Chapter 72: S-Rank Anomalies III

"Found you, you sneaky bastard," Evan muttered.

His gaze settled on a narrow passage between two shattered pillars, where faint traces of energy seemed to disappear into the darkness. The fluctuations were subtle, almost impossible to distinguish from the chaotic energy filling the dungeon, but now that he knew what to look for, he could finally separate them from the rest.

"Raphael!" Evan called, dodging another attack before driving his fist into the Anomaly’s jaw. "The fourth one is hiding somewhere in the passage on your left!"

"Finally!" Raphael shouted back, his voice carrying an unusual edge of impatience. "I was starting to think these ugly things were immortal!"

"Stop complaining and help me find it!"

"Gladly!"

Raphael swung his arm, sending a powerful gust of wind through the chamber. The force swept away the remaining dust and scattered debris, exposing the entrance to the passage Evan had spotted. For a brief moment, the darkness beyond it remained still.

Then something moved.

A low growl echoed from within, followed by a strange pulse of energy that swept across the chamber. The three Anomalies fighting the Sentinels immediately straightened, their bodies surging with renewed strength.

Evan’s expression darkened. "There!"

Without waiting for another response, he flashed toward the passage, electricity gathering around his arm. Raphael followed close behind, releasing a sharp gust of wind that tore through the narrow corridor and forced the hidden creature out of its hiding place.

The fourth Anomaly emerged with a furious roar.

Unlike the other three, its body was smaller and more slender, with several dark, vein-like patterns running along its back. A faint glow pulsed beneath its skin, and every time it breathed, the surrounding energy seemed to ripple toward it before flowing back in the direction of the other Anomalies.

So that was how it worked.

It wasn’t simply regenerating itself. It was acting as a source, continuously supplying energy to the other three and allowing them to maintain their strength even after repeated attacks.

Evan clicked his tongue. "No wonder they wouldn’t stay down."

"Then let’s take this one out first!" Raphael declared.

He raised his hand, summoning a powerful current of wind that twisted into a spiraling blade. Evan moved at the same time, electricity flashing around his body as he attacked from the opposite direction.

The hidden Anomaly reacted faster than either of them expected.

It twisted aside, narrowly avoiding Evan’s strike, before releasing a pulse of energy that sent both Sentinels skidding backward. The creature immediately turned toward Raphael, its claws sweeping through the air with enough force to tear apart the surrounding stone.

Raphael ducked beneath the attack and countered with a blast of wind that sent the creature crashing into the wall.

"Got you!" He rushed forward, intending to finish it before it could recover, but his movement suddenly faltered.

For a fraction of a second, his vision blurred.

His breathing had become heavier, and the wind surrounding his body no longer moved as smoothly as before. Every time he summoned his power, the energy seemed to resist his control, surging too violently before weakening without warning.

Raphael gritted his teeth and forced another gust toward the Anomaly.

The attack struck, but it lacked the precision of his earlier strikes.

Evan noticed immediately. "Raphael!"

"I’m fine!" Raphael snapped, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Just finish the damn thing!"

He tried to summon another blade of wind, but the energy around his arm twisted violently before dispersing. His expression changed for an instant, irritation flashing across his face as he clenched his trembling hand.

Evan’s eyes narrowed.

Raphael wasn’t fine.

They had both spent too much energy fighting the other Anomalies, and now that they had finally found the source, Raphael was pushing himself even harder. His energy circulation was becoming increasingly unstable, and the dangerous fluctuations reminded Evan of the moments just before a Sentinel lost control.

If Raphael continued like this, he might enter Rampage before they could finish the battle.

"Stop."

Raphael turned toward him with an incredulous look. "What?"

"I said stop fighting."

"Have you lost your mind? That thing is right there!"

"And you’re about to lose control of your power."

Raphael’s expression stiffened.

For a second, the only sounds between them were the distant roars of the other Anomalies and the crackling electricity around Evan’s body.

Then Raphael scoffed, "I’m not going to Rampage just because I’m a little tired."

"Your energy circulation is already unstable." Evan’s voice turned colder. "Unless you want to become another problem I have to deal with, take a rest."

"Wow. Such touching concern from Number One."

"Raphael."

"All right, all right!"

Raphael raised both hands in surrender, though his expression remained sour. "I’ll take a break. Happy now?"

"Not particularly."

"Your bedside manner is terrible, you know that?"

"Go sit down before I throw you against the wall again."

Raphael muttered something under his breath but finally retreated to a safer position behind the nearby Sentinels. He leaned against a broken pillar, trying to regulate his breathing while the remaining Anomalies continued struggling against their opponents.

Evan watched him for another moment before turning toward the group gathered near Leon.

"Celestine!"

Celestine immediately looked up from where she had been standing guard beside Lumi.

"Come here. Raphael needs guiding before his energy circulation becomes any worse."

Celestine’s expression changed as she glanced toward Raphael. Although he was still standing, the instability surrounding his energy was noticeable even from a distance, and she understood why Evan had called her.

With hesitation, she hurried over.

Raphael looked up when she approached, his usual mischievous smile returning despite his exhausted appearance.

"Oh? My beautiful Fated Guide has finally come to rescue me?"

Celestine gave him a flat look. "Can you be serious for once?"

Raphael smiled, but this time, his smile looked tired, with a hint of worry hidden beneath his usual playful expression.

"Guide No. 2..." he called weakly, his gaze fixed on her. "You’re not afraid of me?"

Celestine huffed and raised her hands, closing her eyes as she concentrated on gathering her Guiding energy.

"More like annoyed than afraid," she muttered under her breath.

However, before her Guiding energy could fully reach him, Raphael’s expression suddenly changed. He frowned, taking several deep breaths as the energy inside his body began to fluctuate violently.

Celestine immediately sensed the imbalance. Her eyes snapped open, and she stared at him in alarm.

Raphael met her gaze, the tired smile disappearing from his face.

"Run!"