Chapter 802 (2/2)

Behind, the two larger puppets began to step forward.

Of the Witch Kings, the middle two were struck with a half dozen Ignition Bolts and Reach of the Jade Slag. The bolts slowed and stumbled them enough that the claw that ripped out of the ground could snap closed on their body, binding and damaging it. Ultimately they could fight their way out, but by then it was too late to protect their companions.

The Witch King on the far right burst through the emerald flames only to physically crushed into the ground by Influence of the Molten Core. The hyperdense ball smashed the thing’s torso with a vicious snap. It screeched and struggled, but the intense heat and powerful energies produced by this world engine slowly melted its body beyond a fighting state.

The leftmost Witch King was faced with Randidly himself.

“As the Sun Stills.” Randidly’s spear slid forward toward the Witch King.

Hissing, the thing conjured a spectral claw almost double the size of those Randidly had seen before. The coloration was different too; it was a spooky yellow color with vicious ridges extending from the claw. To Randidly’s surprise, when the two attacks clashed, neither emerged victoriously.

Gonna need to work on that image… Randidly reflected, even as he activated Stalemate Breaker and crushed the Witch King to the ground. Its exoskeleton fractured, but then Randidly unleashed a condensed blast of Indignation of Yggdrasil. Its wails turned small and weak. The Crown of Cataclysm and Gloom flickered to life above Randidly’s head.

He struck again, burning with the image of a sun’s slow failure. As the Sun Stills ripped forward once more. The heavy weight of the attack broke what remained of the Witch King open like an egg.

FOOL. YOU HAVE EARNED MY IRE.

Randidly was somewhat amused by the continued arrogance of the Propagator as the two remaining Witch Kings rushed toward him. But the larger puppets were a more annoying problem. Overpowering them was possible, but time-consuming. The sheer amount of the pseudo-metal that constituted their frame was a hassle.

Better to head to the source.

Randidly blurred past the Witch Kings. To his surprise, they twisted around and raked their claws against his sides even as he tried to dodge. Without Sulfur, he received several deep gashes along his sides. His expression was bitter. Soon, he would get his actual fucking equipment back...

The large puppets blurred as they moved far faster than their huge bodies should allow, but Randidly just grinned. Phantom Half-Step teleported him back and forth, weaving through their attacks as though they choreographed the whole thing.

As soon as there was an opening, Randidly activated Spear Advances, Ash Trails. His body zipped through the air toward the amber butterfly. It fluttered in the air, agitated. It barely had any time to think-

Randidly twisted rapidly, dispersing his momentum in a blast of concussive force as the wave of mental power ripped outward. He wouldn’t be knocked out by the same thing twice. But even from the ten-meter distance that remained between them, Randidly staggered and experienced a brief second of dazedness.

His emerald eyes flashed as he steadied himself. The metal puppets behind him were slashing toward his back. Beyond them, the Witch Kings produced Psychic Venom and prepared to blast Randidly with it.

With a glance, roots erupted out of the ground and surrounded the small amber butterfly. It fluttered, furious and bombarded Randidly with shouting commands to release it, but Randidly ignored it. He even gained a few Levels in Pain Resistance for his troubles. Instead, he turned and faced the oncoming attacks from behind.

The Crown of Cataclysm and Gloom glowed with its sickly grey light. Randidly activated All is Ash, and the world flattened. He was ash. The metal puppets and Witch Kings were ash. The attacks… the struggles of the Propagator… all of it was nothing but flat ash, extending toward infinity. Parts of a once great whole, separated and broken. The burnt remnants of God’s dead body.

Pieces of a long forgotten perfection scattered to the four corners of the universe. Weak and fragile.

“Break for me,” Randidly whispered.

And, like the poorly constructed bits of dust that they were, Randidly’s breath scattered the bodies of the Witch Kings, the puppets, and their Psychic Venom. They were the ash, and the wind drew them away.

Randidly let the Skill drop with a wince as a headache tore through him. He staggered and then spat as he steadied himself. That much at once… that concentrated of an image… it was still hard. But after a few seconds he allowed himself to gather his energy, his grin returned to his face.

After moving a bit away, Randidly regarded the struggles of the amber butterfly against the constantly growing roots with an indulgent smirk.

“Just sit tight. I have plans for you.”