382 Second Chance (2/2)

Target hit: Hostile attack against Dark Annihilator dealt 762 damage!

Although the armor hadn't served much purpose, Dark Annihilator was now within reach of his target.

Even as his magical crimson armor fell apart, Dark Annihilator's smug expression loomed before Qin Ruo.

And yet, Dark Annihilator couldn't find any trace of the shock that ought to be in Qin Ruo's own eyes. If anything, there was a hint of a smile there.

”Burst!” The sound was just on the edge of hearing.

And then, even as the Dark Golden broadsword descended toward his Frostbarrier, the staircase of ice beneath Qin Ruo's feet exploded into a flurry of splinters that engulfed them both.

Without the protection of his magical armor, Dark Annihilator had only his Berserk Fury to bolster him against the biting chill. However, a Frostburst of this sort didn't impose much chance of Chilling a target, so it had no effect on a champion of his caliber.

But the Frostburst had only been a distraction!

As the snow filled their vision, a golden shadow shot forth.

There was the satisfying sound of a collision within the sudden snowstorm, and the winged form of Dark Annihilator was sent flying away like a runaway kite.

Target hit: Dark Annihilator dealt 219 damage!

Poochie hit target, dealing 36 damage to Dark Annihilator!

Stun failed.

***

Dark Annihilator tumbled through the air, dropping nearly a hundred meters before he managed to arrest his fall with a furious effort of his Angelic Wings, catching himself before he hit the ground. Twisting around and thrashing with his wings to regain his balance, he eventually managed to stabilize himself.

As he rose back up, Dark Annihilator went over what had just happened, and he broke into a cold sweat.

The horror! With a flick of his hand, he'd thrown a spell that had nearly finished him straight off the bat. A single strike had dealt over seven hundred damage to him—if not for his instincts warning him to cut down that attack, all three strikes would have landed, and it would have been game over for him!

Such powerful magic!

Worse, even as he was frantically breaking those wolf heads, Qin Ruo had already completed a second spell. He'd unleashed it with perfect timing—just as Dark Annihilator had been stripped of his magical protection—so that he suffered its full effect! Just as he had gotten close enough to perform a fatal combo, he had been interrupted by that.

It was unbelievable, how Qin Ruo had been capable of split-second elemental control with such precision.

”This guy…”

Either he had improved greatly in the past few days, or he had never really shown the full extent of his abilities up until now. Whichever the case, he proved that he was entitled to some conceit!

Dark Annihilator took a deep breath, but he was unable to calm himself fully as he returned to within thirty meters of Qin Ruo. Pausing, he regarded Qin Ruo severely, and asked, ”Why did you spare me?”

Having fought through countless battles, Dark Annihilator was no stranger to combat, and could easily tell that after their first exchange, Qin Ruo could very well have given chase, pressed his advantage, and even finished him off. Yet strangely, he had not, and that put Dark Annihilator ill at ease.

Qin Ruo held out his hand to receive Poochie as it returned to him. Turning to regard Dark Annihilator, he explained the truth of the matter: he hesitated to strike down the man from the Devil's Swamp, the Field Commander whose might and vigor had been such an inspiration to him.

(Translator's Note: In the original, the following declaration was indicated to be a 'reply', supposedly by Dark Annihilator. Probably a mistake, because right afterward it explains Qin Ruo's reasoning, as though he was the one who'd spoken.)

”I prove nothing by defeating a man who made the mistake of underestimating his opponent. I shall give you another chance. If you wish to continue our fight, then hold nothing back, and bring out your Pet as well—by yourself, you're no match for me.”

Qin Ruo was curious to know the full strength of a Tier 5 Titanwraith Berserker. Besides that, what sort of Pet would someone like Dark Annihilator choose? Had it been helpful to him, during his Tier 5 Advancement Quest?

In a different situation, Dark Annihilator would have dismissed Qin Ruo's bluster as usual.

The airborne opponent downed a HP Potion (L) to bring his health back up to full. He swung one arm about, throwing off waves of broiling energy!

A Phoenix, its flame-wreathed wingspan more than three meters across, appeared at his side.

A Flying-type Pet? Qin Ruo fought to rein in his surprise.

No longer daring to swagger, he hurriedly brought up two new Frostramparts before himself, and then began casting another Lycan Barrage.

”Watch yourself!” Dark Annihilator called out in friendly warning, once again summoning the magical crimson armor. Rising up into the air, he repeated his aerial charge from earlier, arcing through the air with breathtaking speed!

Qin Ruo had no time to admire this graceful display. His full attention was locked onto that Phoenix, still hovering in the air thirty meters away.

Sure enough, just as Dark Annihilator came within his reach, the creature emitted a cry, clear and sharp!

The temperature rose steeply! In the space of a moment, the whole area was bathed in dancing flames, a veritable sea of fire, consuming everything within sight.

And Dark Annihilator was lost from view!