NOVEL NEXT WORLD CHAPTER 94: 2V2 BATTLE
Sword God stared at Kyle, his guard up. He wasn't naive or foolish enough to ask Kyle why he had shown up in front of them. He knew Kyle had joined the demonic faction, alongside the Red Witch, and their actions and terror were well-known throughout the celestial camp. The destruction they had caused, the people they had killed—Kyle and the Red Witch had carved their names into infamy. There was no mistaking it; they were enemies now.
"I believe you both are here for a fight," Stagnant Water said to the potential enemies, his grip on his swords tightening.
"Fight? No. Beating you both to a pulp and mopping the floor with you? Yes, that's the plan," Kyle replied confidently, his smirk widening.
"You are quite the arrogant bastard. Underestimating your enemy is the mark of a loser who can't fight," Stagnant Water shot back, his muscles tense, battle-ready as ever.
"I guess you haven't checked the rankings recently," Kyle said, his voice laced with amusement. "I'm at the top, and by a large margin, if I must say. A level 75 player. The second place—Nemesis, was it?—was only level 57 an hour ago."
Kyle's absurdly high level wasn't due to grinding but to his demonization. After becoming a demon, his power had been recalibrated to match that of a demon viscount—a being typically classified as level 75. This meant that when he entered the game, his avatar was automatically adjusted to that strength level.
However, he had been unable to surpass level 75, mainly because there were no high-level foes strong enough to grant him meaningful experience points. But the most critical issue was that he had yet to awaken his Will Manifestation—the defining ability that separates a level 75 from a level 74. In reality, Kyle was merely a pseudo-level 75, but even in that incomplete state, he still vastly outclassed the majority of the player base.
"I hate to admit it, Sword God, but he's right. I think we should make a run for it," Stagnant Water whispered, his voice low but urgent.
"Under my watch? Not happening," Kyle declared, his voice steady and confident. Without wasting another second, he materialized several arrows out of thin air, launching them toward the duo with a flick of his wrist.
Sword God and Stagnant Water dodged the incoming arrows, but it was useless—like homing missiles, the arrows adjusted their trajectory midair, locking onto them once again.
Clang! Clang!
Both of them struck the arrows with their swords, deflecting them just in time.
"Urgh!"
BOOM!
A sudden impact sent Sword God flying as Kyle's foot connected with his torso.
"Sword God!" Stagnant Water yelled in alarm.
"Uhm—" He barely managed to dodge an incoming fireball, the heat from the explosion singeing his skin.
"Tsk. Forgot he had a teammate," he muttered under his breath. His eyes flickered to Red Witch, who was standing behind Kyle, her expression calm, almost bored. "Fighting Kyle alone is already a nightmare. Adding her to the mix? Our chances of winning are pitiful," Stagnant Water admitted, furrowing his brows as he tightened his grip on his swords.
User: Stagnant Water
Title: Demon Slayer (Superior)
Job: Swordsman
Level: 49 (4,857,370/4,900,000 EXP)
Health: 49,000
Strength: 36
Speed: 35
Stamina: 36
Intelligence: 26
Constitution: 36
Free Attribute Points: 0
Talent: S-rank [Blink – Able to teleport anywhere within sight. The farther the distance, the greater the stamina consumption.]
Stagnant Water warily observed Red Witch, a deep scowl forming on his face. The screams of those she had burned alive still echoed in his mind, a grim testament to her overwhelming power.
Blink.
In an instant, Stagnant Water disappeared, reappearing behind Red Witch (Jessica), his swords raised to strike. However—
Fwoosh!
A massive wall of fire erupted between them, forcing him to retreat.
"Tsk," he gritted his teeth, irritation growing as he teleported away from another of her attacks. Her abilities were becoming increasingly troublesome, limiting his movement and forcing him on the defensive.
User: Red Witch
Title: Celestial Bane (Epic)
Job: Magician
Level: 55 (5,537,378/5,600,000 EXP)
Health: 55,000
Strength: 22
Speed: 25
Stamina: 34
Intelligence: 75
Constitution: 23
Free Attribute Points: 0
SS-rank Talent: [Flame Embodiment – You embody the element of fire. +100% effect to all fire spells.]
Her talent was terrifying, but her true strength came from her time as vice guild master under Nemesis. With endless resources at her disposal and Nemesis's guidance on which NPCs to approach for powerful fire magic, Red Witch had built an arsenal of devastating spells.
And if she ever ran low on mana?
She would simply chug down mana regeneration potions like they were fruit juice.
Of course, the more frequently a player consumed mana potions, the less effective they became within a short period. But against lower-leveled opponents, that wouldn't be a problem—right?
That was how nouveau riche played the game.
Stagnant Water could only stare in disbelief as Red Witch gulped down her fifth mana potion.
He had also taken five stamina potions just to keep up, but if he drank any more, his finances would be completely drained. Bankruptcy was something he would rather avoid at all costs.
"Damn, you rich kids ruin every good game! You infest beautiful worlds like parasites. No matter where I go, I always run into your kind," Stagnant Water grumbled, his breath ragged from exhaustion.
"By the way, how's my part—"
BOOM!
Kyle's kick sent him flying.
Stagnant Water staggered to his feet, his HP bar now dangerously low. He glanced at Sword God, who was barely standing, his body covered in wounds and bruises.
"Wow," Stagnant Water muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Should I say I'm impressed you lasted this long against Kyle, or should I just keep it to myself?"
"You look like a mess," he added. "Scratch that—you are a mess."
"Can we just focus on the battle at hand?" Sword God groaned.
"If you call this one-sided ass-whooping a 'battle,' then sure. It's fun being beaten like a ragdoll without the strength to fight back. I'm a masochist. I love this feeling," Stagnant Water snapped. "Hello?! Continue the fight? Have you lost your damn mind? We should be plotting our escape, not thinking about how to fight back!"
"We can't escape," Sword God said firmly. "Kyle won't let us. Turning our backs on him and running would be suicide."
"I'm glad you understand that," Kyle said casually, already standing before them.
"Now, I think it's time to die," he added with a soft, almost innocent smile.
"Shit!" Stagnant Water cursed, knowing death was inevitable.
Clang!
Just as Kyle's claws were about to descend upon Sword God's neck, they were blocked by a thin sword.
"Princess..." Sword God muttered, his savior someone he never expected.