Reawakening: SSS-Rank Villain's POV-Chapter 125: Assassination!

A shower of blue sparks exploded at the point of impact. The force was considerable, and arcs of electricity leaped onto Lucian's spear and armor.

[Minor Electrical Damage Received!] [-150 HP!] [Elemental Resistance Activated: Titan Set + Aegis = ~70% Lightning Resistance!] [Damage Negligible!]

The electricity barely tickled him thanks to his layered defenses. He used the momentum of the deflection to spin, bringing his spear around in a low, powerful sweep aimed at the Thunder Cat's legs as it landed.

"Swish!"

The Thunder Cat reacted with incredible speed, leaping backwards, avoiding the sweep by a whisker. It landed lightly, crouching low, its electric blue eyes fixed on Lucian, tail twitching.

[Skill Activated: Thunder Cat - Lightning Claw!]

It swiped with its forepaw. The claws extended, wreathed in crackling blue energy, leaving five luminous blue trails in the air as they slashed towards Lucian.

Lucian parried, spear shaft meeting the electrified claws. Clang! More sparks flew. He felt the speed and power – this creature was significantly faster and more dangerous than the monsters in the previous zone.

He pressed the attack, not giving the cat time to build momentum. He used short, rapid thrusts, feints, and sweeps, forcing the Thunder Cat onto the defensive. His speed, while perhaps not quite matching the cat's burst dashes, was more consistent, his footwork more precise.

The Thunder Cat dodged and weaved, occasionally lashing out with Lightning Claws, sometimes trying to create distance for another Static Charge Dash.

Suddenly, it arched its back, fur bristling, electricity gathering around its open maw.

[Skill Activated: Thunder Cat - Thunder Roar!]

KRA-KOOOM!

A deafening roar, infused with raw sonic and electrical energy, exploded outwards in a visible wave.

[Debuff Incoming: AOE Stun! Electrical Damage!]

Lucian felt the sonic force wash over him. His ears rang, and for a fraction of a second, his muscles seized from the electrical discharge.

[System Check: Physique vs Stun Effect... Resistance Successful!] [Minor Electrical Damage Resisted!]

His high Physique and inherent resistances allowed him to shake off the stun almost instantly, though the ringing in his ears persisted. But the momentary pause was enough for the Thunder Cat.

It blurred, using the stun opening to launch another [Static Charge Dash], aiming straight for Lucian's chest while he was still recovering his balance.

This time, Lucian couldn't fully evade. He brought his spear up defensively, angling it to deflect the main force.

BAM-ZZZZT!

He took the hit squarely on the spear shaft near his chest. The impact drove him back several steps, his boots carving grooves in the rock. The electrical discharge was stronger this time, making his muscles spasm momentarily.

[-950 HP!] [Damage Reduced!] [Regeneration Activated!]

Before the Thunder Cat could follow up, Lucian retaliated. He ignored the slight numbness in his arms, pouring mana into his spear.

"[Sovereign's Devastation]!"

The focused dragon energy erupted point-blank. The Thunder Cat, caught mid-lunge, couldn't dodge. The beam slammed into its chest, blasting fur, flesh, and crackling energy outwards.

ROOOOWL!

The cat was sent tumbling backward, landing in a heap, its chest smoking, electricity flickering erratically around its body. It struggled to rise, clearly heavily wounded.

Lucian stalked forward, spear tip lowered. He wouldn't give it a chance to recover.

[You have killed a Level 56 Thunder Cat. +800 XP. +56 Kill Points.]

[SS-Rank Skill: Blood Devour Activated!] → +3 Agility, +1 Perception

[Kill Points: 1948]

[Item Acquired: Thunder Cat Pelt (Rare)]

[Item Acquired: Static Core (Epic)]

He examined the Static Core – similar to the Magma Core, but infused with electrical energy. "Reroll Static Core." This felt like a good use for his last charge.

[Reroll Activated: 1 Use Consumed | Remaining Rerolls: 0]

[Target: Static Core (Epic)]

[Rerolling...]

The die spun, flashed... 1988x! Another excellent roll!

[Congratulations! 1988x Reroll triggered!]

[Static Core (Epic) has been upgraded to Heart of the Living Tempest (Legendary)!]

[Name: Heart of the Living Tempest]

[Grade]: ⟨Legendary⟩

[Type]: Unique Crafting Material / Power Source

[Description]: The condensed essence of a storm given consciousness. Crackles with unbound electrical and wind energy. Highly unstable but incredibly potent.

[Effects]:

▸ Legendary Catalyst: Can craft or upgrade equipment to Legendary tier, granting Lightning or Wind properties. Greatly enhances speed-related enchantments.

▸ Temporary Empowerment: Can be consumed (risky) or channeled (requires skill) for a massive temporary boost to Agility and Lightning/Wind based abilities.

▸ Storm Attunement: Holding the Heart grants enhanced resistance to electrical and wind damage, and allows minor manipulation of air currents nearby.

Another Legendary material! His luck with core rerolls was surprisingly good. He stored it carefully. Zero rerolls left. He'd need to rely solely on drops or purchased rerolls in the future.

He felt ready. He had faced Level 56. He glanced towards the next zone marker – the imposing 60-kilometer boundary, where the true dangers were said to begin. Elder Borin and his assassins had ambushed him here. It meant this area was considered deep enough for high-level intervention, or perhaps they had tracked him specifically.

He took a deep breath, the air tasting faintly of ozone from the recent battle and the distant storms. His eyes hardened. Let them come. He would push forward. He would get stronger. And eventually, he would find out who sent those assassins and why. And they would pay.

He stepped across the invisible line, entering the 60-kilometer zone. The atmosphere felt heavier, charged with palpable power and latent menace. Jagged peaks loomed like broken teeth against the perpetually stormy sky. Strange shadows danced in his peripheral vision. This was it. The edge of the truly dangerous territory.

He had only taken perhaps fifty steps when his entire being screamed danger. It wasn't a single attack vector this time; it was an overwhelming sense of being surrounded, trapped, targeted by multiple sources of immense power materializing instantly around him.

SHINK! (Silent blade from behind)

WHOOSH! (Heavy axe descending from above)

ZZZT! (Poisoned blades flickering from the flank)

And an oppressive, soul-crushing aura descending from the front.

Elder Borin. The Shadow Blade. The Berserker Executioner. The Venomous Shadow Dancer. They were here. Waiting.

Borin stepped forward, his face an emotionless mask, but his eyes burning with cold fire. "Lucian Morningstar. We meet again. This time, there will be no escape."

The three assassins moved simultaneously, a perfectly coordinated kill box.

Lucian felt the overwhelming pressure, the killing intent from four incredibly powerful beings converging on him. His heart hammered against his ribs, adrenaline flooding his system. Escape seemed impossible.

His eyes blazed crimson. "You think this is enough?" he roared, defiance overriding the instinct to flee. "You gave me no choice!"

He slammed the butt of Dragon Soul Devourer onto the ground.

"BOOM!"

Crimson energy erupted. "COME FORTH! MY KINGS!"

King Levi. King Baltzer. Materializing in bursts of titanic and draconic energy, clad in their blinding Legendary sets, ready for war.

The confrontation had begun.

———————————————————-

The sudden appearance of King Levi and King Baltzer, clad in their resplendent, power-radiating Legendary sets, sent a visible ripple of shock through the attacking assassins. Even Elder Borin, whose face was usually an impassive mask of authority or cold fury, allowed a flicker of disbelief to cross his features. Summons were common, but summons of this caliber, equipped like gods of war? Unheard of for a mere student, regardless of talent.

"Legendary sets... on summons?!" the Venomous Shadow Dancer hissed, the sound sharp even through the oppressive atmosphere of the 60km zone. The sickly green glow around their twin blades intensified, betraying their surprise and perhaps a touch of greed. Such equipment was rare even among seasoned Rankers.

"Doesn't matter! They die with him!" the Berserker Executioner roared, shaking off his momentary surprise. His objective was destruction, and powerful obstacles only fueled his berserker rage. He hefted his colossal, bloodstained axe – an Epic-grade weapon named 'Skull-Splitter' – and renewed his charge towards Lucian, ignoring the summoned kings for the moment.

But Lucian had already issued his commands.

"Levi! Baltzer!" His mental directive was instantaneous. "Engage the Executioner and the Dancer! Hold them!"

"ROOOAR!" King Levi acknowledged, his voice a deep, earth-shattering sound amplified by the Legendary Founding Titan set. He stepped forward, planting his massive feet firmly on the jagged rock. The ground visibly compressed beneath him. He raised the Immortal Mountain Shield – a bulwark that seemed carved from the heart of a world – just as the Executioner reached him.

CLANG! KABOOOOOM!

The impact was apocalyptic. Skull-Splitter, swung with the full force of a Level 100+ Berserker, slammed into the Legendary shield. The sound wasn't just metal on metal; it was like two mountains colliding head-on. A shockwave exploded outwards, pulverizing nearby rock formations into dust, sending tremors rippling through the ground for hundreds of meters.

[Leviathan's Defense Activated: Immortal Mountain Shield Block!] [+40% Block Chance Triggered!]

[Leviathan's Defense Activated: Founding Titan Set Bonus!] [+60% Physical Damage Resistance!]

[Leviathan's Defense Activated: Innate Resilience!]

[Incoming Damage Drastically Reduced!]

The Executioner was blown back several steps, his arms vibrating from the sheer recoil. He stared in disbelief. His full-power strike, capable of cleaving through tank armor, had been stopped cold! Levi stood unmoved, the shield unscratched, though the ground beneath his feet had cratered further. With a bellow, Levi swung Earthbreaker, his own Legendary Axe, in a brutal counter-arc.