Flashy Adventurer System : Show Off to Get Stronger! - Chapter 960

Chapter 960: Battle of the Black Dragon Gate (14)
“S-Shye, the void portal is ready!” David exclaimed, panting in exhaustion after pushing his mental limits.

“Then go,” Shye responded in a monotonous voice.

The remaining conscious cohort members weren’t stupid and they, too, had already realized that Shye had become somewhat like the Soulless, though his condition seemed to be a little better, considering he could still talk logically.

They just couldn’t sense a hint of emotion in him.

They were certain he had sacrificed their soul.

Harry, David, and Siegfried gritted their teeth and clenched their fists in frustration, inwardly lamenting how useless they were.

Had they been stronger, their dear friend wouldn’t have had to sacrifice himself.

It had always been him.

Even in the past, it was Shye who always retreated last, who always guarded the rear if they encountered something they couldn’t handle.

It truly pained the three to see him in such a state due to their incompetence.

On the other hand, the two ladies also looked at him—one in slight horror and sadness while the other with utter grief and heartbreak.

Time waits for no one, however, and before long, the cohort members had to go.

They would be wasting their friend’s noble sacrifice if they didn’t

The next moment, Harry, David, and Siegfried grabbed their unconscious comrades, shooting one last glance at Shye’s dependable back.

‘So long, brother.’

With a final farewell, the three hopped in—David first, then Harry, then Siegfried after his gaze lingered a few more milliseconds longer than the two.

“Shirley, you go first.” Wendy urged, placing her palms on the unsealing ritual magic circle again and swapping places with Shirley.

She knew that if she left first, ideas to “die together” might form in her friend’s head.

Shirley was, after all, Shye’s lover, and such a thing happening wasn’t too unlikely.

She wasn’t stupid and was probably the smartest next to Shye.

She knew what was gonna happen—what Shye was going to do.

He was finally going to sacrifice his life this time.

Wendy had no way of fully grasping the extent of Shye’s growth from the soul enhancement.

Even if she tried to overestimate him beyond her wildest imagination, she would most likely still be underestimating him.

But that wouldn’t change the reality—he would be channeling mana into the ritual for six to seven seconds, enduring every attack with his body and a handful of defensive skills, which would quickly deplete under the sheer number of enemies assailing him.

Dweezel was still alive and well, likely preparing to strike at any moment.

No matter how Wendy thought about it, her close friend would be perishing today.

Memories of her time with Shye flashed through her mind as she channeled the last remnants of her mana and mental fortitude into the circle, waiting for Shirley, who stood frozen, casting one final, forlorn gaze at her lover.

Shirley said nothing.

She simply stared at Shye’s broad back, tears streaming down her face.

She would never see her beloved again—perhaps for eternity, perhaps for ten.

But she would wait.

With a painful expression, she turned away and stepped into the void portal.

The moment she crossed through, heartbroken cries erupted from her lips—her stoic front crumbling at the very end.

Not that it mattered.

Shye didn’t even spare her a single glance, as if everything they’d been through was a lie.

Unbeknownst to her, a single drop of tear streamed down from the corners of Shye’s hollow eyes, though he himself did not know why and was merely confused.

It was his soul.

What remained of it, at least, was in utter grief and heartbreak, just like his beloved.

They resonated at that moment, though both were unfortunately unaware.

Realizing that the last cohort member was merely waiting for him to take their place in the magic circle, Shye summoned a tornado of swords with his twin greatswords—perhaps their final battle—before swapping to his twin elemental staffs.

With a swift motion, he unleashed a massive [Gravitational Drain], warping the battlefield ahead with one staff while raining fire and ice upon his enemies with the other.

He then switched to a life staff without a single millisecond of pause, conjuring a thick physical and magic barrier around himself before finally placing his hands on the circle—all executed in a single second, faster than any mortal could have imagined.

Done with everything he needed to do, Shye placed his palms on the barrier without a care for the sad gaze his friend was giving him.

He stared right back at Wendy and said only one word: “Go.”

With a reluctant gaze and a heavy heart, the priestess stepped through the portal, leaving Shye alone.

She had considered casting a barrier for him, but it would take two seconds—who knew if that would be a foolish mistake?

She decided to simply obey in the end, honoring his sacrifice and final wishes.

The void portal sealed shut the next moment.

Shye was officially alone.

With nothing but his two fragile barriers shielding him, he turned his back to hundreds of attackers.

Soul Warriors, their lesser kin, abominations, Soulless Heroes, Hawklings, the lurking sinister snake, and even a divine white-scaled deity—all sought his life.

Thunder roared, the air trembled, and ice shards and arrows sliced through the sky. Flames raged, winds howled, and a storm of lethal magic and steel hurtled toward Shye.

His physical barrier was ignored entirely and his magical defense shattered on impact.

The remaining spells and arrows ruthlessly struck his back, detonating in a violent eruption.

Thick gray smoke momentarily veiled his desolate figure.

‘7’…

However, the smoke was quickly swept away by the charging blade-wielders, revealing his battered and bruised body—steadfast and unfazed as he continued channeling mana into the scroll.

Swords slashed toward his back, daggers aimed for his skull.

Blades bit into his flesh, but none could pierce too deep.

His 1,800+ vitality wasn’t just for show.

His body had far surpassed the words “rock-solid”, but would it hold?

‘6’…

***

Meanwhile, in a dimly lit metallic room, a quiet sense of loneliness and abandonment lingered in the air.

Of the two glowing portals, only one remained active. The other—the blue one—had gone dim, seemingly already used.

Sanada Eiichiro had returned to Earth…