32 Chapter 26: The Encounter with the Evil God Part 2 (1/2)

[Destruction: Erodes and crumbles anything and everything the caster touches.]

Ohhh. Now this one's dangerous. It really spells 'Evil God' in any way it states. Like a God of Destruction or something.

[Negative Physical Condition Resistance Lv. Max: Negates every physical condition that may hinder the function of the body. Nulls: Pain, Numbness, Hunger, Thirst, Effects of Sleep Deprivation, Viral and Bacterial Infection, and Illness.]

[Extreme Temperature Resistance Lv. Max: Gains the resistance against extreme temperatures.]

[Curse Resistance Lv. Max: The ability to withstand Curse skills is enhanced. The level corresponds to the degree of effect the skills negates. Nullity is gained after reaching maximum level.]

Ignoring how Extreme Temperature Resistance's description is so half-arsed, I see these are good skills. Now I really want to have them even more.

Specially these two.

[Evil God's Penance: Self-inflicted punishment for the sins of the Evil God. During activation, in exchange for Health Gauge, Physical Attack will be tripled.]

[Magical Perception: Perceive through the Crysaztel in the surroundings. It gives the ability to see at any angle within a radius depending on the magical ability of the user.]

I'm having second thoughts about the Magical Perception skill. I mean, I already have the skill Detect. Also, its range is vague as it depends in the user's magical ability. As for the current me who has 0% C.Manipulation, which is the basis for magical ability, I'm not confident that it will be useful for me.

BUT, HOWEVER, ON THE OTHER HAND!!

Just check that Evil God's Penance skill! It's like Amplify, but much stronger! I know it uses HG for fuel but that's the only thing for me to be careful about when using it! Mufufu…

Ah.

Why the heck am I getting elated by Physical Attack?? I want to make my Magical Attack stronger, not my Physical Attack!

I'm a man, to be a mage!

Not a man, to be a muscle brain!

Hmmm…

Oh well. Que sera, sera. Stronger, the better.

Enough thinking and mentally preparing.

Let's start the soul reaping.

Shall we?

I placed three more sheets of barrier over the first one, just to make sure. I can't afford to have another accidents or failure on my part since I'm not alone anymore. I know I can resurrect, but it's different when other people are concerned.

Amplify.

Enchanted Hide.

Steel Hide.

Don't forget to activate Intangible and Reflect.

Ah. I got the Enchanted Hide and Steel Hide from two separate monsters outside. They reduce Magical and Physical Damage that I receive respectively.

Anyways!

[Yo, Evil God. It's been 32 years.]

It's not a colossal titan!! Though, it's certainly colossal!

… Rather… Why am I making jokes all by myself…?

At. Any. Rate. I'm still receiving its gale attacks. They're only passing through me so it's not worth my concern. But I'm shivering from the state of the ground where its attacks lands.

But to think it can create a wind gale without a skill of that accords with the attack. It only uses its Slash Mastery to produce this gales. Does it not have the ability to learn more skills?

Nonetheless, that's awesome. That means actions done by making use of skills and skills per se are different, and both can be used differently.

Just like my Psychokinesis. I see, I see.

Nice, very nice. Mufufu.

Evil God: ”*CAAAAAAWWWWW*”

Getting frustrated from its attacks being rendered ineffective, it let out a resounding roar, creating a tremor inside the cave. Few Glow stones dropped from the ceiling and some debris began falling. Some dropped down around where Fleur and Purin is stationed, but because of the Barrier, they're safe.

I had Purin stay out for the time being, since there's probably no way that we'll be able to cooperate. So it's all me, for now.

*fwoosh*

It flapped its wings to jump and without a moment to let by, it used its sharp claws to stomp on me. Just as I expected, it left a huge crater upon the impacts wake.

I'm using Intangible, dude.

Not waiting for another chance to slip, I used Soul Consume.

Activate!

…

*THUMP!!*

Wha-

Urk?!

Evil God: ”*CAAAAAAAWWWWW!!!*”

What the heck?! It hurts!! Ack…!! My head…! I don't have one, though…!

I immediately deactivated my Soul Consume. And using that chance, the Evil God maneuvered its way away from me. I was expecting a follow up attack, but it just stood there without doing anything, aside from glaring.

Did it get even more cautious of me…? Ugh…

Damn it. It still hurts…

I checked its CG. I definitely drained quite a number off of it. But it's not enough.

More importantly, what was that pain?? Just when I tried to activate Soul Consume, surges of pain assaulted my mind. It wrapped around my mind, strangling my very consciousness. It's like it was a virus corrupting my inner being. I felt like my own soul was being devoured instead.

And not only pain…

I also felt emotions, like… sadness, loneliness, regret, joy, excitement, comfort, and most unbelievable of them all…

I felt love.

I don't know why and how I knew it, but when I felt it, I knew it has to be love.

Of course, it was not directed at me. I don't even know for whom it was directed. But right now, I know that it came from the Evil God.

Love… From an Evil God.

Hmhm. Interesting.

But sorry, bro. I know you won't let us pass through here without a fight. And I know you intend to satisfy your bloodlust and kill us. But I can't do that. I have to see to it that Fleur gets out of here safe and sound. We still have to let her enjoy travelling the world, after all.

And to do that, I have to reap your soul.

Got it?

[Purin, can you use all your crowd control skills?]

Purin: ”Crow- What?”

[Anything you can use to stop your opponent's movements or something like that. Those you used against me before.]

Purin: ”Wh-What doth thee intend to accomplish?”

Inside the barrier I erected, I relayed my plan to Purin. Purin, who is then on her wits end because of the sudden development in our situation, asked in a bewildered voice.

I take a short glance at Fleur, and see her trying to stay calm. She still has a very worried and serious expression, though.

[On my go, repeatedly use them until it no longer moves. Don't stop until it dies.]

Purin: ”H-Hah?? Those skills doth not deal any damage! Thou should know that perfectly!!”

[Oops. Time's up. Just do as I say. I know if it's Purin, you can do it.]

I stopped Purin from her unceasing complains.

The phoenix has moved once again. It opened its huge beak and pointed it towards our direction.

A breath is coming, huh? There's no way this attack doesn't use Crysaztel.

Alright, nice timing.

[You got it, okay Purin my friend?]

I float away towards the Evil God, shielding both Fleur and Purin.