The interior of the Northern Redoubt was a terrifying landscape of psychic manipulation. The air itself was a weapon, heavy with the oppressive mental pressure of Lord Leka. The breach Kaelus had created led into a massive, spiraling tunnel lined with pulsing, crimson crystals that amplified the psychic field.
Archelius, running on fumes, activated his Rank D Focus Lock despite the critical Core Power drain. The cracked War God's Helm provided just enough buffer to prevent immediate collapse, but the internal pressure was immense.
[Core Power: 5/100 (Critical). Status: Survival Mode.]
"The pressure is overwhelming," Bethany gasped, her voice barely a whisper, even her Level 4 Iron Skin struggling against the mental siege. "I can barely track the energy."
"Focus on the destination, not the pressure," Archelius commanded, his voice strained but steady. "We need to get to the core. Raji, lead the way. Stick to the shadows. Theodore, shield any psychic projections."
The primary threat wasn't a physical monster; it was the psychic landscape. The crimson crystals pulsed, projecting horrifying, paralyzing illusions of their greatest fears: the endless torment of Core Zero status, the mocking laughter of Klaus, and the crushing weight of their failures.
Raji, fueled by the immediate threat of psychic paralysis, moved with unprecedented speed, navigating the winding tunnel with minimal exposure to the crystal light. Theodore, using his basic strength and newfound Rank F discipline, physically pushed Lisa and Bethany forward when they faltered, shouting crude encouragements that cut through the psychic static.
The Psychic Gauntlet
As they progressed, the illusions intensified. Archelius saw visions of Sensei Kai shaking his head in disappointment, deeming him a failure even with the System. He countered the assault by focusing purely on the System's cold, logical metrics.
Level 21. Rank D. Objective: Destroy Nexus.
Suddenly, a wave of shadow materialized directly in front of them—a Shadow Imposter (Level 50), created entirely from the psychic energy of the tunnel.
[Threat Detected: Shadow Imposter (Level 50). Psychic Construct. Physical Defense: Low.]
"It's not real! It's an illusion!" Lisa screamed, recognizing the energy signature from her own mental training.
"It will kill you just the same!" Archelius countered. He couldn't use a powerful skill; the psychic feedback would be catastrophic with his broken helm.
He used the Rank D War God's Edge for a simple, fast physical slash, aiming for the creature's core. The physical presence of the blade against the psychic construct was like cutting through heavy smoke.
[Shadow Imposter (Level 50) Defeated. XP Gained: 500.]
The tunnel was crawling with these Level 50 constructs, a rapid-fire sequence of engagement that drained Archelius's physical strength without allowing him to rest or recover Core Power.
Lord Leka's Trap
They finally reached the heart of the Redoubt: a vast, circular chamber. In the center, suspended in the air, was a massive, throbbing orb of pure psychic power—the Nexus Core. It pulsed with the face of Lord Leka, a gaunt, skeletal being with eyes of crimson fire.
"Welcome, Archelius," Lord Leka's voice boomed directly into their minds, amplified by the core. "I prepared this nexus specifically for you. The foolish General Kaelus shattered the physical entrance, but he merely funneled you into my parlor."
Around the core, four figures materialized simultaneously: Greater Imposters (Level 60), identical to the one Archelius had fought previously.
[Threat Detected: Greater Imposter (Level 60) x 4. Overwhelming Force.]
"Four Level 60 Vanguards at once," Archelius rasped, his mind struggling to process the tactical impossibility. "I cannot defeat them all. My Core Power is empty."
"Observe, System user, the consequences of your arrogance," Lord Leka hissed, the psychic pressure intensifying. "Your fate, and the fate of your pathetic minions, is inevitable destruction."
The four Level 60 Imposters charged, their shadow shields activated, closing in for the kill.
The Revelation of Rank D Authority
Archelius was backed into a corner, his health and Core Power critical. He focused not on his skills, but on the single new feature he hadn't fully utilized: Command Authority (Rank D).
The System grants Rank D Authority for a reason. It's not just an XP boost. It's a command structure.
He looked at his squad—Raji, Theodore, Lisa, and Bethany. All were at Level 3 and 4, Rank F, and terrified, but ready to obey.
"Theodore! Raji! Vanguard Defense!" Archelius commanded, his voice raw but overriding the psychic static. "Focus on Imposter Alpha (the lead one)! Attack the shield! Your speed and physical strength are the only things that bypass the psychic barrier!"
Theodore and Raji charged, their small bodies a ridiculous contrast to the massive Imposters. They slammed their bodies and daggers against Imposter Alpha's shadow shield. It was useless physically, but the sheer unexpected distraction caused a momentary flicker in the Imposter's concentration.
"Lisa! Bethany! Nexus Core! Disrupt Leka's concentration!" Archelius yelled, ignoring the pain.
Lisa and Bethany, relying on their sensory skills, threw every piece of rock and debris they had at the massive, psychic orb of Lord Leka. The rocks bounced off harmlessly, but the focused, physical aggression was a massive psychic irritant.
"INFURIATING! YOU WILL CEASE!" Lord Leka shrieked in their minds, diverting a massive amount of his psychic power to crush the four students instantly.
The Final Gambit
This was Archelius's chance. He had gambled on Leka's arrogance—that the Demon Lord would prioritize crushing the 'pathetic' subordinates rather than finishing the critically wounded War God Host.
As Leka focused his power, the shield on Imposter Alpha flickered and failed entirely. The other three Imposters were momentarily frozen by the massive power drain.
Archelius executed a final, desperate move. He activated his War God's Helm's full Focus Lock power, channeling the last 5 Core Power not into an attack, but into stabilizing his mind.
He picked up the discarded Silver Bone Axe (Rank D) from the ground—the rival's weapon—and channeled his physical strength, enhanced by Rank D, into an immediate, two-handed strike.
He used the War God's Edge to parry Imposter Alpha's recovered blow, redirecting the massive force, and used the Silver Bone Axe to drive a single, devastating, unpowered strike into the Imposter's exposed core.
The Rank D axe, imbued with the energy of his vanquished rival, ripped through the core.
[Greater Imposter (Level 60) Defeated. Dominance Kill Achieved!]
The immediate XP surge was phenomenal.
[XP Gained: 6000. Total XP: 31610/51200. Core Power Restored: 100/100.]
The instantaneous restoration of his Core Power was the System's true reward for the Dominance Kill.
"Thank you, Rival," Archelius whispered, now fully healed and powered.
He discarded the damaged axe and focused the entire, immense power of his restored core into the War God's Edge. The sword flared with the brightest silver light yet.
The three remaining Level 60 Imposters and the colossal, furious face of Lord Leka were his only targets.
"The war is over, Leka," Archelius announced, his voice booming with the full, stabilized power of a Rank D War God. "I am the executioner."