Chapter 1055: Joint Efforts [Pt 1]
Tension spread through the air as we all stared at each other in choking silence.
And then...
"P-purple?!" Aria was the first to comment on the absurdity of my observation.
I had explained the concept of my markers prior to our arrival at the very entrance of the Final Juncture.
"There's a possibility that it's not an enemy and simply the Arcana's energy signature, right?" Drake smiled uncomfortably.
He was clearly trying to run away from the dreary fact that seemed to be crouching upon his senses.
"No. The frequency of the Arcana is different. Markers represent living entities." I responded.
One could say that the Arcanas wouldn't fall under any marker color, and even if it would, the color was going to be black.
Still, the Arcanas location was certainly beyond these doors. My sensors picked the entire area within the room ahead as the position of the Arcana
That meant the purple marker was something else.
"We should brace ourselves for an enemy encounter."
"But a Purple? Didn't you say Aria was a Red? She's the strongest among us. We don't stand a chance if we go in there."
I understood what Larry was saying, but we couldn't turn back now either.
We also didn't know the kind of enemy we would be facing, so we couldn't generate a specific plan to counter it.
The only thing we could really do was move forward.
"Don't worry, Larry. I don't plan on losing this fight." A smiled formed on my face as I stared at the double door.
Sure, I couldn't use Magic, but that didn't mean I didn't have some tricks up my sleeve.
"There's more than one way to win a battle. Just trust me."
Drake and Larry were useless in a fight, so the only person I could really count on was Aria.
She was weaker than the opponent that existed within, but she was still formidable.
"With our combined strength, we should be able to win."
No... we had to win!
********
As the massive double doors swung open, revealing the foreboding Labyrinth's Core Room, a rush of anticipation and fear coursed through my veins.
The air was thick with tension as our small group stepped inside.
Larry and Drake remained close to the entrance as instructed, considering the fact that they were non combatants, while Aria and I prepared to face the monstrous being that awaited us.
"Haha... this will be a bit difficult."
The creature before us stood at least fifteen meters tall, its crimson skin pulsating with an unholy energy.
Horns protruded from its skull, curling menacingly, and a long tail lashed back and forth, demolishing everything in its path.
It truly resembled a giant demon, a nightmarish creation from the depths of darkness itself.
Aria, our masterful Magic Swordsman, readied her gleaming weapon, crackling with the power of lightning and light magic.
I, on the other hand, lacked the ability to harness magic directly, so I could only rely on the items I had in my satchel.
'I have to use them sparingly...' My thoughts trailed.
Aria took the lead, as agreed, charging towards the towering demon with swift and calculated movements.
~SWOOOSH!~
Her lightning-infused blade slashed through the air, leaving trails of crackling energy in its wake.
"GRRAAAAUGGGHHH!!!"
She weaved between the demon's colossal limbs, narrowly avoiding its sweeping attacks while retaliating with her own lightning-charged strikes.
As the demon focused its attention on Aria, I seized the opportunity to support her from a distance.
I rummaged through my satchel, finding a small silver orb.
With a quick toss, the orb exploded in a blinding flash of light, momentarily disorienting the demon and giving Aria a chance to strike with even greater force.
~FWISSSHH!!~ Her attacks connected, drawing blood from the monster.
"GRUAAAAHHHH!!!" It's screams pierced the air, and based on that alone, I had to admit we were off to a great start.
But the demon was relentless. It roared in fury, its crimson eyes burning with a malicious intent.
It grew stronger, channeling dark energies that surged through its massive form.
Aria and I exchanged a brief glance, our determination unyielding. We couldn't back down now.
With a surge of adrenaline, Aria unleashed her most powerful spell. Brilliant beams of light shot forth from her blade, piercing through the darkness that enveloped the room.
The demon howled in agony as the light seared its flesh, causing it to stumble backward, momentarily weakened.
I seized the moment, delving into my satchel once again.
This time, I retrieved a small glass vial containing a swirling red liquid. With a swift motion, I hurled it towards the demon's feet, shattering on impact.
The liquid ignited into a raging inferno, engulfing the demon's lower body and hindering its movement.
"RAAARGGGHHHHH!!!"
I was honestly grateful that the beast we were fighting had no intelligence.
We were allowed to get away with our lackluster strategy as long as we timed out attacks perfectly and acted in sync.
Unfortunately, it seemed the Giant Demon's vitality was it's most dangerous attribute.
'Its hardly scathed...'
We pressed on relentlessly, exploiting every opening, every weakness.
Aria's lightning-infused strikes grew more ferocious, each blow delivering a surge of electricity that ravaged the demon's monstrous form.
I provided support, alternating between hurling explosive orbs, using artificial protective barriers to defend us both, and enhancing Aria's sword with temporary enchantments to amplify her attacks.
"ROOOAAARRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHH!!!"
The demon fought back with renewed vigor, its attacks growing increasingly desperate and devastating.
But we refused to yield. We evaded its massive fists, its crushing tail, and its searing breath.
We danced through the chaos, our movements synchronized and fluid, as if we were two halves of a single entity.
~VWUUUUSSSHHHH!!!~
As the massive demon beast roared in fury, its crimson skin crackling with dark energy, a surge of adrenaline coursed through my veins.
'It's getting stronger again!'
*
*
*