"Now how should I kill you, guys?" A Veronica asked, rubbing her chin.

"I know!" Another Veronica said. "Let's cut their tendons then skin them alive!"

"Great idea, Veronica!" Another Veronica said.

"Thanks Veronica!" The one who gave the idea said, blushing.

"Wait." Celeste said. "I think you're getting a bit too ahead of yourself, lady."

"And why do you say that, young lady? Have you gone mad from fear?" The Veronica's eyebrows raised.

"No, I just think you've been somewhat negligent. You obviously hadn't shown everything you had when you just came, so what makes you think none of us did the same." Celeste asked.

"Are you saying...."

Celeste stepped forward.

"I didn't want to use this but you've really pushed me into a corner. Everyone get behind me," she said calmly.

Then her mana exploded outward.

The pressure was immense and suffocating like standing at the bottom of an ocean.

This wasn't Copper rank power. This was way more powerful.

"Iron rank?" Lydia said. "But...but... you're our age!"

"Mid-stage Iron, to be precise," Celeste said. "If it wasn't for this idiot, I wouldn't have exposed my power."

"Shall we begin?" She said turning to a Veronica.

"Well, well, another Iron rank? You're quite impressive, young lady but have you forgotten you're opponent isn't just one Iron ranked. It's eight." Veronica laughed.

Meanwhile, Lucas was stuck in his head.

She's Iron rank? MID-STAGE Iron rank?

His thoughts immediately jumped back to the alley incident. The thugs. The way she'd acted so helpless and vulnerable.

She was playing with them. Like a cat with mice. She could have killed them all in seconds but she... she was enjoying it. Enjoying being a damsel in distress. Hoping to be 'saved.'

What if I hadn't turned up. What would have happened to those guys?

This is the best thing that could have happened now but the worst thing for me if we somehow survive this.

Four of the Veronicas jumped at Celeste, Damion, and Zacard. The remaining four surrounded Lucas's group wearing smug expressions.

"Don't worry," the Veronicas said. "We'll make this quick. Well, relatively quick. Where's the fun in rushing?"

"Echo Slash!" Celeste shouted.

Her blade gave of a global before an arc of light flew towards one of the Veronica's. The Veronica dodged it but was instantly met with Damion's sword slashing at her face.

The Veronica ducked and rolled away ackwardly. It would have been the perfect time to deliver a killing blow but unfortunately, the other Veronica's were there.

One rushed at Damion and stabbed at his heart. Damion bent his body in an ackward position and manages to parry the blow before retaliating with a slash of his own that the Veronica blocked.

Zacard's lightning spear thrust toward a third Veronica, who had tried to backstab him, causing her to duck and slash at his legs which he jumped over.

It would seem that they were holding their own. Barely.

But that didn't make any sense unless she was purposefully toying with them since no matter the strategy, two Copper ranks and a Iron ranked should have no chance against eight Iron ranks.

It just wasn't possible.

But their was no time to watch them further since the Veronica's who surrounded them had started launching some seemingly casual attacks, clearly still playing around with them.

"Charlotte, can you make another barrier?" Marie asked desperately after a attack from a Veronica barely missed her.

"I... I'll try!" Charlotte said, raising her hands.

"Shield!"

A barrier came into existence, but it was weak. Translucent. It looked like it would collapse if someone breathe too hard on it.

What can I do? I'm useless here. My stats are better than before, but I'm still Common rank. These are Iron and Copper rank fighters. I'm so far out of my league it's not even funny.

One of the Veronicas casually tapped Charlotte's barrier with a finger. It shattered like glass.

"Oops," she said. "Was that important?"

Think, Lucas. Think! You've played this game hundreds of times. You know the mechanics. You know how everything works. There has to be something...

Skills? His [Intimidating Presence] was still on cooldown. His [Basic Swordsmanship] was laughable against an Iron rank opponent. [Greedy to the Bone] only worked on defeated enemies.

Items? He had throwing knives in storage, but what good would those do? The voice modulation candy? Useless in combat.

Then a thought struck him. A dangerous, possibly suicidal thought.

What if I form my core right now?

The idea was insane. Forming a mana core in the middle of combat? While surrounded by enemies who wanted him dead? It was madness.

But it was also his only option.

I've done this process hundreds of times in the game. I know every step. The meditation technique, the mana circulation patterns, the compression method. It's like second nature to me now.

He looked at the main fight.

Damion took a blow to his shoulder from one of the Veronica's and staggered back clutching the wound.

Celeste was bleeding from a cut on her cheek that Lucas hadn't seen how she had gotten it and Zacard was being jumped by two Veronica's now, who were playing around with him.

It was obvious they were going to lose.

But the Dragon Core... if I form a normal core now, and the theory that they can coexist is wrong, if they can't coexist...

He'd be cutting off his biggest advantage.

The Dragon Core technique was supposed to be revolutionary, six times the advancement time but six times the power output. Combined with a traditional core, he could theoretically become unstoppable.

But only if the theory is correct. And if it's not...

The four Veronicas surrounding his group stopped playing. Their expressions shifted from amusement to straight up murder.

"Enough games," they said in unison. "Time to finish this."

Raymond, Charlotte, Marie and Lydia stood protectively in front of little Timmy. It seemed they had decided to protect the boy, even if they die.

Screw it. Dead now or weaker later? I'll take weaker later.

"System," he thought, "I need absolute silence. No notifications. No commentary. No yapping. Nothing that will break my concentration."

[Understood, Host. Entering silent mode. Good luck.]

Lucas closed his eyes and sat down cross-legged right there in the middle of the dark bloody alley.

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