"Commander."
A sharp, shocked voice rang through my mind.
I responded instantly. What happened?
"Lysandria's team escaped using summoning magic."
I clicked my tongue. Damn it.
"Any other losses?"
"Three teams escaped with them. The remaining five are marching toward you."
I paused only to confirm. "You're certain?"
"Yes."
"Good," I replied calmly. "Divide into two equal groups. Five will move to assist me. The other five will continue mining the crystals."
I ended the link.
I was seated atop the Mutant Mana Spider's corpse, its massive body collapsed beneath me. Blood had flooded the chamber—splattered across the floor, my boots, my clothes. The carcass itself had become an obstruction.
I ignited Shadow Flame and reduced it to ash, carefully preserving the mana core. As I reached down to retrieve it—
A dagger pierced through the air.
I deflected it with my sword without looking up.
Footsteps followed.
A fleet of participants entered the chamber.
A vampire stepped forward, his lips curling.
"A single person guarding the exit? Your team abandoned you."
I exhaled slowly.
"Even for a vampire," I said, voice steady, "you're not the leader here."
His expression twisted with rage. "You're in serious trouble, kid."
I tilted my head slightly. "You're confused. You're only fifty."
I raised my hand.
"You'll need more than that."
I released the limiter.
Vessel Output: 10%.
Shock rippled through them as my mana and aura surged. Weapons were drawn—but too late. Even the goblins, the weakest among them, stiffened under the pressure.
I vanished.
By the time I reached their center, arrows and blades were already moving. I deflected, sidestepped, flipped backward midair—
—and released Water Arrows with surgical precision.
Every goblin fell.
Silence followed.
The vampire laughed. "Impressive."
Ten vampires unfurled their wings in unison. Mixed-bloods advanced with blades drawn, while the vendors unleashed spells—fire, water, raw mana—layered attacks filling the air.
Above them, blood manipulation sliced through space with terrifying speed.
I evaded everything—until a thin line of pain bloomed across my cheek.
I touched it. Blood.
I didn't hesitate.
I released the limiter. Vessel Output: 15%. The air in the chamber turned heavy as lead, and the mana crystals in the walls began to hum in protest
My mana pressure crushed down like a falling sky.
This was no longer a battle of restraint.
I formed the Fire Dragon, binding its movement to my sword. Wherever I swung, it followed.
My first strike was blocked.
As expected.
The dragon twisted downward instead.
The moment it struck the ground, I activated Fire Tornado.
Five vendors and ten mixed-bloods were consumed instantly.
Half their force vanished.
Fear replaced rage.
Blood manipulation surged again—faster, sharper. A vampire dashed forward, his attack piercing through like arrows.
Pain exploded.
Nine wounds tore across my chest.
I activated my Healing Domain.
The dead answered.
Mana surged from the corpses littering the chamber, feeding the domain. Flesh knit together as I slammed my foot into the ground, the shockwave echoing like thunder.
I raised Fire Tornado once more—this time as a smokescreen.
I disappeared.
When I reappeared, it was behind the vendors.
They didn't even scream.
Their numbers dropped to twenty.
My wounds finished closing.
I moved again—throwing daggers, changing angles, never stopping. Two vampires were injured. Panic spread.
The mixed-bloods trembled.
I ignored their attacks, cutting them down one by one until only a handful remained.
Exhaustion finally crept in.
I stood amidst forty corpses, breathing heavy.
The remaining vampires landed before me.
They began a ritual.
Blood spilled across the floor rose like spears, converging toward my heart.
I summoned the Mana Dragon, spinning it defensively—but they countered it together.
Then—
A sharp sound cut through the battlefield.
Five vampires died instantly.
My team arrived.
The survivors turned in shock.
I didn't let them recover.
I ended them all.
When it was over, I stood alone—covered in blood, chest rising and falling.
"Gather the crystals," I said calmly.
My team moved.
The dungeon was silent.