"This is the best! They are certainly capable but let's see how they do against Krull"
Krull was a Beast similar to a mutated tapeworm that resided in the upper levels of the palace and it was protected by different elemental magics that were generated by 4 different magic arrays that needed to be shut down in order for its opponent to do any damage.
The worm had never been bested on a 1 v1 battle and this included some of the best experimental beast Nefarious had to offer and that was really terrifying. The worm itself had achieved amazing strength through years of electromagnetic radiation that allowed it to overcome the bloodline restrictions and stand at an impressive level 52.
The mutations made the worm a new species that only existed in the barren palace and was known as Jormungand.
It took the team a few days and many long fights in order to decipher the order of the many runes that created a doorway and when they finally made it a cross, they were in an arena that looked a lot like an enormous cave, there were many spikes made out of crystal on the ceilings and the whole place felt really enclosed even thought the floor was platform like and very smooth. Right in the middle of the place, there was a giant creature that show 5 rows of teeth that were able to spin in a circle some clockwise and others counter-clockwise gave it a very terrifying looked.
Krull was the main guardian to the inner sanctum of the palace and at the same time its strongest defense. The calculations about the remaining amount of energy regarding the magic circle done by the Earth Dragon indicated that it could be achieved during one super intense fight and the best way to gather that energy was through her guardian pet.
The only problem that she could think of was, that if they managed to defeat the worm then nothing would prevent Bato and the others from reaching her resting place.
Bato and the others looked across the platform they were standing and saw that the head of said creature was actually at the same height of about 30 meters from the ground. There was a faint metallic smell coming from its breath and it was a testament to the nature of the beast.
Krull just stood there like it was looking at the team but the truth was that it couldn't see. The Jormungand actually used the vibrations produced by other creatures in order to determine their locations but it was also thought that the challenge didn't start until the opponent's feet touched the ground.
"This is it. I can feel his desired to battle. Let's give it a proper burial" said vulcan while jumping from the platform they were standing on and into the arena.
The cave like place was pretty dark but the moment Vulcan touched the ground and grabbed the sword of the conqueror, crystals around the ceilings glowed illuminating the stage.
Thump... thump... thump… Screech!!!
Krull hit the ground with his tail in a rhythm while a screech left his mouth as a sign of joy.
ROAR!!
Vulcan roar thinking it was a ritual but unfortunately it wasn't, the vibrations generated by the tail acted as a switch that activated the magic arrays located underneath the fighting grounds.
Four different spells appeared around Krull one by one, Magic Absorption, Physical Damage Absorption, Mental protection Barrier, and finally what looked like a supply of Magical Energy.
CRYSTAL BARRAGE
The rows of teeth spun in a circle and a barrage of bullets made out of crystals was regurgitated by the worm in a cone where Vulcan, Bato and Niu were standing.
Thud … thud … thud
The crystals buried themselves deep into the ground while the team countered-attacked their opponent with some of their weaker attacks to test the waters.
PULVERIZING WAVE
WHIRLWIND DRAGON PUNCH
WIND BLADE
The worm didn't even flinch as all the spells landed on the barriers and were absorbed, instead it increased its energy output and it activated yet another spell, Crystal Animation. The crystals that previously hit the ground changed their shape and became crystal replicas of krull.
Crystal barrage.
Vulcan jumped to the side to evade the incoming crystal projectiles and was immediately attacked by many worms that ram into his defensive aura without care for their well being.
"AHHHH!! SO ANNOYING!! INNER RELEASE. '' A giant sphere of destructive energy expanded from vulcan's body and crush the crystal worms into dust.
Xiao Niu took this time to encase himself in energy and as steam came out of his nostrils he started his stampede.
Thump thump thump
The earth shook causing the little worms to lose balance while he ram with massive force into the Jormungand that was infuriated when he felt his authority over the earth element being overpower.
SCREECH
Krull started moving forward to meet the incoming opponent.
Boom!!
Xiao Niu felt like he had hit a metal wall and although he felt that he managed to put a dent in it, there was no indication of even making a scratch on the body of the worm.
The feeling of indentation that Xiao felt was actually both the magic barrier and the physical damage barrier caving in but that was the extent of it. A grinding noise was heard by everybody in the room as the rows of teeth spun rapidly and move towards the perplex Xiao Niu.
Earth wall
Grind
The earth wall was crushed and then the standing Xiao Niu was swallowed and grinded by the teeth of the giant worm; however, it was just a light mirage that distorted the moment it was pierced through.
It was a trump card from the light element that Xiao Niu never used before called beaming which transformed the user into a beam of light moving him a small distance away and in his place all that was left was a Mirage.
Xiao frown at having to use a defensive trump card but the most concerning part came next.
Rising Sun Kick
Bato used the moment when the Jormungand would be at its most vulnerable to try and hurt it, but it was all in bane. Massive amount of flame covered bato's kick while he flew into the air and connected to the side of the worm's head but despite looking impressive it only manage to consume 2 barriers once again.
"Sigh… we got to do something about those barriers or we won't be able to even leave a scratch on it"
"Let me show you how is done," said vulcan.
Bloodlust
Boundless Rage
The muscles around Vulcan's arms bulge as the barbarian king's strength increased dramatically and the floor underneath him crack while he prepared one of his strongest moves.
AHHHHH! LETHAL STRIKE
Vulcan swung the 2h sword in his hands upwards and the floor crack in a zigzag faction, the air distorted as a crushing force rush toward the creature that activated his defensive ability harden.
It was the first time krull had to protect himself with another defensive ability attesting to the amazing power of the attack coming his way. The barriers held for a couple of seconds before getting consume but so was the attack that diminished in strength before hitting the harden metal that was the worm's body.
The worm was sent backwards for the first time in a while and a piece of his concentric rings that made up its body was chipped away.
"That is how is done"
Even though the damage was minimal, it was impressive nonetheless. So far nothing had even left a scratch on their opponent but the best thing of all was that it allowed them to get a glimpse at the mechanism behind the amazing defense of the beast.
In order to recover the barriers out of each corner in the room massive amounts of magic particles rush towards the creature rapidly regenerating the barriers and providing the mana required to regenerate the wound Vulcan inflicted on him.
"Can you damage it again?" asked Bato.
"Sure, but it really requires a lot of energy and if we don't manage to destroy those barriers it will be all for nothing"
"No problem. I got and idea, just do it one more time"
Vulcan grab his 2h sword one more time but before he even got to attack, the massive worm burrowed itself underground and started moving around the room generating dust and provoking earthquakes that interrupted ground movement.
Despite being underground, it was not difficult to spot the path taken by the creature as the earth bulge on the surface.
Whoosh!
Vulcan tried to stay away from the direct path of the worm that from time to time jumped out of the ground and attacked trying to grind him. This new mode of fighting made it extremely difficult to land a strong attack on the target but it at least provided enough time for Bato to investigate the corners of the room.