills are currently ineffective.]
"Brothers, kill that Priestess! Save Boss!" Young Star roared, rushing toward the rearline.
"Don't let them get close to our Priestess! Protect her with your life!" the red players countered, forming a shield wall around the caster.
"Their skills are on cooldown. No need to be afraid!"
"Yes! Man Like Malik must die here!"
The battlefield descended into chaos as both teams clashed violently, blood and steel dancing in brutal harmony.
Meanwhile, Malik stood like a statue, the chains of light binding his very soul.
"Die!" Juggernaut screamed, slamming blow after blow into Malik's armor.
Each strike peeled away the defense. Sparks flew. The last slash shattered the chestplate completely, leaving only Malik's torn cloak fluttering over bruised skin.
His defense was gone.
Now, every strike from the Swordsman dealt over 6% HP.
In less than forty seconds, Malik had lost 70% of his health. He had only lasted this long thanks to his armor.
But now…
"This is how I'll die?" he muttered. "All my skills… useless. Even the Feral Rage and my Physique… nothing can save me now."
His HP blinked.
5% remaining.
Juggernaut's voice echoed in his ears like a death knell.
"I'll take that 5% from you with one strike!"
The Berserker raised his sword high into the air.
A roar tore through the battlefield like a demon's cry, shaking the very wind.
And he charged.
Malik's death—was seconds away.