Chapter 139: The Crystal Spear Is In His Hands!

The water had gone still around Martin.

Raze Dawg was gone. His laughter, his threats, and the crushing pressure of his presence had vanished with him, leaving only drifting blood, broken armor fragments, and the fading shimmer of golden light around Martin’s fists. For a few seconds, Martin remained motionless in that silence as satisfaction rolled through him, heavy and vicious.

[You have killed Raze Dawg, Lv. 60.]

[Experience gained.]

[You have leveled up.]

[You have leveled up.]

[HP and Mana restored.]

[Stamina restored.]

Warmth surged through Martin’s body as the level-ups hit in sequence. His HP climbed first, then his mana, and the dull ache buried deep in his arms faded beneath the system’s recovery. The blood leaking from the cracks in his gauntlets slowed until only a red haze drifted through the water.

The system restored him, but it did not erase the violence that had put him here.

He knew he shouldn’t be doing this right now, but he still opened his inventory to check the greatsword he had obtained from Raze Dawg. Obtained was too polite. Stolen was more accurate, and that sharper word made the satisfaction burn even brighter in his chest.

[Deadmaw]

[Grade: Legendary / Gold]

[Type: Greatsword]

[Paired Weapon: Gravefang]

[Physical Attack: +4,650]

[Strength: +570]

[Stamina: +520]

[Passive Skill: Maw That Never Lets Go]

[Passive Skill: Golden Tyrant’s Momentum]

[Passive Skill: Packbreaker Cleave]

[Passive Skill: Apex Butcher]

[Legendary Ultimate: Death Wheel]

[Current Status: Death Wheel cannot be activated. Gravefang is missing.]

Deadmaw was a massive black greatsword wrapped in a golden aura. Its hooked edge was not designed for clean cuts, but for tearing wounds open and dragging enemies into the next strike.

The golden light around the blade burns quietly while dormant, then flares violently whenever it strikes wounded flesh, cracked armor, or broken defenses.

[Maw That Never Lets Go]

Attacks with Deadmaw apply Mangled. Targets affected by Mangled suffer reduced movement speed, reduced healing received, and reduced physical defense.

[Golden Tyrant’s Momentum]

Heavy attacks build Momentum. Each stack of Momentum increases physical damage, knockback power, and movement force.

[Packbreaker Cleave]

When Deadmaw strikes multiple enemies with one swing, its next attack releases a golden shockwave. The shockwave deals heavy physical damage and applies Mangled to enemies hit.

[Apex Butcher]

Deadmaw deals increased damage to wounded targets. If the wielder kills an enemy with Deadmaw, they recover a small amount of HP and refresh their active Momentum stacks.

[Death Wheel]

[Status: Incomplete]

[Requirement: Deadmaw and Gravefang equipped together]

Death Wheel is the true ultimate attack of Deadmaw and Gravefang.

When both Legendary greatswords are wielded together, the user can slam the blades into one another and force them to lock into a single monstrous weapon. Once combined, the greatswords become too large to swing normally, so the wielder turns their entire body into the attack.

The user spins forward at high speed, becoming a roaring wheel of black steel and golden light.

As long as Death Wheel remains active, the wielder continues moving, spinning, and tearing through everything in their path. Every enemy caught by the rotating blades suffers repeated heavy physical damage, bleeding wounds, guard damage, and violent knockback.

The longer Death Wheel continues, the more destructive its momentum becomes. Its damage, speed, knockback power, and guard-breaking force increase over time. Once the attack reaches full momentum, the wielder becomes a moving execution ground.

After reading the stats, the passives, and especially the ultimate skill, Death Wheel, goosebumps rose across Martin’s skin.

No wonder this guy had been tearing through us like paper.

Martin wanted one more second to stare at the weapon and enjoy the fact that Raze Dawg’s own Legendary blade now sat in his inventory, but he did not get it.

A voice call came in from Kill Clause before Martin could even close the item window.

[Kill Clause: Come over to me fast, Martin.]

[Emperoar: Got it.]

Martin turned to Ao Tenshin.

"Angel! Go wild on those ants. Level up as much as you can!"

Ao Tenshin didn’t need persuading. She looked toward the swarm of ants stranded near the water, unable to reach her, and lifted her tiny dragon face with obvious pride as a mischievous glint flashed through her sapphire eyes.

A moment later, she dove.

Her blue shell blurred through the water, and the first ant she struck folded beneath her like a toy. The rest scattered too late because Ao Tenshin was already among them, spinning, ramming, and bullying the monsters as if the lake itself had chosen violence.

The Queen of the Lake’s rampage began, and Martin kicked through the water toward Kill Clause’s position, leaving Ao Tenshin to claim the lake in his name.

—

"Raze died," a member of Just Die said.

Another player checked his system notifications and chuckled. "He went alone against underleveled nobodies because his pet smelled something on one of them. He wanted the glory and got fucked over instead. Haha!"

"Don’t laugh too much," another player muttered. "Raze was still Lv. 60."

The chuckling quieted for a beat because none of them liked that part.

"His last command was to go for them. All of us. Before they reunite with the other members of Night Espresso."

"Sure, let’s do it. That hyena never misses. Someone must have a valuable item. Maybe the Crystal Spear is over there."

"You think so?"

"That would make a good diversion, wouldn’t it?"

"Hmmm. Yeah."

Conversations like that spread from party to party, marking a clear shift in Just Die’s formation. None of them retreated immediately, especially the players closest to the West Bank Nest. They didn’t want the change to be noticed, but Kuro A saw through it at once.

[Kuro A: Emperoar! They’re all moving toward your vanguard! Can you escape?!]

[Kill Clause: We can’t.]

Kuro A’s heart clenched.

There was another reason this vanguard had been assigned four parties, and Martin held it now: the Crystal Spear, the item needed to seize this territory.

Until now, Kill Clause had been the one holding onto it. Kuro A knew that, and he understood how bad their situation had become, but Kill Clause reassured him calmly.

[Kill Clause: I’m passing the Crystal Spear to Emperoar. It’s safest with him since he can swim away from players and enemies, and he can breathe underwater. As for us, we’ll provoke them and hold them in the West Bank until all of you arrive and attack them from behind. Seize this chance, Kuro A.]

Before Martin could object, Kill Clause pressed the Crystal Spear into his hands, and the cold weight of the objective settled against his palms.

Both Martin and Kuro A were shocked.

Kill Clause had given them a clear command, and every part of it made sense. More than that, she had made this decision herself because she knew Martin would never allow them to sacrifice themselves if he had any other choice.

But Chaosgraphy had already done it, and there was no other way now. The enemies had already appeared within the cave, and time pressed down on them.

[Kuro A: Wise choice! We’ll be there soon!]

Meanwhile, Martin hated every word he had just heard. The thought of his teammates sacrificing themselves while he remained the only one alive hurt him more than anything.

He had built himself around one simple belief: he stood in front so others could stand behind him. That was the deal, and that was the promise he kept making with every shield, every taunt, and every stupid, reckless charge.

So why was Kill Clause smiling at him like she had already decided to stand in front of him instead?

That’s not how it should be.

I am the tank!

I always wanted to be the one to enable you!

Don’t smile at me like that, Clause!

Kill Clause leaned down and whispered to Martin, "You’re so easy to read, Martin."

"I heard that before from Encore."

"Try reading me," Kill Clause said.

And there she was, still smiling at him. It was such a boss-like move, as if she wanted him to reach the answer himself. Her face looked plain and ordinary because of the game’s cosmetics, but Martin could still feel how heartfelt that smile was.

He read the emotions behind it and understood the implications.

His expression hardened.

"Looks like you can read me just fine..." Kill Clause whispered, her tone carrying a hint of sultriness.

The words tugged at something in Martin’s chest, and his cheeks reddened.

"I’ll await the good news. Now hide," she added, turning around as the enemies pressed in on their outnumbered forces.

Martin wanted to argue. He wanted to grab her wrist, drag her away, and tell her that tanks did not hide behind damage dealers.

But Kill Clause had already turned around, and the enemies were already coming.

So Martin swallowed the words, tightened his grip around the Crystal Spear, and disappeared into the dark water.