Eldritch Assassin: Reincarnated With An SSS-Rank Devouring System
Chapter 35: A Vast Hall

Chapter 35: A Vast Hall

The air whistled and a blazing arrow streaked through the clearing. Flames roared, engulfing the arrow as it slammed into Dorian’s longsword.

BOOM!

The explosion rocked the ground, forcing Dorian to pivot and block at the last moment. The sword deflected, the blast scorching his armor, sending him staggering back. His smirk vanished, replaced by shock.

Kael’s breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding. He turned to the source of the attack, and his eyes widened, as did Evelyne’ and Garrick.’

At the entrance of the clearing stood Sera, her body wreathed in flames from head to toe. Her bow was drawn and another arrow nocked, its tip glowing with molten fire.

Her eyes burned with rage, tears evaporating in the heat, her leathers singed from the power coursing through her. Mira’s body lay behind her, untouched by the flames.

"Sera..." Kael whispered, stunned.

Evelyne’s runes flickered, her voice sharp. "The archer? How is she—?" Garrick laughed, his axes raised. "More to kill!" But his grin faltered, sensing the raw power radiating from Sera.

Dorian recovered, his sword steady, though his shoulder smoked from the blast. "You dare strike a Valcroft?" he snarled, his aura flaring. "I’ll get you both!"

Sera’s voice cut through the air, raw and trembling. "You took my sister’s life," she said, her eyes locked on Dorian. "You took Mira from me!"

Flames surged higher, licking the ground around her, scorching the grass. She loosed another arrow, the flaming projectile screaming toward Dorian.

The noble swung his sword, aura bursting to deflect the arrow. The explosion shook the clearing, forcing him back a step.

Evelyne inscribed a rune, her sword glowing to shield herself. Garrick charged Sera, his axes blazing. "I’ll split you open!" he roared.

Kael drew a few of his new obsidian knives in hand. He hurled one at Garrick, the poisoned blade striking the knight’s arm. Garrick grunted the venom sizzling, slowing down his charge.

Kael sprinted to Sera’s side, his wounds screaming but his resolve was unshaken. "You okay?" he asked, his voice low and filled with concern.

Sera didn’t look at him, her bow was still drawn with flames dancing along the string. "They must die," she said, her voice hollow.

Another arrow flew, aimed at Evelyne. The Runebound Knight blocked with her sword, runes flaring, but the blast forced her back, her arm trembling.

Dorian advanced his longsword slashing. Kael met him, his dagger and obsidian knife flashing. The noble’s aura pressed down, his strikes precise and brutal.

"You can’t win," Dorian spat, his blade grazing Kael’s chest, drawing blood.

Kael countered, his knife slicing Dorian’s thigh, poison seeping in. The noble hissed, his movements slowing slightly.

Evelyne’s runes surged, a wave of energy tearing toward Kael and Sera. Kael shoved Sera aside, taking the brunt of the blast. His cloak burned, his skin scorching, but he stood, his bloodline devouring the pain.

Sera loosed another arrow, the flames exploding against Evelyne’s rune shield, cracking it.

"Keep firing!" Kael shouted.

Garrick roared, ripping the obsidian knife from his arm, blood and venom dripping. He charged again, axes swinging.

Kael met him, ducking under one axe and blocking the other with his dagger. His new skill —Merciless Resolve—surged, boosting his strength against the high-ranking knight.

He drove an obsidian knife into Garrick’s chest, the poison stacking. Garrick staggered, laughing weakly, then collapsed, his axes clattering.

Evelyne’s eyes widened. "Garrick!" She swung her sword, runes blazing, but Sera’s next arrow struck her shoulder, the explosion throwing her back.

The poison spread, her runes dimming. Kael hurled another obsidian knife, catching her thigh. She gasped, dropping to one knee, her sword trembling.

Dorian’s aura flared, his voice thundering. "Enough!" He lunged at Kael, his longsword a blur. Kael parried, but the noble’s strength pushed him back, blood dripping from new cuts.

Sera fired again, the flaming arrow grazing Dorian’s arm, forcing him to retreat. "You’ll pay for this!" he snarled, clutching the wound.

Suddenly, a portal appeared, opening the exit to the next level. "Sera, now!" Kael yelled.

Sera fired one last arrow, the explosion forcing Dorian and Evelyne back. She ran, flames fading, her body trembling with exhaustion. Kael grabbed her arm, pulling her through the portal as the clearing collapsed behind them. Dorian’s furious shout echoed, cut off by the portal’s closure.

A voice, neither human nor inhuman announced to everyone on the third floor. [The Trial of Morality has concluded. Those who have demonstrated sufficient fortitude will be able to pass through the portals that have begun to manifest throughout this level]

Kael and Sera stood in darkness, her bow still clutched tight to her side. He sheathed the obsidian knives dripping poison into his utility belt.

Blood stained them both and their breaths were heavy. "You don’t have to continue, you know," Kael said, his voice soft.

Sera’s eyes burned with silent rage, her tears gone but the pain within those eyes couldn’t be concealed. "They killed Mira," she whispered. "I’ll burn them all."

Kael nodded, his silver eyes gleaming. "Then we keep going." He tightened his grip on the Abyssal Fang Dagger, stepping forward into the last level of this F-rank dungeon.

The portal’s hum faded as Kael and Sera stumbled into a vast hall, its stone walls towering high and etched with ancient murals. Massive iron doors lined the circular chamber, each one marked with cryptic symbols.

The air was cool and heavy with the scent of damp stone and antiquity. Only ten adventurers stood scattered across the hall, their faces weary, some nursing wounds while others clutched their weapons tightly.

More portals flickered open, spitting out those who qualified from the third level; each arrival was met with wary glances.

Kael’s silver eyes scanned the room, his body still aching from the fight. Blood crusted his torn cloak, and the obsidian knives lay hidden in his belt within the cloak.

Sera stood beside him with her bow gripped tight; her flames were gone, but her eyes were still smoldering with grief. He guided her to a quiet corner near a shadowed pillar, away from the others.

"Rest here," he said, his voice low. She nodded, sinking to the floor, her gaze distant, fixed on the bow in her hands.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.