Chapter 79: Rough Start

The Temple Knights, like a lot of Tier 9s, didn’t possess an active ability. But that didn’t mean they weren’t deserving of their rank.

They possessed not only raw strength, but decent weaponry to go with it.

A lot more than could be said for others on the first floor of the dungeon.

Plus, they roamed in groups...

That was already an issue, but perhaps the greater problem was that their patrol routes overlapped. There was a high chance they might aggro another group while occupied with one.

’It’s time to use the classic...’

Ralph had retaken charge, but the ’classic’ was clearly the only way to go. He’d even reached the same conclusion without Peace having to say anything.

Yulis was going to snipe one, drawing the group to them.

In RPG terms, ’pulling.’

From there, they’d take out the targets and move on to the next.

The only problems were darkness and sound.

Yulis needed the torchlight to get a clear shot, but if they were close enough for it to illuminate the Knights, they’d already be within aggro range.

’Time to give some elite comms.’

Not simply to help Yulis fire, but in general.

Since the Temple Knights were armored, the weaponless Peace was nearly useless. The formation had changed, with Ralph at the front, Maura and Volkar behind him, Yulis behind them, and Peace at the very back.

Peace’s role was not to fight, but to relay positions and watch their flank for any Acolytes.

But they also had to be careful of the noise...

Noise generated threat.

Not much, but a little.

Even a small amount changed a monster’s state from neutral to alert. Sustained noise would eventually cause that status to change to aggravated, prompting the monster to search for its source.

The rest was quite intuitive.

Yulis stood against the wall under one of the torches with his bow fully drawn. He was aiming blindly into the darkness, angling his bow slightly upward and parallel to the wall, using it as a guide for his arrow.

Peace was timing the patrols, measuring how long they took to get from one side of the hallway to the other before disappearing into the opposite corridor.

’Nine seconds.’

Standing right behind Yulis, he whispered:

"It’s a three. They just started crossing."

Yulis began nodding rhythmically, silently counting to nine.

On the ninth nod, Peace gave him the go.

"Now."

Yulis’ finger twitched, and the arrow sailed down the hall. It smacked one of the Temple Knights in the side of its helmet, nearly knocking it off as its head snapped in their direction.

Peace rasped:

"Hit! They’re coming!"

The moment the Temple Knights entered the torchlight, Ralph used Audacious Challenge.

Only, like with the golem, he didn’t go all out and start banging his shield, instead issuing a simple challenge.

"Come at me, rubbish."

Yet, it was enough.

All three, even the one hit by the arrow, focused on Ralph.

Almost simultaneously, they drew their shields aside and cleaved downward at Ralph.

Ralph quickly braced himself, lowering his body and planting his shield, but as the three swords smashed into its already battered surface, the force drove him backward.

Stepping past Ralph for a moment, Volkar swung his axe down on one of the three Temple Knights, only for his attack to be batted aside, doing little more than delaying the Knight as it reset its stance.

Maura, on the other hand, stepped forward to deliver a similar attack, but pulled back when a shield slid into the path of her strike.

’Ralph’s Threat Level is too low...’

Glancing back, Peace noted there were no approaching Acolytes.

’Alright...’

Peace bit his lip.

"Ralph, get their full attention. Stop holding back. Maura and Volkar, spy."

Ralph grumbled.

"You bastard. How much do you think of me?!"

But, complaints or not, he lifted his sword.

Shaking out his hand, Volkar asked:

"Spy? What do you mean?"

Flexing his hands, Peace said:

"Only attack if you see an opening or if Ralph absolutely needs help."

Steadying his breathing, Volkar nodded.

"I see."

’Why is he so level-headed at times... and beyond idiotic and rash at others?’

Holding his shield steady, Ralph took on three more blows. It held, sustaining only a few new dents.

Sliding it aside, Ralph planted his foot and kicked into the shield of one, sending it toppling backward on its ass.

’Finally showing your strength, Tier 8.’

Planting his foot again, Ralph swung his blade crosswise into the side of the second, his sudden follow-up catching the Temple Knight before it could defend properly.

It joined its brethren on the ground.

Ralph quickly raised his shield and bashed it into the third, activating Resonance as he did.

The third’s body was sent flying, its sword escaping its grasp as it slammed into the wall.

’Where was this strength against Drathar?!’

The second Knight, which had fallen onto the first, tried to get up, only to be met by the tip of Ralph’s sword plunging into its chest, piercing the chainmail.

"Tch. Tough bastard."

Despite the wound, the Temple Knight tore itself free from Ralph’s blade and launched a counterattack of its own.

Only for a sudden swipe from Maura to slam into its exposed neck — an attack it didn’t even acknowledge.

[You have slain Tier 9 A-Class, Light Temple Knight]

[+3 EXP]

’Yes!’

The Temple Knight’s body began to topple sideways.

’Wait—’

From behind its falling form, a hollow-eyed cretin rose from the shadows. It had spawned in the Knight’s shadow as it died.

’What are the fucking chances!’

Well, one in four. Peace knew that. Each time a Temple Knight was killed, there was a 25% chance an Acolyte would spawn.

But that was neither here nor there.

"Acolyte!"

The word had barely escaped his mouth before the creature vaulted over the corpse and Ralph’s shield, tackling the veteran Diver to the ground.

It began tearing at Ralph’s already battered armor and gnawing at his helmet, eventually managing to undo its latch and knock it free.

"Get off me, shitbag!"

Dropping his sword, Ralph locked his wrist and began punching at the Acolyte, trying to shove it away.

As the Acolyte’s head was forced to the side, an arrow lodged itself between its eyes.

[You have slain Tier 9 C-Class, Defiled Light Acolyte]

However...

The first Temple Knight Ralph had knocked down had recovered and was standing over the fallen man. With the Threat Level Ralph had generated, the Knight ignored the two swinging their axes at it from either side.

Looking up, Ralph muttered:

"Fuck."

Then he barely managed to shift aside, the descending sword plunging into his thigh instead of his head.

Volkar killed the defenseless attacker, but the damage was done.

[You have slain Tier 9 A-Class, Light Temple Knight]

[+3 EXP]

"Gah—! Damn it!"

As Ralph began writhing on the floor, Volkar and Maura took care of the final Temple Knight, which had also been almost absentmindedly gunning for Ralph.

[You have slain Tier 9 A-Class, Light Temple Knight]

[+3 EXP]

Dropping to his knees and reaching into the bag on his sash, Yulis said:

"It’s too deep."

’Of course it is... I think it went all the way through.’

Maura’s light healing wouldn’t be enough for a wound that grievous. Especially when they needed Ralph up and ready within minutes. They had no choice but to use a potion.

Thankfully, the sword hadn’t lodged itself in Ralph’s leg like the one Peace had dealt with in the Maw of Hell, so they didn’t have to go through the woes of pulling it out.

Uncapping a vial of red liquid, Yulis ripped open a bit of Ralph’s pants, then poured it straight onto the wound.

"Gu—"

Ralph began to scream, but Peace quickly moved in from behind, shoving his forearm between the man’s teeth.

’Stop biting so hard, you bitch!’

When his muffled, anguished screams subsided into trembling breaths, Peace pulled his arm away — now sporting Ralph’s tooth marks.

Huffing, Ralph shook his head, his sweaty blonde hair clinging to his cheeks.

Peace stood up, glancing back to check for more Acolytes.

"You look like shit."

Ralph let out a long exhale, then replied:

"Feel like it too."

Peace shrugged.

"That sucks... now get up. We can’t afford to dawdle or they’ll respawn."

Ralph clicked his tongue, then took Maura’s outstretched hand.

"I know. I know."

Dusting himself off a little, he picked up his sword and shield.

’That wasn’t too bad...’

However, it had cost them a potion. While they had quite the stockpile, at least twenty between the five of them, they couldn’t afford to use them carelessly.

"How big is the next group?"

Peace waited for the patrol to pass, then said:

"Three again, but don’t mess it up this time."

Ralph scoffed.

"Big words for someone who simply watched with his dick in his hand."

Peace’s eyes flipped to Ralph, watching as he tried to put his broken helmet back on, only for it to immediately slip off.

"Stop getting pissy and do your job, leader."