As soon as the Elysian roots tightened their hold around Adam, Ery seized the opportunity, surging forward to deliver what he hoped would be the final strike. But the Nephilim Apostle was quick to react, decisively releasing another powerful [Holy Strike].
The burst of divine energy not only stopped Ery in his tracks but also shattered the entangling vines, allowing Adam to hover freely in the air, catching his breath.
Ery exhaled in frustration, realizing just how close he had co to victory. The battle had shifted dramatically—now that Adam had witnessed his secret technique, fighting him would beco increasingly difficult. As he stared up at his opponent, floating out of reach, Ery's mind raced with strategies.
With a smirk, he taunted, "How long do you plan on staying up there?"
Adam, ignoring the provocation, remained focused. His eyes scanned the arena, carefully observing the dense network of roots still pulsating with energy. "To think you could cast such a spell… What kind of root is that?!"
"If you're curious, I'll explain everything... just co down here,"
Adam, not sharing the humor, eyed the situation warily. "It seems your spell has a very limited range… Let's see how strong it is." Determined to find a way to counter the powerful roots, Adam prepared himself for another strike. The halo behind Adam flared with radiant intensity, casting a brilliant glow as he channeled its divine power into his sword.
Hovering above, he prepared to unleash another devastating [Holy Strike], this ti aiming to obliterate not only the vines but also Ery and the arena itself. The sheer force of his power sent waves of anticipation through the air, and the academy staff stationed around the arena imdiately sprang into action, reinforcing the magical barriers that protected the spectators.
Sensing the imminent threat, Ery responded by summoning every glowing Elysian root, pulling them back toward him, forming a dense, protective cocoon around his body.
"That won't save you!" Adam shouted, a predatory gleam in his eyes as he released his powerful sword strike.
With a swift, decisive motion, he released the first [Holy Strike].
BOOMMM!!!
The divine energy collided with the arena, sending a powerful shockwave rippling through the air. The impact made the crowd flinch, but Ery's cocoon of roots held firm. Undeterred, Adam launched the second strike, his sword cleaving through the air with even greater force.
BOOMMM!!!
The blast cracked the surface of Ery's root barrier, creating visible fractures in the protective cocoon.
With a determined force, the third strike shattered the charms reinforcing the barrier, sending fragnts of energy scattering like fireflies in the night.
Adam, montarily satisfied by his progress, summoned the strength to launch a fourth and final strike.
KABOOMMMM!!
This one unleashed a cataclysmic blast that tore through the arena, creating a massive crater in the ground.
The audience gasped in horror, panic rippling through the crowd as they realized the full extent of the devastation wrought by the Nephilim Apostle. As the dust settled, the audience gasped in shock. Amid the swirling debris, Ery stood in the center of the crater, battered and bloodied, his body trembling under the strain of the devastating assault. His robes were torn, and his skin was covered in gri and wounds, a testant to the ferocity of Adam's relentless attacks.
Hall 33 acolytes scread in alarm, their voices filled with desperation, but their cries went unanswered as Adam gave Ery no ti to recover. With cold determination, the Nephilim Apostle descended, his sword gleaming with divine power as he aid for the final blow.
Without hesitation, Adam drove his blade straight through Ery's chest.
SPLATT!!
"NO!!!" Shinta's anguished scream cut through the arena, followed by gasps of horror from the crowd. It seed the match was over and the victor decided. Adam's eyes flickered with satisfaction, but just as he was about to claim his victory, a strange noise echoed behind him.
CRACK!!
The ground behind Adam violently broke open, and from the depths erged another figure—another Ery. In one swift, fluid motion, he thrust his blade clawed forward, driving it straight into Adam's back.
SPLATT!!
"ARRGHHH!!!!… How…?" Adam's voice faltered, his eyes wide with disbelief as pain shot through his body with blood spilling to the ground.
Before he could react, the "Ery" skewered on his sword began to disintegrate, crumbling into fragnts of flesh and bone before dissolving into a pool of dark, viscous blood.
It was Ery's true clone, carefully crafted while he was hidden within the cocoon.
The real Ery had been lying in wait beneath the ground, perfectly timing his ambush for that one final strike. "You trick ... again!!"
Adam grimaced in pain, but he was far from defeated. With a swift motion of his divine wings, he flipped its razor-sharp edges slicing into Ery's shoulder, attempting to push him away. Despite the deep wound, Ery held his ground, his grip on Adam firm as he activated the ninth stage of his [Immortal Gate], to match her battle power.
At the sa ti, he called the Elysian roots, to coil around them, tighten their grip, locking the Nephilim Apostle in place.
"Release at once!!!" Adam shouted, his voice laced with fury as he struggled to break free. Despite the six blades piercing through his body, his mastery of light magic granted him remarkable regenerative abilities, healing his wounds rapidly. But as the seconds passed, sothing more sinister began to take hold.
Adam's expression changed as he felt an unsettling drain within his core. His energy, his very life force, was slowly being siphoned away. Panic began to set in as he realized Ery had unleashed another technique—[Spirit Devour].
Ery Whipser, "This is payback… You took my strength, now I'll take yours!"
The situation had beco dire for the Nephilim Apostle, his strength rapidly draining under the combined assault of Ery's [Spirit Devour] and the relentless grip of the Elysian roots. Desperation showed in Adam's eyes, and for the first ti, the once confident Nephilim seed vulnerable. In that tense mont, a voice echoed within Ery's mind.
It was the voice of the Nephilim Grand Overseer. The thought of losing their top 10 position within the Academy was a blow the Nephilim were not willing to bear lightly. Ery, however, remained silent, feeling Adam's screams and sensing his spirit weakening under his grip.
Through the ntal connection, he could detect the Overseer's growing anxiety.
Ery finally responded.
Ery's gaze turned toward the grand figure overseeing the duel with calculated detachnt. After a mont of contemplation, he delivered his answer.
"The number is... One ...One life of my Senior Fuxi... One life of his killer."
There was silence from the other end of the ntal link, followed by a long, drawn-out sigh. The weight of Ery's demand hung heavily in the air. The Overseer resigned, and raised his hand, signaling his decision. "Hall 6 surrenders." The words rang out, sealing the fate of the match.
The audience erupted in disbelief and cheers as Hall 33 was declared victorious, successfully advancing to the top halls.
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