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The battlefield was a cacophony of clashing steel, roaring magic, and deafening war cries as the Cheery Black surged forward. Tobe, Miri, Yuka, Jun, Max, and Elma carved their way through the onslaught of demons. Every step toward Demon Lord Crockus felt like wading through a sea of chaos, but their resolve was unshakable. Each swing of their weapons, every spell cast, was a testament to their determination.
In the skies above, the Vast Star had already engaged. Umi, her gaze steady and unerring, activated Accuracy Advancement. From her vantage point, she nocked an arrow that glowed with a faint, golden light. She took a deep breath, aimed, and released. The arrow streaked through the air with precision, striking Demon Lord Crockus directly in the head. The battlefield seemed to pause as the arrow pierced through his skull.
A cheer erupted from the Riscone Kingdom's forces. Even Julius allowed a momentary smile, his wand glowing faintly in preparation for the next spell. "Did we...?" Umi whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief and cautious hope.
But then it happened.
Crockus' body convulsed, and with a sickening crunch, the wound in his head closed. His eyes snapped open, now blazing with an unsettling, multicolored light. He raised his arm, gathering an immense, swirling energy of every imaginable element. A kaleidoscope of destruction coalesced at his palm. The air grew heavy with mana, and a primal fear gripped everyone on the battlefield.
"GET DOOOOOOWN!" Julius' voice boomed as he hastily conjured layers of thick, wide mana barriers using his glowing magic circles. The barriers shimmered like glass, reinforced with every ounce of his mana. The beam—an explosive, radiant blast of multi-elemental energy—hurtled toward them. It collided with Julius' barriers, shattering each layer with a thunderous crack. Even after exhausting his mana reserves, the beam broke through, striking the ground and sending a devastating shockwave across the battlefield.
Julius staggered back, blood dripping from his mouth as he collapsed to one knee. "His power... it's unreal," he muttered, clutching his chest.
From above, Lala roared as she leaped into the air, her spear poised for a mach-speed thrust aimed directly at Crockus' heart. The strike was precise, her momentum unstoppable—or so it seemed. With an almost casual motion, Crockus raised his left hand and caught the spear between two fingers. The sheer force of the thrust sent shockwaves through the air, but Crockus' grip remained firm.
With his right hand, he delivered a colorful, multi-elemental slap to Lala's side. The impact sent her careening through the air, slamming into the mountainside with such force that the ground trembled. Dust and debris erupted, obscuring her limp form.
The Cheery Black and the Vast Star watched in stunned silence, their shock giving way to rage. "LALA!" Chisa screamed, her fury igniting like wildfire. She surged forward with a gust of wind, her katana glowing as she unleashed a storm of close-ranged strikes and slicing wind slashes. But Crockus was unrelenting. With practiced ease, he deflected, parried, and dodged every attack, his movements fluid and precise.
Toma seized the opportunity, sprinting along the mountain walls before launching himself into the fray. With his blade gleaming, he activated one of his weapon skills: Killing Double Slash. The twin arcs of shadow energy streaked toward Crockus, but the Demon Lord caught Chisa's katana mid-strike, spun her like a ragdoll, and hurled her into Toma. The two collided midair, their momentum sending them crashing into the rocky wall.
Below the looming chaos, arrows and spells from Riscone Kingdom's adventurers shot upwards upon Crockus. He barely flinched. With a growl of annoyance, he raised his arm, summoning countless spherical golem-like constructs formed from various elements. They launched into the air and rained elemental beams and projectiles upon both armies, tearing through soldiers on both sides indiscriminately. Screams filled the battlefield as the casualties mounted.
A streak of silver light cut through the chaos as a scythe slash projectile struck Crockus' side, drawing his attention. High above, Naoto stood atop a massive bone pillar, his scythe poised for another strike. "Over here, you multicolored stony freak!" he shouted, his voice dripping with defiance. He channeled his energy into a combined beam of Bone and Light, sending it hurtling toward Crockus. The Demon Lord smirked and retaliated with a massive, swirling beam of multi-elemental energy. The two beams collided, their impact shaking the very air around them.
Naoto gritted his teeth as he poured everything into his attack, but Crockus' overwhelming power pushed through. Realizing he couldn't overpower the Demon Lord, Naoto conjured multiple layers of dense Light Shields in a desperate attempt to block the oncoming beam. Each shield shattered in succession, the final blast sending Naoto flying off his bone pillar, tumbling into the rubble below.
"Naoto!" Tobe shouted, his voice filled with urgency. The Cheery Black regrouped, their faces etched with a mix of determination and fear. Even Julius, now barely able to stand, managed to steady himself.
"He's stronger than anything we've ever faced," Miri said, her voice firm despite the gravity of the situation. Her shield and sword gleamed as she prepared to charge.
"Yeah, and we're going to stop him," Tobe added, his hands crackling with mana. He glanced at his team, their resolve unshaken despite the overwhelming odds. "We've got one chance. Let's make it count."
The Cheery Black, battered but unbroken, braced themselves for the fight of their lives as Demon Lord Crockus loomed before them, a living embodiment of destruction.
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The ground trembled as Tobe, Miri, Yuka, Jun, Max, and Elma stood in the presence of Demon Lord Crockus. His overwhelming power pressed down on them like an invisible weight. Beads of sweat rolled down their faces, but their resolve remained unbroken.
"Stay sharp," Miri commanded, her voice steady despite the pressure. "We've come this far. There's no turning back now."
With a nod, Tobe crouched slightly, his muscles tensing as he activated High Jump, launching himself high into the air. For a moment, the battlefield seemed to freeze. Even Crockus raised an eyebrow, his crimson eyes following Tobe's ascent.
Crockus was slightly intrigued.
But Tobe wasn't done yet. Midair, he extended his hand, conjuring Mana String, which from Demon Lord Crockus' mana pool solidified into string, pulling Tobe directly toward the Demon Lord. The sudden maneuver caught Crockus off guard, giving Tobe just enough time to prepare a devastating Controlled Explosion Impact. The blast collided with Crockus' chest, sending the towering Demon Lord skidding backward.
"Impressive..." Crockus said, rubbing the scorched spot on his chest as he caught himself mid-air. His tone, calm yet condescending, made it clear he wasn't shaken. "Not bad... for mortals."
Tobe landed gracefully, rolling forward before taking off in a sprint toward the still-recovering Demon Lord. Behind him, Julius' voice echoed across the battlefield through his wide-range communication magic circle.
"Everyone! The Cheery Black has engaged Demon Lord Crockus! Leave him to them! Healers, form a small squad and assist Ms. Elma immediately! She won't be able to manage all their wounds alone!"
The Monitoring Orb provided by Knight Captain Helrin followed Tobe and his friends, transmitting every heart-pounding moment of their battle to the rest of the army. The soldiers watching from afar gasped as Yuka summoned Fang and leapt onto his back, riding the powerful beast like a warrior queen charging into the fray. At the same time, Miri activated Weightless Embodiment, lifting off the ground with a graceful glide as she closed in on Crockus.
Fang roared as he leapt, his claws flashing in the light as he delivered a barrage of slashes to Crockus' front. The attacks staggered the Demon Lord, his crimson armor sparking under the relentless assault.
"Interesting…" Crockus muttered, his voice tinged with amusement.
But his attention was split. Miri darted behind him with incredible speed, her shield gleaming as she unleashed rocket-powered slashes aimed at his unprotected back. The coordinated attacks from Fang and Miri forced Crockus to remain on the defensive.
"Don't let up!" Miri shouted as she maneuvered to Crockus' front. Fang lunged forward with a powerful Arm Muscle Claw Slash (Thrusting Paw Version) while Miri dashed towards his front and countered with a Full-Powered Rocket Slash. The combined force sent Crockus crashing into the ground, shaking the battlefield.
"Keep going!" Max yelled as he sprinted forward. Yuka, now fully commanding her summoned beasts, half-summoned Scale, who charged up a massive Wind Cannon. With a deafening roar, the wind blast struck Max from behind, propelling him forward with incredible momentum. He raised his greatsword high, channeling his strength into a single strike. The blade came down with an earth-shattering impact, slamming into Crockus' staggered body and sending him skidding backward across the battlefield.
Crockus finally regained his footing, his boots grinding against the dirt as he came to a stop. A slow smile spread across his face, and he chuckled. "Hmmm… This seems like fun."
The ground beneath him began to pulse with dark energy. From the earth emerged a white, metallic staff with a silvery sheen. Crockus grabbed it effortlessly, the weapon crackling with power as he pointed it toward the Cheery Black.
"Come," he said, his voice echoing with dark authority. "Show me your strength."
The Cheery Black exchanged quick glances. The weight of Crockus' power was undeniable, but so was their determination.
"Stay focused," Miri said, gripping her shield tightly. "We've shaken him once. We can do it again."
Yuka dismounted Fang, summoning Blubby to join the fight. "I'm not letting you all take the spotlight!" she teased, her voice laced with both confidence and a tinge of fear.
"Focus, Yuka," Jun said, his tone serious as he prepared to flank Crockus. "This isn't over yet."
Tobe cracked his knuckles, his eyes fixed on Crockus. As he remarked in a condescending tone with a cocky grin "You wanted strength? Then don't you dare blink.... Mr. Demon Lord."
The air was thick with tension as the Cheery Black faced Demon Lord Crockus, his towering presence radiating raw, overwhelming power. Despite the suffocating pressure, Tobe, Miri, Yuka, Jun, Max, and Elma stood firm, resolute in their mission to defeat this formidable foe.
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Yuka quickly activated her Beast Codex Index, scanning Crockus' data to provide critical insights to the team:
Supreme Golem
Defense: S+
Strength: S
Speed: A
Special Skill: Automatic Golem Regeneration
Strength: All Elements (Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning, Poison, Ice, Light, Shadow, Dark)
Weakness: ??? Type Damage
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"Elemental damage won't work," Yuka announced, her voice steady despite the dire situation. "He's resistant to all elements, and his regeneration activates after he takes damage. We need to find his type weakness!"
"Understood!" the team responded in unison, determination burning in their eyes as they charged forward.
Miri immediately activated Agility Up, Defense Up, and Strength Up, spreading the enhancements across the team. Elma and Oculis stayed in the backlines, with Elma focusing on healing while Yuka imbued her summons with mana, strengthening them further. Fang, Balboa, and Blubby in Blitz Form rushed Crockus head-on.
Fang's sharp claws slashed in a relentless flurry, but Crockus parried with precise staff strikes, forcing Fang to retreat momentarily. With a swift motion, Crockus unleashed a multi-elemental beam, sending Fang hurtling back.
Balboa stepped in, delivering powerful, blunt-force punches that managed to land against Crockus's armored frame. But Crockus caught one of Balboa's massive fists, hurling the rock golem into the air before launching a whirlwind of multi-elemental energy. The blast shattered Balboa into pieces, leaving only rubble behind.
Blubby darted in, slamming into Crockus repeatedly at high speeds. Though the strikes annoyed Crockus, he eventually caught Blubby mid-charge, slamming the gelatinous summon into the ground with such force that Blubby splattered into fragments.
Jun flanked Crockus using All-Four Rush, his agility allowing him to strike with daggers and needles. He even attempted his Bleeding Bite on Crockus's shoulder, but the attack failed to pierce the golem's sturdy exterior. Crockus retaliated by grabbing Jun's leg and flinging him into the air before firing a concentrated sphere of multi-elemental energy. Jun narrowly escaped the blast using Escape Plan, regrouping quickly.
Max activated Overdrive and unleashed Overdrive Sizer: GREAT-Sword, his greatsword's blade began enlarging with mana. With a powerful swing, he struck Crockus, forcing the Demon Lord to stagger. Max followed up with a devastating downward slash, but Crockus caught the blade mid-strike, his immense strength halting the attack. Crockus then pointed his staff at Max and unleashed a whirlwind tunnel of multi-elemental energy, striking Max's midsection and sending him flying. Max's greatsword reverted to its original size as it clattered to the ground.
"Leave it to me, Tobe-senpai!" Miri called out. Tobe nodded, choosing to observe from the sidelines for now, ready to step in if needed.
Miri didn't hesitate, blitzing Crockus with blinding speed, her rocket-powered slashes creating shockwaves with each strike. Crockus summoned a multi-elemental barrier, but Miri's relentless assault began to crack it. The spiderweb-like fractures grew as Miri ended her barrage with a Rocket Burst Thrust, shattering the barrier and piercing through Crockus's core.
The impact sent Crockus reeling, and Miri followed up with a Rocket-Powered Upward Slash, slicing through his torso. As she finished with her Single Slash to Thousand Cuts, delivering a flurry of precise strikes that severed Crockus into pieces.
As Crockus's body began to reassemble, his Automatic Golem Regeneration skill activated, restoring back his form. However, Tobe noticed something critical: while Crockus's body regenerated, his core remained damaged. Tobe's eyes narrowed as he filed this information away.
"Impressive," Crockus growled, his voice tinged with both amusement and irritation. The ground beneath him rumbled as he reformed back into his original form and then smirked. "Show me more." As Miri then readies her blade for another fight once more.
The battle was far from over, but the Cheery Black stood ready, determined to uncover Crockus's weakness and put an end to his reign of terror.
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On Naoto's end...
Naoto groaned as he pushed himself off the ground, his body still reeling from the devastating impact of Demon Lord Crockus' beam. Smoke and dust swirled around him, but he ignored the stinging sensation in his lungs. His mind sharpened as he felt the familiar surge of energy course through his veins—his Spark, 'Darkened Rage,' had activated once more.
"Damn it..." Naoto muttered through clenched teeth, his eyes flickering with a menacing glow as the transformation solidified. "That damn beam attack forced me into my Spark state again."
The air around him grew heavy, pulsating with dark energy as his Spark intensified. His muscles tensed, and his senses heightened to an almost unbearable degree. But then—a strange sensation flared from beneath...
Naoto's gaze shifted instinctively toward the Kingdom in the distance. A powerful, oppressive force emanated from the ground there, sending chills down his spine. It wasn't just an ominous feeling; it was as if the very earth itself cried out under the weight of something monstrous.
"What... is this?" Naoto's voice dropped, laced with both curiosity and dread. He knelt down, placing his left palm firmly against the earth. The energy pulsating through him seemed to resonate with whatever lay beneath the surface, amplifying his awareness.
Closing his eyes, he focused. His voice, deep and commanding, carried a chilling edge as he muttered, "High... Dead... Rise..." as then the earth shook...
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End of Chapter Stats of our Young Adventurers:
Tobe Lvl 108 - (Race Abilities: High Jump, Cat-like Instinct, Ricochet) (Spells: Mana String, Explosion Impact, Fall Lighting, Space Space, Aqua Control, Reconstruct, Firas Bolto, Rock Spire Shotgun, Vine Whip, Shock Shoot, Iron Arm Impact, Mana End Nuke) (Spark - Ambition Ignition 25% Current)
Flake Lvl 65 - (Skills: Ice Creation, Icicle Rush, Frost Breath, Ice Ball Shot, Familiar Fusion)
Miri Lvl 110 - (Race Abilities: Halo Flash, False Judgement, Weightless Embodiment) (Skills: Strength Up, Defense Up, Agility Up, Slash, Pierce, Shield Block, Shield Bash, Shield Rush, Bastion Wall Shield, Bastion Weapon Integration, Mana Blade Shoot, Rocket Burst Thrust, Single Slash to Thousand Cuts)
Oculis Lvl 69 - (Skills: Health Drain Tendril, Soft Healing Glow, Wide Party Heal)
Yuka Lvl 94 - (Race Abilities: Creaturea Lamvia, Beast Codex Insight) (Skills: Contract, Summon, Half-Summon, Encouragement. Summons: Blubby Lvl 75, Scale Lvl 75, Balboa Lvl 75, Spryt Lvl 75, Gyutei Lvl 75, Fang Lvl 75, Cassius Lvl 75)
Jun Lvl 98 - (Race Abilities: Danger Sense, All-Four Rush, Bleeding Bite) (Skills: Disguise, Silent Step, Smoke Bomb Drop, Snatch, Stab, Slice, Hook Pull, Needles, Healing Steal, Decoy, Theft Hook, Escape Plan)