Chapter 1217 Lilo and Nova
With a final, desperate screech, the crane finally succ.u.mbed. Its furious struggles had sent it sprawling, the uneven terrain hindering every attempt to regain its monstrous footing. Arthur moved in, his movements precise and merciless. Nightmare scythed through the air, not slicing at flesh this time, but targeting the crimson eye, the beacon of the creature"s malevolent intelligence.
The blade connected with a sickening squelch, and the creature"s struggles ceased. Arthur stood over the monstrous corpse, panting, a strange mix of adrenaline and triumph coursing through him.
His victory, however, was immediately interrupted by a series of cascading messages:
[A new monster has been defeated.]
[Absorbing the monster"s essence.]
[a.n.a.lyzing its essence…]
[Rearranging the database.]
[a.s.sorting genes into the known skills.]
Arthur blinked in surprise. His legacy was a living, breathing thing, learning and evolving with each encounter. A sense of eagerness sparked as he awaited the final a.s.sessment. [Results:]
[Name: t.i.tan Crane]
[Species: Unknown]
[Evolution: Myth-Tier]
[Strength: 1250]
[Agility: 800]
[Stamina: 1500]
[Perception: 600]
[Mana: 1500/1500]
[Special Skills:
Hurricane Winds: The t.i.tan Crane can manipulate the air flow around its ma.s.sive wings, creating gusts powerful enough to uproot trees and deflect projectiles.
Bone Regeneration: Severed limbs and wounds rapidly regenerate, enhancing its survivability in battle.
Piercing Shriek: A focused sonic attack that can disorient and temporarily immobilize foes.]
Arthur grinned. These abilities confirmed the sheer power of the creature he had just felled. Now, to claim his spoils...
Focusing his intent, he activated his absorb rune. A vortex of energy swirled around the carca.s.s, siphoning the creature"s latent power. His legacy pulsed in response.
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[+5 Strength Points!]
[+5 Agility Points!]
[+5 Stamina Points!]
[+5 Perception Points!]
[+5 Mana Points!]
A sigh of sadness leaked from his mouth. The legacy was still a regulator of the power that the outsider once had, but its creator has long since perished. The memory of the Scholar Guardian was still freshly painted in his mind.
Jizo did not just give Arthur a legacy, but also the G.o.dslayer Arts and his new weapon, Nightmare. The scholar dedicated his life to aid Arthur, and he was never thanked for it.
With a thought, he summoned the familiar interface.
[––––––––––– Legacy]
[Level: 62 (43%)]
[Legacy Points: 78]
[Stats Points: 161]
[Strength: 820]
[Agility: 901]
[Stamina: 799]
[Perception: 691]
[Mana: 589/1000]
[Abilities: Runesmith (21%), Reality Manipulation]
[Skills: Mana Restoration - D, Goblins Lord (Unique – 23%), Lightning Resistance (0%)]
[Arts: The Art of Creation –– Part Three, Basic Dagger Art (100%), Dagger Mastery (100%), Art of Creator –– Submission. Art of Creator –– Domain. G.o.dslayer Art - First Stance. G.o.dslayer Art - Second Stance.]
His eyes scanned the numbers, registering the significant increase in his level. He was nearing a breakthrough, given that his mana has reached the upper limit of the Deme-rank.
His stats increased because of the Red Tower. Although it had a different stats system, the limitation it placed upon Arthur allowed him for accelerated growth.
"If I want to defeat five empyreans at the same time, I need to grow stronger," muttered Arthur as he looked around Giant Garden. What remained from his battle against the Empyrean was a desolate land with countless bodies.
"Lilo!" called Arthur for his dragon, and it appeared from his sub s.p.a.ce. It was a giant creature now, unlike what Arthur remembered about him. "How did you grow up so fast?"
"Your Golden Mana is the perfect nutrient for growth, Master," said the dragon as it lowered its violet eyes to look at Arthur. "Do you wish to soar, Master?"
Arthur considered the possibility, and chose to do just that. As he jumped to stand atop the dragon"s neck, he found it s.p.a.cious. Lilo flapped its wings and soared into the air, taking Arthur above Giant Garden.
"There is someone I would like you to meet, Lilo," said Arthur as he raised his hand, and a small blue dragon slipped out of his skin. "Its name is Nova, the Wise Blue Dragon."
"Another dragon?!" Lilo roared with shock and betrayal. Arthur laughed as he tried to stabilize himself, since the dragon was shaking its head. "How could you take another, Master?!"
"Nova is a treasure of knowledge, but he is too small for me to ride. You will always be my first dragon, Lilo," said Arthur with a laugh. "He is your junior, so be nice!"
After hearing that, Lilo calmed down and began to talk down to Nova. The Blue Dragon was a lot smarter than Lilo, but since Arthur established their hierarchy, he did not complain.
Arthur made Lilo cast an illusion around Giant Garden, so that no one would see what he was doing here. As soon as the barrier was in place, a mountain to begin to shift.
"What is happening?" muttered Arthur with confusion. This mountain had a powerful life force, but Arthur just a.s.sumed that something lived inside it. But as the mountain shifted and morphed, he realized that the mountain was nothing but a sleeping Earth Golem. "Adam Leno, what have you done?"
Giant Garden was created because of the mana explosion two years ago, a tragedy that wiped out an entire city. The residue mana from that man, who was working for Arthur using his infinite mana, created these monsters.
"Master, let us dragons take care of this fight!" Lilo had roared, his violet scales shimmering like amethyst in the sunlight seeping through the newly formed illusion above Giant Garden.
Arthur had hesitated, then nodded. "Remember," he instructed, "This creature isn"t like the others. It"s slow, rooted – use that. You two must combine your strengths."
Lilo gave his master a confident grin, then turned towards the newly awakened Earth Golem. The giant stirred with the groan of shifting continents, its mountainous form shedding stones like a landslide. Nova, the smaller blue dragon, fluttered nervously beside his larger counterpart.
"I-I"ve never fought something so big," Nova admitted, his sapphire scales shimmering with unease.
Lilo huffed, "Relax, little brother. Master said work together, right?" He let loose a playful burst of flame, warming the air. "Think of it like this: I"m the distraction, and you"re the knockout punch!"
The earth rumbled as the Golem lurched forward, its eyes smoldering pits of molten lava. Lilo took flight, a streak of vibrant violet against the backdrop of shattered woodland. He danced and wove in the air, weaving illusions of himself, a dozen fiery doppelgangers flickering in and out of existence.
The Golem, slow but not stupid, roared in frustration. Its t.i.tanic fists hammered at the phantoms, sending tremors through the ground. Nova seized his chance. Darting beneath the behemoth"s clumsy swipes, he unleashed a torrent of water. Not the gentle rain of a summer storm, but a focused lance, honed by his draconic power and aimed at the Golem"s vulnerable underside.
The water struck like a battering ram, and the creature staggered. Nova circled, drawing upon the hidden streams and rivulets snaking beneath the earth. He became a conductor of nature"s fury, a blur of blue amidst the chaos.
Lilo, seeing his opening, unleashed a breath of blinding flame. It wasn"t aimed to hurt, but to obscure. The Golem flailed, blinded by violet fire, and its already sluggish movements slowed further. Nova saw the lumbering fist coming and, with a flicker of his wings, conjured a whirling shield of water. The fist collided with a spray that could have felled trees, but Nova held.
The ground around the Golem began to soften, the water Novo manipulated sinking the monstrous feet into the earth. Lilo darted around its head, flickering between real and illusionary, the roar of his flames masking Nova"s careful incantations.
With a final push, Nova gathered the surrounding water, a swirling ma.s.s the size of a small lake. He strained, his eyes locked on the Golem"s lumbering form. Then, he released it. The wave crashed over the giant, its weight and force sending it toppling to the ground with a seismic thud.
The Golem thrashed, but Lilo was there. A wall of violet illusions crashed down around the beast, confusing and disorienting it. Its movements grew slower, its roars dulled. Nova hovered above, summoning the last tendrils of moisture. He formed them into ropes, coiling around the limbs, and with a final heave, constricted.
The Earth Golem finally lay still. Exhausted, the dragons slumped to the ground beside their master. Lilo grinned, chest heaving. "See, little one? Nothing to worry about!"
Nova panted, a thin curl of smoke escaping his nostrils. "Perhaps... teamwork has its merits."
Arthur watched the battle unfold, a mix of astonishment and pride warring within him. It was as though the two dragons shared a bond deeper than mere brotherhood, a connection transcending their individual abilities. They were like two pieces of a puzzle, fitting together perfectly to create something truly formidable.
The Earth Golem, mighty as it was, stood little chance against this coordinated onslaught. Weakened, disoriented, and finally bound by the torrent of water, it lay on the ground wheezing rather than roaring. Arthur raised Nightmare. It wouldn"t be a clean kill, but it was necessary. This creature was too dangerous, a raw, untamed force of nature birthed from uncontrolled mana.
"G.o.dslayer Art - Second Stance!"
Nightmare flashed down, the blade empowered with the resonance of the Art. It sliced through the Golem"s weakened form, cleaving rock and hardened earth like b.u.t.ter. The creature gave one final, shuddering groan and fell silent.
As the last remnants of its earthen body settled, Arthur felt the familiar surge of his legacy reacting.
[A new monster has been defeated.]
[a.s.sorting genes into the known skills.]
A sense of antic.i.p.ation washed over him. The Earth Golem was unique, a creature of a different order than the beasts he"d previously encountered. Its essence might bring forth valuable additions to his legacy.
[Results:]
[Name: Earth Golem]
[Species: Elemental]
[Evolution: Myth-Tier]
[Strength: 2500]
[Agility: 300]
[Stamina: 3000]
[Perception: 100]
[Mana: 3500/3500]
[Special Skills:
Earth Manipulation: The Earth Golem possesses a deep connection with the earth, allowing it limited control over its surrounding terrain.
Enhanced Regeneration: As a creature of earth, it can rapidly repair minor injuries.
Seismic Sense: Able to detect and interpret vibrations within the earth, giving it a form of awareness beyond sight.]
Arthur smiled in satisfaction. These abilities confirmed the raw power of the creature. He focused his intent, activating his absorb rune. A vortex of energy swirled around the carca.s.s, siphoning the creature"s latent power. His legacy pulsed in response.
[Level Up!]
[+5 Strength Points!]
[+5 Stamina Points!]
[+5 Mana Points!]