Chapter 63: [A DISTRACTION]

’I have a bad feeling about this.’

Eli’s chest tightened as Caelen’s smirk lingered, golden cracks pulsing faintly across his battered skin like veins of molten fire.

His Danger Detection didn’t flare—but instinct clawed at him anyway, screaming danger. Not from the priest. Not from the dungeon.

From Caelen.

From the way those golden eyes cut into him, sharp and assured, almost smug. It wasn’t a threat in the literal sense—it was personal. The kind of gut-deep knowing that told him someone was about to drag him into a plan that would make him regret breathing.

Caelen finally spoke, voice low and gravel-thick, but with that dangerous lilt of playfulness.

“The only way I’ll get a clean opening to squash this ’roach’…” He tilted his head, never breaking eye contact. “…is bait. A distraction.”

Eli’s stomach dropped as that gaze anchored on him.

’My bad feelings were correct.’

“You keep its attention—make it swing for you. While it’s locked on, I’ll go for the rosary arm. One hand at a time.”

Eli’s throat closed. “…You’re saying I should—” His voice cracked before he forced it steady. “…be bait?”

Caelen’s smirk curved sharper, teeth flashing faintly through the dust and glow. “You’re the only one who can. You’ve got Danger Detection. Even if you’re slower, weaker—you’ll know the instant it moves. That’s all you need to keep breathing.”

Eli’s jaw clenched. Every part of him rebelled at the thought, screaming to reject it, to refuse being dangled in front of that monster like raw meat.

But deep down—he knew Caelen was right.

If they both charged in, they’d be flattened. Someone had to anchor the fight. And his instincts were the only lifeline sharp enough to make sure the bait survived.

Besides… the priest was already fixated on him.

’Damn it. He’s right. But why does he have to look so fucking cocky about it?!’

He exhaled, rough and shaking, but forced his tone steady. “…Fine. But then we split. I’ll pull its focus—while you circle opposite me. If we’re not divided, we’ll both get crushed.”

“Fair,” Caelen agreed easily, like he’d already known Eli would cave. His molten gaze swept over him, deliberate, slow—an appraisal that made Eli’s skin prickle. Then his lips quirked. “Though honestly, you don’t look that unfit.”

Eli blinked, thrown. “…Excuse me?”

Caelen’s voice dipped lower, curling through the dust-heavy air, the golden glow making his smirk look devilish. “Your body looks fine. Expected, though—you’re a beauty vlogger. Still…” He leaned closer, words heavy enough to make Eli’s chest lock tight. “…not a single scratch is touching that pretty face of yours.”

’This…’

Eli’s face burned hot, throat dry, chest stuttering in ways he despised. ’This isn’t even my real face…’

But his hand twitched against his side, betraying him. Because it was his face now—and Caelen’s words landed deeper than he wanted them to.

He turned sharply, burying the heat under iron. “Forget it. We need to move. We’ve been in here too long. If this is a core chamber, the dungeon could collapse… or worse, explode.”

The memory burned bitter in his chest. He knew what dungeon explosions felt like. And he wasn’t surviving another.

Caelen hummed low, molten cracks flaring brighter as he rolled his shoulders, tension radiating like a coiled predator. “Then let’s not waste more time.” His tone softened just a fraction, though the smirk never left. “Good luck, sweetheart.”

Eli’s eyes narrowed. He could hear the tease dripping off the word.

“Good luck to you, too. It all relies on you, after all. So…” his voice broke before sharpening like glass, “…don’t die.”

That gave Caelen pause. Just slightly. His brows lifted, faint amusement flickering in the golden glow. Then he huffed a short laugh, shaking his head.

“Hah. If my biggest fan’s watching, of course I won’t die.”

Eli’s face twitched violently, caught between rage and embarrassment. “I am not—”

But Caelen was already striding away, boots grinding against fractured stone. The glow in his cracks burned hotter with every step, molten fire bleeding across his frame as his body coiled for violence.

Eli swallowed hard, throat dry.

Then he forced himself to look up.

The priest towered above, molten eyes locked on him like judgment itself. Its rosary swayed in slow, heavy arcs, each swing like a pendulum counting down their lives.

Eli’s chest expanded once, twice. His lungs felt like stone.

’Alright, you bastard. Give me everything you’ve got.’

Eli’s jaw locked, breath burning his throat. His hands trembled despite himself, fingers curling uselessly at his sides. His heart thundered like a war drum, each beat crashing against his ribs.

Because no matter what name he gave it—roach, priest, monster—once he called it forward, it would try to crush him. And this time, Caelen was counting on him to survive.

’Not like I want to die anyway… but still…’

Across the fractured chamber, Caelen shifted into position, golden cracks blazing hotter, sword raised. The glow pouring from him painted the rubble in molten streaks, his silhouette sharp, predatory.

Their eyes lifted together, both locking onto the towering figure.

The priest smiled. Wide. Unblinking. Its molten gaze ignored Caelen completely, burning straight into Eli’s chest like judgment itself.

Caelen’s voice cut low, steady, loud enough to anchor them both. “On the count of three.”

Eli’s throat constricted, but he nodded, eyes refusing to flinch away.

“One…” Caelen said, his molten sword tilting forward, energy thrumming in the air.

The priest’s grin stretched further, like it knew. Like it could taste Eli’s pulse hammering in his veins.

“Two…”

Eli’s lungs locked. His instincts prickled, warning building in his skull.

’I really hope this works…’

“Three!”

Caelen exploded into motion, boots detonating against the fractured stone. At the exact same heartbeat, Eli’s Danger Detection screamed—two flares at once, one sharp spike aimed at him, the other arcing straight for Caelen.

The priest moved.

Its colossal arm swung downward with a force that split the air, beads of its massive rosary clattering like thunder. Its other hand shot forward, palm aimed to crush Eli flat.

The ground shook. The walls trembled. Dust screamed through the chamber.

Eli’s breath caught—then he roared through it.

“Caelen—RIGHT! NOW!”

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