Herogasm: My SSS-Ranked Maids Can Do Everything!

–Chapter 17–

Title: The Fifth: Coordinated Assault

The portal from whence they emerged, closed behind them with a deep thud.

Takeshi instinctively looked back, but the glowing entrance had already vanished. There was no turning around now.

His gaze swept across the room instead.

Unlike the previous floors, this one resembled an old and cranky arena.

A vast circular platform stretched before them, its dark stone floor scarred by countless battles.

Crimson runes pulsed along the surrounding walls, bathing everything in a dim red glow that made the place feel strangely alive and incredibly ominous.

"...This is different."

Nyxara took a slow breath through her nose before cracking her neck.

"It stinks of battle, " her eyes shimmered in unspoken joy.

Takeshi couldn’t disagree.Even the air here felt different and every breath settled in his lungs like an unseen weight.

He pulled up his status window out of habit or was it out of nervousness.

[Temporary Physical Enhancement: Active]

[Time Remaining: 23Hours 57 Minutes]

There was still plenty of time to work it.

He dismissed the screen and rolled his shoulders.

"Stay sharp."

Nyxara’s lips curled into a grin. "When am I not?"

Before Takeshi could answer, the arena trembled.

A loud grinding echoed across the chamber as enormous stone gates on the opposite side slowly rose into the air.

Darkness waited behind them. Then dozens of blue eyes lit up at once.

"...Here they come."

The monsters flooded out together in a curiously engaging wave.

Stone golems led the charge, their heavy footsteps shaking the arena with every stride.

Between them moved creatures made entirely of slithering shadow, slipping across the ground with unnatural speed.

And floating just behind them came burning figures whose bodies flickered like walking bonfires.

Three different races of monsters and somehow they all took one formation.

Takeshi’s expression changed immediately.

"They’re coordinating."

Nyxara looked almost disappointed.

"I was hoping they’d just run at us."

"They’re learning."

"No, they are stupid," Nyxara pinched the bridge of her nose.

Takeshi narrowed his eyes as he watched the monsters spread across the arena.

"They already know how to fight."

That made this floor far more dangerous than the ones before it.

Every previous battle had relied on overwhelming numbers.

This...

This looked organised.

The monsters slowed as they approached instead of charging blindly.

The stone golems naturally drifted towards the front, creating a moving wall while the fire elementals remained behind them.

Meanwhile, the shadow beasts disappeared around both flanks.

"They’re trying to surround us?" Takeshi said more to himself than Nyxara.

Nyxara flexed her fingers.

"So what do we do?"

Takeshi didn’t answer immediately. His eyes darted across the battlefield, piecing together the formation.

It wasn’t hard to figure out once you looked at the bigger picture.

The golems were durable. The shadow beasts were fast. And the annoying looking fire elementals were dangerous at range, which made them glass cannons.

Take away the ranged support... And?

"...The formation falls apart."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Change of plans."

Nyxara glanced sideways. "We had one before?"

"We did. But I’ve decided I like this one more."

She snorted. "Clue me in already..."

Takeshi pointed towards the rear of the advancing formation.

"The fire elementals are the weakest link, they are the top priority before anything else."

Takeshi paused, raising a finger with a smile still plastered on his face. "Smash those bastards."

Nyxara’s grin widened. "Now you’re speaking my language."

She exploded forward before the last word had even finished leaving her mouth.

Hellfire burst around both fists as she crashed into the first elemental in the blink of an eye.

The creature barely had time to react before it burst apart into a shower of burning embers.

The second disappeared just as quickly.

A wave of heat washed across the battlefield.

The golems immediately altered course at the sight of the raging Nyxara.

"So they really are reacting..." Takeshi muttered inwardly.

Instead of continuing forward, several broke formation and turned towards Nyxara while the shadow beasts accelerated straight towards him.

"...Guess I’m the distraction."

Takeshi immediately put those sexy thighs to work and took off running.

The first shadow beast lunged straight at him.

Takeshi ducked beneath its claws before shoving it into a nearby pillar.

The impact staggered the creature just long enough for a burst of Hellfire to consume it from behind.

Takeshi didn’t even need to look at the instant barbecue.

Because Nyxara had already moved on to the next target.

More shadows closed in but Takeshi refused to stop moving.

He wasn’t trying to kill them...

No...Not at all.

He was buying time.

Because every second their attention stayed on him was another second Nyxara could dismantle the crumbling formation.

One of the beasts leapt from an unexpected angle, peeling off like it was part of Takeshi’s shadow.

He caught sight of it at the last possible moment.

"Damn!"

Takeshi placed his hand in front of his body in a criss-cross formation but he was too slow.

Its claws grazed his shoulder as he twisted away, leaving a shallow cut across his sleeve.

Before it could attack again, a crimson blur crashed into it.

Nyxara’s fist punched straight through its chest before flames burst out and turned it to ash.

She landed beside him with a grin.

"You look busy."

"I was handling it."

"Mhmm."

"You don’t believe me, do you?" Takeshi raised a brow.

"Not even a little."

Despite himself, Takeshi laughed.

"...Get back to work."

"With pleasure."

She launched herself straight into the waiting line of golems, her laughter echoing through the arena as another explosion of Hellfire erupted across the battlefield.

***

The last fire elemental burst apart beneath Nyxara’s fist.

Its dying flames scattered across the arena before fading into nothing.

For a brief moment...

Everything fell quiet and Takeshi definitely didn’t like it.

He frowned. "...Too quiet."

The crimson runes lining the walls suddenly flared brighter.

A low rumble spread through the arena, followed by the grinding sound of heavy stone scraping against stone.

The fallen golems began to move again. They didn’t just fly up standing. Instead they shifted.

Their broken bodies slid across the floor as though dragged by invisible threads, forming a jagged barricade between Takeshi and Nyxara.

"...Seriously?"

Before either of them could react, the hiding shadow beasts melted into the darkness cast by the ruined wall.

They disappeared completely.

Nyxara looked around, clicking her tongue.

"Cowards."

"No..," Takeshi slowly backed towards the centre of the arena.

"They’re hunting."

Almost on cue, one burst from the shadow behind a collapsed pillar.

Its claws swept straight for his neck. Takeshi threw himself backwards just in the nick of time.

The attack missed him by inches before the creature vanished into the darkness again.

’So they’re not trying to kill me immediately,’ Takeshi deduced.

"They’re toying with me," he said behind gritted teeth.

Another beast lunged from his blind spot but this time he was ready and definitely pissed.

He twisted aside and drove a kick into its ribs, sending it skidding across the stone floor like a pebble.

It barely slid three metres before disappearing into another shadow.

"...That’s annoying," he cursed loudly.

Noticing his frustration, Nyxara made a move towards him.

"I’m coming, master!"

She barely moved when three elite golems stepped into her path... emerging from the demarcating walls.

With bland and yet ferocious expressions. Deep hollow eyes, focusing on Nyxara.

–End of Chapter–

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