Defeat

"Hey, hey, hey what's wrong with you Jason?" Kyle asked with a worried and annoyed gaze. 

Jason, however, just shrugged his shoulders, "I'm just suggesti—" 

"What if there's still a dark knight we haven't killed?" 

"Kyle, why are you mad at me? I'm being kind and now you'll attack me with your words?" With a sarcastic laugh, Jason continued, "Ha, haha ridiculous. If Hans becomes a prey inside, you will be accountable, Kyle." 

Hans listened to their conversation and lowered his head. He doesn't know if Jason was planning something or he's just being kind to him. But from what he remembered, Jason wasn't the type of guy who'd put his teammates in danger. 

'And Kyle…' 

Even with his protective replies, Hans couldn't help but doubt its authenticity. Inside or outside the boss room, he would still be in danger either way. There's no need to argue over something like this. 

'Sigh—,I should stop them before it escalates further.' 

In his almost 2 years of working as a porter, he had seen many teams break apart due to some misunderstandings and small arguments. The team's chemistry would be out of hand once these guys fight. 

"Thank you, Kyle." Hans shifted his gaze to Jason, "... but I think I'm much safer here, yeah… I'm much safer here." 

"Are you sure?" 

"Un."

Jason's suggestion weighs more than what Kyle suggested, even then, both have pros and cons. As a matter of fact, Hans knew that such a scenario would occur the moment he agreed to join. 

'Still, I don't know why I'm getting this ominous feeling.'

Danger or even death was a common thing that an Awakened would experience in a raid. In those cases, some were unlucky and few were just lucky enough to make a fortune. 

But this feeling that kept possessing his heart and he suppressed his urge to voice out his true thoughts. 

"Since Hans already decided then we should get inside too." With a wave of Jason's hand, everyone started to step inside the large door. 

Kyle was the last to step in. But before he entered, he turned towards Hans. 

"Be careful out here."

"Yes, I will."

Once again Kyle gave a thumbs up before the huge door closed in a loud thud. 

............ 

Clack—, clack—

Thud—

Jason turned around after hearing the door shut. Everyone also halted in their tracks and exchanged meaningful glances. They weren't worried about getting smashed by the boss monster at all but were concerned about Hans' well-being.

"Sigh, I hope Hans won't have an accident."

"Eh? Why don't we just finish the boss now so we wouldn't have to worry."

"Hendrick's right. It's better than delaying the time more."

Jason watched his teammates with a sinister smile etched on his face. 

"Indeed, let's end the boss."

Shu—

Shortly, as if responding to their sudden intrusion, the lamp layered in rows began lighting up. Jason beckoned his teammates to stop walking.

When the lights stopped, the interior of the boss room was revealed. Many large tombs were situated in a row like patterns covered in green vines and molds. From the corners to the center, exists a line seemingly connecting the room to that skeleton sitting on a throne. The throne was located at the very far end but due to the burning lights, the team could easily see it. 

Jason unsheathed his swords, pouring mana into them as he readied his stance. Seeing his preparation, everyone also raised their weapons. 

"I'll protect you in the rear. This would be your fight."

With a flick of his foot, Jason flew to the back and positioned himself after. 

"Hey, what about Hans? Wouldn't the raid be faster if you help?" 

"But it would spoil our plan." Jason muttered and spread his arms, "Don't worry, I already told my bodyguards to come inside whenever a situation arises. Let's just focus on the boss monster for now."

"If that's the case then…" 

"He's right, let's avoid distractions, or else our teamwork would go downhill."

Jason smiled happily seeing his teammates agree to his suggestion. It seemed like it wouldn't be bad if he delayed the boss raid. 

.............. 

"Hmm… what should I do now?" 

Hans has been pondering for about a minute now. Aside from having to wait for the team, his hands were also getting itchy for a monster exp. Hans swept his gaze around the dimly lit place but he didn't find anything that piqued his interest. 

"I'm getting bored."

Well, for the boss monster shared exp he'd endure it for now. 

'I'll probably level up by two or three.'

As the rank goes up, it would get harder to level up. From what he heard, the average potential S-class Awakened needed a full 5 years just so he could reach his full potential. Of course, in these full 5 years, they have to clear dungeons every day without break. 

That is why leapfrogging had become some sort of delicacy for those who wished to level up faster than their current rate. 

And Hans was not an exception.

"I sh—" 

Wooosh—

"....!!!"

Clang—

Hans' eyes widened as he flew backward from the force of that attack. If he hadn't blocked it on time, his hand might have been severed by now. 

'What was that!!?' 

Hans raised the scimitar Jason lent him for a while. This scimitar was somewhat longer than the daggers assassins used and its quality won't even lose to a C-class item. 

'But now, it's chipped.'

Observing the weapon, Hans let out a long breath. Due to the force of the collision, his scimitar couldn't handle the power poured into that strike. His eyes darted around the vicinity; his weapon was held tightly in his hand, guarding his weak points.

'Who attacked me?' 

The maximum number required for a yellow dungeon was 15. Although the stone slab didn't show it, the minimum number required to raid a yellow dungeon was 12. 

But raid teams didn't allow their raids to have vacant positions. Meaning, they always fill the maximum headcount no matter what happens. Because if they didn't, some madman out there might just enter the dungeon unattended and just jinxed their raid. 

'Why didn't I notice?' 

Is it because he's confident that Jason's bodyguards would block the entrance? Or…? 

'No, no… that's impossible.'

Hans quickly shook his head after coming to an absurd thought. 

'But if it's really planned that way… I don't want to know what I would do.:

Woosh—

Hans' muscles slightly bulged in tension. The wind rang inside his ears carrying 3 figures as they appeared in his line of sight. All of them wore business suits, a kind of dress he saw earlier. 

'T-they are!!' 

Hans' eyes widened in realization. They are Jason's bodyguards. 

"You're Hans Luther, right? We didn't think you're this strong." The bodyguard who seemed to be the leader of the three menacingly spoke, "Have you regained your potential perhaps?" 

"Are you the one who attacked me?" 

"Hmm… Indeed, I am, and guess what… you blocked it. An attack that could even injure a B-class Awakened was perfectly stopped by you." The bodyguard leader took off his gloves, "Tell me, are you hiding your powers?" 

Cold sweats formed in his forehead from the ominous aura he was facing. Although he had faced even stronger, like Aegeus, Felix, and his sister, the thought of going against an enemy he had no chance of winning sent shivers down his spine. 

"Why are you attacking me? I'm not an enemy. I'll let this off once cause you guys seem to have misfired."

Hans tried to change the course of events. Maybe he could get out of this predicament by using this. 

Well, trying wouldn't hurt right? 

The man stared seriously before bursting into boisterous laughter, "HAHAHAHA, have you lost your IQ too?" 

"So you're here to kill me?" 

"Of course!!!" 

The bodyguards observed Hans who's standing still yet without fear. 

'Is he confident he could beat us?' 

No, that's impossible. All three of them are bonafide A-class. It's not something Hans could resist even if he regained his potential. 

"Don't kill him… but injure him as much as possible."

This was what Jason ordered for them to do. Although the reason is a mystery, the three could only nod their heads. 

'Hehe, now what would you do?'

At that moment, Hans' aura began to feel refined. Red vapors of mana began to cover his whole body. His eyes also began to turn red as a sign of 'Berserk' skill being activated. Additionally, black and red lines started manifesting from his hand until his feet. 

The bodyguards quickly exchanged affirmative glances before dashing at the target. 

'We can't let him finish!' 

Swish—

The moment they closed the gap between the target, Hans' figure suddenly disappeared. 

"???" 

Huh? 

The three bodyguards, who momentarily lost their prey, move their gaze around in search of Hans. 

Hans stood far away from them holding a bloodied scimitar in his hand. 

Drip, drip —

Seeing the blood falling from the blade, the guards quickly inspect each other. 

"Uno, you're bleeding." 

"Don't worry, it's just a light scratch."

Hans stood his own ground with his sight remaining at the three. 

'So this is an A-class.'

Indeed, the one named Uno is right. Hans' blade just lightly cut Uno's skin and it didn't even penetrate to his bones. 

The three turned towards Hans, but this time, with a hint of caution. Uno said it himself that Hans' strike was as strong as a power type B-class Awakened. 

'We need to be careful.'

If Hans could injure them in a strike, then that means he's not to be taken lightly. But Dos, the bodyguards' leader, had a different thought. 

"You two, don't fight him." Dos glanced at his subordinates before turning to Hans, "Although I don't know what methods he used to forcibly raise his stats to a peak B-class Awakened, he's still a bug in my eyes." 

"Yes, captain."

"We'll leave it to you."

Dos walked with calm steps. His eyes remained indifferent while his lips formed a playful smile. 

"I commend you for your courage…" 

In an instant, Dos disappeared from Hans' sight. 

"... But it's not enough."

Before he could even register what happened,

Dos already appeared in front of him. Hans leaped backward in shock. But Dos' figure still followed him. 

"...!!!" 

Instinct possessed his subconscious and at that moment, he swung the scimitar without thinking. 

Slash—

Seeing Dos dodge it easily, Hans followed his strikes with dozens more slashes. 

Slash—

Slash —

Dos just stood there, without taking any steps at all. But he still dodges his slashes with ease as if… as if he's fighting a child. 

Slash —

"Ahhhh!!!" 

Slash—

With a final slash… 

Clang—

… Dos caught the blade with his finger. Hans's pupils bug out. 

'I-impossible!!' 

His every slashed were precise with no wasted movement at all. But all of them… not a single one of them reach the enemy. 

He's as strong as a peak B-class Awakened from what he heard from them. He even smashed the Naga into smithereens after activating his Red form and Berserk. 

'This gap…' 

Feels like a mountain… and he is at the foot of it. 

Panic arose from his heart. Hans' eyes trembled in disbelief while his hand tried to pull the blade locked into Dos' fingers. 

"This is a fine blade you have here hehehe…" 

Hans's veins popped out from his hands, pouring all his strength to pull the weapon. 

"What? Still resisting?" Dos spoke nonchalantly, "Fine, I'll let you hit me a few more times…"

Immediately after Dos let go of the blade, Hans thrust the scimitar to the enemy's head. 

Swooosh —

Dos leaned back slightly, the blade was quite short on reaching his neck now. 

Swish—

Hans crouched and lifted his weapon again, this time, it's aimed at the heart. Dos evaded sideways with ease as if he's amused by Hans' show. Again, the blade only met the air. 

Hans tried various strike points but all of them were dodged effortlessly. 

'He's dodging all my attacks without even moving his feet.'

No matter how quickly he thrust the weapon or no matter which angle he chose to attack from, Dos evaded all of it. He wasn't even fighting him… he's… toying with him. 

'But still, I need to hit him…just once.' 

Even just once… his pride didn't let him go down easily. 

Woosh—

Hans lowered his center of gravity and aimed at Dos' legs but he was met with a powerful front kick. 

Bammm—

Baamm—

The force sent Hans away until he flew to the rock wall. 

"Arghhh!!" 

Fear coursed into his bones, frightening his heart as it continued seeping his strength. 

'Just a casual, cough, kick…' 

It's just an effortless kick yet it made his body numb. He can't move… no, rather, his body won't listen to him. His red form began vanishing as well together with his berserk skill. Even with the double buff from body enhancement, it wasn't enough. 

'I...lost this easily?' 

With his strength drained, the three bodyguards rushed forward. However, Dos was slightly closer to him. 

"HAHAHAHA, look at him."

"You didn't kill him right?" 

"Of course not. Who do you think I am?" 

It was a simple conversation yet Hans misinterpreted it as a sign that it's over. A stench of looming death assaulted his senses.