Crushing flags and claiming the Villainess - Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Chapter 76- Conquered

[Note: Your Opponent has used the skill ‘Withering Gaze’!]

[Caution: Host’s combat stats have gone down by 20%.]

“Fuck…” Austin grumbled as he pushed himself off the wall where he was punched.

The moment he stepped into the arena, he felt his vision turning blurry…turned out his opponent used a skill.

‘This is insane…I am already a level below that thing…and now…’

Austin felt the piercing gaze of the red-armored knight, cold and merciless. A shiver ran down his spine as he looked at his opponent.

Its eyes, glowing red like burning embers, locked onto him with an overwhelming presence. Black smoke curls from where its mouth should be, hiding its face in darkness. The sheer force of its stare made the air feel heavier as if crushing him under its will.

Austin could feel his body growing sluggish from the effect, and to make matters worse, the last blow had snapped a couple of his ribs.

*CLINK*

The soldier’s foot shifted, the air tensed, and under Austin’s widened gaze, the Commander lunged.

“Fuck!” Panic surged through him as he hastily chanted, the Absolute Barrier flaring to life around his body.

*CLANG*

The knight’s fist crashed against the glowing shield, sending sparks flying—but the attack failed to reach him.

Gritting his teeth, Austin seized the opening, driving his fist forward with every ounce of strength left in him.

**THWACK**

A shockwave burst from behind the knight as it was pushed backward.

Austin grinned. The barrier would last thirty seconds—until then, he was untouchable.

Austin wasted no time. The moment the knight staggered back, he lunged forward, fists clenched, driving into the opening like a relentless storm.

**BAM**

His punch slammed into the knight’s chest plate, forcing it back another step. But the knight barely reacted—no flinch, no grunt of pain—just those burning red eyes staring him down.

Austin gritted his teeth.

This wasn’t enough.

“Wisp!” He called out, and instantly something hit the knight on its back, making it stumble forward.

*SWISH*

Taking the opportunity, Austin summoned his dagger and plunged it forward.

However,

*CLANG*

Just in time, the knight held the blade from piercing its awakened chest plate. And just in time, the barrier went down,

“Shi-*BOOOOM*”

A bone-cracking punch landed on his gut, sending Austin flying back—losing hold of his dagger as he did.

Austin ducked low and dug into the ground to grab something, or he would hit the wall once again.

*SCREECH*

His nails dugs, broke, and bled, but he finally brought himself to a pause before lunging forward.

Summoning his dagger in his hand, he elongated it to make it a sword, only to find something astonishing,

“Fuck!” Austin had to stop his charge, as suddenly the Knight summoned its own long sword as well and slashed towards Austin.

*SWISSH*

Under Austin’s widened gaze, the blade’s tip passed by a hair’s breadth.

At that moment, Austin truly felt the dread for his life.

**CRACK**

The blade struck into the ground, creating cracks on the tile as Austin leaped away.

“*Huff* *Huff*” Austin felt a chill running down his spine. His face was pale as he stared at the knight who had dominated him both physically and mentally.

‘This is bad…that could have split my head…’ Austin was horrified.

That was the moment when Austin felt that this was not within his power to defeat this guy right now…he was too strong for the current him.

[Does the Host want to retreat?]

[Y/N]

Austin was about to say yes. He might need to defeat two hundred and fifty soldiers once again, but the next time he could come more prepared and with a strategy

He didn’t have the barrier and he was too injured to even stand properly.

‘Ye-‘ He was about to give the command when suddenly, he began to feel lighter. The invisible weight from his body was removed as he was notified,

[Note: Your opponent has disabled the effect of ‘Withering Gaze’!]

[Note: All your stats have returned to normal.]

Austin’s expression turned blank as he turned towards the Commander.

Unlike before when there was indifference oozing from those red glowing eyes, now there was a definite emotion Austin could sense from those eyes.

Pity.

….

At that moment, something was hurt. Any part of his body wasn’t as wounded as his ego right now.

Austin snapped.

*BOOOM*

Austin directly charged, making it seem like he was coming in full force. Predictably, the knight raised its massive sword to intercept him—just as he planned.

At the last second, Austin twisted his body mid-lunge, letting his foot slide across the cracked tiles as he abruptly lowered his center of gravity. Instead of clashing head-on, he darted toward the knight’s side.

The knight’s sword swung straight through empty air.

Austin’s dagger split in two, and with precise, surgical movements—

**THWACK!**

He struck the knight’s back knee joint with the blunt end of his weapon.

CRACK!

The knight staggered, its stance crumbling as its knee buckled.

Austin grinned before he wrapped his leg around the Knight’s neck, and before the knight could get up, Austin used both of his hands to plunge the dagger into the Knight’s back.

**THWANG**

There was a loud noise, and this time, the armor of the warrior crumbled.

**RUMBLE**

The aura of the knight flared as it instantly got up on its feet, and after grabbing Austin by his collar, he removed the blond from its body and threw Austin like a ragdoll.

Austin slid on his feet and grabbed his WhisperWing from the ground.

*DHAK* *DHAK*

The knight advanced towards Austin, its sword raised high, but then, something came flying in its way, that left the Commander with no option but to swat the boomerang away.

Big mistake.

Just as the boomerang disappeared from its sight, the knight found the human levitating mid-air with his fist cocked.

For the first time, panic appeared in the Commander’s eyes, but it was too late,

**BOOOOOOM**

With the strength that counted every single Combat point, Austin landed the blow on the Knight’s jaw, sending it sliding back.

Austin landed on the ground, his knuckles aching, but there was a grin on his face.

However, soon, that grin was wiped off,

“*KHWAAAAAAAAAKH*” The knight suddenly came to a halt before howling in anger as its black aura flared like a stormy sky.

Austin’s eyes narrowed as he had only a split second to summon his Shard and block the incoming attacks

**CLANG**

Sparks exploded as Austin barely parried the knight’s relentless strike. The sheer force sent tremors down his arms, his muscles screaming in protest. His feet dug into the cracked tiles, the pressure nearly making his knees buckle.

The knight pressed on, its movements sharp and refined. Its massive sword moved like a whirlwind, each slash carrying the weight of a battle-hardened warrior.

**SWISH—CLANG—CLANK**

Austin struggled to keep up. His blade deflected the knight’s attacks just enough to avoid fatal damage, but not enough to retaliate. The knight’s superior strength was evident—every exchange forced Austin to retreat, barely able to catch his breath before another attack came barreling his way.

Suddenly—

*SLASH*

A shallow cut opened on Austin’s side as he failed to evade in time. Blood seeped through his torn shirt, but he clenched his jaw, ignoring the pain.

The knight capitalized on the opening.

**WHOOSH—BOOM**

Austin barely twisted his body, narrowly avoiding a downward strike that shattered the ground where he once stood.

‘Shit, he’s too strong…’ Austin gritted his teeth. Every attack was relentless, calculated, and designed to crush him.

But—

He was getting faster.

His arms no longer trembled as much with each clash. His feet found more stability on the shattered ground. His parries became cleaner, his counters more precise.

The knight swung diagonally—a perfect execution.

Austin didn’t block.

Instead, he sidestepped—his body moving on instinct like he had fought this battle before.

The blade narrowly missed his chest.

Austin twisted the blade in hand.

*CLANG*

The armor of the Commander trembled as Austin’s Shard made contact.

For the first time, Austin’s attack connected.

The knight flinched.

Austin’s eyes sharpened.

He was adapting.

His mind pieced together the knight’s attack pattern, its timing, its habits. The wide swings, the brief pause before a powerful downward slash—it was all becoming clearer.

The next exchange was no longer a desperate survival.

The knight slashed—Austin dodged.

The knight stabbed—Austin parried.

The knight swung low—Austin leaped.

The more they fought, the more Austin dictated the rhythm.

The Commander, once an unstoppable force, now finds itself unable to overwhelm its opponent.

Austin’s expression shifted.

This wasn’t just a battle anymore. This was a hunt.

The Commander was forced back on its feet as it restlessly swung its blade, but Austin masterfully parried and countered with a strong slash.

The armor of the knight was starting to crack from several spots, and the Commander was being pushed back.

*SLASH*

In desperation to make some space, the Commander swung its sword in a horizontal slash; however, Austin had enough time to duck under the attack and punch the Commander with every the strength deriving from each fibre of his body.

“*KHWNG*” Red Wing staggered back, tattered and wounded.

Austin’s blood had long dried as he watched the Commander in pity, “What are you going to do now?”

While clutching its wounded stomach, the Commander, in desperation, activated its skill,

*SHLINK*

Its eyes began to glow and Austin felt his body turning heavy instantly.

The Commander grinned, clutching its sword and ready to end the battle with one final swing.

However, suddenly,

*SHLINK*

A heavy invisible force descended upon the Commander. Its eyes widened as it turned to look at Austin…or to be more precise, in his glowing blue eyes.

[Ding!]

[Skill Adapt in use!]

[The Opponent’s stats would be lowered significantly!]

Austin grinned, “Guess your last option is also devoured.”