Through the light within his soul left behind by Elayne, Mark was able to fight the Abyssal Nightmares that the High Rank Undead Monster conjured on him and Josuke, destroying it on the process. However, the powerful Chimeric Undead Beast had more tricks below its sleeve.
Not only was it able to use high tiered nightmare magic, but it possessed a powerful Phantasmal Soul on equal power to Giant Phantoms, if not slightly stronger. If he truly wanted to get rid of this monster, Mark had to go all out.
By fusing the Lesser Dragon Flames produced by the Ability within his Magical Knife with his Beast Spirit Summon, Mark was capable of temporarily summoning a Blazing Dragon Spirit.
"[Blazing Dragon Spirit Summon]!"
FLUUUUOOOOOOSSSHHH!!!
"W-What?!"
The Chimeric Undead Beast was impacted by the spectacle he saw. His Phantasmal hands were quickly consumed by the strong flames produced from the dragon-shaped spirit, which started spreading everywhere.
"[Infernal Blazing Breath]"
"ROOOOOAAAARRRR!!!"
With a simple command, Mark imbued his Spiritual Essence into the gigantic Blazing Dragon Spirit, as the creature opened its enormous jaws and unleashed an utterly gigantic blazing beam of flames!
TRUUUUMMM…!
BOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!
"GRUUUUAAAGGGH…!"
The Chimeric Undead Beast was incapable of fighting back against such an overwhelming attack. His entire body quickly started turning into pure ashes, as his phantasmal soul immediately retreated alongside its Magic Crystal.
"GRRRRRHHHH! You damn human…!" Roared the Phantom, revealing its true form! It resembled an aberrant, ghostly parasite-like bug with hundreds of legs like a centipede. It had sharp insectoid jaws, and sharp red eyes. "I guess you've pushed me far enough to recognize your strength! My name is Vermin, one of Lord Phantasmos Strongest Servants!"
"[Fireball Rain]"
Mark didn't had time to talk, he quickly realized this monster was much stronger than it originally made itself to be. Josuke was still on the floor, probably on a nightmare. Just like he protected him back then when he was unconscious, Mark felt like he had to give back the favor and protect him this time.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
Hundreds of giant fireballs started falling over Vermin, as the insect-like Phantom laughed, countering with his own Phantasmal Flame Rain Spell. Both blue and red flames started impacting each other, generating loud explosions.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOOM! BOOOOM!
FLAAASH!
Mark quickly leaped into the air, passing through the blazing explosions, and reaching vermin. By activating several spells, his entire body started to grow a blazing wooden armor carved with many animal faces, resembling totems.
"[Blazing Wood Totem Armor]"
FLUOOSH!
The Wings of the Bird Spirit emerged on his back, allowing Mark to easily evade the incoming attacks from Vermin, who viciously materialized the tip of his sharp tail and used it like a spear, attempting to pierce Mark's body with countless attacks!
CLASH! CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!
However, Mark either evaded or tanked the hits, while at the same time unleashing blazing slashing attacks with his knife. Each slashing attack was made of flames, and once it reached Vermin, they transformed into different animals, attacking him and evading his attacks.
BOOM! BOOOM! BOOOOM!
"Unnggh…! What sort of annoying magic is this…?!" Vermin was struggling to keep this up. His soul was being showered with deadly explosions of flames… but that wasn't all.
While fighting against the phantom, Mark quickly started trying out different elements. Although his affinity with flames was the greatest, much like Elayne, he was a Spirit Summoner.
And his Beast Spirits always had different elements, if flames are not good enough, then use something else, or combine them all.
"[Holy Light Tiger]! [Tempest Eagle]! [Rock Bear]!"
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
In the middle of the air, three Beast Spirits were summoned. A ferocious tiger attacked with slashes of its claws and deadly bites, firing beams of holy light against Vermin.
"GROOOAAARRRR!"
SLASH! SLASH! SLAAASH!
The Tempest Eagle, made of winds, summoned tempestuous winds and slicing gusts to overwhelm Vermin and at the same time, create a domain using these winds to not allow him to escape.
"COOOOH!"
FLUOOOOOOSH!
And lastly, the Rock Bear summoned giant walls made of stone to overwhelm Vermin and further cut his chances of escaping and moving away from Mark's attacks.
"GRAAAAHHHH!!!" Vermin groaned in fury; his entire body being covered on wounds that were not even regenerating. "GET AWAAAAAYYYYY…!"
Vermin roared furiously, unleashing a phantasmal shockwave everywhere, the spirits were weakened and thrown away, but Mark utilized this chance. Seeing how Vermin struggled and screamed was the perfect opportunity.
"[Beast Spirit Fusion]!"
Mark quickly gathered the three Beast Spirits he summoned and imbued them into his knife, alongside his powers, and the light coming from his soul which protected him from the Abyssal Nightmare that was still surrounding him like a black fog.
FLAAAAAASSSHHH!!!
The knife suddenly underwent a temporary transformation, as the knife started to laugh, growing in size, and turning into a giant, red-colored blazing sword. The flames covering the sword were shining bright gold, with both holy light, winds, and the power of the earth itself.
"RAAAAAHHHH!!!!"
Mark roared with fury, desiring to end this once and for all! His sword pierced through the weakened Vermin's phantasmal soul, slashing right through his Magic Crystal!
CRAAAAASSSHHHH!!!!
"GRYYYAAAAAHHHHH…!"
BOOOOOMMM!!!!
The attack was so powerful it impacted the floor below, making a gigantic hole towards a lower floor within the dungeon, Vermin's phantasmal soul disappeared in an instant. He wasn't even a Death General, yet it was strong enough to force Mark to use all of his remaining Mana to deal with him.
"Unnggh…" Mark slowly crawled towards Josuke, checking on him while clenching on Vermin's cracked magic crystal and slowly purifying them before absorbing them and regaining his Mana, while growing slightly stronger. "[Healing Flames]"
FLUOSH!
Golden flames covered the red-headed Japanese man, as they slowly not only healed his wounds but his mind, he woke up, opening his eyes at long last.
"What… what happened?" He wondered, looking at Mark with a confused face.
"A bit too much." Sighed Mark. "But with this, I've given back the favor."
"Ah… Eh? Did you beat that thing all by yourself?!" Josuke was shocked.
"Anyways, we should-"
"KRIIIIEEEEEEEHHH!!!!"
However, before the two could relax for a bit, the scream of a gigantic creature coming from the hole Mark accidentally created in the dungeon reverberated!
