Chapter 195: Dungeon Run III

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior swung its sword toward Kaiser with enough force to split the air.

Kaiser immediately activated the Shatter aspect of Shattered Soul and directed its energy toward the incoming blade.

CLANG!

Black energy collided with the green sword, producing a sharp metallic sound. A faint crack appeared along the blade, but the monster’s attack still carried tremendous force.

Kaiser felt his arm go numb from the impact. He quickly stepped backward, avoiding the poisonous mist that spread from the weapon.

’Its physical strength is much greater than mine. Blocking its attacks directly isn’t a good idea.’

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior continued pressing forward. Despite having lost one sword, its movements remained fast and precise. It twisted its upper body and swung its remaining weapon horizontally, forcing Kaiser to duck before the blade could reach his neck.

At the same time, Alex rushed in from the side.

A large jade-green greatsword appeared in his hands. The weapon was formed from countless tightly woven vines, with its surface glowing faintly as Blood Sap flowed through it.

Alex gripped the greatsword with both hands and brought it down toward the monster’s shoulder.

BOOM!

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior raised its remaining sword to block the attack. The collision forced its upper body backward, and its long tail scraped across the ground as it struggled to maintain its balance.

Alex didn’t give it time to recover.

He twisted his wrists and swept the greatsword sideways, forcing the monster to move away from Kaiser.

"Don’t let it surround you!" Alex shouted. "I’ll keep it occupied from the front!"

Kaiser nodded and moved to the monster’s flank.

The other three students also adjusted their positions. John extended his shadows toward the monster’s tail, trying to restrict its movements. Henrick remained farther back, preparing to intercept any attack that slipped past Alex, while Pascot disappeared into the shadows cast by the enormous trees.

They had already learned that the Twinblade Serpent Warrior was too strong for any of them to handle alone. If they wanted to defeat it using their Rules, they needed to cooperate.

The monster hissed and swung its sword at Alex.

Alex raised his jade-green greatsword to meet the attack, but instead of blocking the entire force, he turned his weapon slightly and redirected the blade away from his body.

The poisoned sword slid along the side of his greatsword.

Taking advantage of the opening, Alex stepped forward and struck the monster’s chest.

BANG!

The impact sent the Twinblade Serpent Warrior stumbling backward.

However, before Alex could follow up, the monster’s long tail suddenly swept across the ground.

Alex’s eyes widened.

He quickly jumped, but the tip of the tail still struck his legs and threw him off balance.

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior immediately raised its sword, preparing to attack him while he was vulnerable.

Kaiser moved.

He appeared beside the monster and thrust his right hand forward. Black energy gathered around his fingers, but this time, he didn’t focus solely on the Shatter aspect.

He released the full power of Shattered Soul.

A wave of black energy struck the monster’s upper body.

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior’s movements suddenly faltered. Its scales trembled as the Rule’s energy invaded its defenses, attacking both its physical structure and its soul.

Although Kaiser had only comprehended a small portion of the Rule, its power was still dangerous when applied to a suitable target.

The monster let out a painful hiss and staggered sideways.

Kaiser took advantage of the opening and activated another skill.

"Radiant Sword of Light!"

Golden light gathered around his hand, forming a brilliant sword of condensed light energy.

Since he couldn’t use his class abilities, Soul Bonds, or summons during the trial, he had to rely on the skills he was allowed to use and the power of his Rule. Fortunately, Radiant Sword of Light was an ordinary skill he had already learned, so he could still use it.

The golden sword appeared in his grip.

Kaiser immediately rushed toward the monster and slashed at its injured arm.

CLANG!

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior hurriedly raised its remaining sword to block the attack. Golden light clashed against the green blade, scattering sparks across the clearing.

Kaiser didn’t try to overpower the monster. Instead, he used the Shatter aspect of his Rule to weaken the point where the two weapons met.

A faint cracking sound came from the poisoned sword.

The monster noticed the damage and immediately tried to pull its weapon away, but Kaiser had already shifted his stance.

He stepped forward and swung the Radiant Sword of Light again, aiming at the monster’s ribs.

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior twisted its body to evade the attack. The golden blade only managed to cut through several layers of green scales, leaving a shallow wound.

Even so, the monster was forced to retreat.

Kaiser followed it, keeping his distance from the poisonous mist surrounding its body.

’Using Shattered Soul together with Radiant Sword of Light is more effective than relying on either one alone.’

The Rule weakened the monster’s defenses, while the light sword allowed him to attack the exposed areas. However, controlling the two powers simultaneously required considerable concentration.

He still hadn’t mastered the Shatter aspect. Sometimes, the energy struck exactly where he intended, while at other times, it spread too widely and wasted much of its power.

Even so, actual combat was helping him understand the Rule better.

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior suddenly opened its mouth and released a sharp hiss.

Green energy surged through its body.

Kaiser immediately sensed danger.

"Alex, get back!"

Alex didn’t hesitate. He pulled his greatsword away and retreated as quickly as possible.

The next moment, the monster’s body expanded with poisonous energy.

A thick cloud of green mist erupted from its scales, spreading throughout the clearing. The poisonous gas was much denser than the mist released by the ordinary serpents, and the ground beneath the monster began to bubble as the energy corroded the plants.

John immediately extended his shadows around the group, creating a temporary barrier to slow the advancing mist. Henrick reinforced the defense, while Pascot moved farther away to find a safer position.

Kaiser also retreated.

Although he had several ways to deal with poison, he had no intention of discovering how much damage this monster’s venom could inflict on his body. They were here to practice using their Rules, not to risk serious injuries by testing their resistance.

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior used the opportunity to charge toward Alex.

Its long tail propelled it forward, and its sword swept down at the young man’s head.

Alex gritted his teeth and raised his jade-green greatsword.

BOOM!

The impact drove him several steps backward. His arms trembled, and cracks appeared across the surface of his weapon.

The monster immediately followed with another strike.

Alex shifted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade. He then thrust his greatsword toward the monster’s abdomen.

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior twisted its tail and avoided the attack, but Alex had anticipated that response.

Several jade vines burst from the ground and wrapped around the monster’s lower body.

Blood Sap energy flowed through the vines, strengthening them and allowing them to tighten around the serpent’s tail.

The monster struggled to free itself.

Alex seized the opportunity and swung his greatsword at its waist.

BANG!

The attack landed, forcing the monster to lower its upper body.

However, the serpent warrior was far from helpless. It twisted violently, and the poisonous energy surrounding its body surged outward, burning through the jade vines.

Alex quickly withdrew before the released poison could reach him.

"These vines won’t hold it for long!" he shouted.

"They don’t need to!" Kaiser replied.

He had already moved behind the monster.

The Twinblade Serpent Warrior sensed his approach and tried to turn around, but its injured arm slowed its movement.

Kaiser raised the Radiant Sword of Light and focused the Shatter aspect on the damaged scales covering its right shoulder.

Black energy gathered along the golden blade.

Instead of spreading the Rule’s power throughout the weapon, he concentrated it at a single point.

The sword struck.

CRACK!

The remaining scales covering the monster’s shoulder shattered. The impact drove the golden blade deeper, leaving a visible wound beneath the broken armor.

The monster roared and swung its sword backward.

Kaiser immediately withdrew, allowing the poisoned blade to pass in front of him.

He landed several meters away and examined the monster.

Its right arm was badly injured, its chest carried several wounds, and its lower body had been damaged by Alex’s attacks. Yet it remained dangerous, and its poisonous energy showed no sign of weakening.

’Its defenses are becoming easier to break once I establish a weak point. I need to keep using the Shatter aspect like this.’