' Damnit.. will I die like this..'

The moment the sword was about to brush his neck, Aurum unconsciously closed his eyes.

He had experienced the danger of a Dungeon since he was a kid, but it was the first time he was so close to death.

' Mother, Eva, Luna, forgive me..'

Memories began to surge through his mind. Just like one said, when you were about to face your death, you would go through your memories for some time.

It was then that something happened.

BOOOMMM!!!!!

When Aurum thought he could no longer keep his life, he felt something was coming out of his body.

It was small and almost the same size and shape as an Arcane Card, but it carried a tremendous aura, and for God's sake, it was able to block the sword that had almost claimed Aurum's sword.

The sword and the card clashed, and when it happened, it created a massive explosion that repulsed that "thing" away, throwing it with full force into one of the walls.

But if Aurum thought the surprise ended here, he was fully wrong.

Right after his attack was blocked by the strange card and was attacked by the explosion, that thing quickly stood up as if there was nothing had happened.

Kung!!

There was no time to admire it, though.

Because for the first time in a long while, Aurum's skin broke out in goosebumps.

But the thing ignored Aurum, and his focus was always on that strange card.

"A Sacred Arcana wielder... So the game is going to start now.. Interesting.."

"...You.. did you just speak?"

"..?"historical

When Aurum spat out a response purely out of reflex, that thing's eyes displayed an expression of pure surprise.

"You, can you understand my speech?"

Aurum was also taken aback.

'How is it possible to converse with this guy?!'

Not only could he understand what a monster was saying, but he could also actually converse with it, too. And pretty fluently?

A language he couldn't even remember learning before fluently rolled out of his mouth as if it was his mother tongue.

"You... You know how to speak our tongue?! Wait.. maybe.. Kukuku.. the Sacred Arcana had never failed to surprise me."

Nonetheless, Aurum still failed to understand what that thing meant from the start?

' What is Sacred Arcana, and why does it matter to me?'

Aurum's gaze was shifted back to that thing. That thing also returned the gaze with great interest.

"To be able to converse... Very good. Still.. I need the Sacred Arcana."

That thing pointed at the shining card that had just blocked one of his attacks.

"And because of that.. I need you to die."

Aurum's glare sharpened instantly. Once again, he felt great killing intent from that thing.

But right at this moment, something else happened.

The colosseum that previously was filled with silence suddenly trembled, and before they knew it, the big door to the boss room was forcefully opened from the outside.

A gust of wind appeared between them and blocked Aurum from the intimidating Aura of that thing.

" Tch.. another pest.."

That thing clicked its tongue and seemed to be a bit annoyed.

But Aurum was the one that was more surprised here.

Because appearing right between them was none other than Marie.

The Marie that he had protected until now. The exact same appearance and face. But for some reason, this time Marie's body exhibited a different aura, and this aura made people feel like she was no longer human.

" Marie, what are you doing here? Run!!! This is not something you can.."

" Don't worry Aurum. I'm here to take my place back."

'What do you mean by.....'

Even before Aurum finished his words, that thing seemed to no longer be patient enough to wait for Aurum and Marie's reunion.

It dashed and raised its arm toward Marie, and the dagger landed right in the middle of Marie's head.

"Heok!"

The shocked cry came from Aurum as he saw Marie split into two.

But the next moment, another Marie reappeared right next to him, harmless.

" Humph, another trick.."

That thing extended his hand out, and the sword buried in the fake Marie was pulled out.

Marie, though seemed to be unconcerned as he looked back at that thing with a domineering posture.

"Anything else you want to say?"

" You..."

" Well, I don't care what you say, but I will make sure that you will get what you deserved today."

As Marie and that thing finished exchanging these few words, Aurum could feel a huge amount of aura bursting from their body.

It was no longer something that he could even stay close to it, but at this moment, he felt a hand tapping his shoulder.

" Marie.. how?"

" Well, I'm sure you have a lot of questions to ask. But it is a pretty long story, and now is not the time. I'll take you away for a bit, or else, you will get implicated by this battle."

Another Marie appeared and brought Aurum away, while in the meantime, a battle between Marie and that thing was ready to be started.

"Attack!"

When Marie issued her orders, Countless other Marie appeared with a bow in their hands and pulled on their bowstrings.

"Humph, come my servants!"

That thing also didn't want to lose. He summoned a lot of monsters and placed them as the vanguard.

Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!

Kkrrroooar!!

The monsters, with arrows sticking out of their bodies, all roared out in anger.

Before the Maries could nock the next volley of arrows, the monsters rushed forward. Some of them also began throwing their weapon away as a means to attack.

Meanwhile, That thing's eyes gleamed dangerously.

'You're mine!'

That thing stomped the ground hard, using the ground as a propeller, before pouncing forward toward Marie himself as well.

His sight was fixed solely on Marie, who was the biggest obstacle here. And Marie too, was waiting for that thing's arrival with the wand in her hand that glowed even brighter.

Soon, sparks endlessly flew as the weapons wielded by the two clashed in mid-air.

Clang! Clang!! Clllaang!!

Marie used magic to enhance his attack, while that thing used that black aura to keep the battle in check.

At the same time, the battle below also broke out, and now a few Marie clones were engaging the monsters in close combat.

Aurum looked at another Marie, who was sitting calmly next to him.

"Uhm... So, like, shouldn't we lend assistance here?"

But that Marie just shook her head.

" It's okay. After all, you will only be a burden if you were to join."

" .... "