Chapter 172

Words : 1172 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 172: Chapter 172 The sharp sound of footsteps echoed through the underground chamber as a group of people rushed toward Clayton. From a distance, Clayton had been watching them advance with ravenous eyes, and the sight made him deeply uneasy. To make matters worse, the ground kept trembling, leaving him momentarily unsure of how to act. Realizing he couldn’t just stand there, Clayton swiftly dodged a barrage of strikes aimed at him. Luckily, he was well-accustomed to evasion and managed to slip away unharmed. Even so, his movements began to slow, and the gap between him and his pursuers closed quickly. Before he knew it, three figures were already dangerously close. Seeing this, Clayton quickly pushed aside unnecessary thoughts and ordered his skeletal minions to move in while he carefully reached into his spatial pouch. The three attackers paid no attention to his actions, confident that a mere three-star mage apprentice like him could be easily slain. Meanwhile, more enemies were closing in from a distance, making Clayton frown in worry. Three alone are enough to kill me—what happens when more show up? he thought grimly. Noticing his distraction, the three lunged at him without hesitation. Clayton, momentarily lost in thought, didn’t react—but his slightly more intelligent skeletons did. In an instant, domes of water enveloped Clayton, accompanied by bursts of water magic that shot toward the three attackers. They were taken aback, clearly unaware that the skeletons were his allies. Protected by the watery barrier, Clayton snapped back to his senses. He no longer cared whether his minions were exposed—the only thing that mattered now was survival. While Clayton and his three foes were momentarily distracted, another hunting party drew near. Both sides frowned, knowing things would only get more troublesome with a larger crowd. Just as they wondered how to avoid the chaos, the previously restless stone walls suddenly surged inward, sealing them off within a solid barricade from every direction. Now trapped inside the stone fortress, Clayton and his three enemies were at least spared from the group outside. That small relief brought a hint of calm to everyone present—even Clayton. What pleased him more, however, was that the space was sealed tight with very little air circulation. With subtle movements, he scattered golden dust into the air, the conspicuous smile on his face betraying his hidden intent. Yet the three attackers still didn’t care, convinced that Clayton posed no threat. In fact, they were already thinking ahead to how they might deal with each other once Clayton was dead. If he knew what they were thinking, Clayton mused, he would laugh in their faces. I’m not the one who’s guaranteed to die here. The tension between them left the trio wary and awkward. Sensing an opportunity, Clayton smirked and unleashed a spell—a black-green wave of water that surged toward them. They were startled at first but quickly sneered, thinking him foolish and reckless. They blocked his attack with ease, each in their own way. Clayton wasn’t surprised in the slightest. Before they could counterattack, however, the three suddenly felt their heads and bodies grow heavy, as if filled with lead. Too late, they realized they had been poisoned. Enraged, they scrambled for antidotes from their spatial pouches. But before they could act, marble-sized water projectiles shot toward their heads. Snap! Snap! Snap! Their skulls burst like overripe melons, painting the scene with grim finality. Clayton exhaled in relief. He had expected his plan might work, but he hadn’t been certain it would truly save his life. He quickly looted their belongings, then rested for a moment to prepare for the next wave of trouble. Before long, the stone walls shifted again, revealing an ancient-style enclosed arena. A group of onlookers stared intently at Clayton. They were shocked to see him alive. Some glanced at the three corpses on the ground, thinking how incompetent they must have been. The Sly man who had trapped Clayton earlier was also surprised—then intrigued—realizing the three had been killed in a single strike. "Hahaha! I didn’t expect to find such an interesting boy here!" the man said with delight. Clayton, however, felt a wave of anxiety as another group rushed toward him. He decided to flee, firing a black marble and riding a wave of water forward. All the while, he scattered more golden dust behind him. His actions drew astonished looks, but no one stopped the chase. Eventually, four people caught up to him—just as the ground began to shake again and the stone walls rose once more. Everyone knew what was coming, and panic spread quickly. One of the four suddenly attacked the approaching group, catching even Clayton off guard. Once he regained his wits, he followed suit, helping reduce the number of enemies. The four pursuers even began attacking each other in secret to lessen the competition. Clayton found this amusing—it meant there would be no coordinated siege against him. While they fought among themselves, Clayton quietly spread more golden dust. Soon, the walls trembled harder and fused together, sealing the five of them inside a closed chamber. At first, Clayton planned to attack, but before he could, the four had already turned on each other. "Prejudice in the human heart is as big as a mountain," he muttered, shaking his head. Like the three before them, they underestimated Clayton and distrusted one another. They could have dealt with him first and then split the spoils—but greed had clouded their judgment. Clayton gladly took advantage. Blow after blow they exchanged until they grew exhausted and began to lose consciousness from the pollen and poison he had been releasing all along. Their attacks became sloppy and harmless. With a satisfied smile, Clayton finished them off. Then he waited, calm but wary, for the walls to open. This time, the walls took longer to move, as if deliberately allowing more time for battle. After regaining his strength, Clayton watched them shift away, revealing a wide stone chamber littered with corpses. Fewer people remained, yet many still hunted him. The cycle repeated—Clayton survived again and again because his pursuers never questioned how he kept escaping. They made the same mistake over and over, much to his benefit, though the strain was wearing him down. If this continued, he might collapse from exhaustion before anyone managed to kill him. Remaining vigilant, Clayton studied the Sly man from earlier. Strangely, the man always looked fresh, as if he had never fought at all—even though more people chased him than chased Clayton. Suspicion gnawed at him, but apparently his scrutiny hadn’t gone unnoticed. When their eyes met, the man smiled meaningfully, sending a chill down Clayton’s spine. The longer he looked at that smile, the greater his fear grew. Damn it! There’s definitely something wrong with this guy! I’ve been thinking that from the start, but there’s nothing I can do about it—even knowing it! he thought in frustration, feeling as if he were being toyed with in the palm of the man’s hand.

Chapter 172

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