Chapter 179

Chapter 180: Dear, it’s not advisable to seek death~ (Four updates for your subscription!)

Underground space.

The adventurers and ancient monsters changed the battlefield, continuing their fight as time slowly passed…

A purple torrent of magical energy tore through the air, its violent force shattering rock and igniting explosions.

However, while the brute method of gathering magic for attack was certainly destructive,

it was equally easy to counter due to its lack of variation!

Mysterious azure lights flickered unpredictably, skillfully dodging the purple torrents of magical energy, slicing across the massive body of Andarius in streaks of light, drawing dark purple blood that exuded ominous shadows.

The weapon wielded by Izay, Yetsha, was undoubtedly the most compatible with his own magical affinity in the entire world—no exceptions.

The spear tip, enshrouded and enchanted with scorching magical energy, repeatedly pierced through Andarius’s black armor, tearing apart its defenses.

Like a storm of wind and rain, attacks rained down upon Andarius.

Wherever the spear grazed, lingering trails of azure Starflame adhered like leeches to the wounds, slowing its healing process.

Izay continued his assault with the same method, but Andarius could no longer cope as it had before.

Magic attacks missed their mark; close-range claw strikes couldn’t reach him. Large-scale indiscriminate attacks couldn’t be used multiple times within a short period.

Andarius continuously moved its massive black form, appearing helpless under Izay’s relentless barrage, resembling a flailing goose unsure of itself.

Of course.

The second incantation of “Silver Starfall” brought undeniable power boosts.

In this state, the battle between Izay and Andarius had become utterly one-sided, with Izay gaining an increasingly clear advantage, tilting the scales of victory bit by bit.

“Rip! Rip! Rip! Rip!”

A series of fabric-tearing sounds rang out as Yetsha emitted a cold gleam beneath Andarius’s body.

Interwoven beams of light formed a web of blades around it, severing half of the limbs supporting its movements.

Losing balance from losing half its limbs, Andarius soon collapsed with a roar of pain.

“WRRYYYYYYY!!!”

With restricted movement and growing peril, Andarius began to struggle and retaliate wildly in panic.

Deflecting sweeping giant pincers with Yetsha and dodging the sudden sweep of a scorpion tail, Izay found a perfect angle to strike, thrusting his left hand forward like a cannon.

“Starfall!!”

“HOOOOMMMMBBBB———”

Not just a single shot.

But rapid-fire!

Devastating blasts erupted at close range to the enemy.

The aftermath flipped the ground, twisting and fracturing layers of rock beneath their feet, reducing them to dust amidst flashes of fire or being swept away by explosive winds.

Andarius was thrown back by the explosion, and Izay himself was blown away by the storm, sliding a considerable distance before regaining his footing.

“…He’s even stronger than before!?”

Circling around boulders and underground walls to the edge of the battlefield, Asfi watched the second phase of combat with wide eyes.

Her initial thought of aiding Izay immediately dissipated.

Did the situation really require her assistance?

—Was it needed?

It seemed Izay alone was more than capable, making the elimination of Andarius merely a matter of time.

Behind her, Lulune was struck speechless by the scene, while Hermes adjusted his hat brim, his eyes gradually lighting up as if inspired by some interesting idea.

The god’s throat convulsed slightly, his lips trembling as he wanted to express his inner joyous thoughts. Plans, perhaps, or wild imaginings about the future.

But… as words reached his lips, Hermes’s brain intervened.

His mind filtered out these potentially suicidal musings, then sent feedback.

“Dear, Artemis is right there. It’s not recommended you tempt fate here~”

Between pleasure and safety… Hermes silently chose the latter.

What Hermes didn’t realize was that Artemis, completely captivated by Izay, hadn’t noticed his thoughts at all.

The goddess placed a delicate hand on her chest, gazing intently at the spectacle, imprinting it firmly in her mind.

That side of Izay, filled with unwavering conviction, was unlike any she’d seen before.

Whether playing with Lanti, sharing warm moments with her, finding joy in small things, or fighting confidently—none matched this new expression.

But… it stirred something deep within Artemis more profoundly than anything she’d witnessed from ancient times to now.

Her heart felt warm, unable to settle.

On the battlefield.

“Almost at my limit… this must end…”

After sliding a distance, Izay breathed heavily, furrowing his brows as he assessed the situation.

His body was still too weak to sustain the second incantation of “Silver Starfall” for long.

Every muscle and bone in his body strained under the pressure of azure magical energy, like a taut string pulled tight.

Would the battle end first, or would the string snap?

If the string broke, Izay might not die outright, but lying incapacitated for months, or even over a year, would be inevitable.

“—!”

The moment Izay made his decision, the previously relaxed atmosphere vanished.

A surging torrent of purple light burst forth, powerful enough to disrupt the normal rhythm of space.

—Crack!

Izay crushed the ground beneath his feet, forcefully retreating.

Using Yetsha planted into the ground for leverage, he retreated beyond the range of the purple torrent, rendering Andarius’s ultimate attack futile.

In an instant, he distanced himself over a hundred meters.

“With this final blow, let’s conclude!”

There was no thought of reorganizing forces, waiting for the enemy’s attack to finish before delivering the finishing blow.

Such a plan would take too long; the current situation didn’t allow it. Izay needed absolute efficiency.

The moment he landed after pulling away, azure Starflame bloomed from within him, sinking his frame deeper into stance.

In the next moment, propelling himself off the ground with both feet, Izay leaped high into the air.

Trailing flames behind him, almost touching the stone ceiling, he raised Yetsha high above his head.

Chaotic energy contracted.

The enveloping Starflame around Izay rapidly diminished, flowing along his surface—changing hosts, concentrating entirely onto the silver spear.

Condensed magic froze the air solid, making even breathing seem luxurious.

“[Pierce it]!!”

Izay bent his body like a bow, aiming at the ancient monster below—”Andarius.”

Responding to its master’s will, Yetsha gathered all its Starflame, concentrating every ounce of magical energy at a single point—the spear tip.

No doubt, it was now the strongest spear capable of piercing through any obstacle!

“[Leonid]!!!”

An all-out strike infused with his full magical power—a light spear of annihilation!

A meteor sliced through the space, azure streams surged, roaring with deafening sound!

The fierce yet celestial beauty of the light caused everyone to hold their breath, unable to speak.

But in Andarius’s eyes, it appeared like the scythe of Death, sending shivers down its spine.

Even though it technically had no fur…

Regardless, with its mobility nullified by Izay and no hope of recovery in the short term, its fate to avoid this attack was sealed.

“——————”

“!!!”

The radiant force swallowed Andarius whole, along with the darkness of the underground.

Under the blazing light of Yetsha, every molecule of Andarius’s blackened body was exposed to searing impact, emitting inhuman screams before dissipating completely.

“Crack!?!”

Amidst the intense glow, something revealed itself, emitting a fractured sound.

—It was a colossal Magic Stone nearly as tall as a person.

Pierced through and killed by Yetsha!

“BOOM———”

When the massive Magic Stone disappeared, it seemed to trigger a chain reaction.

The densely packed red-purple barnacles surrounding the area and the unborn scorpion eggs quickly turned to ash and vanished.

The underground chamber of the temple once again revealed its original rocky face, as if those things had never existed.