Second World

Jack continued practicing until Peniel told him that they were close to the coordinates. He was too focused on the training that he lost track of time. If Peniel didn't remind him, they might have arrived in Hraghshu's manor without realizing it. They were around one hour away.

They didn't see Tenka or Yrin on the way, which meant the two were still ahead of them.

Jack told Pandora to not run directly to the coordinates. They couldn't afford to barge in the manor just like that. They first had to covertly check if there was a teleportation chamber inside the manor.

When he saw some red dots at the edge of his radar in the direction they were heading. He instructed Pandora to stop. Pandora complied. Jack unsummoned her after dismounting. He suspected the red dots so close to the coordinates could be Hraghshu's goons patrolling the territory. It was better if the demons didn't spot another nightmare. On second thought, this could be a way to lure the guards out when he needed to sneak in. He might use this ploy later.

Jack went on foot from there. He approached the red dots silently to get a look at them. Suddenly, two white dots came out of nowhere and met the red dots. He did not doubt who these two white dots were. He forfeited his silent approach and ran at full speed toward those clustering dots.

As expected, when he got near, his dragon eyes that could see far objects identify Tenka and Yrin fighting a group of red-skinned demons.

Tenka fought at close quarters using a large cleaver and buckler while Yrin supported from behind with her spells. One of her spells created shadow tentacles that whipped the demons and damaged them. These tentacles also entangled the demons if they tried to come near Yrin.

The demon patrol consisted of seven demons. Even when their number was more, it was evident that Tenka and Yrin were winning.

The leader of the demon patrol realized this and shouted a command for two demons to retreat and warn the manor. Two demons immediately removed themselves from the battle and ran in the direction of the manor.

Tenka and Yrin tried to chase after the two but the remaining five forcefully blocked them.

Jack, who was approaching them, changed direction after seeing the two fleeing demons. He used Charge then followed by Shooting Dash, immediately putting the demons within his range after the two skills. He then executed Wind Slash and cast Myriad Venomous Vipers at the same time.

The wind slash damaged the demons and the fifteen vipers burst from the ground and entangled them, preventing them from fleeing.

While bound, Jack approached and finished the two demons. By that time, Tenka and Yrin had also vanquished the demons on their side. Jack came to them then.

"Go back," Jack said to them.

"Hmph! You are the one who should leave. This has nothing to do with you," Tenka returned.

Jack didn't speak another word, he instead lunged at Tenka who was surprised by Jack's action. He reflexively lifted his buckler when Jack used Flame Strike.

The impact sent Tenka flying back. He dropped to the ground and skidded a few meters before stopping. When he rose back up, his eyes showed disbelief. How could a level 66 outworlder send him flying back like that?

"You…," Yrin lifted her staff.

"Stay out of this, Yrin. You know your father doesn't want you coming here," Jack said while walking past her.

Tenka readied his cleaver and buckler at Jack who was walking toward him. "Hmph! Don't think you win just now, outworlder. You simply caught me by surprise!"

Tenka ran forward. His satyr's goat legs gave him a higher movement speed than other races. He tried using this movement speed to confuse Jack. While doing that, he swung his cleaver. Ten slashing lights came at Jack following the swing.

Jack lightly slashed. A straight line formed of light cut through all of Tenka's slashing lights, breaking them apart.

Tenka could feel the unnatural power from that slash, yet he also knew that it was not a skill.

"You can't beat me," Jack said after showing off his one-word slash. "You will fail if you force yourself to infiltrate the manor."

"Don't get cocky, outworlder! I'm higher level than you!" Tenka exclaimed and his body transformed.

"Demonization!" Peniel uttered.

Tenka's brown-skinned satyr's body enlarged and changed to a red-skinned demon's body. Two large bat wings grew on his back as his hands and hooves turned to claws.

His large cleaver also burst with dark flame. This skill was Infernal Flame, the opposite of Paladin's sacred flame.

"Die, outworlder!!" Tenka exclaimed.

Jack didn't back away from the intimidation. As Tenka's flaming cleaver came, Jack similarly transformed. His claw came forward and stopped Tenka's cleaver.

Tenka tried to pull his cleaver away but was unable to. Jack's dragon claw was clutching the cleaver tight. Tenka was confused. The infernal flame from his cleaver should have damaged Jack continuously as long as Jack was touching his cleaver, but no damage number appeared. Jack had manipulated the mana to encase his claw that was grabbing the cleaver, protecting the infernal flame from damaging him.

A humanoid dragon and a demon continued contesting strength as one tried to pull away while the other kept grabbing.

Yrin was hesitant. Should she interfere? More demon patrols might come by.

"I say it again. You can't beat me," Jack said.

"Shut up!" Tenka executed Shield Smash using the buckler in his left hand. It was a stronger version of Shield Bash, and also had a chance to cause Dizzy status.

Jack easily dodged the smash using Eight Diagram Illusory Steps. At the same time, he caught Tenka's arm that was holding the buckler. Utilizing the shield smash's momentum, Jack flipped Tenka upside down before slamming him into the ground.

Jack then used the burst attack of his sword art. Ninety-six instant slashes were unleashed, but none of them hit Tenka's body. Jack directed all the slashes and hit the ground beside Tenka.

Even though Tenka didn't receive the slashes, he could feel the power of those slashes. The corrupted mana in the underworld allowed for easier sensing. So, most rare elites in the underworld could also sense mana. Tenka understood if all those ninety-six slashes landed on his body, he would be heavily wounded.