Chapter 78: We Have A Newcomer

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: We Have A Newcomer

Ragnar frowned slightly.

"So it’s similar to a berserker ability."

"Similar, but not identical. I can maintain control if I remain conscious of myself."

"Good."

Ragnar had already seen what happened when a powerful ability came with a serious drawback. A subordinate who could lose control in the middle of a battle was something he needed to understand before sending her into a dangerous situation.

He continued reading.

[Crimson Impact]

[Condenses crimson energy into the user’s fists, legs, or weapons.]

[Greatly increases the destructive force of physical attacks.]

[The condensed energy can be released upon impact, producing a concentrated shockwave.]

Ragnar’s eyebrows rose.

"Let me see this skill."

"As you wish, my lord."

Kaelira slowly rose from her kneeling position.

The moment she stood upright, her nearly three-meter-tall body once again made the throne room feel considerably smaller.

Her crimson skin reflected the dim light of the chamber, while the black scales covering her shoulders, arms, thighs, and sides gave her the appearance of a warrior wearing natural armor.

The row of black spikes running along her spine remained completely still, but Ragnar could feel the faint pressure of energy gathering around her body.

Kaelira looked toward the open space in front of the throne.

"If you want to see Crimson Impact, I can demonstrate it without causing serious damage to the dungeon."

Ragnar nodded.

"Please do. Just don’t destroy the throne room."

A faint smile appeared on Kaelira’s lips.

"I understand."

She stepped forward.

Her right hand slowly curled into a fist.

At first, nothing happened. Then a faint crimson glow began gathering around her arm.

The energy did not spread wildly. Instead, it condensed tightly around her fist, forming a thin layer of crimson light that became denser with every passing second. The air around her fist began to distort from the pressure, and the stone floor beneath her feet developed several tiny cracks.

Ragnar’s eyes narrowed.

"So that’s Crimson Impact."

Kaelira nodded.

"The energy is concentrated at the point of impact. The more precisely I control it, the greater the force I can release without wasting energy."

She walked toward one of the stone pillars supporting the far side of the throne room.

She lowered her stance.

The crimson energy around her fist suddenly became brighter.

Then she punched.

BOOM!

Her fist struck the stone pillar. There was no enormous explosion.

Instead, a concentrated shockwave erupted from the point of impact.

CRACK!

A spiderweb of cracks instantly spread across the surface of the pillar.

A second later, a deep depression appeared where Kaelira’s fist had struck, with the stone around it shattered inward.

The shockwave continued through the pillar before disappearing.

Kaelira calmly withdrew her fist.

Ragnar stared at the damaged pillar for several seconds.

There had been no flashy explosion, no enormous wave of energy, and no unnecessary destruction. Yet the result was enough to make him understand exactly how dangerous Kaelira’s Crimson Impact was.

The stone pillar had been built to withstand the dungeon’s internal environment, but a single controlled punch had driven a deep crater into its surface and sent the force through the stone itself.

Kaelira slowly lowered her arm.

"The power can be increased considerably if I use more crimson energy," she explained. "I only used enough to demonstrate the basic effect. If I release everything at once, the shockwave will become much stronger."

Ragnar looked at the pillar again.

"I believe you."

He turned his attention back to Kaelira.

"That was impressive."

"Thank you, my lord."

Ragnar looked at his own hands. Then he sighed.

That’s right.

Although I’m Level 27 now, I don’t really have any good skills.

The thought had suddenly struck him.

He had spent most of his time thinking about his dungeon.

He had focused on acquiring monsters, expanding the floors, arranging traps, creating defenses, and accumulating Soul Points. Every time he gained soul points, his first thought was always about improving the dungeon.

As a result, he had barely paid attention to himself.

Ragnar had become stronger simply by gaining levels, but his personal abilities were still surprisingly lacking.

He could fight.

He possessed the physical strength of a demon.

He had his greatsword.

But compared to someone like Kaelira, who possessed several specialized abilities designed for combat, Ragnar’s own skill set looked rather unimpressive.

Ragnar couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

"I’ve been so focused on building the dungeon that I nearly forgot something important."

Kaelira looked at him.

"What is that, my lord?"

"My own strength."

Ragnar leaned back against the throne.

"I keep thinking about how to make the dungeon stronger, but if I want to become a proper Dungeon Master, I can’t rely entirely on my subordinates."

Ragnar looked toward the system window.

"I guess my next goal should be to grow stronger."

He had no intention of abandoning his dungeon.

If anything, strengthening the dungeon would remain one of his highest priorities.

But from now on, he would also focus on himself.

He needed better skills, and better equipment.

Suddenly, footsteps could be heard approaching.

Both Ragnar and Kaelira turned toward the entrance of his private room.

A moment later, Veyra appeared.

She walked into the chamber with her usual calm expression, her eyes immediately falling upon the unfamiliar woman standing beside the damaged pillar.

Veyra stopped.

Her gaze moved slowly from Kaelira’s crimson skin to the black scales covering her body, then to the row of black spikes running down her back. Finally, her golden eyes met Veyra’s.

For several seconds, neither woman spoke.

Ragnar could immediately feel the atmosphere changing.

Neither of them released their full aura, but both were experienced enough to recognize strength when they saw it.

Veyra looked at Ragnar.

"My lord."

Ragnar nodded.

"Veyra, you’re here."

"Yes. I finished teaching the goblins."

Veyra’s gaze remained on Kaelira for a moment longer before she looked back at Ragnar.

"We have a newcomer."

Ragnar nodded.

"Yes. I summoned her through the Subordinate Gacha."

He gestured toward the towering woman standing near the damaged pillar.

"This is Kaelira. She’s a Crimson Scaled Valkra, and she’s currently Level 35."