9 Chapter 9: The **********

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Arthur Leywin:

Hiding in my illusion, I watched as the Astrea Familia descended to the 19th floor. When some time passed, I started following them.

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Sensing them already fighting, I prepared myself by replenishing my core to have the best chance of winning the upcoming fight.

When I came close enough to see them, the Rudra Familia had already failed their attempt to kill the Astrea Familia, but as they were about to attack again, the dungeon began to wail, creating the Juggernaut to get rid of the adventurers there.

With speed I could barely follow, it went straight for a brown-haired girl from the Astrea Familia, swinging its razor-sharp claw to split the poor girl in half, but before it could happen, the world froze for everyone but myself and the girl.

Having activated Static Void, an ability the Acquire Phase allows me to use, I ran toward the girl and brought her a safe distance away before releasing it.

Seeing its prey gone, the Juggernaut started looking around, clearly angry. Thankfully the next target it found wasn't me or the Astrea familia but the idiots that started this.

Having some time now, I looked around, seeing the Astrea Familia on guard from the Jauugernaut while the girl I saved finally registered everything that happened.

"Y--yy---you are the kid from yesterday."

She said while looking at me, still scared from nearly dying.

"Later."

I said in a low voice while looking at the rest of her familia as they ran towards us, and before they could say anything, I continued loud enough for them to hear.

"Listen here, this monster is powerful, and if we don't work together, we all will die."

I continued, not knowing if they would trust a stranger or abandon me, but hey, saving one of their members should help.

"It has tremendous strength and speed with razor-sharp claws and armor that can reflect magic. However, it has poor defenses against physical attacks. I have a plan to defeat it, but I need your help."

Not having the time to talk with each other due to the monster, they agreed, so I told them the plan.

The plan was simple I would attract the Juggernaut so it would go after me while they would prepare for a surprise attack from different sides.

Having decided everything, I started to run away from them, and when I was far enough, I looked at it.

This could be my last battle. Taking a long breath, I prepared myself. Then, conjuring a simple fireball, I shot it at the monster.

It snapped its head in my direction and looked at me. The moment its eyes looked at me, my body was filled with fear surpassing any other monster I had faced before.

I started dodging its attacks by augmenting myself as much as possible and surrounding myself with wind mana.

This continued for a while before the Astrea Familia found an opening and attacked it, cutting off one of its legs.

The beast let out a pained roar while swiping its claws at the black-haired Amazoness that cut off its leg, splitting her in two.

"SHIT!"

Cursing out aloud, I started calculating the options I had left. Should I try to run away...

I bit my lip in frustration. I couldn't run now. The only option was to use it.

Taking a deep breath, I searched deep within my mana core for my Beast Will. Releasing it, I saw met with a suffocating amount of energy. My body was surrounded by an aura of different colors, and with that, I said the only thing I could.

"Phase Two, Dragon's Awakening."

Golden runes ran down my arms and back with a burning sensation while my hair grew longer.

Activating Thunderclap Impulse, black lightning started to coil around my body as I dodged the Juggernaut's attack effortlessly.

A white fire ignited around my hands, freezing the moisture around it as I absorbed the water mana into my body.

The Juggernaut was preparing to make another attack as its armor became rapidly encased in ice. Then, sending the black lightning that surrounded me straight at the monster, its armor cracked.

Surrounding my sword with everything I could, it started to shine with different colors as Fire, Ice, Earth, and Wind swirled around it.

My body was already in bad condition, but I augmented myself even further. With that, I charged at the beast, and with one thrust, I lodged my sword inside the beast. Letting the mana run rampant inside the beast's body, it shattered into many pieces, which turned into ash.

As the second phase wore off, I coughed a mouthful of blood as my consciousness faded, the last thing I heard was the distant voices of the Astrea Familia.

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Authors Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter.

I don't know if I made the Juggernaut too weak, but considering OG Arthur defeated and mutated Elderwood Guadian while only at the Light Orange Stage, he should be able to kill the Juggernaut.

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