70 Chapter 70: Aping Ou (2/2)

”We had some casualties…would have suffered more if you didn't show up.” Jin Hao was sitting a few meters away, grimacing as he rubbed his bloodied leg. From those serious wounds and torn trousers leg, I doubt he would be standing up anytime soon. At least it wasn't twisted in an unnatural angle. That would be bad.

I nodded, noticing a few corpses here and there. Or at least students who were unmoving. As much as I wanted to check on them, the Fiery Ape was occupying my attention at the moment. A torrent of flames washed over Ursa Major, and finally reduced him to cinders. I winced as the gigantic bear disappeared.

”Canis Major! Unleash Sirius!” I shouted. The gigantic hunting hound obeyed, jumping backward as a golden ball of energy accumulated inside his jaws. In the next few seconds, he released a golden beam of power at the same time as the Fiery Ape, who was launching a fireball. Both ranged attacks collided and exploded.

I frowned as I studied the battle. From this, I could see that my Constellation spirits were at least on par with a rank C monster. But at the current rate we were going, they would be locked in a stalemate. I debated on whether I should summon another Constellation spirit to help Canis Major, or summon something more powerful.

The choice was made for me. The Fiery Ape, with surprising tenacity, brushed through the explosion and flames and charged at my stunned Canis Major. Before the huge hound could react, the Fiery Ape grabbed hold of him and smashed his back against its knee.

Crack!

An ominous sound echoed across the forest. I watched in horror as the Fiery Ape snapped Canis Major's back and the hunting hound disappeared with a whine.

”You've got to be kidding me…” I muttered. A rank C monster, and already it was overpowering my poor Constellation spirits? Looked like I still had a long way to go. I was aware that the power of my Constellation spirits and soul beasts were completely dependent on my own strength – they weren't going to be godlike just because I imagined them to be. Obviously if I didn't possess the mana to supply their existence, then they would only be as powerful as the amount of magical energy I provided to keep them in this physical plane.

The Fiery Ape turned toward us, holding up a hand that was crackling with flames. Never mind that it had just charged through the flames of its own making. The bastard only escaped with singed fur at worst. I felt a chill run down my back.

Forget about summoning my big guns. I didn't have enough time to summon my usual Constellation spirits.

The Fiery Ape flung a gigantic fireball in our direction. Gritting my teeth, and realizing that there were wounded around me – such as Jin Hao who couldn't move or dodge – I stood my ground and summoned Aquarius. Swinging the blue broadsword, I unleashed a tidal wave at the incoming torrent of flames, but they vaporized into steam at the instant of contact.

Aquarius's water attack wasn't enough!

Worse, the Fiery Ape didn't care about its attack being blocked. It was already charging at us. Bursting through the flames that I was struggling to extinguish, the Fiery Ape smacked me away with a swing from its arm. I blocked its brutal swipe, but its massive hand easily shattered Aquarius and hurled me across the forest.

”Ugh!”

Blood spurted from my mouth as I struck and mowed down a tree, the thick trunk toppling over me. Dazed, I struggled to get up, but found myself pinned by the large tree. To my relief, before I could begin channeling mana into my arms to temporarily strengthen myself and toss it off, the heavy tree trunk was lifted off me.

The Fiery Ape was the one who had ”kindly” lifted the trunk off me. And now it was raising it to swing it down and squash me into a pulp. I gritted my teeth and began to quickly summon Scutum Sobiescianum, but wasn't sure if I would make it in time…

Boom!

A lightning bolt snaked out of nowhere and struck against the side of the Fiery Ape's head, detonating. The rank C brute grunted, stunned by the unexpected impact, and swiveled around to see Jin Hao, who had his smoking hand raised.

”Whoops?” the black-haired guy muttered with a sheepish smile. With his leg wounded, there was no way he could move and evade the Fiery Ape's attack that was coming. Already it was lumbering toward him with a vengeance.

Before the Fiery Ape could swat him with its tree trunk, Nicholas suddenly appeared and kicked its face, causing its head to snap backward. Streaking around the Fiery Ape like a meteor, he rained down several kicks on the annoyed beast, but it seemed that the monster was more annoyed than hurt by his attempts.

”Whoa!”

Nicholas was forced to dodge under the Fiery Ape's makeshift club. The beast swung its wooden weapon again, and this time Nicholas was a fraction of a second too slow…

Bam!

Elliot swung his axe down, forcing the Fiery Ape to turn and face him. Initially, the creature parried Elliot's axe with its makeshift club, but the powerful weapon reduced the uprooted trunk into splinters. Grunting, the Fiery Ape stumbled backward as Elliot sought to press his advantage, cleaving downward with his glowing axe.

However, the Fiery Ape still had tricks of its own. The monster gripped his Divine Device with flaming palms, stopping the deadly blade just inches away from its face. With its superior strength, it flung Elliot back, but he flipped around and landed on a tree branch before jumping away as the Fiery Ape smashed the poor tree apart with its flaming fist, reducing it to cinders and ash.

”You okay?” Nicholas asked me as he danced on the ground, getting ready to kick the Fiery Ape again. Right now its focus was on poor Elliot, but Jin Hao distracted it with another well-aimed lightning bolt. Several of the other survivors were helping him, and I could see icicles, wind blades, earth spikes and razor leaves slamming into the Fiery Ape.

However, they were pitiful compared to the blazing aura that wreathed the rank C monster protectively. Anything that reached it was incinerated instantly, reduced to dust by the flaming aura.

”Yeah.” I nodded and rose to my feet, wiping the blood from my mouth. I still felt a little shaken from the near-death experience. Studying the carnage before me as the Fiery Ape killed another poor student with its fiery fist because she could escape, I took a deep breath and hardened my resolve. ”Can you guys hold that bastard off for three minutes?”

”Three minutes?” Nicholas stared at me blankly, then his eyes widened when realization dawned on him. ”You mean you are going to…?”

”Yeah,” I replied grimly. ”It's the only way we'll stand a chance against that monster.”