Clear and crisp exchanges. The sparks of weapons showered down everywhere. Just the killing intent that surged from the two weapons tore apart the land without stopping.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Continuous sounds of explosions echoed everywhere. The elemental powers of Souta and Gerxuzs rampaged throughout the land. Souta's [Dual Element Drive] waged war against his opponent's [Dual Element Drive]. Dark, light, flame, and ice shone brightly as the mountain near the fortress exploded with great impact.
Gerxuzs smirked. The weapon in his hand fired a flame and ice energy ray. Souta forced his body up. Suddenly, Gerxuzs moved at an even faster speed. He somersaulted, and like a specter, he crossed the distance between him and Souta instantly.
Another wave of attacks had begun.
Despite the gravitational field and debuff from [Dark Cloud Hunting], Gerxuzs showed a speed that was several times faster than Souta. In just a second, Souta suffered heavy injuries from Gerxuzs mad assault.
Souta had no choice but to use [Blood Armor: Jade Spider] to fight his opponent. He felt overwhelming pressure. Although he knew that Gerxuzs would become a powerful monster lord in the future, he didn't expect that he was overwhelming at fourth stage.
With [Blood Armor], Souta was sure that he could fight three to five Two Shackles Realm at the same time yet his opponent could keep up with him.
Black lighting flashed out as it heavily smashed Gerxuzs' body. Souta leaped in the sky as he raised his sword and a huge amount of lightning gathered around his blade.
'Souta be careful! That huge club is a universal grade artifact! After clashing with it thousands of times, I realized its power!' Saya said in his mind.
Souta simply nodded. He knew from the game that Gerxuzs' ordinary looking club was in fact a universal grade. Even the five bracelets on his wrist were high grade artifacts. Two of them reaching the dark grade.
[Fifth Form: Rage of the Thunder God]!
[Sixth Form: Piercing Thunder Strike]!
Souta swung his sword and black lightning surged out like a tidal wave. Gerxuzs laughed and he fearlessly faced the overwhelming lightning with dark and light energy.
BOOM!!!
Eztein already retreated from the battle after the two monsters used their [Element Drive]. Their battle prowess surpassed any normal Two Shackles Realm so he had no way to interfere. He himself was only above average One Shackle Realm. He hasn't even mastered the combat arts he got from Athen's Champion.
He turned around and looked at Commander Eili. "Commander, I'm afraid that the entire fortress will get caught in the battle. You need to evacuate the soldiers."
Commander Eili could only follow Eztein's words. He had no capability to protect himself from those two monsters.
Souta and Gerxuzs weren't even using their release form yet. He was only a mere S-rank so he couldn't fight against high level fourth stage.
BAM!!
Gerxuzs' instantaneous speed grew even faster. Although Souta had anticipated it, his opponent had already traversed the sea of lightning, his huge club suddenly vanishing.
The huge club's speed was extremely quick, even the overpowering Souta was somewhat unable to withstand it. Souta stepped backward, dodging the huge club, at the same time wielding the [Vajra Sword Saya].
With a bang, their figures respectively retreated. Souta tightened his grip on the sword. His aura grew stronger as he activated [Possession], [Hunting State], and [Serial Killing Step]. These three skills were the skills of his two dark grade artifacts, [Vajra Sword Saya] and [Solid Hunter State Boots].
Gerxuzs simply laughed while ignoring the wounds in his body. His figure flashed, instantly covering hundreds of meters. "It can't be your whole strength! It seems that you are ignorant of the beast instinct! The power of monsters!"
BANG!!!
Shockwaves swept out as the two monsters started fighting once again.
Souta gritted his teeth as he tried to withstand the overwhelming attacks of his opponent. He was shocked. Gerxuzs' combat prowess was beyond his imagination. Although Gerxuzs had various artifacts, its power should be within his calculation.
Another second had passed, and he took more than a hundred blows. If he didn't have the added stats of the [Burning Ring Seal], he would be put in a more disadvantageous position. He pressed both of his hands and the ring flew above him.
[Flame Prism Seal]!!
"Using a flame seal against me!" Gerxuzs snickered as he smashed the seal above with greater strength.
Souta retreated several meters away. It doesn't matter, Gerxuzs would need at least five seconds before he could free himself from that seal. If only Gerxuzs didn't have a fire attribute, the seal would at least buy him thirty seconds.
[Burning Ring Seal](Dark): A ring that houses a powerful flame power for thousands of years. A powerful Vulcan King sealed his power within while forging this ring.
Effect: +200 Strength, +200 Vitality, +100 Agility, +50 Dexterity, +200 Energy, +70% Fire Resistance, +70% Fire Damage, and +20 Energy Recovery
Skill(s): [Flame Prism Seal], [Hundred Flame Doctrine: Shattering Seal], [Hundred Flame Doctrine: Combined Flaw], [Hundred Flame Doctrine: Unified Flame], and [Hundred Flame Doctrine: Extreme Victorious Array]
Souta flipped his hand and the ring spun faster. A huge amount of energy gathered around it as it emitted a vast flame.
[Hundred Flame Doctrine: Shattering Seal]!!
[Hundred Flame Doctrine: Combined Flaw]!!
He simultaneously activated two equipment skills of the [Burning Ring Seal]. The power of a dark grade artifact wasn't someone could underestimate. But Souta knew that this wouldn't last long against his opponent. Gercuzs also had two dark grade artifacts and three red grade artifacts.
With the activation of three dark grade artifacts, Souta was sure that he could fight eight Two Shackles Realm by himself. He wasn't exaggerating it, it was just how he saw his power based on what he saw in the war against Red Matter Association.
BOOM!!
A huge explosion erupted as the equipment skills of [Burning Ring Seal] were shattered. Gerxuzs activated the power of his dark grade artifact.
"Show me! Or else you will become my prey!!" Gerxuzs roared as his figure was covered in high density flame. He waved the huge club in his hand and cold energy burst forth.
Swoosh!!
Souta hurriedly moved his body. A ray of blue light flashed before him freezing everything in its way. A straight line that spanned five kilometers turned into ice.
Flame and ice. Gerxuzs control over his elemental attribute was better than he expected.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Souta and Gerxuzs fought thousands of times. By the time they consumed half of their elemental power, the whole land turned into ruins. Ice, flame, dark, light, and lightning consumed the land within a radius of three kilometers. If not for the sharp rise of mana density a few months ago, the affected area of this battle would be much worse.
Souta's figure crashed on the ground followed by flame and ice. The energy spread out shredding a layer of earth.
He was frustrated. He wanted to try to break through to 50% mastery of Archetype but it was useless. Even a powerful opponent like Gerxuzs couldn't help him. Life and death battle was the fastest way to hone his skills and abilities.
'Souta, I think I understand why you couldn't reach the higher level of Archetype.' Saya's words sounded in his mind.
'Why?' Souta asked slightly confused.
'It seems that the vajra lightning is a big factor. The lightning that you produce is nothing but an imitation of vajra lightning.' Saya said with utmost seriousness.
'What?! Then, I'll be stuck at this level!! My Archetype will not be able to improve further?!' Souta was dumbfounded. 'I'm a monster so I couldn't use vajra lightning. Is there really no other way?'
'There is a method but it will take longer than you imagine... For now, you have to finish this battle.' Saya said to him.
'Fuck!' Souta couldn't help but cursed. This was worse than he imagined. The [Archetype: Vajra Extremity] was incompatible with him. He thought that he would be able to practice it until 100% but it seems that it was only his imagination. Luckily, Saya seemed to have found a way to reach 50%. Whether it would work or not he would know later.
Rage was brewing in his heart and his emotion was going out of control. The next moment, he bit his tongue to calm himself. Unexpectedly, he easily calm down this time.
Souta took a deep breath. He moved his body as Gerxuzs started his onslaught once again. It would be bad if he got caught while brooding over Archetype.
He waved his hand and the bracelet on his wrist glowed. He used the equipment skill of universal grade artifact.
[Yin Yang Twin Spirit]!!
Two savage spirits materialized beside Souta. The first one was dark spirit and the other one was a light spirit. Both of them were exuding a fierce aura that could make ordinary people faint in fear.
At the same time, Souta's energy soared through the sky. A pillar of energy shot through the dark clouds and black lightning struck down ruthlessly.
