Second World

Without her ability to displace and teleport, Saakir was not Jack's opponent. She was six levels higher than Jack, but Jack was able to go against multiple rare elites of the same level at the same time. So, fighting only one rare elite with a slightly higher level was not a problem for him.

Jack must admit, though. This Saakir was stronger than the average rare elite. Jack even had a feeling that she had a mana sense ability.

Even so, after a few clashes, Saakir was aware that she was not Jack's opponent. She wasn't able to keep Jack at bay. Jack was simply too fast. She had no problem concentrating in a melee but it was still very disadvantageous for her to fight in a melee.

Her expressions showed that she wanted to retreat but was unwilling to. She kept on glancing at the dim orb floating beside her. Jack was aware then that the orb might not follow her if she left. Perhaps because it was tethered to Luna at the center of this hall.

Not like Jack was going to let her leave, anyway. Jack increased his pace to quickly defeat this demon mage before the others came, so he could work on saving Luna.

"Damn you, outworlder! I will get you back for this…!!" Saakir yelled.

She had been preparing a six-runes spell, Flame Wrath. Multiple large fireballs came out and chased after Jack.

Jack jumped back before using Swords of the Brave. The ten golden swords destroyed ten of the fireballs, and Jack used his slashes to destroy the rest.

While he was doing that, Saakir took out a small red stone.

Jack used Charge and returned to Saakir's side just as she was enveloped by red light. She then vanished when Jack's sword came slashing.

"Huh?" Jack was unable to sense where she had moved to. His radar also didn't show any red dot appearing in its scope.

"That was a displacement stone she used," Peniel informed. "She is gone already. The stone is a unique-grade consumable. It teleports its user a large distance away even during combat. The direction is random. Even the user won't know where she ends up at. It is a pure escape tool."

"She must know that she can't outrun me with normal means," Jack said, which was true. Even if Jack didn't use any movement skills, he could easily catch up with her slow-moving speed if she tried running to the stairs.

Since the demon mage was gone, Jack didn't dwell on her. He turned back and ran to where Luna and Pandora were.

Now that he was closer and was allowed to focus his attention, he could sense the mana tendrils from the rune diagrams were locking Luna in that spot.

"I suppose Dispel is not strong enough for those rune diagrams?" Jack asked.

"No. You need Greater Dispel," Peniel said. "You can try working on the diagrams, though. They are a bit more complex than the one you solved when you freed Pandora. But with your current level of mana sense, you should be able to undo the binding."

"I can, but it will take time. We don't know how long before other enemies arrive," Jack said.

As he was saying that, he heard a crash from outside. He looked through the opening to the outside hall and saw the familiar green-skinned demon standing near a broken window.

"Speaking of the demon…," Jack muttered.

After Pandora vanished, Xelvorath flew around the place to search for the missing nightmare. But a loud explosion from the direction of the manor drew his attention. He quickly flew back.

Xelvorath saw a huge hole in the wall of the third floor. He also saw signs of conflict there, but he decided to go to the fourth floor first before checking out the third floor.

He directly crashed through the window of the fourth floor. He was very surprised to find the hell baron was not present. Instead, it was a human intruder with the nightmare he had been chasing a while ago.

"You… Outworlder. How did you enter this place?" Xelvorath said as he walked over.

Jack prepared himself. He transformed into his supreme dragon form. He had been saving it if he had to face a mythical-grade opponent.

But Xelvorath suddenly turned to the side when a shadow crashed into him. This shadow zipped around at a very fast speed. Xelvorath was caught unprepared by the ambush. Damage numbers over damage numbers appeared every time the shadow swept past him.

"Arlcard!" Jack called.

The shadow turned into Arlcard. Spell formation was seen at the tip of his crimson rapier. A gigantic black sword soon appeared. The Dark Lord's Sword flew toward Xelvorath who had used the pause to erect a protective stone shield.

The black sword stabbed into the shield. Xelvorath was unable to stop the sword's momentum. He was pushed until he hit the wall at the far end. His stone shield was finally split in two after being unable to move back any further. The black sword continued and stabbed into Xelvorath, delivering huge dark damage.

Xelvorath roared in fury as he grabbed the two sticks strapped to his back. Blades came out of the sticks' two ends, forming two twinblades.

The vampire and the demon then exchanged moves using their weapons.

Arlcard seemed to be at an advantage. Arlcard was one level higher and Peniel once mentioned that Arlcard was an exceptional native who was generally stronger than the average natives of the same level and grade.

Jack wasn't worried about their fight. He considered helping Arlcard to speed up the battle, but he looked back at Luna again. He saw the pleading look from Pandora. It was a rare sight from this aloof nightmare.

Jack considered unraveling the rune diagrams. But if he started it, he couldn't stop the process midway. Or else, he and Luna would receive a backlash. However, with a battle happening so close, he thought it was too high a risk. The battle could unexpectedly come his way and force him to stop.

After thinking for a bit, he said to Pandora, "Stay here with her. I will be back soon!"

Jack then flew out of the hall and headed to the stairs.