Chapter 74: Practical Dungeon Exam (VII)
Selina’s chest heaved as she glared at him, finger still trembling in the air.
"You disgusting bastard!" she shouted furiously, "You think you can just.... just take whatever you want?!"
Her hand shot up as if to slap him.
Gray didn’t even flinch; instead, he just smiled, the corner of his lip still glistening red where she’d bitten him.
That smile only stoked her rage further.
"I swear, one day I’ll rip that smug look off your face!" she spat, lunging forward again.
But this time, Mira grabbed her from behind, her arms locking around her waist.
"Selina, stop! Please!" Mira’s voice wavered, desperate. She dug her heels into the ground, dragging Selina back inch by inch.
"Let me go, Mira! I won’t let him—!"
"You’ll die if you keep this up!" Mira snapped, her own eyes brimming with panic. "Don’t you see? He’ll do worse than just kiss you if you keep pushing!"
Selina froze for the briefest moment, Mira’s words cutting through her fury.
Claire stepped in then, placing a trembling hand on Selina’s shoulder. Her face was pale, lips pressed tight, but her eyes were steady.
"Selina... It’s no use," Claire whispered, almost too soft to hear. "He’s... he’s not someone we can win against. Not now."
Gray chuckled lightly.
"Smart girl," he murmured, eyes flicking toward Claire before returning to Selina. "You’d all do well to listen to her."
Selina’s fists shook at her sides, her nails digging crescents into her palms. Her body quivered with restrained rage, every part of her screaming to strike him again.
But thankfully, her friends held her down.
Still, deep down, Selina felt the truth she hated most of all... arguing with Gray was like throwing yourself into a bonfire.
Her teeth clenched, lips trembling as she tore her gaze away from him.
"Fine," she hissed coldly.
Gray tilted his head lazily, eyes glinting before he winked at her while licking his lower lip.
"YOU!!!"
Selina’s whole body jolted at his actions, but Mira and Claire pulled her back before she could lunge again.
She bit down on her lip so hard she tasted blood, her whole body trembling as she let them drag her a few steps away.
[...Is it fun to tease them?]
Jasmine asked suddenly.
"...Kinda;" Gray smirked with a small nod, walking casually behind the three girls.
[You said before that you would only seduce those who gave you benefits, so what’s up with those three?]
"It’s just for fun," Gray shrugged.
[FUN?!]
Jasmine shouted.
"...What’s up with you?"
[I thought you’d be different from him...]
"Huh?" Gray instantly stopped in his tracks as his eyes narrowed coldly.
"Him?"
[...I had one person I gave my blessing to besides you. And like you... He used my blessing to conquer every girl... even forgetting about his goal, which was also revenge. But... he lost himself in the sea of pleasure... and ended up dying because of it.]
Her voice dropped colder with every word.
[He had forgotten why he worked so hard to get my blessing... and ended up wasting it. And now...]
Her voice trailed off before turning cold as ice.
[...NOW I SEE THE SAME THING HAPPENING WITH YOU!]
Gray gradually fell silent at her words.
The faint smirk faded, and the hypnotic swirl in his eyes dimmed, as if the other Gray had resurfaced.
"Everything I do... has an objective, and always will. Those girls may seem useless on the surface, but when the time comes, they’ll serve a purpose—even if that purpose means sacrifice."
Jasmine’s voice died completely.
"...Now, shut it."
Gray added as the hypnotic swirl in his eyes came back
He followed the other three girls silently, but just at that moment, he saw Mira suddenly approaching the light rune... even though she was simply walking backwards.
"MIRA, STOP!"
Gray shouted immediately.
"Uh?" Mira subtly turned towards Gray as her other hand spun in the process, touching the light rune.
Selina noticed this and her face dropped immediately.
"Shit...," Claire muttered.
Glow...
The light rune illuminated the whole place before dissipating into faint wisps. And now.... the Gray that was already angered... got even more.
"YOU FUCKING DUMB BITCH!"
SLAP!
His hand whipped across Mira’s face, hurling her against the wall with a sharp crack.
"MIRA!"
Both Selina and Claire exclaimed in shock.
"A-Agh... keugh!" Mira gasped, trying to breathe.
But Gray was already there, his shadow swallowing her.
He yanked her up by the throat, pinning her against the stone. Her legs kicked helplessly beneath his grip.
"You should fucking die," he hissed, his eyes narrowing as his fingers tightened.
But just at that moment...
Fwsshhh!
A lance made of fire shot towards him, and Gray quickly saw this and threw Mira towards it, but at that moment...
Splash!
A barrier of water appeared, canceling the lance.
"Nice, it worked!" Selina clenched her fist, sprinting toward Mira.
Claire moved with her, planting herself between Gray and their battered friend.
"What the fuck do you think you’re doing, huh?" Gray cursed coldly. "This bitch is literally going to kill us!"
Selina frowned at his words... because it was probably true...
"It was an accident! Stuff like that happ—"
"—An accident that could’ve wiped us out?!" Gray cut her off, voice rising. "That rune was there for a reason, not for her to fuck around with! If she had half a brain, this wouldn’t have happened!"
[Gray... calm down. If a high-level monster does appear, you’ll need them to survive.]
Jasmine calmly stated.
That made Gray’s anger lessen a little, but as if to provoke him a little more...
GRAAAAAAAAARGHHHHHHHH!
A bone-shaking roar tore through the chamber.
From the wall where the rune had once been, stone peeled and cracked like flesh tearing. A massive shape ripped free, a beast that had been hiding within the rock itself.
Its body was twisted and pale, skin like cracked stone veined with glowing light. Two broken wings jutted from its back, twitching uselessly.
Its arms ended in jagged claws, scraping sparks against the wall as it pulled itself free. And its eyes, bright, molten orbs, locked straight onto them.
Gray’s lips parted in a curse.
"Fuck..."
He quickly shook his head at his shock and turned to Claire.
"Claire. Burn it," he snapped.
Claire hesitated, glancing back at Mira still coughing on the ground. But Gray’s voice cut like a blade.
"NOW!"
Claire gritted her teeth, flame surging across her arms.
FWOOOM!
She hurled a wave of fire at the beast’s chest. The heat rolled through the chamber, washing over their faces.
Crack!
The monster raised one claw and split the fire in two. The blaze rolled harmlessly across the stone walls.
Its molten eyes locked on Claire.
The beast crouched, his muscles swelling as if preparing himself... and then...
BOOM!
It lunged.
"Mira!" Gray shouted-
The earth mage slammed her palms down, voice cracking with effort.
RUMBLE!
A wall of stone erupted from the ground, jagged and thick.
The beast smashed into it, claws sinking deep. The barrier cracked and split under the pressure.
Gray’s eyes glowed faintly as his black threads shot from his gloves.
Fwip!
They snaked around the monster’s arm, pulling tight.
"Selina!"
"I know!" Her voice rang out, water surging from her staff.
SPLASH!
A barrier of liquid light wrapped around Mira’s crumbling stone wall, reinforcing it just as the beast shattered the first layer.
"Push it back!" Gray snarled, tugging the threads.
His muscles strained, his shirt already tearing at the seams.
GRAAAGHH!
The monster roared, jerking against the threads. One arm tore free with a violent snap, sending Gray stumbling forward.
SLASH!
Splurt!
The beast’s claw tore across Gray’s chest, ripping shirt and skin alike.
"Ugh... fuck," he hissed, staggering back as the wound burned.
"GRAY!" Selina cried.
"Shut up and keep it busy!" he barked, threads whipping again.
They wrapped around the beast’s legs this time, tightening as he pulled hard.
Claire’s flames roared to life, spinning into a spear.
"Move!" she shouted, dashing forward.
She leapt, thrusting the blazing weapon into the monster’s shoulder.
SKRRSH!
Fire seared flesh, the beast roaring in fury.
Crack!
It spun, wings flaring wide, and smacked Claire with a broken wing. She slammed into the ground, rolling across the dirt, flames flickering out.
"Claire!" Mira shouted, rising her hands.
RUMBLE!
A dome of stone curved up around Claire, shielding her as the monster’s claw came down.
The impact boomed across the cavern, the dome cracking but holding.
[Aim the threads at the joints.]
Jasmine’s voice suddenly rang.
"Haghh..." Gray’s breath came ragged as blood dripped down his chest.
He gritted his teeth and snapped his wrists.
Fwip!
Threads lanced out, piercing the beast’s elbows and knees, before tightening completely.
GRAAAGHH!
The monster roared again, stumbling because of Gray’s threads, his movements starting to grow more jerky and unstable.
"Selina!"
"I’m on it!" Her staff glowed, streams of water wrapping around Gray’s body. His chest wounds closed slightly, pain dulling as the cool energy seeped in.
"Pftu!"
He spat blood, eyes narrowing.
"Good enough."
He yanked the threads, pulling himself up the monster’s side. His feet planted against its chest, blood slicking his hands as he climbed.
THWIP! THWIP!
Threads stabbed into its flesh for grip.
"Die already!" he roared, slashing the threads across its throat.
But the beast twisted, jaws snapping wide.
CRUNCH!
Its teeth clamped around his side, tearing deep into his waist.
"AGHHH!" Gray howled, blood spraying across the stone.
"GRAY!" Selina screamed, water lashing out to blast the monster’s face.
Mira slammed her hands into the ground, spikes of stone erupting beneath its feet.
CRACK!
CRACK!
The beast stumbled, releasing Gray from its jaws.
He crashed to the floor, rolling hard. His clothes were shredded, his chest and side a mess of blood.
Claire staggered out of the cracked dome, flames flickering weakly across her arms. Her face was pale, but her eyes burned with fury.
"No holding back." She thrust both hands forward.
FWOOOOM!
A torrent of fire erupted, swirling into a massive firestorm that engulfed the monster’s head and chest.
The beast roared, clawing wildly through the blaze. Its stone-like flesh glowed, cracks spreading across its body from the heat.
"Now, Mira!"
Mira clenched her fists, slamming both hands down.
BOOM!
The ground beneath the monster erupted, jagged spires of stone impaling its legs. The beast screeched, pinned for a moment.
Gray staggered to his feet, blood dripping down his arms. His threads lashed wildly, cutting into the monster’s chest and shoulders, ripping chunks of flesh and stone away.
"Selina, heal him more!" Mira shouted.
"I’m trying!" Selina’s voice cracked, water wrapping Gray again, sealing wounds as fast as she could.
But the injuries were deep, and her magic only slowed the bleeding.
"Don’t... waste too much," Gray growled, stumbling forward.
His eyes blazed, hypnotic swirl spinning fast.
Threads shimmered like blades in the dim light.
[Focus Gray...cut is heart as it is his core.]
Gray roared, threads whipping together into a massive spear. He sprinted, leaping high despite his torn muscles and battered body.
The beast’s claws swung up, slashing into him mid-air.
SLASH!
His back split open, blood spraying. His body twisted, but he forced the spear down, threads driving straight into the monster’s chest.
SHRRK!
The beast screamed, glowing cracks spreading wider, heat and light pouring from the wound.
But it wasn’t dead yet.
It flung itself against the wall, slamming its chest where Gray clung.
BOOM!
Gray’s body crunched against the stone, pain exploding through him as his ribs snapped.
He coughed blood, his threads faltering.
"GRAY!"
All three girls screamed at once.