Kaiden had to note how right Tessa was. Having a sturdy tanker allowed Kaiden to focus on dealing damage instead of being the main protector of his girls.

The presence of Thomas was a great boon.

But he was not allowed to reminisce much because the next two Ravagers closed in before the first body had even stopped twitching.

Their claws dug trenches into the ground, and each exhale came out as a wet growl that smelled of burnt meat and sulfur. One of them moved on all fours while the other stood upright.

Thomas braced again. The taller Ravager slammed into him, and this time the impact drove him back a full meter. The edges of his shield shone brightly as the enchantments absorbed the shock.

"Two targets, split focus!" Kaiden shouted.

Luna let out a low whistle, twirling her stormblade. "These things have way too many hit points. In a lower-ranked dungeon, they would've been the final bosses. But you're telling me now they're treated as stragglers? We're truly moving up in the world."

The girl then darted forward, [Flashstep] leaving three streaks of blue light in her wake. The Ravager swung where she'd been, but she was already behind it, using the extreme burst of speed granted to her by the movement spell. Her blade stabbed deep into its side.

Aria's feet lifted off the ground as [Moonstrider] allowed her to dance through the air in flashes of pale light. Each parting of her delicate lips sent projectiles curving toward the beast Luna had wounded. When the Ravager raised an arm to block, Aria whispered her next spell.

"[Radiant Constellation]."

A series of bright arcs connected her shots, forming an expanding star pattern across the monster's chest before detonating. The explosion threw it backward, searing flesh and scattering dirt.

Bastet followed through without hesitation. Her fingers lit up with solar fire as she slammed her palms together. The resulting [Solar Burst] consumed the wounded Ravager in light and heat, forcing it to stumble.

"Good job, besties!" Nyx shouted, eager to join in on the action. The curvaceous beauty was proud of how awesome her friends became. Not wanting to be outshone, she raised a hand and summoned [Giant's Grasp].

A massive spectral hand tore into existence. It clamped down on the Ravager's feet, halting its charge.

The Ravager struggled, roaring so loud the ground shook beneath their feet. It tore against the massive spectral hand holding its legs, but Nyx's control held - at least for a bit. Even restraining it for a single second caused her extreme strain, but the girl refused to show weakness.

With veins throbbing, she declared, "Girls, now is the time!"

Luna didn't need to be prompted. She dashed, slashing across the demon's knee joint, cutting deep through its armored flesh. Aria's lunar projectiles followed in perfect rhythm, each one striking the exact spot Luna weakened. The synchronized attack forced the creature to weaken its resistance against Nyx's spell, letting the Space Valkyrie launch [Meteor Lance Barrage].

Bastet refused to sit this one out either. Her palms gathered radiant light, which burned the monster's torso until it became charred.

Nyx raised her hand higher, dragging the Ravager's head back for the final blow. Aria's most destructive magic - [Radiant Overload] - flared while Luna leapt above it, laying utter devastation on the monster until Aria charged her spell up.

Then, as the Storm Valkyrie leaped away, a blinding flash hit the monster.

Aiming where Bastet scorched the monster, Aria's strike overcame the monster's natural defenses and killed it on the spot, leaving a giant hole where its upper body should've been.

The four girls stood side by side, breathing hard but smiling at one another. The harem was united, stronger than ever, and proud of one another's progress.

Not even Luna and Nyx started bickering; they knew this was no time for that. And, if they were to be honest, they were amazed by each other's might and loved fighting together.

Though one would be hard pressed to have them admit that, especially when it came to the cheeky, purple-haired beauty.

While the girls were fighting, the three men went after the other monster.

Kaiden didn't know if this was the ideal formation split, well, that was a lie - he knew it wasn't.

They had no one standing in the front. But when he saw how well they stood their ground, he relaxed and decided to trust his girls. He knew that they had more than enough firepower at their disposal and trusted Nyx to shield the girls before tragedy struck, giving him time to run over.

Instead, Kaiden elected to help the two men, as they were not going to defeat the monster without his help. At least not without facing unneeded danger.

Kaiden's eyes pulsed once, the color in them shifting from crimson to deep violet.

"Stance: Pride."

He lifted his sword.

"[Sigil of Tyranny]."

Three bright glyphs flared to life, tethering themselves to the Ravager. The beast slowed as the sigils constricted, burning deep lines into its flesh whenever it tried to move.

Kaiden was not done just yet. "[Arcane Convergence]."

Diaz didn't waste the moment.

He vanished in a burst of speed before sinking deep into the creature's back. The Ravager turned with a guttural growl, trying to swat him away, but Thomas raised his shield and shouted, "[The Shieldbearer's Challenge]!"

A ripple of force struck the demon's mind. It froze for a second, confused, then locked its burning eyes on Thomas.

Taunt spells were not perfect. The stronger the target, the less control they had over its attention. But sometimes, a second was all they needed.

Kaiden's eyes darkened as the violet light drained away, replaced by burning red.

The air around him thickened with heat as his body tensed.

"[Bloodrush]."

The effect was instant. His body moved before thought caught up, becoming a blur of speed and power that split the ground where his boots had stood. Every step felt like a hammer strike, carrying the momentum of a charging beast, all the while the projectiles from his [Arcane Convergence] spell were still rushing toward the target.

His weapon reshaped in a blink; the blade folded and elongated until a scythe replaced it. The crimson edge gleamed wet in the light.

The Paragon of Sin didn't hesitate. He gripped the scythe with both hands and stepped through the motion in a clean, decisive arc. The blade cut through the Ravager's neck, making its head hit the ground with a dull thud.

For a heartbeat, there was only the sound of Kaiden's breathing. Then the Blood Monarch's gauntlet began to drink, slurping the defeated prey's vitality until the corpse was little more than a husk.

A familiar chime followed.

[You've slain Hellborne Ravager (Level 52).]

[You've gained 27,984 XP.]

Kaiden lowered his weapon, and the scythe faded back into his gauntlet. The adrenaline still lingered in his limbs when a sound broke through the quiet.

"Somebody, please help me!"

A girl's scream.

High-pitched, terrified, and close.

His head snapped up just in time to see movement between the trees. A girl was running full speed toward them. Her light bronze skin was smeared with dirt, and her long, dark hair stuck to her face. Her clothes looked handmade, decorated with beads and feathers that marked her as someone from the local tribes.

Behind her, the treeline split apart as more demons poured out, howling as they gave chase.

Kaiden raised his blade again.

"Everyone, get ready."

And with that, the next wave began.

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