• Rivendell City
• Eastern Fraction
Caspian expresses his discontent with the unfortunate demise of Gazel. Despite his remarkable regenerative ability, he was unable to withstand the effects of such a massive purification and disintegration. However, his focus now lies in defeating Ophelia.
While some may speculate that he refrained from participating in the battle to provide Ophelia with a fair one-on-one fight, his primary motive was to ensure that she was exhausted before engaging in combat. With her weakened state, he was confident that he would emerge victorious without much difficulty.
"Prepare to die.." he assumed a battle stance.
It was Ophelia who took the initiative and charged forward, meeting her opponent's weapon with great force.
The speed of their weapons as they clashed was beyond the ability of the naked eye to monitor. Only a flurry of sparks was visible as their blades whooshed through the air, striking and intercepting at different intervals.
The harmony between their hand movements and their weapons made each strike more devastating, requiring considerable physical strength to parry.
With a deft deflection of his lance, Caspian lost his balance, providing Ophelia with an opportunity to capitalize on his opening.
She swiftly dashed forward with the intention of slashing his abdomen, but he was nimble enough to quickly retreat as she charged towards him. As soon as he gained some distance between them, he charged forward again and poised his lance for her chest.
However, she was quick enough to deflect his weapon once more and delivered a swift kick straight to his breadbasket.
'How is she still so strong... even after Gazel exhausted her..'
He watched Ophelia monstrously pant. Her laborious inhalation and exhalation was proof of her exhaustion, at this point she was merely running on will power.
...
• Bluemond Plainfields
The confrontation between Azagoth and Greerheart continued still.
"It is quite audacious of you to assert that you are the epitome of greatness. However, I must say that you are undoubtedly the most proud warrior I have ever encountered." Azagoth pointed directly at Greerheart, gazing into his eyes.
Despite Azagoth's boisterous laughter, Greerheart remained unfazed, standing tall with his battle axe resting on his shoulder. Greerheart's countenance was cold and emotionless as he silently observed Azagoth.
Suddenly, in a matter of microseconds, Greerheart's battle axe moved with lightning speed, decapitating Azagoth before anyone could react.
'That easy?!' Vania wore a face of shock groomed by fear.
Before now it took a significant amount of effort to cause physical damage to Azagoth. He was the highest quality of Necromantic summon empowered by five soul energies and yet he wasn't enough to match the swinging power of Greerheart.
"Unfortunately, it's not over... one strike doesn't cut it Greerheart.." Vania chuckled menacingly.
Azagoth was able to regenerate after his head fused back with his body. "Your strength is unlike any I've seen before, perhaps even above the greatest adversary I've ever faced," he said.
These particular words made Greerheart sigh, as he was beyond disappointed. "So, you are telling me that a small fraction of my strength rivals your greatest adversary? What a shame, you really are weak," he uttered while tightly gripping Gharindal. Greerheart's face remained nonchalant, as if he was barely putting any effort.
"I feel insulted that you still have the galls to speak to me... You're a weakling, a smudge on your race's name. You could not even survive the weak swing of my glorious battle axe," Greerheart exuded a smile right after.
He went on to say, "The effort required to keep you alive will indeed be greater than the one required to kill you.."
Insulting a warrior's pride is a grievous offense, and for Azagoth, it is a matter of utmost importance. Despite this, Greerheart continued to make derogatory statements and even spat on Azagoth's title.
This has caused great aggravation for Azagoth, who had never felt so disrespected before. However, Azagoth remained confident in his abilities and assured Greerheart that he would come to regret his words.
The earth began to rumble as Azagoth readied his halberd to punish Greerheart for his insolence.
"Marvelous, Azagoth. I hereby grant you an abundance of souls!" Vania empowered him by infusing him with an even greater number of souls. Merely five souls had already granted Azagoth strength beyond his wildest imagination, enough to vanquish an army of knights and even Lync's party.
With a hundred souls, he would possess physical strength sufficient to decimate the entire city. As it stands, he has already become a Destruction-class warrior to some extent.
His power has soared to unimaginable heights, surpassing the comprehension of anyone.
'What is this force?!' Beltin and Yugta tried to comprehend the intense pressure that Azagoth gave off. It was intimidating.
The spell in question is a rather intricate one, designed to achieve a straightforward objective. It endows the necromantic summon with unparalleled physical strength, pushing it to its very limits.
Known as [Soul Enhancement], this spell was initially reserved by its creator for a hypothetical confrontation with a Grand Sorcerer. However, Vania's intuition urged her to take action against Greerheart without delay.
Azagoth's stature loomed over Greerheart, casting a shadow upon him. He had taken on the size of a Goliath, causing Greerheart to look up in order to meet his gaze.
While Azagoth looked down upon him with a condescending air, emphasizing his height, Greerheart gazed at him with eyes as lifeless as the night. His aura was devoid of warmth and emotion, and he displayed no expression.
"Vania step back! I'm going to use it!"
She heeded Azagothʼs words and stepped back.
He took a step back and firmly gripped his halberd, preparing himself. With a single, forceful swing of his weapon, he managed to devastate a vast portion of the surrounding landscape, sending shockwaves powerful enough to cleave nearby hills.
The attack tore the ground apart and caused a wide crack to form, stretching from his position to Glinforst City.
If this attack had been unleashed within the City, it would have resulted in its complete destruction.
There was no one within a ten meter radius that would still stand or exist after an attack like that. The shockwave was enough to reduce the flesh of man into ground meat.
Hence, his reason for urging Vania to step back.
Surely, Greerheart would not survive that.
Vania's lips curled into a smile as the dust settled around her. Her reason for such a reaction was quite apparent. 'Following Azagoth's decimation of the entire Bantiley army, he dedicated himself to perfecting his halberd skills. Through a combination of proper stance, focused strength, and a devastating swing, he honed his abilities. For months, he tirelessly practiced this technique, knowing that one day he would face the ultimate adversary. An attack capable of unleashing force that could obliterate entire armies in a single stroke - the infamous [Mountain Crusher].'
His preparation was nothing short of prophetic, and his execution was flawless.
After the dust had settled, a clear view emerged. Azagoth and Greerheart were both found in a ten-foot deep crater, which was caused by the former's attack.
However, Greerheart could only let out a sigh, one that conveyed his complete and utter disappointment. His index finger was visible against the halberd, indicating that he had used it to block the weapon.
The [Dragon Fighting Aura] also played a significant role in fortifying him to withstand such an attack. He did so with such ease that neither Azagoth nor Vania could catch their breath in the face of such power.
"Not even a scratch?!" an attack Azagoth had perfected throughout most of his life.
"Look, it's not that you're weak... I'm just dimensions above you." said the War Dragon; Greerheart.
"H-How is that even possible?!" Azagoth quaked in his boots.
"It's my glorious Unique Skill [Him] which makes me impervious to all physical attacks dealt to me by nuances like you.." although it can only be used twice a day. So he made sure to use it only at the right moment.
Vania knew the worth of a Unique Skill, it was hard to find a person who possessed it and yet Greerheart had two. [War World] and [Him] which both matched his archetype of being the battle hungry warrior.
"It's not possible, I was empowered by a hundred souls! You should be dead!" he cried out.
Yes, Vania understood now. What they planned to do once Zaratros completes the summoning via Belitha will be an attempt to violate the natural laws of this world. So this man, this demihuman. He's been placed here by fate itself in order to thwart their ambitions.
He is the final bastion of reason.
Greerheart employed the Integral Skill [Submit], a technique that has been utilized by countless Dragons throughout the ages.
This skill is primarily used for intimidation purposes, with the aim of compelling the target to submit or, at the very least, diminishing their confidence. As a result, the target is afflicted with a debuff effect that weakens their abilities.
It is akin to the arrival of a deity or the god of destruction, who has descended upon them with the intention of ending them once and for all.
Before Greerheart could even attempt to attack Azagoth, the latter turned to stone out of unfathomable and debilitating fear.
That was the strength of one of the Five Daesins of War.
Vania couldn't comprehend what sort of monstrous strength he harnessed. From a frozen statue, Azagoth was reduced to particles without even being attacked.
"How unfortunate, I had yet to show him a taste of true power.." Greerheart uttered.