Chapter 37 :Blood and Shadows part 2##
"These tricks are nothing to me," the angel declared, his voice reverberating with power.
Arthur's mind raced. He needed a new strategy. "Baal, what can we do? He's tearing through everything we throw at him."
Baal's response was calm but firm. "We need to outsmart him, use his arrogance against him. Focus on survival and look for an opening."
Arthur nodded, reassessing the battlefield. He noticed the angel's movements were precise but predictable, relying on sheer power rather than cunning. This could be his chance.
As the angel prepared another attack, Arthur feigned a retreat, luring him towards the altar. "Come on, you overgrown bird. Let's see how divine you really are."
The angel, incensed by Arthur's taunt, followed, unleashing a wave of energy that carved a path through the ruins. Arthur dodged, leading the angel closer to the altar.
"Now!" Baal urged. "Create a barrier, channel everything into it."
Arthur focused his energy, drawing upon the power of the altar. Dark runes glowed on the ancient stone as a barrier of necromantic energy formed between him and the angel. The barrier crackled with dark magic, pulsating with the combined power of Arthur's mana and the altar's ancient energy.
The angel crashed into the barrier, the impact sending ripples of energy through the air. For a moment, it held, but the angel's power was immense, and cracks began to form.
"You think this will stop me?" the angel roared, his voice shaking the ruins.
Arthur knew he couldn't hold the barrier forever. He needed to think fast. "Baal, I need more power!"
"Draw from the dead ogres," Baal advised. "Use their lingering energy."
Arthur extended his senses, feeling the residual energy from the fallen ogres. He siphoned their life force, channeling it into the barrier. The cracks in the barrier began to mend, the dark energy growing stronger.
The angel, momentarily surprised by the surge in power, hesitated. Arthur seized the opportunity, launching a concentrated blast of necromantic energy through the barrier. The blast struck the angel, pushing him back and buying Arthur precious seconds.
The angel recovered quickly, his eyes blazing with fury. "Enough of these games, mortal. You will fall before me."
With a sweeping motion, the angel conjured a storm of divine blades, each one shimmering with lethal energy. They flew towards Arthur, cutting through the air with deadly precision.
Arthur ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the blades. One grazed his arm, leaving a searing burn. He winced but kept moving, using the ruins for cover. He needed to turn the tide.
"Arthur, remember your training," Baal's voice was a steadying presence. "Adapt. Improvise."
Arthur's mind raced, recalling the lessons he had learned. He focused on the environment, searching for anything he could use. His eyes fell on a cluster of old, unstable pillars.
"Baal, those pillars--if I can bring them down--"
"Do it," Baal urged. "But be quick about it."
Arthur sprinted towards the pillars, the angel's blades chasing after him. He reached the base and channeled his chi, delivering a powerful strike to the foundation. The pillars groaned and began to topple, creating a cascade of stone and debris.
The angel was momentarily distracted by the falling pillars, giving Arthur a chance to strike. He summoned all his strength, focusing his necromantic energy into a single, devastating blast aimed at the angel's chest.
The blast hit its mark, sending the angel crashing into the ground. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the battlefield. Arthur's heart pounded in his chest as he waited for the dust to settle.
When it did, he saw the angel struggling to rise, his divine armor cracked and glowing with residual energy. "You… dare…"
Arthur didn't give him a chance to finish. He lunged forward, using his chi-enhanced speed to close the distance. He struck the angel with a flurry of blows, each one infused with necromantic energy.
The angel roared in pain and fury, retaliating with a burst of divine light that knocked Arthur back. Arthur hit the ground hard, pain shooting through his body. He struggled to his feet, refusing to stay down.
The angel, battered but not defeated, advanced on Arthur. "You are a pest, mortal. An insignificant insect."
Arthur's vision blurred, but he held his ground. "And you're just another obstacle."
The angel raised his hand, gathering energy for a final, devastating blow. Arthur's mind raced, searching for a way out. His eyes fell on the altar, its runes still glowing with energy.
"Baal, the altar--it's our only chance."
"Do it," Baal urged, his voice intense. "Channel everything you have."
Arthur reached out with his remaining strength, drawing the altar's energy into himself. The dark runes flared brightly as the energy surged through him, revitalizing his power.
The angel hesitated, sensing the shift. "What are you doing?"
Arthur didn't answer. Instead, he unleashed the combined power of his necromancy and the altar's ancient energy, directing it all towards the angel. The blast was immense, a torrent of dark and divine energy that engulfed the angel.
The angel screamed, the sound resonating with a mix of rage and agony. The torrent of energy overwhelmed him, pushing him to his knees. Arthur could feel the strain on his body, the immense power threatening to tear him apart, but he held on, driven by sheer will.
"You will not win," the angel snarled, fighting against the onslaught.
Arthur grit his teeth, pouring every ounce of his strength into the attack. "I will. For everyone you've hurt."
The ground beneath them trembled as the energies clashed, the air crackling with intensity. The ruins around them began to crumble, unable to withstand the sheer force of their battle.
Baal's voice cut through the chaos. "Arthur, focus! You can do this!"
Arthur's vision blurred, but he could see the angel weakening, his form flickering as the energy consumed him. With a final, desperate push, Arthur unleashed a concentrated beam of dark energy, striking the angel directly in the chest.
The angel's eyes widened in shock as the beam pierced through him, shattering his divine armor and breaking his hold on Orin's body. The divine aura dissipated, and Orin collapsed to the ground, unconsciou.