The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 204: Chapter 205: The A-Rank Dungeon’s First Battle

The Trolls roared.

The sound echoed through the enormous corridor, shaking loose dust from the ceiling as the eight monsters began advancing toward the Titan Guild party.

Jang Hyuk-soo remained at the front.

His sword was already drawn, and his eyes calmly followed the movements of every Troll.

"Maintain formation. Don’t allow them to surround us."

The Tank immediately stepped forward.

Seo Kang-ho planted his shield firmly against the ground while Nam Tae-jin moved slightly to his left, creating enough space for the frontline to maneuver without interfering with one another.

"Understood."

The first Troll charged.

Its enormous club rose above its head before descending with enough force to crush a human instantly.

Kang-ho raised his shield.

CLAAAAANG!

The impact shook his entire body.

His boots slid backward several meters, leaving deep marks across the stone floor, but the shield remained firmly in place.

"Now!"

Hyuk-soo moved.

His body accelerated forward, and his sword flashed toward the Troll’s exposed side.

SHRAK!

The blade opened a deep cut across the monster’s ribs.

The Troll roared and swung its free arm.

Hyuk-soo ducked beneath the attack.

"Nam!"

"I’ve got it!"

Nam Tae-jin rushed forward.

He didn’t use a weapon.

Instead, he drove his fist directly into the Troll’s abdomen.

BOOOOOOM!

The impact caused the enormous creature’s body to fold slightly before it was thrown backward.

Nam immediately followed.

He stepped forward and struck again.

BOOM!

The Troll crashed against the stone wall.

Before it could recover, Joo Min-ho raised his staff.

"Flame Lance."

Several spears of fire formed around him.

They shot forward simultaneously.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The flames struck the Troll’s chest and shoulders, forcing it deeper into the wall.

"Finish it."

Chae Soo-ah moved her hand.

Ice spread across the floor beneath the Troll’s feet.

The monster attempted to move.

Its legs froze.

"Now."

A spear of condensed ice appeared above her.

It descended.

SHRAK!

The attack pierced the Troll’s shoulder and pinned it against the wall.

Hyuk-soo appeared beside it.

One clean slash followed.

SHING!

The Troll collapsed.

"One down."

The remaining seven immediately charged.

Hyuk-soo raised his sword.

"Don’t chase them. Let them come to us."

The party adjusted their positions.

The second and third Trolls attacked the center together.

Kang-ho raised his shield.

CLANG!

One club struck.

Then another.

The force was considerably greater than the first attack.

Kang-ho’s knees bent slightly.

"Strong."

Nam Tae-jin stepped beside him.

"Need help?"

"I can hold."

"Then I’ll take the left."

Nam moved.

The moment one Troll attempted to bypass the Tank, Nam intercepted it.

The monster swung its club.

Nam twisted his body.

The weapon passed beside him.

He stepped inside its reach and struck the Troll’s elbow.

CRACK!

The creature’s arm bent unnaturally.

Before it could react, Nam grabbed its shoulder and threw it toward the other Troll.

BOOOOOOM!

The two collided.

Kwon Min-jae immediately rushed into the opening.

His movement was compact and precise, his fists and elbows striking the exposed joints before he retreated.

One strike.

Another.

Then a final blow directly beneath the Troll’s jaw.

BAAM!

The monster staggered.

Han Seok-jin’s spear flashed from behind him.

SHRAK!

The spear pierced through the Troll’s thigh.

The creature dropped to one knee.

Seok-jin pulled the weapon free and stepped back before the monster could retaliate.

"Next."

The B-Rank Mage raised his staff.

Joo Min-ho’s expression remained focused.

"Burn."

A wall of fire erupted across the battlefield.

FWOOM!

The flames engulfed the wounded Troll.

It roared and stumbled backward.

Chae Soo-ah followed immediately.

"Freeze."

Ice spread across its torso.

The fire and ice collided.

The resulting shockwave threw the Troll onto its back.

Yoo Ha-rin raised one hand.

Lightning gathered around her fingers.

"Lightning Pierce."

A concentrated bolt shot forward.

KRAAAAK!

It pierced the Troll’s chest.

The creature stopped moving.

Another one fell.

"Two."

Hyuk-soo glanced toward the remaining monsters.

"Good. Keep the pressure controlled."

The remaining six Trolls suddenly roared together.

Their eyes turned toward the rear.

One of them charged directly toward the Mages.

Baek Do-yoon appeared from the darkness behind it.

His dagger flashed.

SHING!

The Troll stopped.

A thin cut appeared across the back of its knee.

Do-yoon immediately disappeared again.

The Troll turned in confusion.

"Where did he go?"

Hyuk-soo’s voice remained calm.

"Don’t look for him. Keep your attention forward."

The Troll turned back.

Too late.

Nam Tae-jin was already there.

His fist struck the creature’s jaw.

BOOM!

The Troll’s head snapped backward.

Kang-ho drove his shield into its chest.

DOOM!

The creature was thrown into the path of Han Seok-jin’s spear.

SHRAK!

The spear pierced its abdomen.

Joo Min-ho’s flames followed.

BOOOOOOM!

The Troll collapsed.

Hyuk-soo looked toward the others.

"Three."

The battle continued.

The remaining Trolls attacked with considerable strength, but the Titan Guild party had already established control over the battlefield.

The Tank absorbed the heaviest attacks.

The A-Rank fighters exploited every opening.

The B-Rank warriors supported the frontline without interfering with one another.

The Mages attacked from separate angles, combining fire, ice, and lightning without overlapping their spells.

The Supporter continuously strengthened the party, increasing their physical abilities and improving their resistance to the Trolls’ attacks.

Even Do-yoon’s movements remained useful despite his lower rank.

Whenever a Troll attempted to change direction or escape the formation, he appeared briefly, disrupted its movement, and disappeared before the creature could retaliate.

Hyuk-soo watched everything carefully.

"Left."

The party reacted immediately.

A Troll swung toward Soo-ah.

Kang-ho intercepted.

CLANG!

"Right."

Nam blocked another attack.

BOOM!

"Now."

Three attacks landed simultaneously.

SHRAK!

SHING!

BOOM!

The Troll staggered.

Ha-rin’s lightning struck its chest.

KRAAAK!

The creature collapsed.

Hyuk-soo counted quietly.

"Four."

The remaining four Trolls began spreading out.

For the first time, the monsters appeared to understand that continuing to attack individually would accomplish nothing.

One moved toward the left corridor.

Another toward the right.

The other two remained in the center.

Hyuk-soo immediately recognized their intention.

"They’re trying to separate us."

Nam Tae-jin smiled.

"Let them try."

Hyuk-soo raised his sword.

"Don’t pursue them blindly. Kang-ho, hold the center. Tae-jin, Min-jae, cover the left."

He looked toward Seok-jin.

"You take the right."

Then his gaze moved toward the Mages.

"Min-ho, suppress the center. Soo-ah, block the left passage. Ha-rin, watch the right."

Everyone answered almost simultaneously.

"Understood."

The formation split without breaking.

Soo-ah raised her hand.

A thick wall of ice suddenly emerged across the left passage.

The fleeing Troll slammed into it.

BOOM!

It stumbled backward.

Nam and Min-jae were already waiting.

Nam struck first.

BAAM!

Min-jae followed.

SHRAK!

The Troll staggered.

Seok-jin’s spear arrived from the side.

SHING!

The creature fell.

"Five."

On the opposite side, Ha-rin’s lightning cut off the second Troll’s retreat.

KRAAAK!

It roared.

Seok-jin charged.

His spear pierced its shoulder.

The Troll swung.

He ducked beneath the club and pulled his spear free.

Kang-ho suddenly appeared in front of it.

His shield slammed into its chest.

DOOM!

The Troll fell backward.

Hyuk-soo finished it.

SHING!

"Six."

Only two remained.

They were the largest of the group.

Their bodies were covered in thicker layers of gray-green flesh, and both carried enormous stone axes that looked capable of splitting a human in half.

The two Trolls roared.

Hyuk-soo’s expression became serious.

"These two are stronger."

Ares watched quietly from the rear.

’So these are probably the stronger variants.’

The Trolls charged together.

Kang-ho stepped forward.

"Brace!"

The first axe descended.

CLAAAAANG!

The shield shook violently.

The second Troll attacked from the side.

Nam intercepted it.

BOOM!

His fist struck its shoulder.

The creature barely moved.

Nam’s expression changed slightly.

"That’s tougher."

Hyuk-soo appeared beside him.

"Then don’t fight it alone."

The two attacked together.

Nam struck the torso.

Hyuk-soo cut across its leg.

The Troll staggered.

Min-jae immediately attacked the exposed knee.

CRACK!

The creature dropped slightly.

Seok-jin’s spear followed.

SHRAK!

The Troll roared.

Soo-ah raised both hands.

"Frost Bind."

Ice wrapped around the creature’s legs and arms.

It struggled violently.

Min-ho released a concentrated flame.

BOOOOOOM!

The fire struck its chest.

Ha-rin followed with lightning.

KRAAAK!

The combined attack finally forced the Troll onto one knee.

Hyuk-soo stepped forward.

"Finish it."

Nam Tae-jin clenched his fist.

His muscles tightened.

He drove his fist forward.

DOOOOOOM!

The Troll’s upper body was thrown backward.

Hyuk-soo’s sword flashed immediately afterward.

SHING!

The monster collapsed.

"Seven."

The final Troll remained.

It looked toward its fallen companions.

Then it roared.

It raised both axes.

The pressure surrounding its body increased.

The Supporter’s enhancement aura immediately intensified across the party.

Hyuk-soo narrowed his eyes.

"Everyone, don’t underestimate this one."

The Troll charged.

Kang-ho met it head-on.

CLAAAAANG!

The impact drove him backward.

The Troll raised one axe again.

Kang-ho blocked.

BOOM!

His shield cracked.

"Hyuk-soo!"

"I see it."

The Raid Leader rushed forward.

His sword struck the Troll’s wrist.

SHRAK!

The creature released one axe.

Nam attacked from the opposite side.

BOOM!

The Troll staggered.

Min-jae struck its knee.

Seok-jin’s spear pierced its thigh.

Soo-ah froze the ground beneath it.

Ha-rin’s lightning struck its shoulder.

Min-ho’s fire exploded against its chest.

The Troll stumbled.

Hyuk-soo raised his sword.

"Together!"

Every frontline member attacked.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The combined assault struck the Troll from several directions.

The monster’s body was thrown backward.

It crashed into the stone wall.

For several seconds, it remained motionless.

Then it collapsed.

Silence returned.

Hyuk-soo lowered his sword.

"All clear."

The Scout reappeared from the shadows.

"Nothing else nearby."

The healer immediately began checking the party.

"Any injuries?"

Kang-ho looked at his cracked shield.

"Nothing serious."

She nodded.

"Good."

Ji Won released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

"They made it look easy."

Ares glanced toward the fallen Trolls.

’They handled eight A-Rank dungeon monsters without losing formation once.’

’Their strength is impressive, but their teamwork is even more valuable.’

Hyuk-soo looked toward the deeper corridor.

"Collect the cores, then we’ll continue."

The party began moving toward the fallen monsters.

Ares remained at the rear, quietly observing them.

The first battle had ended.

And the party had proven exactly why an A-Rank expedition required experienced Awakeners rather than simple strength.

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