Surviving These Unfair Scenarios [LITRPG - DIMENSION HOPPING]

The attack began without hesitation. The two sword-wielding Paladin Knights lunged forward in perfect unison, their gleaming swords cutting arcs of divine light through the air. Each swing came down with a terrifying precision and speed, one aiming for Drake's neck, the other for his waist, with an energy around their blades that shimmered as if the air itself resisted their movements.

The blond leaned back just in time to avoid the first slash, letting it whistle past his face, and then twisted his torso to duck beneath the second. The swords struck the ground with a force that cracked the marble, sending shards of holy-imbued stone upward like shrapnel.

But the next attack was immediate. A shadow loomed over Drake, and he instinctively looked up. Sir Gideon's massive frame fell from above like a collapsing monument, the two-handed hammer in his grip shining with blinding sanctity. Drake barely leapt aside before the weapon crashed into the stone plaza. The impact was deafening. The entire platform trembled, and a crater erupted where the hammer struck, wide enough to swallow a carriage. Dust and divine sparks exploded in every direction.

Before the echo of the hammer faded, the final blow came from the air. The Paladin Champion descended like a judgment from heaven, wings spread, spear gripped tightly in both hands. The lance was wrapped in divine flame, burning with a blue-gold fire that left trails in the air. The thrust came forward with terrifying velocity, aimed straight at Drake's chest. He threw his body into a roll, his wings pressing hard against the wind to push him away mid-air. The sacred lance tore through the space he had just occupied, missing him by inches but leaving a seared scar across the marble beneath.

Drake had avoided all four attacks, but he had no time to catch his breath. A sudden movement from the side alerted him—Tenzing had moved. The monk was already in the air, descending from a high arc like a comet, his leg pulled back in a precise axe kick. The blond raised his Ki sword to block it, but the force of the impact pushed straight through his stance. The moment their attacks met, a shockwave burst outward. Drake was hurled backward through the air, the energy of the blow reverberating through his arms and chest. He twisted mid-flight, forcing his wings to flare out and slow his trajectory, but he still smashed back-first into the lower wall of the cathedral. Dust crumbled from the stone above his head as he coughed, the echo of the strike still vibrating in his bones.

Despite the blow, a dry chuckle escaped him. Then a laugh. He wiped the blood from his mouth and stood upright again.

"Alright… If that's how it is, I guess I need to even the field."

Drake said, his tone amused but focused. Without warning, his sword dissolved into light and vanished. He stretched his arms once, then cracked his neck. He now stood unarmed, fists clenched, wings spread wide behind him. Tenzing remained calm, watching closely.

"Why discard your weapon? Are you stronger unarmed? Have you been holding back?"

He asked, his voice steady, however, Drake laughed again.

"No. Not really. My sword techniques are the strongest I've got. But if I'm being honest, I feel more at home like this."

He raised his fists, shoulders squared, stance low and solid.

"Hand-to-hand is just... where I'm me."

Tenzing sighed, adjusting his feet ever so slightly.

"Do as you wish."

He said. But before the monk or the four paladins could launch a second wave, something else happened… Four circular doors materialized in the air around Drake. Their frames were carved from shifting gold and dark wood, marked with intricate oriental symbols that pulsed faintly with energy. The air around them shimmered with spiritual heat, and then, one by one, each door swung open without a sound.

From the first emerged the 'Eclipsed Vermilion Dracling', a serpentine beast of immense length. Its body coiled and twisted through the air with elegant fury, crimson scales reflecting the sacred light of the city like blood-stained mirrors. Twin horns curved from its head, and its eyes glowed with a deep impatience.

The second door released the 'Voidborn Basilisk Hatchling'. A massive serpent with skin like black glass slithered forth, its eyes tightly sewn shut by thick thread. Its presence radiated cold malice, and the air around its mouth distorted subtly, hinting at a void hidden just beneath its skin.

From the third, stepped the 'Obsidian Young Monkey'. Larger than even the Paladin Champion, it stood upright, covered in white fur that shimmered with threads of silver. Its expression was bright, almost humanlike, with a wide grin on its face. Two polished nunchaku hung from a sash at its waist, tapping against its side with each heavy step.

The last to emerge was the 'Auroral Emberling Phoenix'. The creature flew out of the gate in a burst of azure flame, its wings stretching wide as its feathers crackled with magical fire. Its cry echoed like chimes in the wind, and its body pulsed with heat that didn't burn but shimmered like the stars above.

As each creature exited its door, the portals closed and vanished, leaving no trace. The four beasts stood beside Drake, aligned and calm, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

The boy raised his hand in greeting and called out with enthusiasm.

"Hey! Glad you made it. I might be in a situation that's… maybe a little above what I can handle solo."

He laughed again, openly, filled with energy.

"So I thought I'd invite you all to the party. Let's go all in!"

The creatures did not remain silent. The Vermilion Dracling lowered its long head toward Drake with solemn grace, its voice deep and composed, each word spoken with refined elegance.

"I understand the reason I was summoned. The circumstances justify the call."

Its long body coiled gently around one of the ruined columns, eyes fixed on the approaching threat with calm precision. The Basilisk Hatchling remained motionless for a moment, the stitched eyes unmoving, before it uttered a single word in a low and flat tone.

"Roger."

Its presence alone felt like a gravitational pull, cold and absolute, and the brief statement was more than enough to confirm its readiness. The Young Monkey could not stay still. It leapt twice into the air, spinning once before landing and shaking its shoulders, an enormous grin on its face as it pumped its fists with excitement.

"Can I go all in? Can I? Can I use everything I've got this time?"

It asked, nearly vibrating with energy. Drake gave him a short nod, his tone light.

"Yeah, go wild."

"Yeah!"

The monkey launched into the air again, spinning mid-flight and releasing a series of joyful howls that echoed across the plaza. Finally, the Emberling Phoenix floated gently closer, her wings still softly trailing blue flame. Her voice was quiet, warm, and unmistakably feminine.

"I'll support as best I can… but you already know I'm not very fond of combat."

Her eyes, bright and melancholic, met Drake's, whose response came without hesitation.

"I know. Don't worry. Just stay close and support me—like always."

She gave a small nod, and then with a single beat of her wings, wrapped her warm fire-laced feathers around his frame. The blue flames pulsed gently across his body, and the wounds on his arms, chest, and face began to close. Bruises faded. His breathing evened. The divine burns and blunt trauma from the earlier clashes dissipated in seconds. His wings flared again, steadier, stronger.

Tenzing had been silent, watching the entire exchange. But his calm expression now showed a faint hint of disbelief. He hadn't expected this… He took a half-step back as if to reassess the situation—but the moment he saw the phoenix's healing flames take effect, his hesitation vanished. His stance deepened, his hands moved, and his voice went totally silent, but his body didn't. And all four paladins reacted the same way.

Together, they charged. The monk shot forward like a bullet, robes fluttering violently behind him. The two sword-wielding Paladin Knights moved on either flank, Sir Gideon launched himself forward with the full weight of his armored bulk, the massive hammer dragging sparks along the stone before he lifted it with both hands. The Champion ascended slightly, wings propelling him forward from the air, lance pointed at Drake's chest.

At the same instant, the blond's allies responded. The Eclipsed Vermilion Dracling twisted through the air with a fluid grace that defied its immense size. Its long serpentine body shimmered with vermilion scales that pulsed like living fire. Across from it, the Paladin Champion hovered midair, his divine wings spread wide and his spear of sacred fire gripped tightly.

Without a word, the paladin shot forward, his flaming weapon aimed straight at the dragon's chest. But the draconic beast curved its body upward and around the attack in one smooth motion, twisting midair like a ribbon. The sacred flames missed by inches as the creature coiled and rose above its opponent, then countered with a furious roar, launching a massive ball of crimson flame from its jaws. The burning mass surged forward, threatening to engulf the knight in ancient fire—but with a single motion, the Paladin Champion spun his spear and sliced the incoming projectile in two.

The energy burst apart, casting golden sparks across the sky. The Dracling's eyes widened with surprise, but it was already too late for the knight to follow through. A soft hiss echoed from below. The Paladin Champion's body froze midair, unable to move.

At ground level, the Voidborn Basilisk Hatchling stared upward with its stitched eyes shut and its obsidian-black body tense. The hiss it produced was nearly silent, but the effect was immediate. The divine paladin remained paralyzed in the air, caught in the invisible trance. The Dracling's shock faded into instinct, and with a powerful twist, it brought its tail down like a meteor, striking the champion from above and sending him crashing into the ground. The impact created a thunderous crater as the Paladin Champion's body smashed into the earth, shattering stone and sanctified tiles.

Elsewhere, the chaos continued. Tenzing and the two sword-and-shield Paladin Knights found themselves facing an entirely unexpected opponent. The Obsidian Young Monkey crashed onto the battlefield with a gleeful shout, spinning on one arm and flipping over the rubble with unnatural agility. In his hands were ordinary-looking nunchakus, which he twirled with expert precision, snapping through the air and clashing with the weapons of the knights as if this were a duel of pure martial artistry.

He landed between them, spinning the twin rods around his neck and shoulders, blocking a downward strike from one paladin and immediately launching into a sweeping counterattack that Tenzing had to intercept. The monk shifted his foot, parried, and backed up a step as the monkey planted his heels into the ground, nunchakus ready. For a moment, it looked like he was merely toying with them, an acrobat demonstrating superior mobility and hand speed. But then he pulled his arms apart, and both ends of the nunchakus jerked with a sudden metal clack. Muzzles extended… And a trigger clicked.

The next instant, a shot rang out. Tenzing tilted his head just enough for the bullet to scream past his ear. The blast cracked into the pillar behind him. The paladins responded immediately, shields up, weapons raised, shifting into formation.

The monkey's eyes sparkled.

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"Oh, right. I forgot to mention! I call them gunchuks!"

He said with a laugh... What followed was a storm.

The Obsidian Young Monkey spun into the air, one leg kicking off a stone fragment, body flipping upside down, while both gunchuks unleashed a barrage of coordinated fire. Bullets tore through the space around him, ricocheting off divine shields and the stone floor. The two knights deflected what they could, but the monkey was faster. He weaved through his own gunfire, spinning between his enemies, striking with one end of the weapon while firing from the other.

Tenzing blocked every attack, redirecting bullets with the edge of his palm or deflecting them with Ki-infused slaps that glowed faintly on impact. He advanced while gritting his teeth, not rushing but closing distance. The monkey laughed, hopping backwards, reloading both gunchuks mid-spin, holsters at his side clicking open and snapping shut.

The knights weren't so lucky. The left paladin turned to swing at the monkey's side, but was hit by a high-speed shot straight to the collar. The armor cracked, his body recoiling with a grunt as he collapsed to one knee. The right knight raised his shield too slowly, two shots breaking through the defensive aura, denting his helm and chestplate before sending him crashing down next to his partner.

Only Tenzing remained. The monk now stood alone against the barrage. The monkey hadn't stopped laughing, feet never touching the ground longer than a second as he somersaulted backward, firing shot after shot from every angle.

"Man, you're good! I don't usually go this hard unless I'm sparring with the boss!"

He said mid-air. Tenzing exhaled through his nose and kept deflecting. His hands moved in a blur. Each shot that came toward him was redirected with minimal movement, but the effort it took was visible in the tension across his shoulders. The monk's expression remained unreadable, but his words cut through the madness.

"What are you?"

He asked. The monkey landed and twirled both gunchuks behind his back.

"Just your regular son of the Southern Emperor: Blackstone Titan Ape… You know? My clan used sticks and bo's. Real elegant staff stuff. But I met Drake's master, Park Zhen, once, y'know?"

Tenzing blinked, surprised at the casual conversation in the middle of a barrage of bullets.

"Yeah… After that, I knew I had to try something wild. Gunchakus. Guns and nunchakus. Happy times! I knew staffs were overrated. And these things?"

The monkey grinned, spinning them around his body and firing again, this time from under his arm mid-cartwheel.

"Way more fun!"

Tenzing caught the next three shots with a triangle-shaped block, Ki swirling through his palms as he finally found his rhythm. The two stood poised to clash again.

Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Sir Gideon once again raised his massive hammer and charged. Drake stood waiting, the Emberling Phoenix hovering just behind him. As the holy weapon came crashing down, Drake did not flinch. He caught the blow with both hands, the hammer slamming into his palms with enough force to crater the ground beneath his feet. Stone cracked, the earth split, and sacred light burst outward—but the boy stood tall. The glow of his skill [Sacred Body Manifestation] shimmered around him, absorbing the force without injury.

Before Gideon could recover, Drake pushed forward. He twisted his body, redirecting the force of the hammer downward, and then swept his foot behind Gideon's leg. Using his wings like grappling ropes, the blond lunged forward, wrapping them around Gideon's arms and pinning them down. The knight thrashed, but Drake pulled him in close, shouting over his shoulder.

"Now! Heal him, please—his mind is still trapped!"

The Auroral Emberling Phoenix flew upward, its blue flames pulsing gently. It circled once before descending onto Gideon's shoulders, spreading its wings and releasing a flood of blue fire. The sacred flames washed over the Paladin's white and gold armor, wrapping him in warmth. Drake reached up and pulled off the knight's helmet. What he saw chilled him. Gideon's eyes were pure white, and a blazing divine symbol—the sutra of Tenzing—glowed on his forehead.

The fire enveloped the mark, making Sir Gideon scream. The sound echoed through the broken square, reverberating through the bones of every combatant nearby. Blue flames curled gently around the fallen knight's helm. Drake did not let go, even as the purifying fire of the phoenix intensified around them.

The sigil etched into Sir Gideon's forehead began to crack. Fine lines spread from the edges, glowing brighter before breaking apart. Like a brand being burned off, the divine mark crumbled and vanished under the restorative energy. A final pulse surged through the air, and the connection shattered. The paladin arched his back, letting out a raw cry that echoed between the stone pillars before collapsing forward with a heavy thud. His weight pressed against Drake's arms, his armor radiating heat from the searing ritual just completed.

The blond lowered him slowly, knees settling on the scorched marble, the exhaustion in his face giving way to relief. He held him by the shoulders and gave him a light shake.

"Sir Gideon. Can you hear me? It's me."

The paladin didn't respond right away. His chest rose and fell in short, sharp breaths. His gauntleted hands clenched at nothing. For several seconds, it looked like he might not even be conscious. But then his head shifted, just slightly, and his eyelids fluttered open. His gaze was dazed, lost in the swirl of lingering heat and confusion, but it began to settle as he focused on the face in front of him. He blinked twice.

"Young... Saint?"

The words came slowly and fragmented, each syllable spoken with effort.

"Drake?"

The name seemed to taste strange on his tongue, but as his vision cleared further, he seemed to take in the glowing wings behind the young man's back. His cracked lips curved slightly downward, a mix of sadness and pride pulling at his voice.

"So it's true. You've done it. You carry the divine light now... Paladin Champion. That mark. Those wings... You surpassed me."

Drake gave a short nod but didn't smile.

"This isn't the time for congratulations. There'll be a better moment later. Right now, I need to know—do you remember what happened? What brought you here?"

Gideon winced and instinctively raised a hand to his temple.

"I… I remember… I tried to pray. None of us received anything back. The cathedral... quiet for days. The goddess—Arianka—she stopped answering. The divine flow... it started to thin out. The senior priests were panicking. Some thought it was a test of faith, others... others feared it was the end of her presence entirely."

His breathing hitched and his expression contorted in pain again. Drake steadied him, keeping his tone steady.

"Go on. Do you remember anything after that?"

"There was a visitor. No... not a visitor. Something came. I... I can't remember clearly enough. It's foggy. Like the memory was taken away or sealed up. I remember opening the gates. I remember standing in the hall with the others. Then..."

His sentence trailed off, and he groaned again, pressing harder against his head, as if trying to squeeze the truth free.

"Something wrapped around my thoughts. Like chains... and then nothing."

"Stop, don't force it. You've done enough."

Drake said, lowering his voice. Gideon's body finally began to relax. He slumped slightly forward, supported by the boy's grip. The two remained like that for a few more seconds, the chaotic noise of the battlefield continuing around them—shouts, metal clashing, wind bursting from impact.

However, the moment ended when the Obsidian Young Monkey flew past them like a cannonball, his body tumbling wildly before skidding across the floor and crashing into a low column. Dust erupted from the impact. The monkey groaned loudly but was already laughing as he stood back up, clearly more amused than injured. Drake snapped his head up, senses sharpening again, and looked in the direction from which the monkey had been launched.

Tenzing stood in the distance. His silhouette was worn, marked by new wounds, his sleeves torn, and his chest heaving with breath. He looked as though he had pushed himself beyond normal endurance—but he was still upright. His eyes moved across the field slowly.

He saw the two Paladin Knights still lying motionless on the floor, their armor scorched and dented. He saw the Paladin Champion grounded, unmoving, held down by the spiritual weight of the Voidborn Basilisk Hatchling. He saw Gideon, no longer under control, now kneeling beside Drake. He absorbed the scene in silence. No words, nor gestures. But his brows pulled tight.

It was clear his composure had been shaken.

But he did not shout, nor did he lash out. But something had changed. Tenzing closed his eyes. His fingers flexed, and his breathing began to slow. His shoulders dropped slightly as he returned to center. The spiritual rhythm of his body adjusted with precision. The moment of doubt passed. Focus replaced it. And when he opened his eyes again, they were calm and ready.

Tenzing stood in silence for a moment, his breathing steady, eyes locked on Drake. Then he finally spoke, his tone calm but firm.

"It seems I was the arrogant one after all."

He said slowly.

"To think I could stop someone like you without risking everything... without truly giving my all."

Drake tilted his head, a small grin forming on his face. He brushed some of the dust off his shoulder, his voice relaxed.

"Don't tell me you were the one holding back this whole time. Now that really breaks my heart. I thought we were going all out."

He said jokingly.

"I have been fighting with full strength."

Tenzing replied without hesitation.

"But there was still one card I hadn't played. Something I was hoping not to use unless it became absolutely necessary. I see now that it is."

Drake narrowed his eyes, still smiling, but more curious than amused now.

"And why's that? You suddenly think I'm a bigger threat than you expected?"

"You are, you've pushed me farther than I've been in years. And that is not something I say lightly."

Tenzing said, his eyes softened just slightly as he continued.

"You're a true martial artist. I can see that clearly now. Your summons, those four creatures... they aren't bound by you by a regular skill. You didn't pull them from the system like most would. They came to you naturally. That's the mark of someone who walks the proper path."

Drake gave a small nod.

"It's not always easy. But yeah, they came with time."

Tenzing held his gaze.

"That is how it should be. But sometimes, we face enemies that can't be overcome with effort alone. Sometimes, even discipline must yield to necessity. And even someone like me must rely on what the system offers."

Drake's expression shifted slightly.

"What are you saying exactly?"

"I'm saying…"

Tenzing said without pause.

"...That you're strong, so strong that I can't afford not to risk it all. And I will do so now."

Without waiting for a response, the monk raised his right arm. A familiar sound echoed in the air as a glowing window of the system materialized beside him, its text clear and unmistakable. Drake's eyes flicked to it, and his heart sank the moment he read the message.

The blond's smile vanished instantly.

"Shit!"

He whispered under his breath. And without thinking, he charged straight at Tenzing, wings flaring, feet breaking off the stone floor as he sprinted forward.

"No! Don't—"

But it was already too late. A wave of pure, radiant Ki erupted from Tenzing's body in all directions. The pressure hit like a solid wall, and Drake was thrown back, his arms rising instinctively to shield his face. His boots skidded against the plaza floor, carving long trails in the marble as he fought to stay upright.

The shockwave spread across the battlefield. The Phoenix above flinched mid-flight. The massive vermilion dragon coiled in mid-air as if struck by an invisible force. The basilisk lowered its head, pressing closer to the ground. Even the Obsidian Monkey stopped mid-motion, ears twitching as the pulse of energy passed through him.

Tenzing stood at the center of it all. The bruises and cuts that had marked his body moments earlier were gone. His posture had changed—his shoulders were square, his steps heavier, his presence even more suffocating than before. Every step he took forward cracked the ground beneath him.

Drake's eyes stayed fixed on the monk. His pulse quickened. He recognized this transformation, or rather, what it implied. Tenzing took a deep breath, his voice serene and unwavering as he spoke a single phrase.

"Throughout heaven and earth, I alone am the honored one."

He brought one hand forward, fingers joined in a prayer-like gesture, and whispered with absolute clarity.

"[Artificial Budahood]"

Drake felt it instantly. The air bent unnaturally. The divine energy in the area no longer felt neutral—it had turned against him. The surroundings themselves became hostile in a way that defied logic, not through attack or motion, but through a spiritual inversion that made his very presence feel unwelcome.

It was as if the world had decided that he did not belong. He adjusted his posture immediately, but the sense of impending crisis didn't fade. He didn't need a system message to understand what he was now facing. He knew what this meant. His mind raced for options, calculations, counters, anything.

In the back of his thoughts, his awareness touched the edge of one last resort. The Plot Device he had kept in reserve, [Humans Are the Real Monsters]. He knew what its effect was, but he had hoped he would never use it. The result seemed powerful, maybe even enough to turn the tide of any battle. But the cost... it wasn't something he could take lightly.

He clenched his fists, feeling the Divine Ki burning inside him, unsure if it would be enough. He took one breath, steady but sharp. His heart beat faster now. His instincts screamed for action, but his mind demanded restraint, forcing him to stay calm. The sensation of fear crawling up his spine didn't go away, but he had made his decision… He still had more to give before crossing that line.