Chapter 178

Chapter 179: Second Stage Incantation (Third Update, Please Subscribe!)

“Hmm… it seems the situation hasn’t deteriorated beyond repair… Izay sure has impressed me. Decisively making a call like that! If he had hesitated any longer, the outcome wouldn’t be as favorable as it is now!”

From a distance at the altar’s entrance, Hermes watched Izay, Asfi, and Lulune together restraining Andarius with Izay taking the lead, and couldn’t help but crack a smirk.

Hermes might not have much combat power, but he isn’t stupid.

Seeing Andarius desperately protecting those black conduits, he realized their significance.

It was only commendable how swiftly Izay made his decision.

Terrifying battle instincts!

Nearby, Artemis gave a nonchalant little hum, her focus mostly on the ongoing fight ahead.

The gods are great in every way, except when facing powerful monsters where divine powers can’t be utilized, ultimately becoming more of a burden than help. This irked the gods.

Thus, they could only spectate from the sidelines, cheering Izay and Asfi on mentally.

As for Lulune?

Her magic sword’s durability ran out and shattered, so naturally she found herself over here too.

After all, she doesn’t possess Izay’s extraordinary combat prowess, nor does she have Asfi’s magical artifacts to fly around; joining the fray would’ve just caused chaos.

So, knowing her place, she chose to protect her clumsy deity instead~

In the central area of the altar,

All the conduits providing power conversion to Andarius had been severed.

The massive beast let out an earth-shaking roar, its lone enormous eye fixating on Izay, determined to devour this human.

A chaotic whirlwind seemed to engulf the center of the altar, mercilessly tearing everything apart until it crumbled.

Izay pushed his speed to the limit, each twist creating afterimages.

Dodging Andarius’ clawed strikes by mere inches, he maneuvered into blind spots impossible for the monster to track.

Instead of retreating, his spear erupted in a rainstorm of lances, high-speed thrusts vanishing even their afterimages.

Infused with starflame, the sharpness and power greatly enhanced, ripping through Andarius’ body, carving hollows.

Closing the distance with such a large creature was dangerous, as even a glancing blow could severely wound you.

However, your attacks would also land easily, dealing lethal damage.

“WRRYYYYYYY!!!”

Feedback coursing through its body turned Andarius’ eye blood red with rage, wildly thrashing about.

Even with regenerative abilities, the rampant pain coursing through it couldn’t be erased.

Overcome with fury, Andarius suddenly unhinged its massive jaw, purple light gathering within its mouth, quickly coalescing into a gigantic purple orb.

Instantly, Izay’s eyes widened.

Magic attack?!

—”Wall Rising to Immense Heights”!!

Instinctively, Izay unleashed his magic.

At the same moment his Jade Shield was reinforced, the orb exploded with terrifying destructive energy.

Like a scorching iron ball plunging into water.

The air boiled.

Purple light rampaged across the entire altar space, gale winds and bursts of light hurtling forward, mixed with sand and dust exploding everywhere.

“———!”

The temple altar shattered.

Unable to withstand such an assault, the altar space collapsed into pieces, chunks of rock falling into the abyss below.

“BOOOOOMMMMMM………”

The descent of the colossal monster and rocks triggered violent tremors beneath the ground, the scene grandiose.

In contrast, the adventurers and deities fell lightly.

“Hermes-sama? Are you alright!?”

“Ow!? Lulune, what kind of tone is that? Help me move this rock!”

“Artemis-sama, how are you faring?”

“I’m fine…”

Izay’s last-second reinforcement of the shield during Andarius’ magical eruption undoubtedly saved everyone’s life.

Take Asfi, for instance; if she hadn’t been hit by the magical blast and then fallen among the rocks, she would’ve likely survived with severe injuries.

And the Jade Shield that had been surrounding them completed its mission, dissipating into specks of light.

“Where’s Izay!?”

Artemis, supported by Asfi, glanced around, worry creeping up upon not seeing Izay.

Next to them, Hermes, who got accidentally pinned under a rock when the shield dissipated, was asking Lulune for help.

“Izay-sama and Andarius aren’t here, they probably landed on the other side.”

Asfi directed her gaze toward where the most rockfall activity occurred, judging by the tremors that Andarius must’ve landed there, and Izay, engaged in close combat with it, likely did too.

……

From within the pile of rubble, an arm encased in azure starflame emerged, followed by the head, upper body…

“Damn scorpion! Can’t play fair so you just explode the map?”

Struggling out from the rubble, Izay cursed under his breath at such behavior.

What Andarius did earlier — destroying the entire arena because it couldn’t hit him — was no different from gamers going berserk and smashing their screens in frustration!

Typical sore loser!

Getting out from the rubble, Izay looked up to see the pitch-black behemoth slowly rising ahead.

Despite its potent regeneration, the wounds on its body were healing slower now, nowhere near the initial speed.

Ironically, the fall from such a height left Andarius battered and bruised.

Thanks to the Jade Shield, Wall Rising to Immense Heights (rock pillars), and Additional Magic protection, Izay merely suffered broken ribs.

Though some parts of his body still throbbed faintly, it was within tolerable limits and could be ignored.

What else could this be but sheer rage-induced incompetence?

Not seeing Artemis and the others nearby, they must’ve landed elsewhere. But before falling, Izay had reinforced their shields, so he wasn’t worried about the four of them getting hurt.

After all, he took the brunt of the damage.

Picking up Que Xie nearby, the moment it was back in its master’s hands, the dark silver spear came alive again, reigniting with light and flames.

Izay glanced at Andarius healing its wounds and exhaled deeply.

“To finish you off in one go!”

“【Descend, End (Orionids)】!!”

As the words fell,

“—!”

Azure brilliance descended once more, melting the rocky ground beneath, smoke rising as the air burned and twisted until it vanished.

Not only swirling around him, but seeping inside, integrating thread by thread into his body.

The immense magical energy caused Izay’s bones to creak, the Additional Magic tormenting and pressuring his body while simultaneously granting even more terrifying power.

Here, Izay unlocked the second stage of Additional Magic incantation!