Chapter 94.2

CHAPTER 94: THE BATTLE AT THE PODIUM (PART 2)

Mira landed on the opposite side where Galum stood to encircle their enemy, muttering to herself in annoyance. Their combined attack was impossible to defend against or dodge, and any middle class enemy would’ve been blown to smithereens by that point.But the skeleton stood up again as if nothing happened, no damage visible anywhere on its bones.It was a foe more powerful than she had imagined. But that also brought a slight smile to the corners of her lips.The skeleton had Galum to the front, Mira behind, and Popotwise above. It looked around to confirm where everyone was, and then darted ahead towards Galum.Galum leapt backwards while swinging his claws in counterattack.The skeleton held the holy sword to the side, forming the light barrier to stop the claws from touching it, but its feet did not slow down and it charged with all its momentum against the wolf.That strong kick sent Galum and all his raw strength flying into the air. Seeing that, the skeleton held the holy sword with both hands and took one more step ahead.Their roles had reversed from before, and now it was Galum who had his torso exposed as his body moved through the air.And when the skeleton was about to thrust the sword into him, both its arms stopped dead in their tracks.Arlawne’s vines had grabbed the skeleton’s arms. But it only lasted a short moment, even though the skeleton possessed no muscles, it still had an unworldly strength and quickly tore itself away from the vines.Still, that short moment was all Galum needed to save himself, while also giving Mira and the others an opening.

‘Stone Barrage!’

The skeleton had been kept still for less than a second, just a mere instant. But Popotwise still used it as best she could, unleashing a rain of countless stones onto the skeleton.Though rather than stones, the projectiles traveled at high speeds just like bullets, posing even more of a threat than arrows would. The skeleton seemed to realize that as well, as it pulled the sword to its side again to form the light barrier.The stones collided with the barrier one after another without rest, creating a sound similar to that of a landfall that masked other silent footsteps.The skeleton only noticed those when a soft and warm breath blew on its back.But that was too late, Mira grinned behind it and held its skull in her hand.

Sage Art – Earth: Lightning Grasp

As soon as the skill was activated, a purple flash blinded their eyes as a thunder roared. It was truly like a bolt of lightning, and while the flash faded quickly, the thunder kept echoing inside the shrine.That skill was meant to cause mass destruction by unleashing an inhuman amount of electrical energy at once, and the intensity and power of it made Anlutine hiding in the ceiling beams get teary eyed.Carrying more power was not the only difference it had from Crimson Grasp or Furious Grasp, there was one more effect to it.There was no knock off or recoil to it. Which meant Mira’s hand was still on the skull.It was mostly used when one had the next attack planned already, though it also meant that a counterattack from the enemy could easily follow as well.The skeleton carefully lifted his sword up, ready to swing down just in case, and quickly turned around. The swiftness of its motion showed there was still no damage inflicted to it.Before the sword was swung down, Galum roared loudly as he latched onto the skeleton, fiercely biting and shaking it around, his sharp fangs biting as deep as he could.

The wolf’s jaws clamped down on the skeleton like a vise, which it tried to shake off by violently moving around and emptily swinging the holy sword around, but Galum’s strength and courage did not give up as he kept a firm grip on it.As a grating sound came from between the fangs and bone, eventually a small crack appeared. As soon as that happened, the skeleton shrieked loudly and pointed the holy sword straight up.As it did that, countless glowing swords manifested in the air. The glowing swords emitted a strong light, as if the sun was condensed in them, and when the skeleton lowered its hand they all fell at high speeds.

「Hmmm? Now that’s an inherent skill.」

Mira jumped out of the way to evade the falling light swords before observing the scene, muttering to herself full of curiosity.Inherent skills were peculiar skills unique to certain weapons. Most holy and demonic swords, as well as famous weapons, had some sort of inherent skill, and as they were further developed there came a moment when mastery over the inherent skill could be more important than mastering the weapon itself.The falling swords like a meteor shower appeared to be intent on showing they were entirely controlled by the holy sword, moving according to the movements of the skeleton’s hand holding the sword.The storm of light swords hit Galum, which made him relax his jaws just enough for the skeleton to escape his grasp.Galum looked slightly saddened that his prey had escaped, looking at Mira for forgiveness before turning towards the skeleton again and growling to provoke it again.

(It managed to escape Galum’s grip even. It really is a powerful foe.)

When Mira heard a holy sword was involved she expected the opponent to put up a fight, but this was much more than she thought. After checking Galum for any wounds he had, she carefully applied Summoning Skill: Charitable Healing Hand to him so he could recover.

A bright red light illuminated the shrine, and the skeleton heaved one last shriek as the fireball thundered in the distance.