"What?!" Dromas saw a white sphere hovering above Souta's head.
"Haha, you didn't sense it, right? I wonder why?" Darwin laughed.
It was simple. The small bag on Souta's waist was destroyed and Souta made a preparation.
The reason why Dromas was sure that Souta was still alive was because of the best feram in the surrounding. But that's where the trick lies. If he only focused on his senses, he would discover that the best feram atmosphere wasn't coming from Souta. He would also sense the energy signature wasn't from his opponent.
In truth, it was coming from the monster orbs scattered around the area. It blocked his judgment and didn't even notice the mana coming from the white sphere.
That's why don't even let your emotions control you when you're in the battle.
"It still didn't change a thing!" Dromas roared as he pierced Souta's chest using his other hand.
Spurt!
"Ugh! This is nothing..." Souta grinned as the white sphere fell on top of his head. His whole body was enveloped by white light.
This was a spell called [Gracious of Holy Lord]. A powerful support spell that could boost the target's overall stats by sixty percent. The target would also gain an additional ten percent light attribute power to any attacks. It also has a healing effect that would heal fifty health points per second for five minutes.
But casting this spell costs Darwin all of his remaining mana. While he was blocking Dromas' relentless attacks, he decided to use this spell on Souta.
After resolving himself, he cast the spell while disregarding his defense. Then, he took out a chance to counterattack before he finish it. Luckily, he managed to chop Dromas' hand and stabbed him with his sword.
Those few exchanges drained his energy and stamina. At this moment, he didn't have enough strength to move his body. Even the natural protective field of Shackled Realm experts was gone. He was only relying on his great vitality to stay conscious.
"I'll leave everything to you, Squad Leader Souta," Darwin said.
"Yeah," Souta said before he waved his hand.
Boom!!
The Second Mode was used once again. Various skills overlap with the [Gracious of the Lord]. It gives off a strange white and black aura around his body.
The Second Mode and [Gracious of the Lord] weren't enough to push Dromas. But Souta somehow managed to do it. His injuries were extremely fatal and it gives him unbelievable power.
[Draw Blood II]: Every time he loses 1% of his health his stats would increase by 8%.
And he was down to the last ten percent of his total health points. It means, his stats right now was in a different league compared to when he was fighting without any injuries.
"...?!"
Dromas was pushed back. He gritted his teeth as he wiped the blood on the corner of his mouth. He looked ahead and opened his eyes widely in surprise.
The blood in the surrounding area swirled around Souta and it healed some of his injuries.
[Blood Field II]!!
Souta didn't completely heal his body. He only healed the wounds that could prevent him from moving like broken bones or tendons. All this time, he was only using the power of his parasite to regenerate. He didn't even touch his other abilities.
He cracked his neck as his body inflated. Savage-looking spikes came out of his back. Mouth cracked widely revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. Another pair of eyes opened just below his eyes and above his cheeks. And the horn on the center of his forehead had grown larger.
Ohm!
Black tribal tattoos spread on his body as exoskeleton formed covering his elbows and legs. His long crimson hair was dancing around the energy.
Everything happened in less than a second.
[Monster Orb Release]!!
An enormous amount of energy shot through the sky. It shook the entire area and people around the nation felt the release of the best feram.
Black smoke came out of his mouth. Souta stared at Dromas who was looking at him with intense hostility.
"You thought we were fighting you without a plan? That's where you are wrong. From start to the end, Grain Leader Darwin and I are already planning how to defeat you."
Souta said as he slightly bent his knees. The next moment, he was already in front of Dromas.
Swoosh!
He swung the vajra sword but his opponent was still someone he couldn't underestimate. Dromas avoided the slash even though his body was on the verge of collapsing.
Dromas took a step back. It would be easy if he wasn't heavily injured or at least saved up his [Element Drive]. But there's no need to fret over the past. His chances of defeating the release form of this monster were still above fifty percent.
Then, he stopped before he swung his feet. It was sharp as it cut the ground in half.
Bang!!
Souta narrowly avoided the kick. He moved forward as he used one of the equipment skills he had.
[Insta-Regen]!
It was a skill from a red grade ring called [Nature Spring Ring]. It could recover forty percent of the user's energy instantly and it has a cooldown of seven days.
"You can't escape from me..."
He pointed his sword ahead. Black lightning crackled on his blade as [Bestrou] enveloped it.
[Dual Element Drive: Dark and Light Force]!!
"You fucking monster! Do you think that I would escape from you?!" Dromas roared loudly as he gathered the remaining tiny bit of mana he had in his fist.
"Ehe~ don't let your emotions cloud your judgment." Souta laughed lightly before he thrust his sword. His last bit of [Element Drive] was activated at this moment to boost his attack.
Blood swirled around as [Bestrou] synchronized with it. Black and light energy entangled with each other as it flew towards Dromas. Then, black lightning and crimson energy rotated around with great momentum that made the entire atmosphere boil.
Swoosh!
[Barbarian's Ultimate Mighty Fist]!!
Dromas roared as he punched with all of his remaining strength. This was his last attack and if this one failed, he wouldn't have enough strength left in his body.
He squeezed out all of the power inside his body. Blood gushed out of his pores, mouth, nose, eyes, and ears as he threw his strongest attack.
Boom!!
The collision of the two powerful attacks caused an intense reaction in the entire area. The range of the explosion was just one kilometer yet it possessed destructive power that could demolish dozens of One Shackle Realm instantly.
The remaining energy shot through the sky, hitting the ceiling of the subterranean world.
Shhhhh~
Smoke filled the whole place and the ground was turned into sand. It became a desolate land devoid of any sounds and life. The air was boiling and the thick energy from the atmosphere could suffocate people at A-rank.
Even if an A-rank miraculously survives this explosion, the radiation from the air would kill them. Their flesh and the natural protective field wouldn't be able to prevent the intense energy from crushing their organs.
Thud!
Souta fell down on his knees as he slowly turned back to his normal form. He turned his head and looked at the vajra sword on the sand floor.
His whole right arm along with a part of his chest was obliterated in that attack.
"Cough... That attack was weaker than what he showed against Grain Leader Darwin... Yet, I could barely offset it..."
The difference in strength was simply too astronomical. The power of that attack wasn't even half of the power of the strongest attack Dromas used against Darwin.
Luckily, he had [Vajra Sword Saya] and Archetype which could damage high-level opponents. He even dealt the last blow to SSS-rank experts before when Deadly Sins invaded the Ladros City.
Well, at that time, the seven-circle officers only had less than one percent HP. It was all thanks to his teacher, Bargan, who damaged them to the point that they were going to die at any moment.
The situation this time was somewhat similar. The only difference was that Dromas still had a little bit of strength and energy while the officers couldn't even use their energy. Also, Souta was several times stronger now than in the past.
"Ah, fuck! Honestly, I'm so tired right now..."
Souta stood up. In that attack, he even used most of the Archetype's form that he knew but it still costs him to lose his entire arm.
"My fighting style is becoming reckless these days... It must be the influence of having the guaranteed regeneration."
He said to himself as he looked around. He saw Dromas approximately a hundred meters away from him.
"In the end... I failed..." Dromas laughed lightly before he fell on the ground.
Souta had a gloomy expression on his face. All of Dromas' limbs were still intact. He just fell into exhaustion and that caused him his defeat.
"I still won... Now, for the next step..."
