One man stood before the group.
"Just hand over the mythril and you'll get to see tomorrow," he said in a deep, intimidating voice.
"I'm just kidding. Either way, you won't get to live," he added with a smile.
"There's no escape, you know. I've sealed this abyss."
The voice belonged to a large, muscular man with sideburns. He wore a thick black vest, black trousers, heavy black boots, and black gauntlets on his hands.
"You're outnumbered," Mike said. "Maybe you should reconsider."
"You're outmatched, so let's end this quickly," the man replied.
"You can't expect us to accept death now, can you?" Derek asked as he readied his blade.
Just then, the man slammed his fist into the ground, creating a thick dust cloud.
"Damn it, I didn't think he'd use tricks," Mike thought as he spun his spear with such speed that the dust began to disappear.
However, it was too late. The man was upon him. He activated the Brawler's skill: Calamity Fist. An orange hue surrounded his fist as he slammed it into Mike's ribs. A loud crack echoed—one or both ribs broken—as Mike was sent flying.
The group didn't falter.
Harden, still reinforced, charged toward the man. In response, the man threw a punch, but Harden dodged and used the momentum to pull him straight into Raizo, who slammed the back end of his blade hilt into him.
The man tried to retaliate but realized he was bound in chains—not ordinary ones, but glowing orange like fire. They grew brighter and brighter until—
BOOM!
A loud explosion echoed. To everyone's shock, the man emerged with only minor wounds.
"Is that the best you can do?" the man taunted. "If so, you're cooked."
He rushed toward Derek and landed an uppercut, sending him flying. Before Derek could land, the man grabbed his feet mid-air and hurled him at Annie, who was also sent flying from the impact.
Harden and Raizo charged the man again. He met them head-on. His fist slammed into Harden, who blocked with his arms but was still knocked back by the force.
"Ouch... that hurts," Harden thought, his arms throbbing in pain.
Meanwhile, Raizo weaved and dodged the barrage of punches.
"Is this the best you can d—"
The man couldn't finish his sentence. A fireball hit him square in the face.
"He's open... finally, the opportunity I've been waiting for," Raizo thought.
He activated the sword skill: Feather Thrust—and stabbed his blades into the man's right shoulder, piercing a hole through it.
But the man didn't relent. He grabbed Raizo with his left arm and hurled him into the air, then slammed a Calamity Fist into his stomach, sending him flying.
"You're next," the man growled, his eyes locked on Annie with murderous intent.
He rushed her—but before he could reach her, Harden appeared. His eyes glowed yellow as he activated the Brawler's skill: Calamity Fist.
He slammed it into the man's face.
"It's even stronger with Reinforcement," Harden thought.
The blow pushed the man back—straight into Derek, who was ready.
He used the skill Gladiator's Strike, slashing the man deeply across his back.
The man dropped to his knees.
"I thought we were outmatched?" Derek asked with a smug grin.
"You shouldn't have said that," the man replied, still smiling—as a deep red aura began to radiate from him.
Everyone took a step back.
Ahh shit... Derek thought.