'It looks like there's still some Tio left…' Whether it be my instinct or a deliberate thing on her end, the transformed Tio never once turned to Ivan and the others to attack them.
Though her wide scale attacks were a different matter. If he had to put it in simple terms, it seemed like everyone she didn't want to attack were essentially 'invisible' in her eyes. If they got hit by a stray attack then so be it, all that was important was that it wouldn't be on purpose.
While this was a good thing for her allies, Ehit on the other hand was getting fed up.
"GRAAAHH!!"
A beam of pure lighting shot out of the dragon's mouth and pierced through Ehit's barrier of wood as if it were wet paper. It immediately clipped a piece of Ehit's wooden torso after he narrowly dodged where it had initially aimed.
Any apostles surrounding the fake god were unable to put up any resistance as their cores were immediately destroyed by the beam. Their melted bodies littered the field as any blood immediately dried up after being exposed to the air.
'The problem is… how do we stop her?'
Tio was not in control, at least that's what it seemed like to Ivan. Even if she destroyed Ehit she'd probably still be stuck in that form.
What would she do when Ehit was gone? Would she just wander the world destroying everything she came into contact with?
'It cost a lot of mana to activate but what about the upkeep? She changed the weather and casted several large scale spells quite freely… If I had to guess, either the transformation expanded her reserves or it's giving her an infinite amount…'
If it were the latter, then perhaps she couldn't stop at all.
Ivan sighed before redirecting his attention back to Ehit. For now he would have to focus on the whole reason she transformed in the first place. He held a faint hope in his heart that maybe when Ehit was dealt with the ancient dragon would dispel itself after sensing it's duty was done.
'Since it was born from the progenitor's hatred toward Ehit then perhaps Ehit's death will appease it…'
He knew that applying the rules of some movies he saw back on Earth about ghosts and spirits on a Dragon God was probably one of the most naive things to do, but other than that he couldn't come up with any other conclusion about the being he knew next to nothing about.
'I guess I should've asked Tio to spill the beans after all…'
'Wait, this is Tio we're talking about. Sure she can be a pervert and damn right depravity incarnate sometimes but at the end of the day she's a reliable member of the group. She wouldn't have gone through with the transformation without thinking it through.'
And so for probably the 9th time, Ivan put his faith in the scaly princess.
Ivan rushed right toward Ehit, ignoring the wall of apostles around him and the several beams of light Tio shot out. The best way to take down Ehit was to not allow him time to adapt, that method generally worked with about everything in the world.
Ehit could grow as many eyes as he wanted, but there's no point in having eyes on the back of your head if you couldn't get out of the way because of the opponent in front of you.
So even knowing he might get hit by one of Tio's attacks, Ivan still rushed forward. In fact he was looking forward to a situation where he'd hold Ehit in place, allowing Tio to shoot through the both of them.
It was a risky plan, and at the same time perhaps needless. But it guaranteed a greater chance of success. Even if Tio's attack was fatal to him there was always Yue to cast some Restoration Magic.
Just in case he would be too injured to cast it himself.
Ivan held one hand behind him as the god-slaying dagger appeared, With Ehit's attention drawn to the dragon he stealthily opened a portal behind him as well, throwing the dagger into it and right into Yue's hands smoothly. From there she promptly hid the dagger into her own storage ring.
If anyone was going to get the final hit on Ehit, it sure as hell wasn't going to be Ivan. Well, at least that's what Ivan believed. Compared to the suffering Tio and Yue were dealt by the bastard in front of him, the interruptions of Ehit to his life were miniscule.
Tio could avenge her family, her parents and her clan. Yue was the same, her kingdom was destroyed and her uncle was driven into a corner which led him to do horrible things. Ehit had taken away a piece of both of their lives.
If anyone deserved to get the final hit on Ehit, it was only either of them.
[Thank you, Ivan…]
Sensing Ivan's intentions, Yue softly expressed her gratitude. The significance of his gesture warmed her to the bottom of her heart, even if the act she was about to commit was not exactly a pure one.
To bond over something like murdering a god, Yue wouldn't have believed anyone if she were told such a thing over 300 years ago.
Having similar thoughts, Ivan smiled wryly.
Lightning enshrouded his body as he wound up his left fist for a back breaking punch. Wind whirled around his fist as the air itself sounded as though it was shattering.
Dodging a billow of flames, Ehit noticed the sneak attack as the apostles screamed out to him to warn him. His right arm composed of ice formed to a single point, creating a spear like formation as it met the fist in front of him.
*BAM!*
Neither side budged, both combatants refused to move an inch back as the two elements collided. If it weren't for his armor, that single ice spear would've pierced straight through his arm and up to his shoulder.
[Felis, cover me from the apostles.]
Ivan gave a quick command before grunting as the boot on his right foot transmuted to form a knife at the end of his foot. He jabbed it forward and stuck it to the wood structured pelvis of Ehit.
"...."
Ehit only stared down at it for a second before his chest opened up and shot out several vines. Inwardly he sent out a sigh of relief as his transformation pretty much negated all physical pain.
Feeling the icky vines entangle his waist Ivan made a bottle and match appear in his free hand before throwing both onto his own body. Immediately he was enveloped in flames.
The vines entangling his body burnt away in an instant as they climbed the natural bridge towards Ehit's body.
Ehit turned his arm of ice into a cleaver before promptly cutting off the vines with it to stop the flames from climbing onto him.
"Ciao!"
Ivan flipped backwards and immediately made a distance between him and Ehit.
Ehit looked confused for a second until he felt a particularly powerful mana signature rain down on him from the sky.
*BANG!!!*
Without a moment to dodge the thunderbolt hit him square on his wooden head, his body stiffened under the electric pulse as his hands moved slowly behind him. From there his fingers elongated into vines and pulled him out of the attack swiftly.
Ivan moved in once he saw Tio charging another attack.
"Whoa!"
However his momentum came to a halt when a white beam nearly disintegrated his head.
Turning around he saw that Felis was completely overwhelmed.
[Sorry Father, there's too much for me and Yue-sensei to deal with! We're gonna need backup!]
Even with Yue's proficiency in magic and her general strength, for every apostle they killed two more took their place. The apostles were a never ending force, if they couldn't win with strength then they were confident in their numbers.
Ivan grit his teeth before making another call.
[Ari, get Shea over here. Have her delegate leadership to Cam. The situation right now is dire. Report the same to Miledi as well. Knowing her she'd be eager to leave her duty to one of her golems just to get a crack at Ehit.]
Having two powerful combatants leave the battlefield left other members at risk for their lives. But for now Ivan hoped they could last without their leaders for just a few minutes.
It was either that or letting them get overwhelmed by apostles anyways. The quicker they took out Ehit the faster the madness would end.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you want to support me please follow this link! There are a couple of new links added~: https://linktr.ee/ardoaleister
Now this is an Avengers level threat. The weekend is approaching, though I don't intend to rest. During that time I should be able to wrap up the story, I'll even do two chapters on both Saturday and Sunday to make sure.
In any case, thanks for reading. Once more I am pressed for time so I must keep this brief. Have a great evening, see you guys next time!
If you want to support me and read ahead 10-15 chapters, you can check out my p.a.t.r.e.o.n right here: https://bit.ly/ardoaleister
Discord: https://discord.gg/tQ5TWbYd9t