Chapter 43: On My Own.

A group of two young men and a spirit continued to go down the narrow ant tunnels.

To ensure their safety, Mikael tirelessly drifted ahead of the group to scout.

He killed the monsters that he could manage, clearing the path for his fragile partner and their masochistic companion.

On their way, Deon bickered with Finn.

"I'm telling you, Sir Finn! Using a modified spell on mobs is an overkill!"

"BUT! Didn't you see that majestic pillar of fire? Wasn't it so satisfying to watch?"

"Right now, we don't need unnecessarily flashy spells with a probability of backfiring."

"Ehem… I disagree." Finn held his straight nose up in the air, "Flashy spells are a must if we want to attract monsters to our direction." He waved his hand and said as if to prove his point, "How many minutes do you think it's been since our last monster encounter? At this rate, it'll take months before we manage to sweep this place clean!"

Mikael watched as Deon was stunned speechless.

'He really has a knack for starting arguments that he couldn't win.' Mikael quietly chuckled, 'But Finn is right. This is too inefficient… we have to gather the enemies in one place and blast them off simultaneously… but how?'

As Mikael was lost in his thoughts, he missed the sound of something heavy scraping across the dirt floor—Until the monster was right up his nose!

"qu…een…is…hung..ry… must… hurry…"

A Soldier Killer Ant appeared from the gloom, dragging along an unconscious woman.

"Fo..od?..." as soon as the Soldier Ant got within 15 meters of Deon, its antennae jerked like a dowsing rod in search of water.

Six spindly legs suddenly rushed onward after the monster sniffed the pheromone off of Deon. Its large mandibles that carried the woman by her collar tightly clasped and she was dragged haphazardly like a sack of potatoes.

"DEON! WATCH OUT! A SOLDIER ANT IS COMING YOUR WAY!" Mikael warned.

Deon relayed the warning to Finn.

But Finn just stood back, arms crossed in his broad chest, generally looking inattentive.

"Sir Finn! I said there's a soldier ant approaching!" Deon repeated, assuming Finn hadn't heard him.

"Yes, I know," Finn replied.

"Then why?..."

Deon was confused.

'Why was Finn acting like this instead of bringing his brush out?'

"What? You said it was just one monster. You should handle this alone. If I help you every time, my ink supply will run out." Finn calmly explains, "So, I'll only help when there's a large group, okay?"

Indeed, Finn was a person who marched at his own pace. He was someone who willingly entered this dungeon to satiate his curiosity.

Someone who readily bosses around Deon, whom he met for the first time yesterday.

Someone who camped in the ant cemetery as if it was his own backyard.

Someone who used a potentially dangerous spell on mobs—That was Finn. A combat Almagi who cannot be understood by common sense.

Deon gave up trying to get Finn to fight.

He kept his eyes alert, awaiting the duel with the incoming monster.

Scarlet orbs soon glowed beyond the tunnel, an aura of death and madness seeping off its matte black exoskeleton.

The Soldier Ant threw the woman to the side as it excitedly dashed toward Deon.

Hoping that this time, his title effect would prove useful, Deon started the fight with a bluff.

<Skill: Bluff Lvl. 1 is activated.>

Crimson Aura enveloped his body.

'I can do this.' his eyes burned fiercely, 'I can defeat you. On my own.'

Despite his initial reluctance, he now treated this fight as a test—A test of courage.

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Deon and the Soldier Ant squared off.

Black versus Red.

'Oh?' Finn whistled, appreciating the crimson haze radiating from Deon. 'Was he a Spear Master? he sure didn't act like it, though…'

Ping!

<Attempting to induce 'Fear' state…>

Suddenly, the ant stiffened.

Ping!

<System Notification: Foe is in 'Fear' state.>

<Foe is paralyzed with fear! it may be unable to move!>

'It worked!' Deon beamed with delight!

Deon rushed at top speed; spear aimed at the monster's glowing compound eyes.

"RRRAAAHHH!!" his battle cry resounded throughout the length of the tunnel.

<Skill: Stab Lvl. 1 is activated.>

Deon felt the system guide his body. His torso automatically twisted as his spear-wielding arm stretched as far back as physically possible.

Deon felt the tension build-up. His muscles seemed to increase in size.

Then, like a rubber band pulled taut, his arm snapped forward with maximum power!

CHAKK!!!

The spear pierced the ant's right eye! Its tip penetrated all the way to the back of the monster's head!

"KIIIEEEEEHHHHH!!!!"

Deon swiftly pulled his weapon back and secured his distance.

Mikael and Finn watched the scene in amazement.

But more than the spectators, it was Deon who was most surprised by his feat.

'I did it….' His heart throbbed painfully against his chest, 'I fought… on my own… without anyone's protection…'

He gazed at his trembling hands, feeling the adrenaline rush.

Then, his hazel brown eyes trailed to the green blood dripping to the ground up to the Soldier Ant's bleeding eye.

His pride that he kept hidden in the depths of his soul surged forth.

'I DID IT!' The words echoed in his heart, slowly breaking the cage known as inferiority complex that barred his self-esteem.

Mikael looked at Deon with proud eyes.

He knew.

That short attack might just be one of the many that Deon executed since yesterday, but to the cowardly prince, it held an entirely different meaning.

It was a start.

It was a revolution against his established identity—a persona recognized even by the Ascension system.

Little by little, Deon was picking up the broken pieces that would make up his 'Self'.

And he would bloom. Majestically. Against everyone's expectations.

To become the Greatest!

-- Chapter end--

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