The world outside the borders of Roy's territory was the polar opposite of the raging field of flames and corruption.

It was as though the damage spread by corruption was prohibited from extending its vile grasp beyond the territory.

In truth, this was all because of the unseen dimensional barrier that prohibited outsiders from intervening in a territory calamity. It seemed it also stopped the calamity from affecting the outside world.

Above the dense canopies of trees, two groups stood, spectating Roy's territorial struggle.

"What the hell is that thing???" Larry couldn't help but ask in horror as he gazed at Belzebub.

The others remained silent — none holding an answer, but all sharing the same horror.

Despite the distance and dimensional separation, they could still feel the heaviness of the vile presence of the Hand.

Especially the moment the creature forced its way through the crack — their breath seized at that sight.

And now, watching the engagement between Roy and his two subordinates against the monster, their hearts were thrown into violent turmoil.

Roy was a newcomer! Meaning his presence on Arcana was barely more than a week long — and he and his crew were already this tough?

And also… were those guns? Military tanks? Mounted turrets?

They hadn't paid much attention to these previously — until the Abrams Tank rolled out from the gates. Then it hit them… this guy had access to Ether-upgraded modern tactical weapons.

Not only that — he and his people were mad strong.

Lux, unable to hold in the burning question any longer, turned to Vera and asked:

"The way you spoke earlier, you must be acquainted with this interesting fella…

So please say, how does he have so many of these modern weapons?

And also, how come he got so strong so fast?"

Everyone — including those on her side — turned their gaze toward her in expectation of a reply.

Smiling smugly, Vera spoke:

"Where he gets these weapons eludes me as much as it does you…

But for the rapid growth in strength, I can say that I witnessed him literally clear a level 30 dungeon on his own."

Eyes widened at her words. The man beside her — Aron, the Lord and bearer of the First-Class Order of Contracts and Oaths — spoke:

"Clear a level 30 dungeon? At what level was he?"

Vera's smile grew more taunting at the question as her pink lips moved in reply:

"Six. He was level six."

"!!!!!!!"

Everyone was alarmed by that reply — some outrightly refusing to believe her.

Vera turned her gaze back toward Roy's struggle and added:

"Believe it or not, I witnessed that feat with my own eyes…

And also, Lux — I urge you to watch the conclusion of this battle before you hurry to take dangerous actions."

Silence reigned at her warning as the others turned their gaze back to spectating.

Previously, after feeling the dreadful presence of Belzebub, they had assumed Roy didn't stand a chance…

But now… eyes twitching, they had to rethink that thought.

---

A compact, intense beam struck into Belzebub's frame.

Due to the attack being an intense pressurized flame, the impact created zero momentum — it simply went straight to cooking the Hand alive.

Velra's attack slowly died down, leaving a deep, long trench in its wake.

From the clash so far, the terrain had long been disfigured — craters littering the fields, cracks stretching to the far reaches of the territory, molten lava pools, and a red burning trench.

Even the rabid horde of corrupt monsters dared not stray near this side of the battlefield.

Sssshhhhhh!

Belzebub's smoking figure came into sight, its massive dual bulb lenses dull and lusterless — but Roy still had no mercy.

Bang!

His baton struck fiercely into the charred figure of the Hand, the baton crumbling into dust after the delivery.

The trusted weapon couldn't bear the power behind the buffed strikes — eventually giving up. But the legendary gauntlets held steady. That's why they were legendary.

The charred figure of the fly skidded through the deformed terrain before slowing to a halt.

Roy and the two heroes remained tense, staring at the unmoving body of the creature — not daring to let go of vigilance.

Roy was sure the monster was still very much alive. Something that prompted the system to give him the quest to survive wasn't meant to go down so easily… and besides, there was still no defeat notification.

And indeed, a clicking noise rang out as the abomination of a creature slowly started moving.

Its lenses glowed back to life.

Its neck cracked into place as it slowly rose from the earth.

"Sigh… Even after resolving not to hold back, instinctively I did…

Underestimating creatures still bound by levels is a given, I guess…"

The chill-evoking raspy voice of the Hand sounded out.

Slowly, corruption rippled from its frame — and Roy got a ghastly premonition.

He quickly sprang into motion.

"Whatever that bastard is doing, I must not let it finish!"

His fists clenched, the gauntlet swinging down onto the humanoid fly.

But mid-strike, his foe clasped his punch to a halt.

This was the first time Roy had strayed so close to the abomination. The monster held tight, its crimson lenses staring straight into the depths of Roy's eyes.

Roy felt dread as the chilling corruption in the atmosphere prickled his skin. The claws around his fists slowly squeezed tight.

Crunch!

Arrrgh!

The sickening sound rang out as Roy screamed in pain — his bones instantly crushed into powder, the meat and veins around his arm snapping and rupturing.

The monster then proceeded to plow its second claw into Roy's defenseless frame. The sharp obsidian claws tore into his abdomen slowly before reaching and clasping around the spine at Roy's back.

Roy's eyes bulged from the pain — and the dread of what came next. The cold visage of the creature reflected in his eyes, and he could swear he saw the beast smile.

As it tugged backward, ripping the spinal cord out — fortunately, the movement wasn't completed. Velra intervened.

A high-intensity spinning flame disc swept downward from nowhere, cleanly decapitating the arms — doing great damage to Roy — as Trion quickly whisked his slumping frame up into the skies.

Though armless, the momentum of the Hand never came to a halt. The void trembled, Ether fled — from the sheer weight of corruption force unleashed from Belzebub's body.

At the same time, as Roy bathed under the cascading healing brilliance of Trion, a notification popped into view:

[Territory Quest: Vanquish the Six Fingers of Gluttony! Has been completed!

Issuing Rewards…]

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