Darius fired another shot at it, and it was received the exact same way as the first one. He hummed with disappointment when he realized that his worst-case scenario had come true, his Lightning Bolt had only taken 200 points off of the barriers' durability.
Beelzebub sneered derisively at Darius' attempts. "You're just wasting your time and effort. Even before you've harmed me, I could not do much damage to this thing for years, much less you."
Beelzebub settled down quietly. "Just patiently wait out there while I absorb this Sea Essence, and I will readily deal with you."
The Lord of the Flies took out a wisp of blueish mote, that glowed with a resplendent light. When Darius saw it, his eyelids twitched slightly and his frown deepened.
He was confused for a few seconds before coming to a preliminary conclusion. The group of mermaids he had stipulated had really existed and they were what the Grandmaster bugs had consumed to repair and empower themselves.
However, it seemed like these mermaids either knew of a location where - or had possessed - Sea Essence was located.
'So, this was what Beelzebub was relying on? No wonder he sent out the other bugs to stall for time. He could have hidden them all behind the barrier to protect them, but it seems like he had only recently gotten his hands on this Sea Essence, perhaps just a few moments before my arrival.' Darius thought solemnly.
So the reason for Heracron and the others to have been placed outside to greet the trio had been to buy some time for him. They had paid with their lives to grant the True Lord a chance to fully recover and exact vengeance, before ushering the return of the Insects.
Logically, it was a great trade, one that even Darius could not fault. However, he was not exactly pressured by this as Beelzebub was far too naive if he thought this barrier was impenetrable.
Then again, he was a former True Lord, so his confidence in his own power was absolute. First things first, Darius removed the Dragon Ancestor's Lance of Destruction and walked up to the barrier.
He struck it twice casually, noticing that it took away 50 points of durability with each hit. He then struck it with 50% of his strength five times in a second, noticing that this took away a total of 1000 points, 200 for each.
He then smiled and struck with his full power, more than a hundred times in second. This took away 40,000 points of durability, which was not a small amount at all. The barrier even showed a reaction as a blueish-green color became slightly redder, showing that it was undergoing intense stress.
Darius pulled back and sighed. "Still not enough."
He gazed at his stamina bar which was drained by 10% when he made those hundred strikes. It was obvious enough that multiple attacks a second with high Agility were super effective for getting around the Supreme System bullshit calculation for physical damage, but it also required a hefty investment in Stamina.
Darius turned to Gunner and gave him an order. "We don't have much time. I estimate - based on my knowledge - that it would take him about 2 minutes to refine that Sea Essence. Break the barrier before then!"
Gunner nodded and roared as he exploded with a greenish light. His Earth's Guardian was activated, and his hair stood up due to the sheer force of his empowerment.
With his current stats, he could have fought against Beelzebub before he had been injured, much less now. Gunner charged forth and struck the barrier with his full force, which even caused it to go red and even crack a little.
It lost a whopping 100,000 durability from one punch alone. Gunner didn't stop to consider anything continuously whaling on the barrier with glowing green fists that only sought to adhere to his Master's order.
As for Darius, he turned to the left. His face was locked into an eerie smile as he gazed at Anthony and Spidersin who were silently watching by the side. When they noticed that Darius' attention fell on them, their hearts sank.
"Despite the two of you looking much more amenable than your fallen compatriots, you will still have to die today, since my mission was to eradicate all the Insect."
Darius flourished his lance and caressed the body lovingly. "My weapon here cries out for your blood and essence. I am not one to deny it easy food."
[Anthony - Level 100 Worker Bug
HP: 56,008/56,008 MP: 23,200/23,200 STA: 45,800/45,800]
Right after saying this, Darius disappeared from where he stood as he blinked behind Anthony. He then struck out towards his thorax, aiming to pierce it in one go.
Anthony tsked. "Don't you know that you're currently standing at the business end of an ant? Well, let me welcome you to my lobby!"
The Giant Ant raised its backside and released a spray of green acid that spread out in a 60° angle. Darius frowned as he blinked away, reappearing beside the ant on the right.
Like a ghost, he struck out once more. Anthony could only try to raise his legs to defend, but it was a futile endeavor. Darius crushed through them and was about to pierce through his abdomen when he was forced to retreat once more by an incoming attack from Spidersin.
[Spidersin - Level 93 Assassin Bug
HP: 23,320/23,320 MP: 10,420/10,420 STA: 9,585/9,858]
The Giant Spider hopped onto Anthony's thorax and gazed at Darius coldly. "You killed the entirety of our family at the orders of the Goddess, so I don't hate you. It's just business."
Spidersin then flourished his sharp, spear-like legs. "However, if you want to take us down, I will make sure to either drag you with me or at least, remove a pound of flesh as tribute."
Darius simply smiled softly in response, disappearing once again as he appeared above Spidersin, striking down with full force.
Surprisingly, the Spider Assassin was calm, raising one of his legs to strike Darius Spear to the side slightly while spraying webs towards the fellow to capture him.
Darius easily blinked away and appeared beside Spidersin, striking out again. Spidersin easily repelled this attack like he could predict where Darius could go, even as Darius repeatedly blinked all over to strike him from all angles.
Spidersin pushed Darius back slightly and gazed at his legs which were beginning to crack. The Spider Bug trained his eyes on Darius' Golden Lance and tsked.
"Anthony, no matter what, do not let that thing touch you." Spidersin warned.
"You know, Gandalf said the same exact thing to me just now. Are you Gandalf?" Anthony asked with awe.
Spidersin thwacked the fellow on the head lightly. "We really should have fixed your partial insanity. Whatever, we might be dying here today, but not without a fight."
Darius shook his head with amusement. "Done?"
"Yes. Let us continue then." Spidersin replied straightforwardly.
The Spider then disappeared much in the same was Darius did, appearing behind with as he struck out with his mandibles to pierce into Darius.
Darius raised an eyebrow. "So that explains how you could track me. You're attuned to the Space element."
Darius did not dodge, rather pointing a finger at Spidersin. "Since you're attuned to space, this should be more effective on you."
[Spatial Dislocation - Level 1 Spell
Grade: Intermediate
Cost: 10 MP
Description: Twist the flow of space around you and send what exists in one fold of space to another. The total radius of dislocated space is 20 meters.]
Immediately, Spidersin's body was banished from there, sent in front of Darius where he struck air. Darius then thrust his spear into the Spider's abdomen, catching him offguard.
The lance easily punctured through and began draining the essence of the Spider as it shrieked in pain. He was paralyzed by this effect, and Darius displayed a cruel expression as he pushed the lance deeper in.
Antony roared and rushed forward to assist his brother, but Darius simply raised a finger and fired off a Lightning Bolt. The bolt struck the Giant Ant and sent electricity coursing through his body, which made him thrash and shudder.
Anthony fell to his belly in the same way he would enter torpor, his antennae twitching violently as all his senses had been destroyed. He was not dead, that much Darius had calculated, as he would feel horrible if he would turn the ant into ash, instead of food for his weapon.
That was why he did not use Lightning Bolt on Spidersin, for the spider would have been oneshot by it.
Spidersin, who was pinned to the ground by the lance and on the verge of death, managed to mutter. "So in the end, it still came down to this… at least… I can see my family again… in… the… afte..r...li…fe…"
In a matter of seconds, Spidersin had been drained into nothingness, cutting off his words. Darius raised his lance that shone with a golden glow, signaling another level up.
The trade of one Grandmaster for one level was thoroughly exciting and profitable for him.
Not so much for his targets though.
