NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 288: EFFICIENT TEAM
Brian felt a sharp ache in his chest—a deep, gnawing pain of betrayal that dug deeper than any wound he'd suffered in battle. But he forced himself to swallow it. Now wasn't the time to mourn lost hopes or broken loyalties. He inhaled deeply, composing his shaking emotions as he stepped away from Elizabeth, returning to his guildmates. The decision he made in that instant—a simple but powerful act—spoke louder than any words. He had chosen his side.
"So, you've made your choice," Augustus said darkly, his expression hardening. The air around him grew heavy, thick with an unnatural energy. His eyes—normally cold—darkened even further, taking on a sinister glow.
In an instant, waves of shadow slaves stormed into the courtroom. Their footsteps echoed like drums of doom, their black forms slithering and gliding as they surrounded the members of Twilight Guild in an ever-tightening circle.
"This is gonna hurt. Everyone, grab hold of me—or someone holding me!" Chris shouted, his voice strained with urgency. His eyes darted across the room, counting heads.
Cain, Lilith, Aaron, Will, Thomas, Jessica, and the others moved instinctively, forming a tangled web of contact. Moments later, a powerful surge of light consumed them as Chris activated his teleportation skill.
With a brilliant flash, they reappeared outside the castle, gasping for air.
"You guys take it from here... I need a minute to catch my breath," Chris wheezed, dropping to one knee, his face pale and soaked with sweat. Transporting so many people in one jump had drained him nearly to the point of collapse.
"Good job. Out in the open, we have options now. I say we make a run for it," Aaron said, already summoning his griffin. Magical glyphs appeared beneath his feet as his mount materialized with a shriek.
The others followed suit. Griffins burst into existence in gusts of wind and flickers of magic.
"I can't allow any of you to leave," Augustus' voice thundered across the field. He stepped out of the castle through a shattered window, landing effortlessly on the ground like a shadow-born god.
As soon as his feet touched the earth, a surge of power exploded outward. He extended his hand and cast a dark incantation—Shadow Dome—a colossal sphere of writhing shadows rising like a tidal wave, enclosing the entire area. It cut off all light, all escape.
"Well, guess we're cooked. Looks like it's fight time," Will muttered, gripping his spear tightly.
"Aaron, it's up to you now," he added, falling into a ready stance.
The group instinctively formed a defensive ring around Aaron.
"Oh boy... this is gonna be a chore," Aaron sighed, sweat trickling down the side of his face. The pressure was mounting.
Lilith flared her aura, summoning Petrifier and Cerberus, their monstrous forms shaking the earth as they emerged. Petrifier's body was encased in granite-like scales, while Cerberus' three snarling heads exhaled flames and ice.
Cain summoned his undead with a low growl. Skeletal warriors, armored abominations, and ghoulish beasts clawed their way from the ground, encircling their summoner.
Thomas smirked grimly. "Time to see what this new talent can really do…"
Two additional arms grew out from his torso with a crunch of bone and sinew.
> During the last demon wave, before being overwhelmed and nearly killed, Thomas had met the elusive criteria for evolving his ability. His SS-rank talent had awakened into something far more monstrous:
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[SSS RANK – BLESSING OF DURGA]
*You are blessed by Durga, the many-armed goddess of battle. During combat, additional arms grow over time. You start with two extra arms immediately upon engagement.
Blade Amplifier: For every blade wielded, attack power is doubled. More blades lead to exponential increases in strength.*
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Now, wielding four swords with supernatural fluidity, Thomas—known by his alias Dual Blade—radiated a battle aura that shook even Cain.
"Damn… four arms? That's insane," Chris muttered, amazed despite their dire situation.
"Wait till he hits eight or sixteen. You'll cry," Aaron grunted, flashing back to a friendly spar where he was annihilated once Thomas reached eight arms.
"This is no time to admire each other!" Cain barked, voice sharp and commanding. "Healer—you stay back with Chris. Your resurrection skill is our insurance. Will, you provide poison cover for our rear guard and protect Aaron. Aaron, you call out core positions to Sword God, Dual Blade, and Red Witch. I'll hold our rear with undead. Lilith—support fire and counterattack when necessary. You and I are the shield wall for the rest."
Everyone nodded. No questions. No hesitation.
Augustus watched them with a calm, almost amused gaze. Yet part of his mind was elsewhere, still observing Greg's battle against Number Twenty through the shared vision of his shadow slaves.
The numbered and Augustus had a unique trait—they could see through the eyes of any shadow slave, their minds occupying multiple battlefields simultaneously.
That's how Augustus had known Brian was affiliated with Greg. The guild emblem, though newly formed, had already caught his attention.
"Dual Blade—the enemy before you, its core is in the neck!" Aaron called.
Dual Blade dashed forward. His four arms blurred as they slashed in synchronized precision. Steel clanged, flesh tore, shadows hissed.
Brian moved just as swiftly, weaving through shadow slaves like a phantom. His strikes were deadly, fluid, and precise.
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[You don't need that kid's help. I can sense the cores myself.] SWORD's voice rang in Brian's mind.
Brian's lips curled slightly. "That's a relief. Saves time."
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[You should be able to as well—if you weren't so lazy. Use your battle instincts. Find the attack that leads to their demise. Let premonition guide you.]
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Brian nodded inwardly. He inhaled sharply, focusing. The world slowed. The enemy's movements became predictable—vulnerable. There. A flicker. A gap.
He struck. One down. Then another.
Soon, Brian was dispatching shadow slaves faster than Aaron could speak. Each kill cleaner than the last. Aaron blinked, realizing he was no longer needed.
"Tsk. You could've told me you had this covered. My poor throat…" Aaron muttered, shifting his attention to supporting Jessica and Thomas.
The tide shifted. Without the shadow slaves' advantage of core concealment, they fell like paper dummies. And Brian? He became a blur—a storm of death and efficiency.
The guild worked as one—undead flanking, summons roaring, poison flying. The horde that once threatened to drown them was reduced, step by step.
Augustus scowled.
"That damn Nemesis… to think he's overwhelming Clown that easily. He must've grown again. I was right to see him as a threat."
A final shadow slave's vision went dark—Greg had severed its head. Augustus clicked his tongue.
"Looks like I'll have to end this quickly and join Clown."
He stepped forward, hands behind his back.
"You've done well. Impressive even. Five hundred shadow slaves reduced to less than a hundred in two hours? You're not weak. But this is where it ends."
The shadows behind him convulsed. Then, from within the darkness, a figure emerged—a towering presence with crimson eyes, ivory fangs, and a noble bearing.
A Shadow Slave Variant, modeled after a noble vampire. Its every step exuded menace.
"Let's see how you fare against this," Augustus said with a smirk, eyes glinting like obsidian.