Chapter 35 - End

The green glow enveloped Arthur's body again, radiating immense power that pulsed outward, forcing Lancer and debris away. As the light faded, the energy was drawn into Arthur, leaving him visibly changed. His once dark eyes now gleamed a bright, unnatural green.

[Analysis complete. The subject appears to have undergone an evolution into a Hero.]

Lancer's stomach dropped. 'Hero?'

[Heroes are the next stage of human evolution. Their abilities far surpass ordinary humans. Exercise extreme caution.]

He muttered under his breath, "We're so screwed."

Arthur's magical aura had vanished completely, leaving an unsettling calm in the air. Despite this, Lancer could see his MP count rising steadily, already past four million and still climbing. If I don't finish this now, we're done for.

Arthur extended a hand casually. "This was fun, kid, but you're finished."

A blinding beam of white-hot energy surged from his palm, tearing through the air toward Lancer. Even with Thought Acceleration, he realized he couldn't dodge in time. He braced for impact.

At the last moment, the beam curved and shot skyward, ripping through the clouds in a brilliant explosion that lit up the landscape. Lancer blinked in confusion.

"Idiot. Leave you alone and you nearly get yourself killed," said an exasperated voice.

Turning, Lancer saw Yumiella standing tall, her sword ready, and Luna lowering her hand calmly. The spatial skill Luna had used to redirect the blast left faint distortions in the air.

"You two—how—" Lancer began.

"Not the time," Yumiella cut him off, glaring at Arthur as he lunged with his blade. She stepped forward, intercepting the strike, her sword clashing against his knife in a cascade of sparks.

Arthur studied her briefly, his expression unreadable. "And who might you be?"

"No one who owes you an explanation," Yumiella replied , shoving him back with a burst of force.

Arthur clicked his tongue. "Fine. I've got enough power now to crush all of you at once."

Yumiella's gaze didn't waver. "You're welcome to try." She charged him again, her strikes relentless as they clashed like titans.

Meanwhile, Lancer hurried over to Luna. "Can your barriers hold something like the beam he fired earlier?"

Luna nodded, her voice calm and resolute. "Yes, Master Lancer. You can rely on me."

"Good." He glanced back at the chaotic battle. "I have a plan."

He telepathically explained the details to Yumiella while Luna began preparing her barriers. Yumiella deflected another one of Arthur's attacks and responded tersely. "This is reckless, but fine. If you mess this up, don't expect me to save you again."

Despite the sharpness in her words, there was a clear determination in her tone. Without waiting for a reply, she turned her focus back to Arthur, her strikes gaining even more precision and force.

Lancer let out a steadying breath, gripping his spear. "Alright. Let's finish this."

He pushed Thought Acceleration even further, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. There!

Lancer launched his crystal blades, fully aware they wouldn't harm Arthur but confident they would serve as an effective distraction. As expected, Arthur deflected them with ease, his movements fluid and unbothered. The opening was all Lancer needed.

Yumiella disengaged, retreating swiftly and leaving Lancer to face Arthur alone. Now! he shouted telepathically to Luna.

In an instant, a shimmering dome of spatial energy encased the battlefield, stretching high into the sky where Typhon and Julia were still clashing. Typhon vanished, recalled into Lancer's pocket dimension, his reserves ready to be tapped.

Lancer exhaled sharply, centering himself. He activated Wrath of the Thunder God. The air became electric, charged with the smell of ozone as the storm manifested. Bolts of lightning rained down in relentless succession, illuminating the battlefield in blinding flashes.

Julia screamed once before being completely obliterated by the first few strikes. Arthur, however, remained standing, his body twitching as the lightning ravaged him. His resilience was staggering, but it wasn't enough to protect him from the sheer force of Lancer's Unique Skill.

Drawing from Typhon's vast reserves, Lancer's MP surged, almost equalizing with Arthur's still-massive pool. Unbeknownst to him, this fight had revealed one critical difference between them: Unique Skills could bypass the advantage of higher levels. Arthur's evolution into a Hero gave him immense power, but lacking a Unique Skill of his own left him vulnerable.

The ground within Luna's barrier began to sizzle and melt as the intensity of the strikes increased. Lancer focused everything he had, summoning bolt after bolt, determined to end it. Arthur screamed in defiance, but the lightning overwhelmed him, his body consumed in a final, deafening explosion.

When the storm finally subsided, Lancer fell to his knees, his breathing labored. His MP was dangerously low, and exhaustion threatened to overtake him.

Luna appeared at his side, steadying him. "Master Lancer, are you alright?"

He gave her a weak nod, his voice hoarse. "I'll manage. I'm not passing out again."

Yumiella approached, her arms crossed as she surveyed the devastation. "That was… impressive," she said, her tone begrudging. "Not bad for someone like you."

Lancer chuckled weakly. "I'll take the compliment, even if it's backhanded."

Around them, the town seemed mostly intact apart from the obliterated museum and the area within Luna's barrier. The ground beneath them had turned to molten rock where the lightning had struck.

The absorbed souls of Arthur and Julia flowed into Lancer, steadily replenishing his depleted MP. For now, the danger was over, but the weight of what had happened lingered heavily in the air.

Wait—where was Boreas? Lancer's eyes darted around the battlefield until he heard a triumphant roar. The Chimera stood proudly over the charred remains of the Fire Salamander, its icy breath still lingering in the air. Around it lay the bodies of Julia's goons, encased in crystalline ice. Boreas had not only defeated the Salamander but had also handled the rest of the minions with ease.

Lancer approached the Chimera, patting its side. "Good work, buddy."

He turned his attention to the Salamander's remains. Stretching out his hand, he absorbed it.

[Acquisition successful. You have absorbed the Fire Salamander. New skill obtained: Heat Nullification.]

Lancer grinned despite his exhaustion. Finally, he had a counter to heat-based attacks. He was getting tired of opponents who relied on fire and heat—it was about time he gained the upper hand.

With everything seemingly taken care of, Lancer turned his focus to the aftermath. The destroyed museum and the innocent people caught up in the battle weighed on him. Concentrating, he began using Architect's Dominion to restore the damage.

As the people revived, shaking off their confusion and fear, Lancer reassured them that everything was under control. Many looked at him in awe, though a few still seemed wary of what had just occurred. He worked quickly and efficiently, restoring the building to its former state.

However, one thing caught his attention—the crimson stone Arthur had been after. It had somehow survived the onslaught of lightning and remained unscathed amidst the wreckage. As Lancer picked it up, he felt a strange pulse of magic radiating from it, unlike anything he had encountered before.

"It's powerful," he murmured, holding it closer to examine it. The magic emanating from the stone was unique, almost alive. He decided to keep it for now—whatever it was, he couldn't risk it falling into the wrong hands again.