Chapter 257 - A Successful Baptism (2/2)

Bang!

Unfortunately for Blob, even though he acted at the very instant he had heard his creator's order and tried to dodge the bolt, he was only able to mitigate the damage he had obtained by around 60% with the barrier shattering as a result, feeling an immense amount of pain as the ground where he stood on tore apart. Due to the force behind the bolt, he was sent flying for a few meters before landing with a thud. It took him a few seconds or so for him to finally get up.

Although Blob's current condition could be considered to be greatly injured, Argentum looked at Blob with an aura of immense excitement as he shouted, ”Hey, Blob! Get up! Do you feel your body becoming stronger?”

”Huh?” Blob, who had just gotten up from the ground, briefly radiated an aura of confusion before noticing that something was off. Even though his body was filled to the brim with injuries, which were signified with parts of his body lacking in energy, in actuality, he felt that he had more power than ever before. He tried punching out in his currently injured state, only to find out that the force behind this casual punch was enough for him to create a strong gust of wind, surprising him.

He also went ahead and started to dash around the area he landed, finding out that he was moving a few times faster than before. Realizing what had happened to his body, he exuded an aura of immense elation as he looked at Argentum and shouted, ”I've gotten stronger!”

In response, Argentum let out a loud chuckle as he used his skills to heal Blob's injuries before the second lightning bolt struck down. In contrast, Argentum was glad to find out that surviving the first bolt of lightning would increase the being's strength by a few times already. It was then that he understood the reasoning behind the second and third bolt being far more powerful than the first bolt. It was because with each bolt of lightning that was withstood, the greater the improvement the being would obtain.

'I wonder if the improvement in strength stays even if a being fails a bolt in the middle of the Power Baptism,' Argentum thought to himself as the second lightning bolt had finally descended.

”[Aegis of the Grand Ignis]!” Now knowing very well how much pain a single blue lightning bolt inflicted on him, Blob was now more prepared than before. He unhesitatingly went ahead and used the strongest defensive skill he had in his arsenal, conjuring a large shield that looked like the coat of arms of royal clans. He then moved this shield upward to cover his head, which would be the first part that would be struck by the blue lightning bolt if it came down.

Fortunately, Argentum noticed the shield that Blob had conjured, hastily casting the strongest movement speed boosting spell he had to close the gap between him and Blob in an instant. He then extended his right palm as he shouted, ”[Higher Algor Magic: Aqua Burst Omega, Second Verse]!”

Whoosh!

A short instant after that, a blue ball of energy hastily made its way towards the shield before being absorbed, expanding the size of the shield by a few notches in an instant as the aura it radiated now gave off the feeling that it was impenetrable. And it was this moment that the shield and the second lightning bolt collided.

Bang!

Due to the force behind the blue lightning bolt, the shield was pushed down, hitting Blob's head in a split second. Surprisingly, even though the shield and the bolt collided, the shield had not cracked from the force at well, making Blob inwardly wonder as to what Argentum cast on the skill to make it incredibly sturdy. Alongside the thought, he went ahead and pushed on the shield with all of the strength coursing throughout his body, counteracting the force from the blue lightning bolt.

At first, the force from the blue lightning bolt was the side that had the advantage, but gradually, with every passing second, the force from the blue lightning bolt decreased, allowing Blob to slowly be at the advantage after some time. Feeling that the strength behind the blue lightning bolt was now at a level where it could be ignored, Blob went ahead and exerted all of the force from his force towards the shield, dispersing the weak blue lightning bolt as he felt his body improving in strength.

With Blob safely withstanding the second lightning bolt, an aura of extreme happiness radiated from both Argentum and Blob. Argentum felt immense joy since Blob was close to clearing the Power Baptism, which meant that Blob would soon step on a new level of power that would allow him to fight against Animates equally. As for Blob, he felt immense joy since to him, it meant that he would become more useful to Argentum since he now had more strength.

”Just you wait, Argentum!” Blob shouted with immense glee as his sense of vision was focused on Argentum. ”I'll make sure to clear the remaining lightning bolts with e—”

Bang!

As if it was interrupting him, the third lightning bolt had now descended and struck at Blob. Fortunately, the shield that was enchanted with Argentum's spell was still over his head, allowing Blob to utilize the newly obtained strength he had obtained as he pushed on the shield. Surprisingly, even though the third lightning bolt was far stronger than the first and second lightning bolt combined, Blob was able to push back the force behind the third lightning bolt and even overwhelm it. Due to such a move, the third lightning bolt was dispersed without a problem as a feeling of improvement enveloped Blob's body once more.

”Damned lightning bolt,” Blob said in a tone of annoyance as he placed the shield down on the ground. Just as he was about to look at Argentum once again, he noticed that Argentum was radiating an aura of extreme disbelief. Wondering why Argentum was radiating such an aura, he then asked him, ”What's the matter, Argentum?”

Hearing his name being called, Argentum snapped back to reality as he responded to Blob's question with a stammer, saying, ”Y-you finished the Power Baptism…”

”It's already finished?” Blob asked as a response to his creator's statement, to which Argentum slowly pointed above Blob before responding with a stammer, ”L-look at the clouds…”

”The clouds?” Although he was not sure why Argentum wanted him to look up, he still did what he told, only to realize why Argentum told him to do so.

With the third lightning bolt being withstood by Blob, there was no more point for the dark clouds to be there anymore, gradually dispersing as the blue light that radiated from the center of the dark clouds dispersed as well. After a few more seconds, the dark clouds were not there anymore, as if it was not there in the first place.

”Huh.” Blob could not help but utter as he scratched his head in awkwardness, dispersing his shield a few seconds later. He then slowly made his way to where Argentum was before letting out an awkward laugh. ”I guess…I finished the Power Baptism.”

In response, Argentum let out an awkward laugh of his own as well before saying, ”I guess so.”

And just like that, the first successful Power Baptism within Argentum's band of companions had been done.