Chapter 860 - Second Phase (1/2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Beautiful golden flowers bloomed all around Serras and it was like a scene of the dream. But despite how mesmerizing it sounded, it was a sound of agony. It let out a loud, painful scream that resounded in the space and left everyone dizzy. Then, its soft body suddenly stiffened and the rotten flesh solidified from bottom-up while the fluttering tentacles also came to an abrupt halt.
Rhode’s eyes glinted with the trace of a smile.
It was neither him nor his summoned spirits who did this. Instead, it was the work of the extraordinary weapons in the hands of the Half-Demons and Battle Mages. Rhode had made all sorts of preparations for this operation. Of course, he didn’t want his men to be cheerleaders standing by the rear as he took down all the enemies. Even though they weren’t as useful as players, they couldn’t be too useless as natives, right?
After his discussion with Lapis, this new, unique function was created—the Order Bomb. Made by the purest magical crystals, its internal structure was produced by Lapis’s Behermes alchemy skill. In other words, the magic crystals could instantly release a force that was as powerful as Rhode’s Order barrier. As long as the Chaos Creature wasn’t overly powerful, it would basically be burned to ashes. This was also the trump card that Rhode had prepared for this adventure. The Chaos vortexes that they would face later on their way to the core were terrifying beyond imagination. However, they could use these weapons to stop the Chaos Creatures from approaching and in other words, these weapons could be used as timely nuclear weapons.
Besides, it wouldn’t contaminate the place—it was clean and swift.
If this was Serras’s original form, such an attack would only be equivalent to a mosquito sting. But the problem was that Serras was only a projection in this main plane of existence. Rhode judged that its strength was between level 75 and 80. However, the biggest advantage against the Chaos Creatures was that he wouldn’t need to be afraid of being dragged into its ridiculous Order Dimension and their battles would be solely based on pure strength. Besides, as a projection, Serras’s resistance against Order wasn’t that strong and as a result, it could be defeated in a single blow.
But this single blow did cost quite a lot…
An Order Bomb required a magic crystal consisting of the highest purity in order to trigger the Order ritual from the magical powers. The price was also extremely high, where just this explosion alone cost the equivalent of five million gold coins.
“Everyone attack!”
At this moment, Serras was incredibly weak, which was the best time for a massacre. Rhode ordered without hesitation before clasping his daggers and activating [Self-Affirmation].
[Talent Characteristic: Self-Affirmation (LV1) Activate]
[Please select the attribute to strengthen]
Order damage +10086!
[Strengthening complete. Order damage reached 13020]
The spiritual radiance on the two daggers suddenly shone as bright as the sun. Rhode squinted and brandished the daggers. At the next moment, countless dazzling light torrents flowed and violently ripped through the creature. The most purest, powerful strength of Order punctured its body and in an instant, the right side of its body began to dissolve with light dust dispersing everywhere. Shortly after, Serras shuddered and exploded while its tentacles cracked and fluttered crazily.
At this moment, Celia and Celestina launched their attacks.
Celestina’s blazing dark flames on her sword crashed on its head like a waterfall. Although the scorching flames weren’t as damaging as Rhode’s, it continued to devour the creature inch by inch as the dark flames naturally devoured any existence of magical powers. Perhaps Serras wouldn’t worry if the flames struck its original form, but its projection was just like a massive gas station for Celestina. No matter if it was diesel or gasoline, it would still be lit by fire, right?
However, Serras wouldn’t give up just yet.
“————!”
A piercing screech erupted—it shook even Rhode, who was in midair. Half of its dissolved head crumbled to the ground. But shortly after, its entire body also sank. Then, the air and ground couldn’t maintain their form any longer and began rolling like boiled water. Apart from the surface within the Order barrier, everything else changed in appearance with tentacles striking out from the ground and exuding an awful stench.
Its second phase began.
“Bow Knights, change your target to the tentacles around the Order barrier. Clerics, cancel the defensive barrier, use this time to rest, and consume restoration potions! Only strengthen the defense after the tentacles break the barrier! Anne, Marfa, lead the mercenaries and beware of the tentacles. Currently, the Order barrier is unstable, so immediately eliminate them if they break through the barrier. Lize, how is Bell doing?!”
“I’m working on it, Mr. Rhode!”
“Faster!”
Rhode ordered anxiously. Even though he had strengthened his Order damage with the [Self-Affirmation] and there wasn’t a problem dealing with Serras, [Self-Affirmation] could only last half an hour. He prayed that this damn projection wouldn’t transform into its third phase.
Rhode pushed his arm forward and two shadow clones emerged from him. Then, Rhode and his shadow clones held Gracier and Madaras in hand and darted across the ground, streaking across six trails of dazzling blade rays and rumbling the land with the powerful strength of Order. In an instant, chunks of sliced tentacles scattered all around the place. But shortly after, a pitch-black torrent emerged and enveloped the cracked land. The Bow Knights were ready. They quickly released their spiritual arrows and struck the tentacles that were about to restore, delaying their attack.
“Master, it managed to escape!”
At this moment, Celia, Celestina, and Shira appeared beside Rhode. Celia stared sternly while Celestina gazed in resentment at the enormous sunken hole that Rhode and his shadow clones struck. Even though Celestina tried to blast the dark flames with all her might when Rhode attacked, she was still too late. On the other hand, Shira’s pitch-black steel chains had punctured Celestina’s wings and she was idly hanging below by the steel chains. Even though her body was fully of ghastly scars, she continued to tilt her head and smiled while swinging in midair and gazed at the tentacles below.
“Don’t worry; be wary of your surroundings.”
Rhode gazed at the pitch-black sky while clutching the sword. If he recalled correctly, in Serras’s second phase, it would turn the entire world into its internal body and dissolve the players. Then, players would need to dodge the AoE acid and attacks from countless tentacles. However, Rhode had a plan that could resolve this once and for all…
Give it a shot.
“Celia, Celestina, Shira, listen to me.”
Rhode said before shifting his gaze to below him. The tentacles were getting closer to the Order barrier. Although the Bow Knights were hard at work and the Elf Rangers had summoned thorn walls, defense wouldn’t solve all the problems in this place. Currently, Serras was assimilating the entire space and when it was done, the second phase would begin.
“Serras is about to enter the second phase. I want you to listen to my orders. Later on, I will launch attacks from two directions. What you need to do is to instantly fly over and unleash all your powers and eradicate every obstacle that tries to stop you. Don’t avoid and be pestered by them. Release all your strength and deal the fatal blow! Then, retreat immediately and if the situation is right, I will seize the chance to deal lethal damage. That creature will instantly be dead if successful, understand?”