Chapter 79: Veyra Vs. Kaelira (part 1)

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Veyra Vs. Kaelira (part 1)

Veyra’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of her level, though there was no jealousy or hostility in her expression. Instead, genuine curiosity appeared in her golden eyes. She looked at Kaelira again, taking in the crimson skin, black scales, long black hair streaked with crimson, and the rows of small black spikes running down her back.

"Level 35," Veyra repeated. "That’s quite impressive."

Kaelira gave a small nod.

"Thank you."

Veyra walked closer.

"I am Veyra. I serve our lord as one of his subordinates."

She spoke naturally, without trying to establish herself above Kaelira or emphasizing that she had arrived before her. There was no trace of arrogance in her voice. She simply introduced herself as she would introduce herself to anyone else.

"My abilities are mostly focused on combat."

Kaelira listened carefully before giving a respectful nod.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kaelira, as our lord has already told you. I am a Crimson Scaled Valkra, and my strength is primarily focused on close combat."

Veyra’s expression softened.

"Then it seems we have similar responsibilities."

"Perhaps."

Kaelira glanced toward Ragnar.

"I was summoned only recently, so I have not yet learned much about this dungeon."

Veyra smiled.

"Then I’ll be happy to show you around."

Kaelira gave a small nod before turning toward Veyra. "I would appreciate that. There is still much I need to learn about this place, and since you have been serving our lord longer than I have, I suppose you would know the dungeon better than anyone else."

Veyra smiled lightly. "Then it is settled."

She turned toward Ragnar and bowed her head slightly. "My lord, I will tour Kaelira around the dungeon."

Ragnar nodded from his position near the throne. "Go ahead. There is no need for you to stay here with me."

Veyra nodded and began walking toward the entrance of the throne room, with Kaelira following beside her. The two women walked together without any tension between them, and from the way Veyra occasionally glanced toward Kaelira, Ragnar could already tell that something was bothering her.

Or rather, something was exciting her.

Ragnar narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched them leave.

That look, he knew that look.

She enjoyed fighting. Not because she was bloodthirsty or because she wanted to hurt others, but because combat was simply a natural part of her life.

Veyra came from a demon clan, a race where strength was respected and battles were often treated as a normal part of daily life. To her, exchanging blows with someone powerful was probably no different from having a conversation.

At first glance, Veyra might have looked like succubus whenever she was around him. However, Ragnar knew better.

She was a demon.

And fighting was practically an everyday activity for demons.

Ragnar leaned back against his throne and let out a quiet sigh.

"I have a feeling those two aren’t going to spend the entire tour walking around."

His suspicion was proven correct less than an hour later.

Veyra and Kaelira had reached the second floor.

The enormous dead forest stretched endlessly around them, its twisted gray-black trees standing beneath a sky covered by a constant layer of pale mist.

Dead leaves covered the ground, while exposed roots twisted through the soil like the fingers of buried corpses. Farther away, the ruins of ancient structures could be seen through the fog, their broken walls covered with moss and dark vines.

Veyra stopped in an open clearing.

Kaelira stopped beside her and looked around.

"This place is quite different from the first floor."

"It is the second floor," Veyra replied. "Our lord recently created it. There are undead monsters throughout the forest, and the dungeon’s death energy is much stronger here."

Kaelira looked toward the distant ruins.

"I can feel it."

She paused before turning toward Veyra.

"You are also stronger than you appear."

Veyra’s lips curved upward.

"So you noticed."

"Warrior’s Instinct."

Kaelira raised one hand, and a thin crimson thread emerged from the tip of her finger before disappearing again.

Veyra’s smile widened slightly.

"Then would you like to test that observation?"

Kaelira studied her for another moment before smiling.

"I would not mind."

The moment Kaelira accepted, Veyra stepped backward several meters.

Kaelira rolled her shoulders, and the black scales covering her arms shifted slightly as her muscles tightened. Her eyes became sharper, and the relaxed expression on her beautiful face disappeared. In its place was the focused expression of a warrior preparing for battle.

Veyra raised one hand.

Crimson flames immediately gathered around her fingers.

At the same time, Kaelira lowered her stance.

Neither woman needed a signal.

They moved at almost the exact same moment.

Boom!

The ground beneath Kaelira’s feet cracked as she launched herself forward.

Her speed was astonishing.

In an instant, she crossed the distance between them and swung her fist toward Veyra’s abdomen. Kaelira did not use Crimson Impact yet. She wanted to test Veyra’s physical ability first.

Veyra shifted her body to the side.

Kaelira’s fist passed beside her waist, missing by only a few centimeters.

However, Kaelira immediately adjusted.

Her Warrior’s Instinct had already recognized the movement.

She twisted her waist and sent her other fist toward Veyra’s ribs.

Veyra raised her forearm.

Bang!

The impact sent a powerful shock through the clearing.

Veyra’s feet slid backward several meters, carving two deep lines into the dead soil.

Kaelira’s eyes narrowed.

"Good defense."

Veyra looked at her forearm.

The blackened mark left by Kaelira’s fist was already disappearing.

"Your physical strength is impressive."

Veyra suddenly disappeared from Kaelira’s sight.

Kaelira’s instincts screamed. She immediately ducked.

A blade of crimson flame swept over her head.

Infernal Blade.

The flame gathered around Veyra’s arm had transformed into a long, razor-sharp blade composed entirely of dark crimson fire. It was not simply ordinary fire.

The moment Kaelira felt its heat pass above her, she understood that allowing that blade to strike directly would be dangerous.

Kaelira planted one hand against the ground and spun.

Her leg swept toward Veyra’s ankles.

Veyra jumped over the attack, but Kaelira was already moving.

Crimson blood flowed from Kaelira’s fingertip.