The “Ancient King’s” Invariance and my Shape Lock are similar, yet subtly different.
After many clashes, I realized the difference lies in the definition of “fixed.”
Shape Lock seems to have the effect of “giving shape,” so it prevents deformation from that shape.
For example, if I use it on my own body, it becomes difficult to deform.
But Invariance seems to be more flexible.
The “Ancient King” moved the parts where he applied Invariance without any difficulty, and in fact, I think that power works on a broader concept like state rather than shape.
This difference is the key to breaking through.
“(Shape Lock, target: blood!)”
“Gugoh, goo…!?!”
Lightning leaked from between the “Ancient King’s” fangs.
At the same time, a groan escaped. The lightning that traveled through the flesh solidified the blood in the blood vessels into a jelly-like state.
The output of Shape Lock has long surpassed the strength of Invariance.
“(Even if I can’t kill him instantly, Shape Lock will work!)”
But it’s nowhere near the level I wanted.
Even though I released it from inside the body, where it’s hard to Resist, only a small area near the mouth was solidified.
It might be disorienting with the strange sensation, but it won’t kill him instantly. He’ll counterattack immediately.
“(Continuous, Shape Lock!)”
While stuck to the “Ancient King’s” head, I use my Unique Skill with all my might.
He seems to sense that this is the turning point, as he puts all his strength into his jaw and thrashes his body violently.
I’ve tried it several times, but it seems that Shape Lock is still blocked by the scales.
I had about three more Drones enter his mouth, while also using my Unique Skill for defense.
Because of the contact, I’m constantly being bombarded by the power of Change.
But in this contest, I was also in the superior position.
This is largely because he’s using his power to dissolve the solidified blood.
If he uses the ability to forcibly Change the object he’s touching, he can return the fixed blood to its original state.
However, the concentration required for the task differs between me, who only needs to roughly solidify it, and the “Ancient King,” who has to avoid damaging the delicate blood vessels.
“Gu, gogogoaa…!”
“(That’s right, from here on out, it’s a pure pushing match!)”
The increasingly fierce bite slightly scrapes my body.
He seems to have enhanced his power or defense-ignoring multiplier with some Skill.
But on the other hand, while the “Ancient King” was using his resources for that, the range of blood coagulation expanded. If this reaches the thick blood vessels in his brain or neck, he won’t get away unscathed.
By touching his fangs, his attacks are easier to land, but the same goes for me.
Since I already surpass him in terms of ability performance, I have the advantage in a pure power struggle.
“(GUOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!)”
So the “Ancient King” tries to gain the upper hand physically.
He’s been thrashing around from heaven to earth, and now he’s crashed head-on into a mountain.
The slope was scraped away, and as he continued to push deeper, magma erupted.
It seems it was a volcano.
But neither I nor the “Ancient King” cared about that, and we continued to push through, eventually breaking through the volcano.
The hole that was opened was scorched by my Sunflare Furnace and transformed into a Mana Crystal, making it look like a crystal tunnel.
Such a fantastic view quickly disappeared from sight.
The “Ancient King” had flown high into the sky.
But even after all this, I haven’t been shaken off.
I’m desperately clinging on, using the Unyielding effect of my Last Stand.
“Guu, ugugugugyaaa…!”
The range of coagulation steadily expands. The attack progresses slowly.
Sensing that he’ll be in a losing situation if this continues, the “Ancient King” made a big gamble.
“GURORORORUAAAAAAA!”
“(Royal Authority, huh!)”
In contrast to the subdued movement of his body, immense Mana surged.
But it’s a futile struggle. All the Royal Authority-type Skills I’ve seen so far take time to charge, and since the “Ancient King” didn’t use it until this desperate situation, his must be similar.
“(Shape Lock!)”
Not missing the opening in his defenses during the activation preparation, I rapidly expand the solidification range.
That was the final push.
“Ga, Aaa…!?!”
“(Finally, huh.)”
Just as his giant body swayed, the rising Mana dissipated. The “Ancient King” had lost control.
He fell to the ground and crawled, frantically trying to recover with Change, but in such a weakened state, his control was unreliable.
“(–It’s over, then.)”
I feel the power of Invariance that had been constantly protecting the “Ancient King” falter.
The outcome is already decided. Any more would just be torment.
I might fail a few times, but I’ll quickly reap his Arche–
“(–No, this is a harvest, isn’t it?)”
I was mistaken because of the Status display… or maybe even the gods are misunderstanding.
Anyway, my instant-death Lightning Strike isn’t harvesting life.
“(It’s time to return to the earth, Thunderous Cycle of Rise and Fall.)”
Lightning illuminated the land, which was completely covered in demonic flames.
The lightning pierces the Arche, the foundation of all life.
It burns away what should never be touched, returning it to the mother earth.
The food chain. The cycle of life and death. It was a phenomenon that evoked the impermanence of a top predator’s corpse being decomposed by microorganisms after reaching the end of its natural life.
~Non-Notification Information Recording Area~
…
The White Spot Presents the Amber Sun (?), Fue Toukouya’s Soul Accumulation Value (Level) has increased to 928.
The White Spot Presents the Amber Sun (?), Fue Toukouya has acquired Skill: Cloud Camouflage. Skill: Flee has been integrated.
Skill: Strangulation has been acquired. Skill: Strangulation has been integrated.
…
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