The effect granted by Evolutionary Shell phase one was 50% resistance to swords. Starting in the second phase, stab damage was reduced by half. So what would happen if those effects were multiplied by 1.5? The answer was simple: Sword Resistance increased by 75% and Stab Wound Reduction also received a 75% increase. Essentially, when you used Iron Fortress in combination with Sword Resistance, you reached a state where you were virtually immune to taking any sword penetration damage.
If it weren't for the limit, he would have obtained the Sword Immunity achievement.
The limit of any Sword Resistance boost was 85%. Therefore, even with the passive strengthening effect of Transcendence, he could not achieve full immunity. In essence, he was only immune to stabbings. Although the stab wounds pierced me, I had the passive ability of the Ogre, Iron Skin, who covered my back.
Iron Skin in addition to my current Physical Resistance means...
Well, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I had become a gentleman's worst nightmare right now.
However, she must have been worried since she didn't know. The moment the Blood Knight's feet took off from the ground, someone shouted: «Be careful!». It was Raven's voice.
Showing it to him would be quicker than explaining it to him, right?
Deslick.
With this in mind, the enemigo's thrust is blocked with my shield.
"Kak!
Maybe it had been a long time since I heard that sound from the tip of the sword. Realizing that my shield was blocking his aura, my opponent's face showed absolute bewilderment. «How...?»
How do you think?
The Union skill, which he had obtained in the sixth stage of the Immortality Imprint, consisted of a warrior's weapons fusing with his body. This meant that when I used abilities like Gigantization, my team also benefited from its effects. The same thing happened with the Evolutionary Shell.
Although maybe that's not what you're asking.
You probably don't care about the minutiae. I'd just be curious how I managed to block an aura. Well, there was a whole long story behind it, but in this world of survival of the fittest, it could be summed up in a single sentence.
Pushing his sword back with my shield, I spoke. «I am stronger than you».
What more could be said in this world of winners and losers?
¡Whoom!
As if to engrave it in his mind, I brandished my hammer with all my strength.
Dash.
As expected, my enemy retreated quickly. However, it was nothing to be disappointed about. After all, nothing was easier than catching someone fleeing.
[You have cast Eye of the Storm. By the authority of the transcendental body, the potential inherent in this ability is now unlocked].
I united Transcendence with Eye of the Storm.
¡Wiiiip!
The gust that blew out of nowhere dragged the enemy towards me. No, to be more precise, he dragged it right into the path of my swinging hammer.
¡Zas!
Unfortunately, just before my hammer could touch him, his body became as blurry as the fog around us and he quickly maneuvered through the air to dodge it.
So you don't just have an aura, huh?
I adjusted my hammer grip with that thought in mind. Raven, seemingly unable to get rid of her old habits, hurriedly shouted: «Blood Penetration! It is a rank four skill that allows a person to temporarily accelerate and move through the air!».
I appreciate it, but I knew it as soon as I saw it. Also, your explanation is too basic. This is not a simple acceleration, but an increase in Agility. You also omitted the fact that it decreases the user's Strength and temporarily grants them the attributes of a spirit, meaning they cannot take physical damage.
I watched the blood-red blur move through the air like a fly and bit my lip. Now that he had the Demon Crusher, he hoped to be able to try combat this time.
But since he has that ability, it is better to leave the damage to others.
It was a shame I couldn't get rid of him on my own, but I wasn't going to be stubborn.
Teamwork was essential for a tank.
[Erwen Fornacci di Tersia has launched Elemental Synthesis.]
Five elemental attributes combined into a single arrow to chase the blood red mist: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and even Darkness, which had become Erwen's main attribute after signing a contract with the Elemental Ruler.
Auras definitely have too many powers.
All arrows were destroyed by the enemy's sword. However, it seemed like he thought that these arrows were a threat to him regardless.
¡Soooot!
Even though he was fleeing, the enemy turned around and flew straight towards Erwen. I guess he thought he should take care of the ranger first.
But do you really think that will work? You're making the tank feel bad.
«Erwen, get behind me.»
The moment it started flying, Erwen hid behind me. This was why tanks were so important within the maze. They could become walls for the harmful to hide behind anywhere, at any time.
¡Whoom!
Although Erwen disappeared behind me, our opponent did not give up and brandished his sword. However, it was not a blind repeat of his previous attack. I guess he assumed it was my shield that had blocked his aura last time, so this time he aimed at the seams of my armor. In other words, he pointed to the joints where my skin was exposed. Of course, the results were not very different.
Slash!
It was a cut, not a stab. As a result, I didn't get the benefits of the Evolutionary Shell enhancer, but Iron Skin was activated, so I only suffered a small cut. Simply put, I endured an aura with bare skin. My enemy's eyes widened at the unexpected sight.
Wow, surprised again? What, you didn't believe me before when I said I was stronger than you?
«Sheter Ebon!» Raven cast a curse spell on the enemy, who had stopped for a moment to attack me. Since we had seen this spell countless times during our adventures together, there was no need to wonder what it was. Materialization was a rank eight curse that forcibly stripped spiritual monsters of their Physical Immunity.
Yes, this is what is called teamwork.
When I lived in Noark, there were many frustrating moments due to the lack of a magician on our team.
¡Whooom!
As soon as the enemy's body, which was a blur, became clear again, I struck with the hammer. However, perhaps because of my poor agility, I failed again.
Ugh, I hope I can stop him from getting up again if I hit him just once.
«I'll help». Amelia joined the battle, summoning her doppelgangers to deal with the corpses, which even now were coming towards us from all directions.
«... Who are you?», our enemy asked himself, looking at us. He seemed too curious not to ask, even though he couldn't resist my fierce attacks. Obviously, he wasn't obligated to respond. «People like you are not...»
«Woahhh!» I shouted a war cry in place of the name of my ancestral god, whom I could no longer invoke unless I wanted my identity revealed, and brandished my hammer repeatedly. The enemy swallowed his question and focused solely on dodging.
As the battle progressed, he counterattacked with all kinds of skills. However, he quickly became defensive. It was to be expected. Dungeon and Stone was a team game, and even if you looked at us individually, the members of our current team were not lacking in anything. That was true even if you only looked at Erwen.
«Erwen, back!»
She hid behind me every time she was attacked, but that didn't mean she was weaker than the enemy: if she were alone, she could use her natural gift for agility and various versatile spirit abilities to widen the distance again. Even if it was a one-on-one fight, he wouldn't lose. The same thing happened with Amelia.
[Amelia Rainwales has released the Power of the Abyss.]
The Blood Knight's aura could be blocked by another aura, and his physical characteristics were also not inferior to his. However, Raven was a little different.
«Arhen Hail Tun... Kyaaa!» She wasn't really helpful here. It didn't make sense for a 1v1 mage to be a knight in the first place.
«Even if you are afraid, stay behind me. It seems like he's determined to attack you.»
«O-Okay.»
Erwen and Amelia were strong enough to take care of themselves, so I focused on protecting Raven throughout the battle. However, as it dragged on, I started to feel like something wasn't right.
Why don't you run away even though things have reached this point? He should have realized by now that he will inevitably lose if this continues, so why doesn't he retire? Are you waiting for my PM to run out?
If that were the case, it wouldn't be a problem. Although the Iron Fortress took PM away from me per second, I didn't activate Gigantization on purpose for that reason. I'd rather see the end of the game than run out of PM.
Something seemed disturbing to me, so I checked the last insurance we had left. «How is the Multi Teleport going?».
«If I start preparing it again now, it will take about five more minutes».
« Otra circuit ...? »
«Actually... I stopped preparing it earlier...»
You thought we wouldn't need it considering our overwhelming advantage.
«Start preparing it now. You never know if things will take a turn».
«...Okay.»
The moment that order left my lips, Amelia let out an urgent scream. «Schuitz, magic!»
[Lyranne Vivian has cast the rank three Fallen Star black magic spell].
A giant black sphere plummeted from the sky and pierced the fog.
Damn. So you were waiting for your comrade.
When the spell activated and I realized I couldn't help it, my body froze on the spot. I hadn't optimized my build for magic yet. My aura configuration was quite done, but in return, my Mana Stamina was much lower than before.
It seems she realized it too late too.
It seemed like even Raven, who was busy launching Multiple Teleportation, was going to have a hard time blocking it.
What can I do? I have to counteract it with what I have.
I made my decision in what seemed like a split second. That spell was coming towards me, and Erwen and Amelia were quite a distance away from me. But if I avoided him, Raven, who was right behind me, wouldn't be safe. And therefore there was only one option.
«… ¡Ugh!»
Pulling Raven's small body into my arms, I dragged us both to the ground and covered her.
Gigantization.
«Sir...!»
«¡Shuitz!»
Immediately after I managed to activate Transcendence and make myself even bigger, magic fell on us and hit my back.
¡Baaaaaaaa!
The first thing I felt was a jolt that broke my spine. Next, a shock wave that pierced my bones and muscles shocked my organs, and a tingling sensation similar to electricity ran through my blood. Was it because the Corpse Golem had disappeared? Why the hell was it so painful?
«Hey...» As I grimaced instinctively at the unbearable pain, I heard a sound beneath me.
«How... even Gigantization...?»
Yikes, has everything gone down the drain now?
That's why he had been keeping Gigantization. Unlike Swing, which had almost no visible effect, this ability was immediately noticeable to anyone who observed it.
«You are...?»
Jeez, este no es el momento para eso.
«Let's talk... later.» As soon as the scare went away, I hurried up.
Clunk.
Something fell behind me. It was a completely shattered piece of armor.
How dizzy.
My vision was blurry, not because of the fog, but because of the smoke. Smoke coming out of my body.
Chhhhhh.
Wow, how long had it been since my body was so broken? Even as I forced myself to stand up, every one of my joints screamed at me in protest.
Tsk, exaggerating too much? Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It's been a while.
Trying to keep my thoughts frivolous, I got up completely and left Raven on the ground. Then I sent her after me. That's when she saw the state I was in. «You... dd back...!»
What's wrong with my back? At least finish the sentence.
Just then, Amelia approached me and reviewed the situation on my behalf. «It would be better if you didn't know the state you are in».
«... ¿Tan mal?»
«Yes, it's wonderful that you're still standing».
Ah. Um, well... If you say so.
«...Whatever, just give me a potion.»
«We... already poured one.»
Hey? But I didn't feel anything. Oh, my butt is completely paralyzed? Come to think of it, it stopped hurting at some point...
I assumed that, at least, was positive and turned my attention forward. The first thing I saw was the Blood Knight standing some distance away from us. He looked like a derailed train after taking a four-on-one beating, although from the looks of it, he was in better condition than me. None of that was important anyway.
«Grandpa, why are you trying so hard? Do you know how surprised I was when I heard the news about Necrapetus?». A woman in a robe was standing next to the Blood Knight. Since she had a wand in her hand, she had to be a magician. So was she the one who cast the spell just now? Feeling my gaze, the woman smiled happily and waved her hand. «Hello. I don't know how you survived, but nice to meet you!».
Erwen trembled with rage at this.
«Erwen, I'm fine, so don't fall for his teasing». As I said that, I dragged Erwen to my side by the wrist before turning my attention to Amelia. «Emily, who is that woman?»
«La bruja de los lamentos, Lyranne Vivian.»
Ah, so it's her. It's the first time I've seen her in person.
«So what about the man standing next to her?»
When I looked at the second of the three newcomers, Amelia responded immediately. «The lighthouse keeper. His real name is unknown».
Ha, this bastard is famous too. One of the few voice actors with special support abilities in Orcules.
«And next to him...»
«Alright. I know who it is». I interrupted her and looked away.
As soon as our eyes met, I could see his widening through the opening of his mask. «So do our numbers match now? Mr. False?»
The Corpse Collector, Abed Necrapeto. Why is this son of a bitch everywhere?