“Merely trifling tricks!” (Evilkind language)
Even if Swarerock was reluctant, it would be forcibly ejected from the shadows when they disappeared.
However, learning from previous experience, it was well-prepared this time.
Two Granite Evil-Eyed Stone Serpents stood to the left and right between Swarerock and the silver-haired girl, not giving her a chance to get close and attack. Swarerock was already about to flee into the newly-appeared shadows.
But just then, something beyond Swarerock’s expectations occurred.
“You won’t escape!”
The silver-haired girl released her magic energy, illuminating dozens of previously set luminous magic stones in the cave. In an instant, the entire cave was as bright as daylight!
Unexpectedly, the shadow Swarerock was about to enter vanished, and there was no place with shadows around it now!
Swarerock had no way of knowing that these luminous magic stones were positioned based on the principle of “shadowless lamps.” It had even less idea that the one who had set this deadly trap was the ordinary young man it had completely disregarded.
“Damn it…”
Left with no choice, Swarerock had to rely on its summoned creatures to shield it from the silver-haired girl’s attacks.
It was extremely puzzled as to why the girl, who had fallen into a state of magic depletion, could use her magic so quickly again. What had the silver-haired girl done during the time it had leisurely pursued her?
—(But no matter what, she can’t possibly recover a large amount of magic in such a short time…)
—(As long as her magic is exhausted, I’ll still be the victor!)
Swarerock knew that it was no match for the silver-haired girl in a head-on battle, and in this space where all shadows had been eliminated, it couldn’t use its “shadow escape technique” to hide or command the Rogue Shadow Demon Hatchlings to steal magic from the girl’s shadows.
However, Swarerock’s summoned creatures were all rough and tough with massive bodies.
“Trap her! Trap her till death!”
Under Swarerock’s control, the Granite Golems and Granite Evil-Eyed Stone Serpents attacked one after another!
Yet, the silver-haired girl moved like a dancing fairy, lightly stepping on the summoned creatures’ bodies as she continued forward. Even when a summoned creature seized the opportunity to attack, she deftly parried it with her Floating Crimson Sword, never slowing her pace.
They couldn’t stop her.
She was on the verge of breaking through their defenses.
Swarerock felt terror!
“Surround me!”
In extreme fear, Swarerock changed its tactics. It had the Granite Evil-Eyed Stone Serpents coil around itself protectively, then layered more Granite Evil-Eyed Stone Serpents and Granite Golems on top, placing itself within a sturdy fortress of rock!
—(I’m safe now, I’m safe…!)
Swarerock knew that relying solely on defense wouldn’t bring victory, but its current goal was to delay time.
Swarerock understood that luminous magic stones required magic energy as their power source, meaning this shadowless space couldn’t last forever. If the silver-haired girl tried to forcefully break through its “rock fortress,” she would expend a large amount of magic and fall into a state of magic depletion sooner.
—(That’s right, as long as I hold out, victory will still be mine!)
Swarerock refused to lose this final battle in Sandrift Gorge. It still needed to expand its hunting grounds and grow its tribe. It wanted to become the one who opened up a battlefield behind enemy lines for the Evilkind…!
.
Gazing upon the tiered fortress of stone before her, Viviana momentarily found herself at a loss.
With her magic reserves nearly depleted, escape seemed a tempting prospect, yet without a swift means to locate the cavern’s exit, her efforts would prove futile.
Taking into account the demon’s devious nature, Viviana even suspected the cavern had already been sealed.
Thus, with no further opportunities available, she had to wager everything on a decisive confrontation here.
—(Floating Crimson Sword!)
In a single breath, Viviana conjured five slender crimson swords—the maximum amount her current skill level allowed.
—(Greatsword Style!)
Immediately, the five crimson swords merged with the one in Viviana’s hand, transforming into an imposing crimson greatsword extending over six feet in length.
—(Victory or defeat hinges on this blow, my past self… Please aid me in vanquishing my foe!)
Viviana focused her energy and, with that, the Crimson Greatsword erupted into a dazzling radiance.
—(Scarlet Sword Technique: Flash of the Crescent Moon!)
In the blink of an eye, Viviana unleashed the greatsword with the force of a thunderbolt, and the all-encompassing strike transformed into a crescent of white light. Not only did it shatter the summoned creatures atop the stone fortress, but it also managed to cleave Swarerock in half at the waist!
“How… can this… be?!”
Swarerock’s body separated into two parts, falling to the ground where it could only crawl using its two pincers and incessantly mutter.
“Shadows… shadows…”
As long as it could slip back into the shadows, it still had a chance to survive.
However, at that moment, Viviana’s magical energy was completely depleted.
With the luminescent magic stones extinguished, their magical support gone, the stone cavern was left in darkness save for the lone glowing stone in the young hunter’s hand. This cast a shadow before Swarerock.
Viviana had failed. She had intended to strike Swarerock down with a final blow, but the overwhelming dizziness had made it impossible.
Swarerock cackled manically, mere inches away from disappearing into the shadows.
“Kekekekeke… Hee… Victory… is mine…!”
However, it had celebrated too soon.
.
With a sharp “whoosh!”, an arrow struck Swarerock with unerring accuracy, only to be deflected. Tyler checked Swarerock’s Status Information, its Life Energy was now “9/570”. The arrow had only inflicted 1 point of damage.
Though Swarerock’s true form was weak, it was relative to its summoned creatures, and Viviana. Compared to Tyler’s stats, the Level 59 Swarerock was far sturdier.
“Damn brat… You won’t succeed!”
Swarerock immediately commanded its summons to attack Tyler and defend itself. Tyler dashed away, releasing arrows in rapid succession.
— “Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
— “Missed”
— “Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
— “Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
Tyler couldn’t extinguish the luminous magic stone; doing so would plunge the cavern into darkness. Thanks to Viviana’s sweeping attack earlier, he only had to evade a crippled Granite Golem and a half-dead Granite Evil-Eyed Stone Serpent protecting Swarerock.
Despite this, hitting the diminutive Swarerock under these circumstances was still an immense challenge. Tyler, with his Magic Energy nearly depleted, couldn’t activate any skills either.
— “Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
— “Missed”
— “Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
— “Missed”
— “Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
Swarerock had a mere 3 points of Life Energy remaining, and it was but inches away from the nearest shadow!
(All or nothing!)
In this dire situation, Tyler disregarded the risk of being caught by the Granite Golem and steadied himself to ensure his following arrows would hit their mark.
(Just three more arrows and victory is ours!)
Holding his breath, Tyler focused all his attention on his archery.
First arrow!
—”Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage” 𝞸𝓋𝒍xt.𝐜𝒐𝔪
Second arrow!
—”Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
Third arrow!
—”Missed”
At this crucial moment, the massive fist of the Granite Golem clutched Tyler, hoisting him into the air. Was this the end, just one strike away from victory?
No! Despite the excruciating pain of his body being crushed, Tyler loosed a fourth arrow!
—”Hit, inflicted 1 point of damage”
—”Successfully eliminated ‘Rogue Shadow Demon Swarerock – Lv59′”
—”Team battle, experience distribution based on contribution, Occupation Experience +44,800, Current Experience 44,900/1,000″