Chapter 55

  Ben’s eyes widened as a huge fist sailed toward his face. He barely had time to dodge.

  Mike, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes.

  “I see.”

  Marcus launched a series of rapid jabs. Ben backed away, using the shaft of his halberd to deflect a blow. His arms rattled.

  Finally, a punch to the gut landed, sending Ben careening backward to the ground.

  The exchange happened in mere moments, before Ben’s cherubs could reinforce.

  Ben was engulfed in healing magic as he rose to his feet. His cherub warrior descended in front of him to block Marcus’ path.

  Ben wiped blood from his lips.

  “He is no joke,” Ben thought.

  Marcus was just as surprised.

  “He survived a direct hit. That punch would have taken out anyone in my guild,” Marcus thought.

  The crowd of guild members and livestream watchers were exhilarated.

  “Marcus almost finished him with one punch. He’s a beast.”

  “I’m surprised that guy survived. Marcus is probably holding back, playing with his food.”

  Marcus ignored the comments and clenched his fists. They were engulfed in elemental magic, one in lightning, the other in flame.

  “I can’t mess around,” Marcus thought.

  Ben readied himself for the next round. When Marcus charged, Ben was far more prepared.

  Marcus’s first punch was blocked by the shield of the cherub warrior. His second punch knocked the angel backward. The angel was engulfed in electricity, taking damage even through its shield.

  Ben seized the gap and struck with the spear portion of his halberd. Marcus tilted his head and dodged cleanly. He closed the distance at blinding speed and prepared more decisive punches.

  Ben was on the defensive, but this time he didn’t fall easily. He used perfect footwork, deflection techniques, and predictive analysis to read Marcus’ punches as they were thrown.

  Marcus was faster, stronger, insanely skilled, but Ben wasn’t far behind. When Marcus found a gap, the cherub warrior arrived just in time to block the blow.

  The white mage healed the damage Ben and his warrior took over time. It also constantly refreshed Ben’s buffs.

  Eve was astonished.

  “Even while hasted, Ben is still being pushed back.”

  She looked at Marcus nervously.

  “He is so strong.”

  With her Eyes of Truth, Eve understood Marcus’s strength. He had an Epic-level class that granted advanced proficiency in Strength, Agility, and Endurance.

  In addition, he had extremely advanced gear for his level. Finally, he had a buff from being married in-game, which boosted his attributes while in the same party as his wife.

  All of this meant that, despite Ben’s monstrous stats, Marcus was superior on an individual basis.

  The rest of the viewers reacted differently from Eve. They expected Marcus to dominate. He was winning, but not as decisively.

  Ben was constantly on the back foot, but he still chipped away at Marcus’s health.

  A slash here, a stab there. Marcus was being whittled down by a thousand cuts. At the same time, the white mage’s mana was dwindling, slowing its healing and buffing.

  Marcus growled in frustration.

  “This is impossible. He is just a summoner,” Marcus thought.

  Marcus and Ben exchanged powerful blows. Marcus’s fist landed cleanly on Ben’s cheek just as Ben slammed the axe portion of his halberd into Marcus’ side.

  The two separated. Marcus held his bleeding side.

  Ben breathed heavily and dropped to one knee. He began to channel a spell. Marcus’s eyes widened as Ben healed himself with a powerful balm of white magic.

  “I can’t let this go on,” Marcus thought.

  Marcus took a low stance, crossing his fists in front of his face. Mike was astonished.

  “He is using his once-a-day ability in this fight? Does he really feel so threatened?”

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  Mike looked at Ben with a new sense of respect.

  Ben did his best to prepare for what was coming. He channeled a spell in his hand while Marcus transformed.

  Marcus’s dark eyes changed. One sparkled with wild, crackling electricity. The other blazed with steaming fire. His entire body was engulfed in an aura of dancing flame and lightning. The spectators looked on in awe.

  Few had seen his ultimate class ability,

  [Elemental Fury]

  Marcus sped forward at blinding speed, leaving dust, fire, and sparks in his wake.

  Ben summoned another cherub warrior to block him.

  Marcus punched straight through the angel.

  One hit kill.

  When his fist struck the warrior’s shield, an explosion engulfed the summon. It vanished in a shimmer of light.

  Eve clenched tighter into White Fang’s fur to brace herself. She raised an arm to shield herself from the blinding light and minor debris sailing in all directions.

  Marcus continued forward like a meteor. Ben’s second cherub warrior tried to block him.

  A bolt of lightning struck where Marcus punched, obliterating the cherub.

  Ben barely had time to react before Marcus, fiery and furious, was directly in front of him. Marcus sent an earth-shattering punch toward Ben’s face.

  The cherub white mage descended in the nick of time to sacrifice itself. An explosion of fire and lightning engulfed the pair, kicking up a plume of dust and smoke.

  Ben reeled from the collateral damage, but the assault wasn’t over.

  Marcus appeared from the smoke like something straight out of hell to deliver a fight-ending punch. His fist was bathed in flame and crackling with lightning.

  The explosion knocked several spectators off their feet.

  “Ben!” Eve shouted in alarm.

  Ben erupted from the smoke, flying backward. He tumbled unceremoniously along the ground and collapsed into a heap. When the dust settled, Marcus stood upright, panting heavily. His visage had returned to normal.

  The silence was deafening. After a moment, Marcus was shocked to see Ben moving.

  Ben was battered and bruised, covered in bloody wounds. His mana was depleted, his health a sliver. Yet he attempted to rise on shaky legs.

  “Ben!”

  Eve hopped off White Fang and ran to his aid. She ran into an invisible dome emanating from the PVP flag. She tried to cast a healing spell, but a notification stopped her.

  [Outside assistance cannot be used on participants of a duel]

  Eve looked on in distress. Ben remained on one knee, holding his halberd for stability. Marcus stared at him with an unreadable gaze.

  “Finish him, Marcus!”

  “Yeah, show him what happens to those that mess with the Eagle guild.”

  Marcus ignored the cheers and stared at Ben for a long moment.

  “Surrender. This fight is over,” Marcus said.

  He ignored the disappointed protests from the spectators.

  Ben hesitated, contemplating his next move. By all logic, Marcus was the victor. He held the upper hand and could finish Ben at any moment.

  Marcus sent Ben a subtle, almost imperceptible nod. Ben understood.

  He bowed his head in humility.

  “I surrender.”

  The PVP flag disappeared. Marcus was named the victor of the duel in a local system announcement. There was still disappointment in the air.

  “Ah, what? We don’t even get to see the final blow?”

  “Why did Marcus let that guy surrender instead of just finishing him?”

  While the crowd debated, Eve ran toward Ben and bombarded him with healing. She helped him to his feet.

  Marcus displayed a charismatic smile.

  “I can’t stand to see a girl crying if I can help it.”

  The crowd looked at Marcus in awe.

  “Good guy Marcus!”

  “Dude, he’s actually humble.”

  “Who said chivalry is dead?”

  The crowd erupted in cheers. Ruth sauntered forward to join Marcus in victory. She leaned against him. He wrapped an arm around her waist and raised a fist in the air. The cheering was deafening.

  Marcus’s live chat bombarded him with donations and praise. He reveled in it for a long while before turning toward Ben.

  “You have a promise to keep,” Marcus said.

  Eve stopped doting on Ben and looked at him warily. Ben calmed her with a gesture and stepped toward Marcus.

  “And I will keep it. I promised to reveal the secret of my strength, of how I cleared the Level 10 Orc Dungeon without a raid group.”

  Marcus narrowed his eyes.

  “Well?”

  Ben made the sign of the cross.

  “I have been blessed by God.”

  The area quieted at that confession. Marcus looked at Ben incredulously.

  “What?”

  Ben did not falter.

  “Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has seen fit to empower me. My class, my abilities, my skill, all of it. Without Him, I can do nothing.”

  There were murmurs in the crowd.

  “What is that guy talking about? Is he role-playing a Christian in the game?”

  “Yeah, that’s kind of cringe, and I’m a Christian.”

  Marcus held a similar attitude.

  “You serious?”

  Ben grew a disappointed look.

  “I know you are a Christian. If anyone were to believe in the power of Christ, it should be you,” Ben said.

  Marcus narrowed his eyes.

  “Who are you to judge my faith? You don’t know the first thing about me.”

  Ben was taken aback by Marcus’s tone.

  “Oh… I didn’t mean—”

  “Enough. Keep your secrets. Though it seems like a strange Christian who doesn’t keep his word.”

  Marcus turned and moved toward the entrance of the Hag Boss Dungeon.

  Ben was left speechless. He knew he was telling the truth, but saying it out loud sounded strange, even to him. He stood deflated, deep in contemplation.

  “Hey.”

  Ben looked up. Marcus was looking back expectantly.

  “You coming or what?”

  Ben frowned, confused.

  “What?”

  “You gave me a good fight. And I’m a nice guy. I’ll let you join in on the dungeon.”

  Many looked at Marcus in awe, including Ben.

  Ben remembered that subtle nod from earlier, a silent promise given and kept. He looked at Marcus in a different light.

  “Ok.”

  Marcus nodded and turned his attention toward his guild.

  “Jet, I want you and Rose with me.”

  Jet looked at Marcus in confusion.

  “You don’t want us to guard the entrance anymore?”

  “I need my best for this coming fight. Plus, we already cleared the raid dungeon in this zone. No other clans are going to contest the area.”

  Jet nodded in understanding, then looked toward the approaching trio of Ben, Eve, and White Fang.

  “Are you really letting them come?”

  Jet could not hide his disdain. Marcus walked up to Jet and placed a hand on the man’s shoulder.

  “That’s why I need my best to help watch my six.”

  Jet stood at attention and gave a salute.

  “Sir,” Jet said.

  Marcus nodded in satisfaction and looked toward Rose and Ruth.

  “Sit back with our guests, my love. Keep a close eye on them.”

  Ruth smiled sweetly.

  “Of course.”

  Ruth approached Ben and Eve, then looked at White Fang.

  “You can’t bring mounts into the dungeon,” Ruth said.

  Ben nodded and signaled for White Fang to stay back. He and Eve followed Ruth toward the dungeon entrance.

  Marcus turned to face his guild.

  “Don’t bother waiting for us. Use this time efficiently. Grind quests, mobs, or just take a break. After I clear this, I’ll show you how.”

  “You’re the best, Marcus!”

  “Yeah, you’ve got it this time for sure!”

  Marcus nodded, ended his stream, and led the group past the threshold of the dungeon. He, Mike, and Jet pulled ahead while Rose and Ruth kept pace with Ben and Eve.

  “After you,” Ruth said.

  Eve moved closer to Ben’s side as they walked. She felt more like a prisoner being escorted by guards than part of a cohesive party.

  Ben picked up on her silent anxiety and reached down to squeeze her hand. Eve blinked in surprise and looked up at him.

  He gave her a reassuring smile.

  That was all she needed to extinguish her fears.

  With renewed courage, Eve followed Ben through the veil.