When Rin was firing at the boss meanwhile Alex had reached near the altar some steps more and the artefact would be in his hands.
He ignored the relentless sound of fire, aware that it represented the octopus getting is banged by Rin.
"Just a little more; I need to throw this orb out of the field away from that beast. After that, his healing would be blocked, and all things would end once and for all."
"That's it." Alex leaped in excitement, landing near the altar, moving his hand and grabbing the artifact.
The rough texture from the sphere he was anticipating wasn't there; instead, this object had a palpable but strong structure composition. Just a little force was enough to compress it slightly.
Curious with the thing in his hand, Alex observed it closely, briefly forgetting his role. After all, this is the first time he will feel any artifact on his grip.
This artifact has a large yellow dot at the center, while the rest of the surface was white. It gave a feeling of an eyeball; that yellow dot expelled blue particles from within.
Boom! The sudden explosive sound resonated behind him, reminding Alex of his initial goal. He quickly regained his focus and, without a second thought, started sprinting toward Steve.
—Bang! Bang! Two more gunshots resonated, and with that, a pyramidal dome started to construct around them, transforming into a room. The ever-closing walls of the dome gave a feeling of confinement, as if it had become a prison shell.
Seeing this construction, Alex panicked, aware that if he didn't detach the octopus and artifact, there would be no end to its regeneration and healing. After all, that was the only reason the boss was able to survive Rin's relentless assault.
"Catch." He threw the artifact toward Steve, pushing the rest of the weight on Steve's shoulder. Now it was Steve's duty to run as far as he could and throw the artifact out of the dome. So, he grabbed the sphere and started racing outside the field.
After throwing the responsibility, Alex was about to turn around to witness what had happened to the boss. Was Rin successful in her assassination? Did she chronically injure the boss?
But suddenly, a voice echoed, warning him about an incoming threat.
"Dodge left." He quickly sidestepped a fist, coming past the place he was standing.
Another explosive sound resonated as the force behind the boss's punch landed on the altar. The impact shattered the altar into millions of pieces, each reflecting light like a prism.
Particles like fragments of broken glass floated everywhere, covering each direction. The boss's fist was embedded in the ground, making a small hole beneath. From that opening, a sudden surge initiated, resembling a pressurized water beam, that threw the boss off guard, sending him to his initially sleeping place.
—Thud!
A pressure descended on Alex's existence, commanding him to kneel, to show his respect. It was as if someone had put a large palm at his back and pushes pulling him to the ground, but instead of kneeling,Alex desperately attempted to stand still.
This originated from the boss's body.
Alex turned around, witnessing the injured boss whose two eyes were wounded, desperately attempting to stand up but failing in the process. He struggled to gain equilibrium amidst the chaos, his chest bleeding crazily like the origin of a river, pushing blue blood out from it like a trail of water.
The boss tried to make sense of the situation. He found two of his arms detached from the body, lying on the ground beside him, while the remaining two helped in balancing.
Alex analyzed his situation. First of all, three of them are caged in a pyramidal structure. The only source of light here was the artifact in Steve's hand, who relentlessly pounded the wall, trying to escape or throw the sphere out of the field, away from the beast trapped with them.
While the wounded adversary in front of him stood up, there was an even more mysterious voice with him that has warn him about the sudden attack.
He activated his seer eyes that allowed him to see hidden things—ghosts and spirits included—and indeed, there beside him, a phantom of a familiar evil spirit hovered around. It was none other than the spirit who was banging on his door.
Without turning toward her, Alex addressed it, saying, "So I assume you are on our team?"
The evil spirit nodded. "Yes."
"I am not fond of believing in strangers. So I will only follow your Advice if I find it appropriate."
There was no need to discuss any further. A silent deal has been established between both of them. The evil spirit will help Alex in dodging, as she previously did, while his entire focus would be dealing with the boss and blocking his advancement toward Steve until he finds a way to break the wall.
Talking about Steve, he was banging on the wall with such force; his fist has started bleeding. He turned back time to time, seeing Alex and the boss.
"Just hang in there. It's almost done. Hang in there. It's almost done." He muttered under his breath, addressing Alex and himself.
Alex started walking toward the boss, who was critically injured.
A single punch from him can deal with it and even kill, but that has to be powered by spirituality. In short, if Alex could use Dev technique and injure this Octopus, there is a 100% chance of a success, but it has to be a direct hit.
That is easier said than done. Alex knows how difficult it is.
He ran toward the boss before he could heal himself.
It's worth a try, isn't it?
Enveloping his hand in spirituality, he leaped toward the boss.
—Left!
Evading the boss's strike, Alex ducked down and sidestepped.
If even a single strike landed on Alex, that would be a chronic wound for him, a life-threatening condition.
That's the same for the Octopus in front of him.
The stakes are the same for both of them.
If Alex's fist, embedded with technique, lands on the boss, that would be his win. If the boss lands a single strike, that would be his victory.
Alex swung his fist, strengthened by spirituality.
—Boom!
It successfully landed on the boss.