[CH598+ Continued] Dungeon Diver: Stealing A Monster's Power

The hobgoblin comes my way again with even more speed than before, and the hot radiation coming off her hammer slams against my right arm as I block just in time.

The exact same sensation washes over me.

Upon impact, Celia's barrier blocks the entirety of the blow's force, but once the wave of white energy washes into me, an immense pressure sends me flying backward again.

I'm sent skidding across the rocks and don't stop flying backward for another 200 meters until I hit another pile that halts my momentum.

As it washes through my mind, the same subconscious, experienced defenses kick in, and the entirety of the blow escapes my body like wind passing through.

It hardly leaves a trace, other than the same tingling sensation vibrating all over my flesh.

It fades within a few seconds, except in the center of my forearms, where I was hit. The tingling lingers.

I raise that same arm again to block the third incoming hammer strike and am thrown flying in another direction, helpless to stop myself until I hit more piles of black stone capable of halting my momentum.

As the warm white energy fades again, my forearm tingles and stays warm even longer than before.

I'm too slow to block the next exchange, and I'm hit directly in the stomach.

There is no difference, other than the tingling, warm feeling staying in the place of contact even longer.

The feminine hobgoblin's voice rings out as I get up from the ground after this hit.

"Who are you? A new tax collector from the Lord?"

Before I can even answer, I'm hit again, but I block it with both of my crossed arms this time.

Her voice echoes through the green fog before I even land.

"We still have three days before our payment is due, and he doesn't make deals with humans, so I'm inclined to believe you're from another faction!"

I'm struck again, and my momentum shifts straight down into the ground.

Extremely dense pressure pushes down on my chest, and I'm unable to stand as I see the green-skinned woman standing over me with her hammer pressed against my chest.

A stream of hot white Ether comes out from the weapon and holds me down.

The energy disperses out the sides of my body, but my chest becomes hotter and hotter while the hobgoblin's sharp amber-colored eyes stare into mine.

"You should be dead by now... what kind of Avatar is this...?"

All it feels like to me is a hot pressure pushing me down. My mind is completely protected, not even registering this as an attack.

My constant self regeneration, and pure density of my actual body in this upper realm makes the thin pulses of ether radiating through my actual flesh negligible as well.

While the force she's exerting is too intense for me to move freely, I could lie here all day if needed...

I finally reply in a calm tone.

"I have no idea what you're talking about... I was on my way to the Citadel, and I fell down here. Whatever you're accusing me of, I'm sure we can talk this out and clear it up."

In the back of my mind, I prepare to open up my telepathy link with Ember, as if this monster on top of me has any other plans. And if there is a Lord stronger than her they say they're following, I may actually need help...