Gathering Wives with a System Chapter 493 Ambushed

Stoneward's immense form surged forward. Each stride vibrated the earth as the Abyssal Mammoth positioned itself between their team and one of the formidable Stone Giants. Its trunk whipped out, capturing the monster's focus, while its formidable hide absorbed the crushing blow that followed. The impact sent tremors through the air, yet Stoneward remained steadfast. On the right flank, Alice and Averon collaborated against the second Stone Giant. Alice's movements were marked by deliberate accuracy. Her hammer emitted a faint glow as she targeted the monster's vulnerable joints, while Averon strategically maneuvered around it, seeking opportune moments. He was slightly less agile than Alice but compensated through impeccable timing, advancing whenever the giant's attention wavered towards Alice, drawing its ire to himself and granting Alice freedom. Sera managed the third giant, though 'managed' might be an overstatement for her tactics. She maintained a position just within striking distance, launching attacks of minimal power that barely grazed the Stone Giant but were sufficient to hold its focus. Every evasion was precise; she retreated just before each colossal swing, never overextending, perpetually gaining precious time. In the rear, Eleanor maintained an unmoving stance. Her sword hung low, her grip unyielding. Mana coalesced around her in a tranquil, consistent current. She was meticulously preparing a decisive, single-strike maneuver. The longer the charge, the more potent the attack would become, and she trusted Sera's ability to maintain the defensive line until completion. Further back, Avery observed the entire engagement. Her physical involvement was minimal, yet her presence was a constant reassurance. Periodically, she'd flick her fingers or unleash a minor spell towards one of the Stone Giants, ensuring none of their retaliatory strikes reached her comrades. Her gaze swept the surrounding environment more than the immediate combat zone. She possessed the capability to intervene and conclude the conflict swiftly. All three Stone Giants would have succumbed within mere minutes had she chosen to act. However, she refrained for specific reasons. The primary rationale was straightforward: expending her energy here could create a vulnerability. The Great Dungeon was inherently unpredictable. Another team could materialize at any instant, or potentially, a hidden threat could lie in wait for the opportune moment. Avery, being the most powerful within their group, also served as their ultimate bulwark. If matters deteriorated, she had to be prepared. The secondary reason was equally critical. While these Stone Giants presented a significant threat, they were not insurmountable. They wielded sufficient raw power to obliterate High rank Overlords with a single blow, but their movements were sluggish and entirely predictable. Any sufficiently cautious combatant—even a Low rank Species' Overlord—could evade their attacks and gradually wear them down. Avery let out a slow breath, permitting the battle to continue. At the heart of the fray, Eleanor's eyes narrowed with focused intensity. The mana surrounding her converged powerfully. Then, she moved. Her sword became a fleeting blur. The world seemed to hold its breath for a fraction of a second, and then the Stone Giant facing Sera cleaved neatly into two segments. The incision was impossibly clean, almost surreal, as if the creature had simply been divided rather than struck. Sera retreated a step. "…bloody hell, how?" Averon whispered, bewildered. He had been engaged with these formidable foes for days, intimately aware of their resilience. Their bodies were akin to compressed bedrock, possessing a durability that was astounding, even for their tier. Subduing one typically demanded considerable time, coordinated effort, and substantial exertion. Yet, Eleanor had just bisected one. With a single, decisive strike. It defied logic for a Low rank Species, and a Champion, to accomplish such a feat. He stole another glance at her, his scrutiny now more perceptive. 'Thank the heavens I was prudent after noting the universal respect everyone showed her, thus preventing me from speaking disrespectfully despite her being merely human,' he reflected, a shiver tracing its way down his spine. Eleanor offered no reply to his stunned query. She had already shifted her posture, drawing in fresh mana. The recent expenditure had not noticeably depleted her reserves this time. She was not fatigued, unlike the prior encounter with the Crimson Sky Wyrm. Sera also seized the moment, proceeding towards Alice and Averon to lend her support against the second Stone Giant. Following Eleanor's swift dispatch of another Stone Giant, the group converged on the final adversary, which Stoneward had been engaging. Despite the monster's formidable defenses, it was vanquished with remarkable speed through the combined efforts of Sera, Alice, and Averon. "I'll gather the spoils," Averon declared, his breath coming in ragged gasps. His expression was alight with a radiant smile. The amount of loot was substantial. Shards of dense stone essence, petrified cores, rare mineral fragments, and a scattering of ten silver coins lay amidst the remnants. The quantity was notably greater than what was typically acquired. "This is unbelievable. Is this truly just from ordinary monsters?" he asked, scooping up a handful of coins with an almost childlike glee. No verbal response was necessary. This abundance was the direct consequence of Isaac's unique Lord Talent: a guaranteed two-hundred percent increase in drop rates.

Outside the dungeon, silver coins were considered valuable and hard to acquire in large sums. However, within this place, they were strewn about the battlefield as if they were common.

The Great Dungeon presented significant dangers, yet it also offered substantial rewards to those who managed to survive. With Isaac's unique Lord Talent, this perilous location had transformed into a veritable paradise for Averon.

Nearby, Emily summoned her Slime. The creature bounded forward with evident delight, commencing its consumption of the fallen Stone Giants. Its physical form expanded subtly as it absorbed the discarded materials.

"We need to start searching for the Mini Bosses. Only after we've vanquished all of them can we summon—"

Eleanor abruptly halted her words and moved with incredible speed.

Her hand, gripping Averon by his collar, yanked him backward. Simultaneously, she swatted the Slime away from the gargantuan corpses. In that precise moment, Sera and Avery sprang into action.

Sera, pulling Alice and Emily along with her, rapidly retreated from the immediate vicinity. Avery, meanwhile, raised her hand.

An immediate dome of water materialized, enveloping them protectively.

And then—

An intense explosion erupted.

The very ground where the Stone Giants' remains had lain was violently ruptured. Shards of rock and assorted debris were propelled into the sky by a ferocious surge of power that tore through the space. The wind shrieked, carrying dust and pulverized fragments in all directions.

The water dome shuddered under the immense force of the blast but ultimately held firm.

As the swirling dust began to subside, six distinct figures became visible.

Eleanor's expression tightened subtly.

It was the Florathi team.

They stood precisely at the epicenter of the devastating explosion. Their presence exuded a palpable weight. Judging by their composed visages, their arrival was no mere coincidence.

They had arrived with deliberate intent.

Eleanor's mind immediately began to race.

'What is their objective?'

Within the confines of the Great Dungeon, each designated area was populated by three formidable Mini Bosses. The primary Boss Monster would only materialize after the complete elimination of these three mini-bosses. The inherent difficulty of these Mini Bosses was nothing short of nightmarish. Typically, Awakeners would require a formidable cadre of ten Apex Overlords merely to stand a reasonable chance against a single Mini Boss.

The teams currently engaged in the competition represented the absolute pinnacle of their generation. Even though not every member within each team had attained the Apex rank, they possessed the potential to prevail against a Mini Boss with the concerted effort of a single team.

However, the probability of suffering defeat, and indeed, of succumbing to death, remained equally substantial.

And looming after that challenge was the ultimate Boss.

No single team, operating in isolation, possessed the capability to overcome it.

Consequently, even in the absence of any formalized accord, a tacit understanding had been established amongst all participating teams: no internal conflicts would ensue until the commencement of the Third Area.

The ultimate victor of the competition would be the one to successfully navigate the entirety of the [Third Area], thus, within that specific [Third Area], direct confrontation would be unavoidable.

Until that critical juncture, however, teams were expected to either collaborate or maintain a stance of mutual indifference.

Yet, the Florathi team had unequivocally shattered this unspoken pact.

'What is their true aim? If we are defeated, the likelihood of other Lords seizing Isaac would escalate dramatically.'

'Such an outcome would be detrimental to Florathi, and yet they still chose to attack us?'

'Are they exceedingly confident in their impending triumph? Or perhaps they harbor a clandestine objective that remains hidden from our perception?' the Sword Empress mused internally.

She braced herself for any conceivable maneuver from the Florathi contingent. However, before they could initiate any action, Alice skillfully deployed her abilities. This contingency had, after all, been meticulously planned. Alice's execution was flawless, devoid of any hesitation.

"Stop."

A gentle, otherworldly voice permeated the surroundings as the Voice of Seraphim skill was activated. The intended effect of this skill was to incapacitate all enemies within its operational radius.

But the attempt was unsuccessful.

One of the Florathi combatants—a figure named Beila—proved capable of neutralizing her skill.

He was colossal, towering well over eight feet in height, his skin a pallid white, matched by his hair. Four eyes regarded the scene with placid calmness, and behind him, six small, radiant gems maintained a steady, circular orbit.

As Alice's skill cascaded upon his team, one of the orbiting gems fractured and disintegrated.

Alice's eyes immediately sharpened.

'An artifact capable of resisting debuffs.'

Despite the initial failure, she showed no pause, her secondary skill promptly following.

Divine Retribution.

A potent wave of luminescent energy emanated from her form, carrying a significantly amplified pressure this time. Seventy percent of her available mana was expended in this potent display.

"Neutralize her," the commanding voice of the Florathi team leader echoed.

Two combatants surged forward with instantaneous alacrity.

X-019 and Elyndra.

Stoneward bellowed as Emily issued her command, activating a skill designed to draw the attention of the incoming attackers. The very earth beneath them vibrated in response to its formidable summons.

Another gem, positioned behind the imposing Beila, shattered.

The disruptive effect was once again nullified.

X-019 advanced with an unnerving, almost mechanical precision. Its mandibles clicked with a sharp, decisive sound as it rapidly closed the distance.

Elyndra's movements were distinctly different. Her hand extended outward, as though grasping at something intangible.

Then, with a deliberate motion, she pulled.

The fabric of space itself contorted unnaturally.

The air visibly warped, behaving as if laden with immense weight, as if unseen filaments were being methodically drawn into alignment.

The ground beneath their feet momentarily lost its stability, conveying the sensation that the very spatial dimensions had been subtly, yet critically, displaced.

Just as Elyndra's unique ability began to manifest its intended form, a sharp torrent of water surged powerfully upward.Instantly, it surged upwards, creating a fluid barrier that separated the two opposing groups. Its surface churned relentlessly, becoming so thick and rapid that it could thwart any attempt to breach it.