Chapter 72

Desperation flashed in Nox’s eyes as he raised his voice, but it did little to sway the growing tension. Calmly, Justin rapped the staff against his skull—light, measured taps, like scolding a child caught in a lie.

“Let’s say, for the sake of argument, your excuse holds up. If that’s the case, why are all of you still alive? If they had any sense, they’d keep just a few of you around to handle tasks and eliminate the rest to prevent betrayal.”

The blood drained from Nox’s face. There was no defense to offer against that logic—no plausible reason why an enemy would allow potential threats to live without good reason.

“You see it now, don’t you?” Justin’s voice was quiet but sharp, like a blade sliding into place. “They had no reason to let you live unless you offered them something valuable. Something only you could provide.”

Perhaps a bargain—an offer so tempting it gave even ruthless enemies pause. Maybe he had suggested helping them lure us into a trap, promising an easy victory and the chance to seize the territory with little effort.

“It was all just speculation,” Justin admitted with a faint chuckle. “But when I tested the waters, your reaction gave me all the confirmation I needed. You’re easier to read than you think.”

The words hit their mark. Nox’s complexion turned deathly pale, his wide eyes locked on Justin in helpless disbelief. Bound and unable to resist, he seemed to realize all too clearly that his betrayal had been laid bare, and his options were running out.

“Y-You don’t understand—!” He struggled to find the words, desperation clawing at his throat.

“You’re surprisingly sharp, aren’t you?” A new voice cut in—a sneer laced with mockery. The enemy leader stepped forward, irritation carved into every line of his face. Things clearly weren’t going according to plan.

“But so what if you figured it all out?” The leader’s voice lowered into a growl. “Trap or not, you’re still caught. Whether you stumbled into it or walked in willingly doesn’t change anything. If you’re so clever, maybe you should’ve stayed away altogether.”

A savage grin spread across the man’s face as he assessed them, clearly convinced that, despite the setbacks, five enemies wouldn’t pose a serious threat.

Justin couldn’t help but scoff.
“You really think I’m the only one caught in a trap here? You’re the one who walked right into it, you idiot.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“I’m over level 20. So are the others. What level are your people at?”

The smug confidence on the opposing party’s faces froze. They hadn’t expected that—not even close. The idea that all of them had surpassed level 20 clearly hadn’t crossed their minds. Even if Rachel hadn’t actually reached that level, the bluff was effective.

Justin pressed the advantage.
“We even took down a field boss together. Did you really think we were weaklings at the same level as these fools told you?”

Every gaze in the clearing shifted toward Nox and his crew, suspicion sharpening into hostility.

Of course, those traitors had downplayed their strength, probably to make their betrayal seem more valuable. The logic was simple enough: weaken their enemies’ perception of power, set the stage for a surprise victory, and ensure the highest bidder would claim the prize.

“You idiots,” Justin sneered. “Did you really think they brought us here just to hand us over without a fight? They lured us into a confrontation so they could swoop in and take the spoils after we weakened each other.”

If they’d genuinely planned to sacrifice him and his team, there would have been more tricks at play—some desperate attempt to free themselves or tip the odds in their favor. But as soon as it became clear there’d be no leniency, Nox had simply given up.

“No doubt they planned to run once the fighting started or back the winning side in the end,” Justin said coldly. “Either way, trusting scum like this? You’re just as foolish as they are.”

“You bastard—!” The enemy leader’s glare shifted to Nox, his fury simmering beneath the surface. Now realizing that the traitors had deceived them too, his rage was a palpable force.

Betrayed from both sides, Nox’s composure crumbled completely. His head shook wildly as fear consumed him—he understood now that there was no escape left.

“Wh-Why…?” His gaze locked onto Justin, pleading. A single question echoed in his eyes: If you knew all along, why reveal it now? Why not side with me instead?

Justin leaned in, voice low and venomous.
“Why? Because I don’t deal with snakes like you.”

“…!”

“I was going to kill you anyway. But if I did it without proof, others might hesitate. Now? There’s no doubt.”

“Ah… Ahhh!” Nox’s panicked sobs were cut short as Justin raised a finger to his forehead.

“Black Missile.”

Thud.

A clean hole pierced through Nox’s skull, the sickening sound of flesh tearing through silence. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The remaining enemies hesitated, but the tension that had built among Justin’s allies finally snapped—blades swung with ruthless precision.

“Wait—no! Please!”

The pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. No one wavered. The memory of betrayal burned too hot to allow hesitation.

One by one, the corpses fell to the ground, their blood staining the dirt beneath them.

When the final blow was struck, Justin turned to face the enemy leader once more.
“So, what’s your next move?”

“…What do you mean, what’s the plan?“
The enemy leader eyed Justin warily, the confidence from earlier now completely drained from his expression.

Justin shrugged, his tone almost casual as he repeated the question.
“Is there really any need for us to fight here? Why don’t we both just go our separate ways and continue clearing our own dungeons?”

“And if I refuse, what then?” The man’s voice was low, like a growl ready to snap into violence at any moment.

Justin’s face hardened.
“Then we’ll fight, you bastard. You think I’m backing down because I’m scared? Want me to send you off the same way I did them?”

“You son of a—!”
The enemy clenched his jaw, his frustration seeping through every tense muscle. But despite his anger, he didn’t charge forward.

The hesitation was clear. The gap in levels was too wide, and he’d seen firsthand how effortlessly Justin had struck down their allies without a second thought. It wasn’t just about strength—it was about the willingness to kill without hesitation. That hesitation weighed heavily in battle.

After a tense pause, the man finally spat on the ground and muttered through clenched teeth.
“Fine. Consider it charity for your new territory. You’re lucky today.”