Rite of Passage IV

With the conclusion of the battle between the duo of Vlad and Echo against the Dark Mantis Queen a new one was brewing.

Fritz flew down landing in the dungeons second boss monster's territory. It had taken him quite some time to arrive here as he had decided to take this time to organize his points of action after obviously successfully completing the event.

This was the difference between people.

His peers were busy worrying about their survivability yet he was the least concerned.

Rather he was already planning his next moves beyond the rite of passage event.

Fritz walked through fifteen-meter-tall wooden gates as he entered into a cyclic encampment. The encampment occupied an area of two hundred meters which was surrounded by a large wooden wall. Inside the area resided a singular well-crafted and imposing wooden throne.

Beside this throne there existed not a singular structure in sight not even trees as it appears that all the forest trees that used to inhabit this area had all being cut down.

On the wooden throne rested a singular green humanoid insectoid releasing horrendous waves of predatory pressure much more powerful than the Dark Mantis Queen even though they were at the same level. The humanoid insectoid slowly opened its closed eyes as it gazed at the incoming 'challenger', Fritz.

At the most central point of the area a dark red crystal dagger was struck into the ground.

Standing up from its throne it slowly prowled towards Fritz with its perfectly shredded physique in display that seemed to be built solely for compact. It had a pair of bipedal legs and a pair of blade like arms with two pairs of blue lightning wings on its back. 

A rare monster mutation as it was one of the few monsters that could manipulate both properties of this dungeon; Shadows and Lightning.

This monster was the Mantis Haven Champion.

Its red eyes emitted a dazzling light as it condensed its overflowing aura and lacing it with its bloodlust the pressure it released reached new heights. After doing all this it pushed out its aura directing it towards Fritz whom similarly was walking towards it.

Yet its aura that would normally have all its opponents shaking or frozen in fear seemed like a breeze to Fritz who wasn't even the slightest fazed as he nonchalantly sauntered towards it.

SHRRIIEEK!

The Mantis Haven Champion released an extremely loud excited scream. From it flowed out an overpowering battle intent growing to an extent that Fritz felt that if it could increase by a few levels it would probably become tangible.

This monster lived and thrived in battle and today having met such a worthy opponent its excitement reached peak.

It had long thirsted for a 'fun' fulfilling battle.

…

With the Mantis Haven Champions excited scream, the sound waves from it travelled throughout the entire dark forest reaching each and every corner available. Its roar filled with might resounded in the dark forest as it incited differing emotions in all the creatures within the dungeon.

But out of all the creatures affected this battle roar incited the most reaction out of two people, Vlad and Echo.

Vlad spoke solemnly, "Tsk! It appears that 'that' person has already reached the monsters territory and are likely to engage in combat."

"Even though I hate to admit it his status warrants a certain respect from us as although we have never engaged in combat I am still not confident of winning against him."

"Therefore I would like to suggest that we continue our cooperation extinguishing it only after we remain the sole competitors for the Championship."

Echo silently listened to Vlad as the words he spoke were synonymous with what she was thinking. Ever since she saw that person earlier she felt that he was an unscalable mountain that no matter how much she tried to climb over she would never succeed.

Echo's hands balled into fists before loosening as it seemed that she had made a very major decision.

Coldly replied Echo, "Sure!"

With her agreement Vlad threw two bottles of potions to Echo whose eyes lit up the moment she received them. Immediately she consumed the Health Potion which in a matter of seconds rejuvenated her health and body to the maximum.

She was also surprised by his gesture but not because of the act rather his boldness to decisively give out Heavenly grade potions. You must know that it isn't that she didn't have potions of these sort rather hers only granted 25% instant recovery to her health and mana.

As for the second Mana Potion she didn't consume it rather she saved it for later as with it new opportunities bloomed.

"Hold on."

[Spatial Queen: Void Shroud]

Using the remaining mana, Echo dual casted two of her abilities with the first one wrapping both her and Vlad in void essence completely isolating them and hiding them in a different space.

[Spatial Queen: Void Transport]

Secondly she drained the remaining bit of her mana as her face paled to perform an extremely long distance teleportation jump to instantaneously reach the Mantis Haven Champions territory.

…

[OMNIARCH: Dominators Domain]

From Fritz an invisible authority surged out slowly before it rapidly enveloped an area of 1.25 km around him. An authority guaranteeing that in this area Fritz was practically a God.

'Oh! It seems that we have some uninvited sneaky guests. I can either perform for them or scare them…the second option it is then.'

'Time to show off.'

As it neared Fritz, the Mantis Haven Champion felt the ground below it vibrate, gazing downward it saw pebbles and stones on the ground shaking slightly as with time the frequency of their vibrations increasing as if an earthquake was coming. 

It's senses swiftly looking for the source of these vibrations as when its senses locked onto Fritz its smile stiffened.

Fritz fully circulated all his blood essence as an incredibly powerful aura exploded out from him and pushing out everything in its vicinity. His aura cocooning him inside a bubble of black light turning everything near it a shade of grey the only thing flashing with color being his menacingly golden eyes.

Together with his killing intent and his aura a suppressive gravitative force acted on everything his aura enveloped.

[Dominators Domain: Immobilize]

With a finishing touch Fritz activated his domain ability heightening his powerful aura and its suppressive effects as the space around the Mantis Haven Champion tightened and constricted whilst simultaneously an oppressive force of gravity pushed it downwards.

With his aura unleashed Fritz looked like a Supreme Emperor.

The Mantis Haven Champion struggled with all its might to escape the binding force of space around it but couldn't as all the mana it circulated was used to withstand the gravitative force threatening to make it kneel. A foreboding sense of death approached it.

Yet through all this it refused to kneel.

It was a warrior monster and it had its Pride.

Around Fritz's right hand red light of blazingly hot energy circularly wrapped around him. 

Fritz took a singular step forward before disappearing in place only to appear in front of the Mantis Haven Champion with his fist hurling towards it. 

The Mantis Haven Champions eyes reflected a brilliant red powerful fist swinging straight towards its face as time seemed to slow down as it could even see the fine hairs on its fingers as a feeling of peace washed over it. 

Death neared yet instead of despairing it embraced it. 

BOOOM!

The Mantis Haven Champion's body exploded into pieces the moment it came in contact with Fritz's attack. The monsters scattered pieces of flesh combusting into flames.

A single punch to kill an SS ranked dungeon boss! 

Turning around, Fritz pointed to an area beside the wooden gates as he spoke.

"You can come out now." 

A tear appeared in the space Fritz pointed at as from it came out two individuals, Vlad and Echo. Their faces rich in a myriad of emotions, some shock, fear and a little bit of embarrassment.

They both greeted Fritz, "Your Highness."

"No need for formalities we are all peers here and my name is Fritz. You are?"

Even though Fritz had expressed that they may drop all the formalities with him the two still refused as they felt that they had to show their respect due to his status.

"My name is Vlad, Your Highness" slightly bowing his head as his silver hair danced gracefully behind him.

"Mine is Echo, Your Highness" as she curtsied her curvaceous body.

Fritz calmly looked at the two people in front of him a small smile forming on his face as the duo did the same thing to him too.

"It appears that you two are quite interested in these two daggers, here you may have them. I only came here for the fun" added Fritz gazing at the dagger in Echo's hand.

Outstretching his arm, the dozen meters far away red crystalline dagger as if answering to a call dislodged itself from the ground before shooting straight towards Fritz's hand. It didn't even take a second in his hand before he threw it towards Fritz who joyously caught it.

"Thank you Your Highness" though skeptical Vlad expressed his thanks.

Yet before he even discussed how to solve the issue of the Championship with Echo, Fritz spoke again.

"But!"