Splash......
Boom——!!!
In front of Merkphis,
the wall of Calamity Beasts was forcibly smashed open by a flood surging with the momentum to crush everything.
"Oh......"
Merkphis narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Go, Avery!!!"
The six who stayed behind to clear the way shouted in unison.
"Whoosh——!"
Avery took a deep breath,
his gaze locking firmly on Merkphis.
"Unfold——"
Hum! Hum! Hum......
Layers of magic circles appeared behind him in an instant.
"Nine-Layered Magic Circle – Super Acceleration."
Boom——!
Like a speeding meteor, Avery appeared in front of Merkphis in the blink of an eye.
Their eyes met,
and they struck at the same time.
"Unfold——"
"Unfold——"
Hum!
A huge magic circle materialized in front of Merkphis.
On the opposite side,
Avery unfolded nine magic circles simultaneously.
"Nine-Layered – Super Enhancement."
Bang——!
In a lightning-fast strike,
the magic circle Merkphis had conjured was shattered by Avery’s fist.
Then, his other fist landed on Merkphis without a moment’s delay.
Thump——!
Merkphis was sent flying instantly.
"Unfold——"
Hum! Hum! Hum......
"Nine-Layered – Spirit Strike."
Whoosh——!
Avery’s figure vanished from sight, reappearing behind Merkphis the next moment.
Clang! Clang! Clang......
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Nine slashes—each powerful enough to severely injure a Rank S being—erupted on Merkphis’s body at the same time.
Merkphis’s body plummeted toward the ground.
Thud!
A cloud of dust rose from the earth.
"Did...... did we do it?"
The other six’s hearts skipped a beat, their peripheral vision fixed tightly on the dust-covered ground.
In the air,
Avery stared at the figure on the ground and launched a pursuit without hesitation.
"Unfold——"
Hum! Hum! Hum......
More magic circles emerged behind him.
But just then,
"......Really now."
Merkphis’s voice echoed.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of injury in that tone.
Avery’s eyes narrowed, and he was about to attack—
But—
Whoosh!
A figure suddenly appeared behind him.
"......Are you looking down on me?"
Boom——!
A beam of light pierced through Avery’s chest.
"Ugh——!"
The nine unfolded magic circles shattered and dissipated.
"Avery!"
"Avery!!!"
"......"
The other members of the Seven Sages shouted in panic at the sight.
Avery slowly turned around,
staring at the unharmed Merkphis.
"You——"
Bang——!
Before he could finish speaking,
Merkphis grabbed him by the neck.
"What’s wrong? Surprised? That shouldn’t be. You’re Lord Avery, aren’t you? Could you not have foreseen something like this?"
"......"
Avery struggled in pain, trying to break free from Merkphis’s grip.
But Merkphis’s hands clamped around his neck like a vice—impossible to shake off.
"See that~? Hahahahaha......"
Merkphis roared with laughter.
"This is the power of a god! Even now, having only obtained a fraction of it, you—the strongest among the Seven Sages—are helplessly trapped in my hands!"
"Merkphis, let Avery go!"
"You bastard——!"
"......"
Hearing their shouts,
Merkphis only glanced at the others faintly out of the corner of his eye,
then turned his attention back to Avery.
His tone gradually turned icy.
"How touching. Your companions care about you—even though you just let them down."
"......"
Avery stared at Merkphis in pain, unable to utter a word.
"You know, Lord Avery. Among the Seven Sages, you’re the one I hate the most!"
"We’re all born divine. The others—Water Spirits, Spirits, Blood Clan, Fairies, Winged Tribe, Mountain Giants......"
"They all have their own kind~."
"Only you——"
"A Holy Spirit born from the earth’s leylines. Unique. One of a kind in the entire world! You——"
"Why?"
Merkphis unconsciously tightened his grip slightly.
"Unique, like a child of the world. Powerful, wise, no flaws—an almost perfect being!"
"......Are you joking with me?"
"In this world——"
"Only Lady Terra is worthy of being unique!!!"
"If there’s anyone else who can be that unique......"
"It can only be me—the one who’s about to become a god!"
"And you...... What right do you have to be compared to Lady Terra?"
"......You...... won’t......"
Avery forced out broken words through the pain.
"Hmm? What’s that? You still have something to say~?"
Merkphis loosened his grip slightly and smiled:
"Go on, then. Let me see what you can possibly say at a time like this."
"Cough...... Cough......"
Avery gasped for a little air.
His gaze—free of any fear—met Merkphis’s.
"Merkphis...... Your wish...... will never come true."
"Heh~!"
Merkphis sneered:
"Seeing how things are, you still spout such ridiculous nonsense?"
"......Lady Terra...... will never acknowledge you."
"......"
Merkphis’s smile faded.
His eyes turned freezing cold.
"......Of course I know that!"
"But it doesn’t matter. By then, I’ll be a god too. The value of a god is different from you insignificant beings. As long as I explain sincerely, Lady Terra will understand me. After all, in this world, only she and I are of the same kind!"
Avery fell silent, staring at him with a hint of pity.
"Um......"
Merkphis’s expression turned blank as he tightened his grip again.
"Have you finished your last words? Even though you’re trying to provoke me in this foolish way, I won’t give you the satisfaction. I’ll make you die feeling powerless—regretting your own incompetence!"
Bang——!
Merkphis slammed Avery violently into the earth.
Countless pitch-black tentacles surged forward, trying to engulf him— but a barrier erupted with the power of the Immortal Spirit Orb, blocking all the tentacles outside.
"Ah, so that’s it. That orb gave you such confidence. What a hassle. Then let me show you true despair——!"
The sacrificial ritual circle covering the land trembled violently.
The countless Calamity Beasts that had been swarming toward the Seven Sages suddenly stopped in their tracks, as if receiving a command.
Then, they began to kill each other.
The earth was quickly dyed red with blood.
At the same time, countless tentacles stretched out toward the fallen Calamity Beasts.
Hum——!
The glow of the sacrificial ritual circle became even more intense.
