Chapter 175

Chapter 176: The Overprotective Artemis (Fourth Update, Please Subscribe!)

No one would ever truly know what Asfi thought deep down. However, thanks to Izay’s earlier warning, everyone quickly adjusted their condition.

So what if the temple was infested?

Their goal remained the same.

— Defeat the Scorpion “Andarius”!

To achieve this, breaking through the tide of monsters was inevitable.

“And Steadfast as a Rock!!!”

Facing the rapidly approaching wave of monsters, Izay chanted an unusual magic incantation.

In an instant, magical elements mixed with rock elements from the surroundings began converging on Izay. A bright yellow energy ripple spread outwards from him.

It instantly enveloped the four people behind him.

Artemis and the others, seeing this yellow glow for the first time, instinctively reached out to defend themselves.

However… when they raised their arms, nothing happened.

They only felt a gentle breeze brushing against them, followed by a warm and soothing energy covering their entire bodies.

“…What is this?”

“The Jade Shield, my defensive magic.”

Izay immediately clarified, noticing Artemis’ confusion.

Even defensive magic?!

Hermes and Asfi could only open and close their mouths speechlessly.

Only Lulune felt impressed beyond comprehension.

‘This magic doesn’t require chanting to release? So cool…’

The simple dog-person thought silently.

During their conversation, countless black scorpions had already approached.

“Please provide cover as necessary next, I’m going in!”

With that, Izay lifted his hand, tensing his body.

Under his will, a vast amount of magical power within him opened a channel toward his weapon.

More accurately, it connected.

A starflame erupted from the dark silver spear, swirling like a tornado. The intense heat distorted space, even engulfing its master without causing any harm.

In the next moment, he charged forward at an incredible speed.

A destructive force surged forth, each step breaking through the ground. The wind pressure from his swings tore apart groups of monsters.

Using the terrain around him, Izay weaved through the monster horde, repeatedly reducing their numbers.

The temporary protection and skills activated simultaneously, maximizing Izay’s normal abilities. Combined with his “intuition” and strong mental power, not a single monster attack managed to hit him directly.

His flexible combat style also ensured that he wouldn’t be surrounded easily.

Being surrounded wasn’t something he feared, but it would definitely be troublesome.

“Starry Prison!!!”

After cutting through another side of the monster group, Izay didn’t rush to continue attacking. Instead, he leaped back a distance, raising his hand and casting the spell name.

“—”

It happened almost instantly.

Amidst the swarm of monsters rushing towards Izay,

a stunning three-dimensional constellation diagram appeared.

Bright stars were interconnected by silver-white lines, completing their links in the blink of an eye. A curtain of starlight covered an area of dozens of meters.

Then, the scenery within the curtain became distorted.

An immense suction force emanated from the center of the constellation diagram, accompanied by layers of white spherical ripples. All the surrounding monsters were pulled in and sucked into it.

The colossal pressure at the center of the constellation crushed their bodies, grinding even the magic stones into nothingness. It was like a black hole, erasing everything it absorbed.

A few seconds later, the starlight curtain dissipated, and the constellation quietly disintegrated, leaving a vast empty space in the middle of the monster group.

Before the surrounding monsters could regroup, seizing this golden opportunity, Izay turned his weapon and charged at them again.

“So strong…”

Lulune, wielding her short blade to deal with a monster that climbed up from behind, muttered under her breath.

As fellow Level 3 beings, she couldn’t help but feel inferior.

Is the gap between people really this big?

“Combat strength far exceeding Level 3… Is this why he can repeatedly complete ‘Great Achievements’ by challenging higher levels…?”

Hermes adjusted his travel hat brim, his eyes filled with profound depth.

If it were him…

“BOOM—!”

Hermes didn’t even get the chance to finish his thoughts when a delicate fist wrapped in gloves struck his face.

Right on the nose.

“Ouch! Artemis, what are you doing!? Why did you suddenly hit me?”

“There’s no reason… I just felt like you were thinking about something bad.”

Emerald green eyes revealed suspicion. Artemis noticed Hermes’ gaze towards Izay earlier and inexplicably felt annoyed.

Moreover, back in the heavens, whenever Hermes wore that expression, it usually meant trouble.

This guy had too many devious ideas.

Artemis decided she needed to keep an eye on him, lest he try to harm her beloved Izay.

“…”

Hermes held his nose, tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, feeling utterly wronged.

Heaven knows, he had at most, merely a tiny thought… just a tiny bit!

And he hadn’t even finished thinking before getting hit. Could friends treat each other like this?

Izay leaned against Loki, who dared he scheme against Loki?

She was a grandmaster-level deity in such matters after all.

He had it so hard…

‘From now on, no matter what, I mustn’t have any thoughts about Izay.’

Hermes rubbed his nose while silently making a decision with a bitter face.

Not only was he part of Loki’s faction, but he also had a close relationship with Artemis. Thinking about harming him was akin to inviting death itself.

Beside them, Asfi casually dealt with the monsters spawning near them and happened to see Hermes getting hit, nearly bursting out laughing.

It wasn’t her fault for being unsympathetic; Hermes was simply too annoying. Every time she had to pay for his recklessness, seeing him suffer made Asfi extremely happy.

“Tap tap tap tap tap…”

The internal space of the ruins was exactly as Izay had anticipated. Not only had it been transformed into a breeding chamber, but the ground beneath had also been hollowed out.

The pathways and tunnels constructed everywhere formed a small underground maze.

Footsteps and the sound of monster claws scraping against the ground intertwined.

With Izay leading the charge like a merciless executioner, killing monsters ahead, the four behind him hardly felt any pressure.

Moreover, since entering the ruins, the Jade Shield Izay cast on them had remained active, providing top-tier safety.

During the journey, Artemis did worry about Izay’s magical energy consumption. However, in such an underground environment, maintaining the shield cost Izay almost no magical energy thanks to his “Heart of the Earth.”

The recovery and expenditure were basically balanced.

Thus, they progressed smoothly…

The deeper the five ventured into the ruins, the more severe the monster resistance became.

Perhaps Andarius understood the importance of blocking intruders?

Faced with the endless waves of monsters, to improve efficiency, the five chose to clear the path with magic swords.

Although Izay could certainly use magic to forcefully cut through them, what then?

For the upcoming battle against Andarius, he would be the key force. Preserving some of his condition for the subsequent fight was essential.