According to the Guild's records, Udaeus' attack methods could be roughly divided into three types.
Pure physical (skeletal) movements.
Physical attacks enhanced momentarily by mana, increasing the power of punches and slams.
Bone spikes that erupt from the ground.
Technically, these bone spikes should be called "ground stakes."
Udaeus has no lower body in the conventional sense, or, more accurately, no humanoid lower body.
Because, at its core… it's a tree.
A skeletal tree.
Its "lower body" consists of tangled skeletal roots buried throughout the Throne Room's floor.
This unique trait is why past expedition teams, despite the hall's spaciousness, could never simply wear Udaeus down with ranged attacks.
The skeletal roots would burst up unpredictably, forcing the adventurers to dodge constantly.
And these roots? Their hardness matches Udaeus' own black bones, because they are part of its body.
In short, getting impaled by these roots would destroy even top-tier armor instantly.
Since the roots are hidden underground, even flying or ranged attacks have no visible trajectory, making it nearly impossible to predict where or when they would strike.
Even large-scale teams find hunting Udaeus an incredibly grueling challenge.
Now, with Ais challenging Udaeus alone, all of this pressure is concentrated solely on her.
In front: a black skeletal giant capable of killing her with a single strike.
Beneath: a hidden "sword mountain" trap; she must constantly analyze the floor's vibrations, was it the impact of Udaeus' punch, or a root about to erupt?
There's just so much to think about.
==========
Awaken… (Tempest),
Having hesitated to use Ariel earlier had already cost her.
Now, without hesitation, she activates her sole magic ability, boosting her combat potential on all fronts.
At that moment…
"Sudden~"
A ground stake burst up from the side. Ais was truly dancing on a knife's edge.
Sword Dance!
The instant…
"Click-click~"
A few emerging spikes were immediately cut to pieces by the Desperate.
At her current Lv.5 proficiency, her full-powered strikes left afterimages flickering along her arms, imperceptible to ordinary eyes.
With such high-speed, high-frequency strikes, Ais finally felt she could stand against Udaeus.
Even scattered spikes approaching her were deflected by the protective layer of Ariel.
Of course, this protective effect is more like a buffer air cushion than a full shield. She couldn't completely block the spikes.
But with her reflexes, even slight interference with the spikes' advance gave her enough time to sidestep and avoid direct contact.
Within the Loki family, only Finn and Bete rival her rapid-attack style. Once she activated Ariel, even Bete's footwork and leg techniques were slightly inferior.
She was fast.
But Udaeus isn't just large, it's potential Lv.6, with high intelligence or, perhaps more accurately, exceptional combat instinct.
==========
"BOOM~"
The giant skeleton clenched its fists and pounded the ground like an enraged golem.
Udaeus wasn't attacking randomly. It used the continuously emerging stakes to limit Ais' movement and the shockwaves from its punches to disrupt her perception and judgment.
While Ais fought with complete focus, it was actively seeking the perfect chance to finish the intruder.
Then…
"Bzzz~"
A familiar surge of energy coursed through its right arm from the embedded magic stone.
This next strike… will be almost impossible to defend.
Ais immediately sensed Udaeus' intent.
But as she tried to retreat…
The path behind her had already been blocked by stakes.
Trapped…
No choice.
She clenched her teeth, activating Ariel to soar into the air, planning to use its short flight to avoid the incoming punch.
"BANG~"
Another explosive impact rocked the ground below, kicking up dust and debris.
Her judgment was correct, despite Udaeus' enormous size, its attack speed was not slow.
In other words, Ais had no time to destroy surrounding stakes and escape the punch's range simultaneously.
She couldn't tunnel underground, the floor itself was Udaeus' hidden lower body.
So she had no choice but to rise into the air.
==========
And yet…
Udaeus anticipated this.
While briefly suspended in air using Ariel, she could dodge without needing solid footing.
But this was inherently less flexible than standing on solid ground.
Slowing down even slightly gave Udaeus the perfect opportunity.
"Swoosh~"
After smashing the ground with its right fist, Udaeus swung its left arm upward, striking at the floating Ais.
This attack was inescapable.
"BANG~"
Though not enhanced by magic, Udaeus' sheer size and force sent Ais flying.
With a crash, she collided with the Throne Room's dome, barely stopping her backward momentum.
Seeing this…
"Hey, you can't fight like that! You're asking for death!"
Bete, still outside the attack zone, nearly lost it.
He knew she wouldn't be killed outright, Ariel still provided a buffer.
But she had definitely taken serious damage.
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