Some time earlier—right when Ren and the others were being swarmed.
Oskara and his team had already slipped past the chaos and into the pit. They moved with purpose, heading toward a specific cave as though they knew the layout by heart.
That was because they did.
They advanced swiftly along the tunnel walls. At one corner, a crab burst forth, mandibles clacking as it swung its pincers.
Slice! Slice!
Within seconds, the crab was reduced to mincemeat. A strange spray followed as the corpse and bodily fluids dissolved into a murky puddle, erasing most signs of battle. Only a few fresh sword marks on the walls remained.
This pattern continued as they moved deeper into the tunnels. Some skirmishes were brief; others violent—but none lasted more than five minutes.
Eventually, the tunnel widened into a sprawling cavern corridor. Jagged walls pulsed with faint blue luminescence, casting long shadows over water pooled across the stone floor. Ripples shimmered with each step they took.
At the chamber's center lay a massive black crab, its enormous body subtly rising and falling as it breathed.
Without hesitation—like a maneuver they had practiced countless times—Rusk moved in, his class already activated.
[Ability Activated – Blade of Arcana]
A plain-looking sword appeared in his grip.
Clang!
He slashed at the crab, but instead of the flesh ripping sound he expected, his blade rebounded off the hardened carapace, the impact sending him flying backward.
The crab reared up, pincers snapping with bone-shattering force as it lunged toward the airborne Rusk.
That was when Tasha stepped in.
She rushed past Rusk toward the crab, activating her class ability mid-stride.
[Ability Activated – Panda Spirit]
A massive presence materialized before her.
A white, muscular panda—nearly the size of the crab—manifested with a deep, rumbling growl. The instant its paws touched the cavern floor, it lunged forward, charging headfirst into the giant crab like a living battering ram.
BOOM!
Water erupted in a wide ring as the Spirit Panda smashed into the crab's armored face.
The moment they clashed, Oskara activated his own class ability and moved.
[Ability Activated – Phoenix Carapace]
Golden, interlocking feathered plates formed over his body, locking across his entire frame. Clawed gauntlets snapped over his hands, and a beak-shaped visor enclosed his face, crowned by a phoenix-plume crest. Rigid fin-wings unfolded at his back, sharp and sleek.
It was identical to Ren's own.
Without wasting time, Oskara summoned a beast memory.
A golden sword materialized in his grip.
He dashed across the cavern, feet splashing through shallow water, reaching the crab's exposed flank almost simultaneously with the panda's strike.
The dual impact forced the crab backward, its massive legs carving furrows into the stone as it struggled to regain balance. With a shrill, metallic screech, it snapped both pincers outward in a violent arc.
Bang! Crack!
The shockwave sent water spraying like knives. Tasha leapt back, narrowly avoiding a pincer that slammed into the ground where she had stood a heartbeat earlier.
The Spirit Panda planted its hind legs, muscles bulging beneath snowy fur. It growled deeply, the sound vibrating through the cavern, then lunged again—biting down on one of the crab's legs with ferocious strength.
The crab responded instantly, lifting its body and stomping down, slamming the panda face-first into the ground.
[Energy Skill Activated]
Golden energy surged around Oskara, focusing into the wing constructs on his back. In an instant, he was launched forward, leaving golden blurs in his wake.
His sword carved a brilliant arc as he slashed at the crab's exposed flank.
Clang!
Sparks erupted as the blade struck hardened shell.
"Harder than the reports said…" Oskara muttered, shifting his stance.
A pincer shot toward him. He ducked as it sliced overhead, carving a massive crack into the cavern wall behind him.
A single misstep and I would've been cut in half, Oskara thought, cold sweat sliding down his spine.
But that won't stop me from killing you.
His sword flashed, stabbing toward the softer joint beneath the crab's limb.
TUNK!
The blade pierced—but only barely. The crab screeched and swung its other pincer down at him.
Nolan intercepted.
Charging in from the side like a raging beast, he burst into the chamber, his body swelling as muscles ballooned and veins pulsed like coiled steel.
[Ability Activated – Bruth Titan]
In three thunderous strides, Nolan reached the crab and slammed his enlarged fist into the descending pincer.
BOOOOM!
The impact shook the cavern. The massive claw buckled backward, buying Oskara the time he needed to slip away.
This is my moment, Rusk thought as he dashed in from the side.
[Amplified Sword Skill Activated]
His sword glowed white as he dropped low, sliding beneath the crab's towering frame. His blade flashed in rapid arcs, carving glowing lines across the jointed legs with surgical precision.
My amplified strike needs buildup—or these attacks are meaningless. Damn it, this crab won't even give me the chance, Rusk thought, narrowly dodging another strike.
"We need to push harder!" Oskara barked.
He glanced at Tasha. She understood instantly and drew a deep breath.
[Panda Fighting Aura Skill Activated]
A pale-red, roaring aura exploded around the Spirit Panda. Its muscles thickened, eyes blazing with primal fury as power rippled off its fur like heat waves.
With a thunderous roar, the panda forced itself upright and smashed its fist into the limb pinning it down, sending the giant crab skidding backward, its carapace scraping against the stone wall.
At that moment, Drek, Dem, the twin brothers Usman and Usmano, Jenifer, Hanji, and the twins Nino and Nano rushed deeper into the cave, following their assigned route without hesitation.
The crab clacked its mandibles furiously and spat a jet of sizzling green fluid toward the panda's face.
The panda raised an arm to block—but the creature was ruthless. The moment the arm dropped, a second jet followed, splashing directly into its eyes.
ROAR!
Clutching its face, the panda howled in rage, swinging blindly at anything within reach.
The crab charged, mandibles clacking, and swung a pincer in a clean arc—severing the panda's right hand.
…
Without hesitation, Rusk charged in.
[Extra Hand I Skill Activated]
Energy flowed from the sword in his right hand, materializing into a broader blade in his left—clearly meant for defense.
Rusk's blade bit into the crab's side as he dodged a pincer attack aimed at his head. Moving to the crab's flank, his sword bit into the creature again.
Infuriated, the crab swung its leg at him.
He blocked the strike with the broadsword and was sent flying back.
Thankfully, Tasha had pulled her summon back, Rusk thought while glancing at the Spirit Panda, which was now enveloped in a pale white aura that was slowly restoring it.
No time to waste, Rusk said as he rushed in again. Dual blades still gleaming from the Amplified Sword skill, he dove toward the crab, his footwork twisting like a whirlwind.
Steel flashed.
But the colossal crab was now more careful of the swords.
Its pincer slammed into the ground, sending a violent shockwave across the chamber. Water and shattered stone exploded outward, knocking loose boulders from the ceiling.
Rusk's foot slipped—just a fraction.
FWOOOSH!
The crab's abdomen pulsed, releasing a massive arc of sickly green corrosive spray. The liquid hissed on impact, melting stone into bubbling pits.
"MOVE!" Oskara shouted.
Nolan leapt aside, but the mist grazed his flank.
Sssss—!
He roared in pain as a notification flashed before his eyes.
Ding!
[Passive Skill – Bruth Instinct] · Damage received converts into power.
The crab surged forward, chitin grinding like steel. One massive pincer swept horizontally, aiming to cut down all three fighters at once.
"You pushed me," Nolan muttered.
[Bruth Strength Skill Activated]
The moment Rusk's skill activated, the crab slammed into Nolan.
BOOOOOM!!!
The impact hurled him backward several meters, boots carving trenches into wet stone. His arms trembled under the crushing weight.
"Damn… so strong. But not for long," Nolan growled.
The pincer came down again. He crossed his arms, but the blow still sliced into him.
Nolan smiled as notifications continued to flash.
The more he was injured, the thicker his muscles became. Veins bulged as strength surged through his body, fueled by pain.
Enduring the agony, Nolan exploded forward, slamming his shoulder into the crab's leg. Shockwaves rippled through its carapace as the beast staggered, balance broken.
A perfect opening.
Before they could capitalize, something unforeseen shattered the moment.
Drek and the others burst from the shadows. In Drek's hands was a transparent sack containing three milky-white eggs.
"Run!" he shouted, hurling it toward Oskara.
The ground trembled.
Two massive brown crabs lunged from the darkness, pincers scraping stone, each step sending water spraying across the cavern floor.
A single thought passed through nearly every mind.
If one crab was this deadly… what about three more?
They didn't linger on the thought.
As one, they bolted toward the tunnel entrance, Oskara leading the retreat.
But the instant he stepped forward, a glowing object slammed into his face.
Pain exploded through his skull, sending him flying backward—
—but before he lost his grip, a hand shot out and snatched the sack from his grasp.