They was another meeting in the chamber of Legion Academy
Three Lords stood around the large circular table.
Lord Ackman.
Lord Kelvin.
And Lady Nerissa.
At the head of the table stood Great Elder Neil.
His expression was calm, but the information he was about to deliver had already caught the attention of every Lord in the room.
"Lord Chad has entered the Mid-Rank Dungeon," Neil said. "I personally assigned him the mission."
Kelvin folded his arms.
"A Mid-Rank Dungeon?"
Neil nodded.
"The situation inside is more serious than a normal dungeon expedition. Chad's mission is to eliminate the monsters controlling the dungeon ."
Ackman remained silent.
Nerissa narrowed her eyes.
"And after that?"
Neil looked toward all three of them.
"After Chad returns, we will begin preparations for the Lord's Clash."
Kelvin's eyes widened slightly.
"The Lord's Clash?"
"Yes."
Neil placed both hands on the table.
"Before the Academy Entrance Tournament, the people of the surrounding kingdoms will be invited to witness the strength of Legion Academy's highest-ranked warriors."
He paused.
"The purpose is simple. We want more people to understand what this Academy represents."
Ackman gave a faint smile.
"So we're putting on a show."
"Not a show," Neil replied. "A demonstration."
He turned toward the enormous doors of the chamber.
"The Coliseum will be used."
Kelvin grinned.
"Now that's something worth watching."
Neil continued.
"The battle will be divided into two teams."
He pointed toward Kelvin.
"Lord Kelvin and Lord Chad."
Then toward Ackman and Nerissa.
"Against Lord Ackman and Lady Nerissa."
Nerissa raised an eyebrow.
"So we're fighting together?"
"For this event, yes."
Ackman simply smiled.
Neil's voice became firm.
"The Coliseum is large enough to contain the battle. None of you will be required to hold back because of the surrounding buildings. However, unnecessary destruction outside the designated battlefield will not be tolerated."
Kelvin cracked his knuckles.
"Sounds fun."
Ackman chuckled.
"I suppose we'll see whether Chad has improved."
Neil nodded.
"Once Chad completes his mission, preparations will begin."
The Goliath Palace
Far away from Legion Academy, Chad Grace stood before the enormous palace at the heart of the dungeon.
The structure towered over everything around it.
Stone walls.
Massive pillars.
Dark corridors.
The entire place felt less like a palace and more like a fortress built for war.
Chad stared at it.
"So this is the foundation of the dungeon."
He tightened his grip around his sword.
Then he walked forward.
Inside the palace…
Hundreds of Goliaths stood in perfect military formation.
Their massive bodies filled the enormous hall.
At the very end of the chamber stood a gigantic throne.
Seated upon it was the ruler of the dungeon.
Vargan, King of the Goliaths.
He was enormous even by Goliath standards.
Two massive Goliaths stood beside his throne.
His right-hand warrior was a male Goliath.
His left-hand warrior was a female Goliath.
They were known throughout the dungeon as the Twin Goliaths.
A scout knelt before Vargan.
"My king…"
He lowered his head.
"The intruder has eliminated every warrior we sent after him."
Vargan's eyes narrowed.
"All of them?"
"Yes."
A slow smile appeared on Vargan's face.
"Interesting."
He leaned back into his throne.
"So the intruder has finally reached me."
He looked toward the massive entrance.
"I wonder what he's capable of."
BOOM!
The palace doors exploded inward.
A fist had punched straight through them.
Dust filled the chamber.
Chad stepped through the broken entrance.
His hand was smoking.
His eyes were hidden beneath his hair and the shadows of the dust.
He slowly lowered his fist.
Then exhaled.
A visible cloud of breath escaped his mouth.
Chad looked around.
"So this is the main foundation of the dungeon."
Vargan smiled.
"So you're the intruder."
Chad looked directly toward the throne.
"No."
He slowly drew his sword.
"I'm here to clean up the mess you made."
BOOM!
Chad launched forward.
His sword swung toward Vargan.
But before he could reach the throne—
BOOOOM!
A tremendous force slammed into him.
Chad was sent flying backward.
He twisted in midair and landed on his feet.
His eyes widened.
"What the heck was that?"
Vargan laughed.
"Aerial Barrier."
A powerful distortion surrounded his body.
"I am Vargan, King of the Goliath Race."
He stood.
"And I wield three forms of magic."
Flames appeared around one hand.
The ground trembled beneath another.
Wind spiraled around his body.
"Fire."
"Earth."
"And Wind."
His smile widened.
"You won't reach me."
He gestured toward the hundreds of Goliaths.
"These are my strongest warriors. The final line of defense."
Then he pointed toward his two guards.
"And those two will end you in an instant."
Chad tightened his grip.
"Bring it on."
Vargan suddenly raised one hand.
"Wait."
He smiled.
"I have a proposal."
"Fight me."
Chad raised an eyebrow.
"One against one."
Vargan's voice echoed throughout the palace.
"If you defeat me, I will release every human prisoner inside this dungeon."
Chad's expression hardened.
"And if I lose?"
Vargan's smile disappeared.
"You will watch them die."
Chad's eyes narrowed.
"I will drain your magical energy and leave you here as a prisoner."
Vargan leaned forward.
"You will remain in this dungeon forever."
He paused.
"You should also understand something."
"The laws of this dungeon are different from the outside world."
Chad listened.
"People do not die from natural causes here."
"Dehydration. Aging. Exhaustion."
Vargan smiled.
"None of them are enough."
"Your body remains in the condition it entered this dungeon."
"The only true death comes from being killed."
Chad slowly raised his sword.
"So you're saying I'll be trapped here forever."
"Exactly."
Chad smirked.
"Then I guess I'll just have to win."
Vargan stood.
His enormous robe fell from his body.
Four arms were revealed.
Two normal arms.
And two additional arms positioned above them.
Chad's eyes widened slightly.
Vargan rolled his shoulders.
CRACK.
The magical pressure filling the room suddenly increased.
Chad felt it.
This guy…
He tightened his grip.
This battle is going to be tough.
Vargan smiled.
"Ready?"
Chad lowered his stance.
"Bring it on."
Vargan raised his hand.
A massive magic circle appeared beneath Chad.
Chad's eyes widened.
BOOOOOOM!
A pillar of flame erupted from the ground.
It tore through the palace ceiling and shot into the sky.
The clouds above the dungeon were blown apart.
Chad landed on a nearby structure.
He looked upward.
"Damn."
Vargan laughed.
"I'll let you attack first."
Chad smirked.
"Don't regret saying that."
He disappeared.
BOOM!
Chad appeared directly before Vargan.
His sword pierced forward.
CLANG!
The blade penetrated the Aerial Barrier slightly.
Vargan's eyes widened.
"You penetrated it?"
Chad grinned.
"Whatever I can feel…"
Dark flames erupted from his sword.
"…I can burn."
The dark flames spread across the barrier.
Vargan smiled.
"Impressive."
His upper-left hand shot toward Chad.
Chad blocked.
His upper-right hand followed.
Chad blocked again.
Then—
BOOM!
One of Vargan's lower hands punched straight through Chad's guard.
The impact shattered several ribs and sent Chad flying.
But before he could crash—
Chad vanished.
He appeared above Vargan.
SLASH!
Vargan blocked.
Chad's sword cut across his arms.
Blood appeared.
Chad landed.
Vargan disappeared.
A voice came from behind him.
"You're stronger than I expected."
Chad turned.
Vargan stood behind him.
The wounds on his arms were already regenerating.
"You managed to cut through my hardened skin."
Chad smirked.
"That was hardened?"
Vargan's expression changed.
In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Chad.
Chad reacted—
SWAP.
His soul-swapping ability activated.
Vargan's fist slammed into the wall instead.
BOOOOM!
The throne behind him was destroyed.
Silence.
Vargan slowly turned around.
His expression darkened.
"You made me angry."
He raised all four arms.
"ERADICATE HIM!"
The hundreds of Goliaths charged.
"Kill him!"
Chad smiled.
"This is why you don't trust demons."
Dark flames erupted.
WHOOOOOSH!
The flames spread across the battlefield.
One after another, the Goliaths were consumed by Chad's Dark Flame.
Their formation collapsed.
Within moments, hundreds of warriors had fallen.
Only the Twin Goliaths remained.
Chad stared at the destruction.
He looked slightly surprised.
That range…
Before he could think further—
Vargan appeared in front of him.
Chad thrust his sword forward.
Vargan blocked with one forearm.
The blade pierced through his arm and stopped dangerously close to his face.
Chad pushed harder.
Vargan grinned.
Chad suddenly released the sword.
He drew his dagger with his left hand.
STAB!
The dagger drove into Vargan's head.
Chad followed with his knee, driving the dagger deeper.
Vargan roared.
"AAAAARGH!"
Chad landed.
He immediately drove his fist into Vargan's stomach.
BOOM!
Vargan crashed through his throne and into the wall behind it.
The entire chamber shook.
Chad stepped back.
He reached down and picked up his sword.
He's finished.
Then—
The Twin Goliaths attacked.
One from the right.
One from the left.
Chad raised his sword in his right hand and dagger in his left.
CLANG! CLANG!
He blocked both attacks.
The impact cracked the ground beneath them.
Chad grinned.
"You two are strong."
He vanished.
The twins lost their balance.
Chad appeared before them.
"Dark Slash."
A dark blade of energy shot forward.
The twins dodged.
The attack struck Vargan instead.
SLASH!
A brutal cut appeared across his body.
The Twin Goliaths stared.
"You pay!"
They charged again.
Together, they struck Chad in the stomach.
BOOM!
Chad flew backward and crashed into a massive boulder.
The twins appeared above him.
They raised their fists.
Chad vanished.
SWAP.
The female Goliath suddenly appeared beneath her brother's attack.
BOOM!
He slammed into his own sister.
Chad landed several meters away.
He gripped his sword.
His eyes hardened.
One against three.
Then—
Vargan's hand slammed into the ground.
"EARTHQUAKE!"
CRACK!
A massive fracture spread from his hand.
It raced through the palace.
Then beyond it.
The entire dungeon began shaking.
Chad's eyes widened.
"Damn it!"
Another explosion erupted beneath him.
He vanished just before the ground erupted.
He landed on a broken rock.
He looked at Vargan and the Twin Goliaths.
Then he exhaled.
He raised his sword in his right hand.
His dagger in his left.
"This battle…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…is going to take a while."
Later
Silence.
The palace was almost completely destroyed.
Chad stood among the ruins.
His academy uniform was torn.
His breathing was heavy.
The Twin Goliaths lay defeated.
Vargan was barely recognizable beneath the damage he had suffered.
Chad sheathed his sword.
He turned toward the exit.
Then—
"YOU THINK YOU CAN DESTROY ME?!"
Chad stopped.
Vargan was still alive.
His hand slammed into the ground.
The Earthquake magic intensified.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire dungeon began collapsing.
Chad's expression changed.
"Damn it. The prisoners!"
Then He disappeared.
Chad arrived at the prison chamber.
The cages had already been opened.
Hundreds of prisoners stood together, terrified and confused.
A young woman stepped forward.
"What's happening?"
Chad looked around.
"We don't have much time."
He saw the collapsing ceiling.
Then the trembling ground.
I can't carry all of them out individually.
He clenched his fist.
"I need all of you to do something for me."
The woman nodded.
Chad pointed toward the prisoners.
"Everyone hold hands."
They obeyed.
He pointed toward the woman.
"You. Put your hand on my back."
She did so.
Chad crouched down and placed his palm against the ground.
His soul energy surged.
"I need everyone to jump when I count to three."
The woman looked confused.
Chad repeated himself.
She finally understood.
She translated his instructions to the others.
Everyone nodded.
Chad closed his eyes.
"One…"
The dungeon shook violently.
"Two…"
Stone began falling from the ceiling.
"THREE!"
Everyone jumped.
Chad activated his Soul Swap.
WHOOSH!
The entire group vanished.
Outside the dungeon—
BOOOOOOOOM!
The massive dungeon collapsed.
The palace disappeared beneath the ruins.
The remaining structure of the dungeon shattered into nothing.
The prisoners stood outside, safe.
Chad appeared among them.
He stumbled forward.
His breathing was exhausted.
Then he dropped onto the ground.
He looked toward the ruined dungeon.
"That…"
He exhaled.
"…was a close one."
The young woman approached him with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you."
Chad looked up.
He paused
"You don't have to thank me yet."
He slowly stood.
"I'm taking all of you back to Legion Academy."
The prisoners stared at him.
"You'll get food. Clothes. Medical attention."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"After that, we'll find your homes and get you back to your families."
The woman smiled.
For the first time in a long time, hope returned to the prisoners' faces.
Chad looked back at the ruins.
Then he started walking.
And the prisoners followed behind