The “Ancient King’s” wings powerfully grip the wind.
Each flap unleashes a gale, sending its massive frame, twice my size, dancing through the air.
With 〖Blink〗 having evolved into the superior 〖Utsusemi〗, my evasion has drastically improved, yet it still manages to graze me with its claws and fangs repeatedly.
I’ve somehow managed to dodge its close-range attacks, but then,
“Gaaaaaaah!”
“(Heavy… what kind of output is that?)”
I failed to dodge its breath attack.
What spewed from the “Ancient King’s” jaws was a breath of 〖Mana〗.
Like an Artifact’s magic bullet, it was a pure emission of 〖Mana〗, not converted into fire or wind.
The conversion process was primitive, and the 〖Mana〗 efficiency seemed poor, but the amount of 〖Mana〗 condensed within was enormous.
I was struck by an impact far greater than a Clione’s blow, and slammed into the ground.
“(〖Parry〗, 〖Super Leap〗!)”
“Guraah!”
As soon as I hit the ground, I leaped sideways.
The “Ancient King” followed, crashing down and creating a deep crater, but I narrowly avoided the damage.
“(That was close… if that breath had defense-ignoring properties, I’d be done for.)”
My 〖Life〗 is still full—it’s misleading because I can store more than full 〖Life〗 with 〖Stockpile〗, but it means I haven’t taken any damage since the start of the fight.
Well, the same goes for my opponent.
“(Now it’s my turn! Sun Laser!)”
I manipulated the eight Drones floating around me, firing 〖Mana〗 lasers.
Besides floating and 〖Mana〗 shields, the Drones also have the ability to fire 〖Mana〗 lasers.
Their power and efficiency aren’t as good as the Artifacts I usually use, but they’re more responsive since I can use them reflexively.
The eight beams of light shot out, but they failed to inflict any damage.
〖Mana Eclipse〗 should have reduced the opponent’s 〖Mana〗, but that didn’t happen either.
Could it be due to the thick crimson scales covering the “Ancient King’s” entire body?
I’ve already accumulated over ten 〖Storm Strikes〗, but it still doesn’t seem like I can break through.
I’d like to land a big hit here and build up the count… but it doesn’t look like I’ll have the time.
“(〖Super Leap〗!)”
“Gugaah!”
Immediately after my side jump, the “Ancient King’s” giant claw swung upwards from below.
The ground split apart to the left and right. And that was without the claw even grazing the ground.
“(An attack range expansion 〖Skill〗… no, it’s not. There’s no sign of 〖Mana〗 being used, is that happening with its raw 〖Power〗?)”
“Gyoooaah!”
Before I could even be surprised, another attack came.
An unbelievable amount of 〖Mana〗 seemed to be consumed by the triceratops-like horns on its head, and then the sky lit up.
In an instant, countless bolts of lightning rained down.
I took a direct hit from one of them, but ranged attacks don’t have defense-ignoring properties, so it’s not a problem.
The real problem is rather—the “Ancient King” who, while being struck by lightning, is leaning forward, bracing itself.
“(That definitely means something’s coming! 〖Weapon Storage〗! 〖Block〗! 〖Super Leap〗!)”
I took out the White Weasel’s shield, used its 〖Weapon Skill〗, and escaped into the air, which is more suitable for evasion.
I also used the Drones to create a shield. A triangular shield formed between three Drones.
Furthermore, I was modifying my body to create a shield Artifact… and that’s when I was hit by the impact.
Having absorbed enough lightning, the “Ancient King” approached faster than a blink with an abnormal initial speed, and collided.
The scenery flowed like an arrow from behind to in front.
The sound of the White Weasel’s shield and the shield shattering was inaudible because I was blown away at supersonic speed.
“(My 〖Life〗 was reduced by almost a thousand, damn it!)”
My 〖Life〗, including 〖Stockpile〗, is about 17,000.
If I take another seventeen of those lightning charges, I’ll die.
Also, right now the 〖Stockpile〗 is acting as a substitute, but if I reach my original 〖Life〗, my volume will decrease.
To avoid being worn down, I can’t take another lightning charge.
So, I want to engage in a ranged battle, but will it let me get away to a distance where the lightning charge can’t reach?
“(It’s not going to be that easy, is it?)”
“Grrrruaaah!”
The “Ancient King,” who was flying in the air with me after charging at me, moved its wings to close the distance.
The gap between us rapidly shrank.
“(…Here it is! 〖Super Leap〗! 〖Compact Slash〗!)”
“Guoooh!?”
Like a ball bouncing off an invisible wall, I changed direction towards the “Ancient King.”
I passed under it, activating the evasion bonus of 〖Utsusemi〗, and swung the Extreme Thorn and Green Spear (..) with one leg as I passed.
The Green Spear is a weapon made from the “Green King’s” material, and to put it simply, it looks like a bamboo spear.
It has two main special effects: rapid extension through super growth, and the absorption of life force from anything that touches its tip.
Neither the Extreme Thorn nor the Green Spear could pierce the scales, but I should have been able to inflict some damage with their special effects.
“Gyaaa!”
“(〖Thousand Blades Burst〗, 〖L (Lock-on) AIM〗!)”
I unleashed a swarm of blades on the “Ancient King,” which had turned with surprising agility for its size.
It got through unscathed again, but the 〖Storm Strike〗 count increased significantly.
Then, while showering it with magic bullets and Sun Lasers, I flew in a straight line, but the distance was gradually closing.
Even with 〖Flee〗, I’m losing in terms of movement speed.
There are no obstacles around that I can use, so it’s about time to stop kiting.
“(…Hah, guess I’ll have to brace myself here, 〖Super Leap〗!)”
I kicked off the air, heading for the ground.
Thanks to the 〖Staff of the Gods〗’s bonus, my falling speed was faster.
The forest, which was intact because it was far from the starting point of the battle, was torn apart in a miserable fashion by the impact of my landing.
The “Ancient King” fearlessly charged towards me, who was buried at the bottom of the crater.
However, it was a beat late in reacting to my sudden descent, giving me a moment of leeway. I’ll finish my preparations in this gap.
“(〖Territory〗—Melt! 〖Sunflare Furnace〗!)”
~Zone Control Details~
Your 〖Zone Control〗 is 〖Sunflare Furnace〗.
Within the 〖Sunflare Furnace〗, all things are consumed by demonic flames and transformed into Mana Crystals.
Additional Effects: ‘Suppression’ ‘Levy’ ‘Identification’ ‘Rationality’ ‘Precision’ ‘Civilization’ ‘Overlord’ (NEW)
Candidate List
Overlord (NEW) : Provides a bonus to all effects of 〖Zone Control〗 except ‘Overlord’.
I consciously strengthened the power of the 〖Zone Control〗 that I had been clashing with the “Ancient King.”
In a push-and-pull, we would remain evenly matched, but the landscape changed.
White flames enveloped the forest in an instant.
As if the soil was being vitrified through melting and cooling, everything wrapped in those flames turned into Mana Crystals.
By over-investing 〖Mana〗 to enhance the effects of the 〖Zone Control〗, even the Great Demon Realm’s land could be transformed into Mana Crystals in a short time.
“Gwolraaah!”
“(Detonate, 〖Super Leap〗!)”
I self-destructed with the makeshift Artifact, and barely dodged, pushed by the blast.
The “Ancient King,” which had fallen headfirst into the ground, got up without any sign of being affected, amidst the shattered and scattered fragments of Mana Crystals.
Even I have to say, its durability is astonishing.
“(…Alright, the lower parts have also properly turned into Mana Crystals.)”
I made eye contact with the “Ancient King” at the center of the crater, but what I was focusing on was its feet.
After confirming that the bottom of the crater had turned into Mana Crystals, I imitated several weapons.
“(The insurance is sufficient. Let’s go, “Ancient King”!)”
The close-quarters battle begins.