They had decided to remain in the same groups as before, Korimer leading Group 1, with Cheim Nell, Kutote Tuo, Konacho Ojoche and Illiopo Sengares. Nuelle Ness leading Group 2, with Itekan Lie, Itoyea Pilton, Bukanami Ao and Jokovik Martennel. Lastly, Candice Laīde leading Group 3 with Binturu Binturu, Tendo Kech, Tobi Fustavo, Great Man.
And as they waited for the command to begin, they split into their groups and decided to discuss strategy.
This round was bound to be different. Kime had taught them Runes specifically so they would make it through the round. So somewhere at the back of their minds they wondered what really happened caused him because they had faced the other trainees in Round 1, they simply weren't on such a level that normal methods of growth were ineffective.
Few of the sharper ones like Kutote and Korimer already had ideas of what was going on. The undercurrents of the tension around them had cemented those ideas.
Just then Dwembele Stavhavash gave the signal to begin.
All eight groups entered the dungeon. The mission was to find the Dukcilliea Chambers within the time limit. And to ensure all groups had equal chances they entered at different locations.
Candice and her team left the gathering first shooting deep into the dungeon. Nuelle Ness and her team went next, then Korimer and his team moved last.
They never saw it coming...
---
30 minutes later...
Itekan dodged the poisonous spit the Jinz Bound Salamader, an A Ranked Demonic Beast. It's venom was potent enough to knock out a base Blue Eyes Form hero a mere ten seconds after contact.
An attack from a beast like that could damage their overall attack potency if it hit the wrong person, that's why they'd sent Itekan in because of the 5 of them in their group his regenerative capacity was the highest, infact his regen rate was the highest amongst all of Four Stars trainees.
So he was their forward. Nuelle Ness' plan ws for him to drain it's SE so that either Itoyea or Bukanami would finish it off.
However Itekan wasn't ready to simply be bait, he rather finish it off himself.
Using runes had taught Itekan something fundamental about power.
Most techniques depended on an external source of energy — usually Spiritual Energy. They were shaped by intent, but sustained by fuel. Authorities, however, required no such source. They functioned purely through will and right, which made them vastly stronger than ordinary techniques.
The true difference, he realized, was not strength, but application.
Techniques and Authorities expressed intent in entirely different ways.
When his normal abilities failed to affect the opponent before him, Adaptive Power did not respond by forcing greater output. Instead, it adapted to the limitation itself.
Drawing upon his rune — Adaptive Power (変力) — Itekan restructured his technique's execution. He stripped away its complete reliance on Spiritual Energy and anchored part of its function in authority-based intent, while retaining the framework of a technique.
What emerged was neither Authority nor Technique.
It was a hybrid construct — stronger than a conventional technique, yet still beneath a true Authority. A solution born specifically to overcome resistance his previous methods could not.
He named it Hunguon Kaien.
"Hunguon Kaien — Split Construct, Performing Arts: Chajama."
The draw back of the ability is that it requires a longer chant or hand sign. So it couldn't be used for rapid attacks, but it was perfect for a long drawn battle.
The blaze of fireballs gathered in their hundreds, glowing bright like an inferno. The heat made the air seem glassy.
Itekan struck a pose as he finished his chant, his right hand raised high, his face high, looking at the Jinz Bound Salamader like it was beneath him.
"Fall." He said softly. The fireballs shot down like thundering meteors tearing through the salamander with the ease and precision of a surgeon.
When the smoke cleared out not even the bones were left standing, in the center of the remains was a glowing SE stone, the core of the Jinz Bound Salamader.
"Show off" Itoyea hissed as the smoke cleared out, but he was grinning. Jokovik Martennel had his mouth open wide then he shrugged and shook his head, giving up. Bukanami Ao also had a pleased smile on his face as he watched the smoke receed.
Gathering together they continued onwards. Their scout, Nuelle Ness had already moved on actually, her technique coupled with her overly sensitive hearing had helped them a ton while navigating through the dungeon.
For the most part they had only come across beast that usually occupied the Red zone space of the dungeon, bit that was primarily because she steered them away from any threat she felt would waste too much of their time or anything she felt was too dangerous.
Because, at the end of the day the mission was an exploration one, not a dungeon clean up.
—Thwat!
The sound of hurried hoves resounded through the dungeon.
A loud roar resounded from all around, the sound was like the shrieking of bats.
Everyone knew what they were; Night-Shrill Covet Blood Bats, they were easily Grade B to Grade A demonic beasts. In a horde their combos stack bringing them to a near SS Grade.
"How many?" Itoyea asked as the gathered around in a star shaped formation to cover all sides.
"Dozens— No! Hundreds! Why are they this many!" Nuelle Ness said, her look of calm faltering as the reality of their situation sunk.
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Spiritual Energy (SE)
Spiritual Sea (SS)
Spiritual Signature (SST)