NOVPUB
Chapter 84: 024: Buzzer Beater
"Roar!"
After a brief moment of eye contact, an earth-shattering roar erupted. The Ausen Giant Python opened its massive blood-red jaws, spraying a terrifying burst of corrosive acid at Lynch, its momentum as overwhelming as a dragon’s Breath.
Every area the acid touched on the ground sizzled as it corroded the earth, leaving a massive fissure in its wake. If this acid were to hit a person directly, they would likely melt on the spot.
Lynch quickly stepped forward, raising his right hand to block. A silent Elemental Shield unfolded before him, flickering with countless element light points, indicating that the shield wasn’t composed of a single element.
[Multi-element Shield]
Ever since Lynch learned this Defensive Magic bought from the market, he had been continuously practicing, trying to blend multiple elements into it.
Through these days of constant effort, aside from the Water Element—still unfamiliar—and the Light Element—not yet mastered—the other four elements were successfully integrated, significantly boosting its defensive power, now comparable to the 25-degree protection level of a High-level Apprentice.
At this moment, its excellent defensive effect was fully displayed.
The terrifying acid, potent enough to instantly melt a Knight, struck the Elemental Shield, sending crackling sounds echoing, yet ultimately failing to break through its defense.
"Roar!"
The Ausen Giant Python was not about to let him off easily. Seeing its corrosive acid fail, it roared furiously, twisting its enormous body as it charged straight toward Lynch, intent on physically obliterating him.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Its massive tail sliced through the air, producing earth-shaking explosive sounds. If it hit its target solidly, even the Elemental Shield might not provide much protection.
Lynch immediately cast a Light Body Skill on himself and quickly maneuvered to dodge.
Thankfully, in addition to being a Wizard, he was also a trained Knight. Notably, a few days ago in the Tulip Domain, he underwent specialized training in movement techniques. With the added boost from the Light Body Skill, his Agility reached an exceptional level.
Using this heightened agility, Lynch expertly avoided the Ausen Giant Python’s attacks and began to engage it in a tactical game of evasion.
Meanwhile, after a brief moment of panic, Avery reorganized an offensive against the Ausen Giant Python.
Some Knights, relying on their robust physical strength, dashed forward to launch close-range attacks. Ordinary soldiers switched to crossbows for long-range strikes, executing their attack rhythm in an orderly manner.
"Crack—Zap!"
A bolt of lightning descended from the clouds above, striking the Ausen Giant Python’s scales. Silver sparks flickered, and electric currents surged across its massive body.
The Thunder Element, boasting a potent 18-degree attack power, was capable of instantly reducing a person to a charred corpse, even killing a Knight on impact. However, when unleashed upon this colossal creature before them, it only managed to make its massive form pause briefly before resuming its relentless assault.
Lynch furrowed his brows.
The creature’s defensive power was truly horrifying.
It had been more than ten minutes since the Ausen Giant Python had transformed, and throughout this period, Lynch had tried various modes of attack—Fireballs, Wind Blades, Thunder Strikes, Dark Flames—essentially exhausting his arsenal of spells. Yet none of them had caused any substantial damage to the creature.
He had also attempted physical close combat with limited success. No matter how fiercely the Knights and soldiers attacked, even the Knights’ full-force strikes left only minor scratches on the Python’s scales.
Ordinary soldiers’ arrows were even less effective, akin to tickling the beast. Even their heavy-duty Car Ship Crossbow bolts proved futile, easily obliterated by a swipe of the Python’s monstrous tail.
Initially, its weakness was its lower jaw, but now, that area was covered with a thick layer of scales, indistinguishable from the rest of its body.
"What now..." Lynch frowned deeply.
Though his agile movement technique and robust Elemental Shield allowed him to hold his ground, his spiritual power was far from unlimited. At the current rate of depletion, he wouldn’t last much longer.
"Its eyes! Aim for its eyes!" Suddenly, Avery shouted up at Lynch.
Its eyes?
This weakness had indeed caught Lynch’s attention earlier. Theoretically, the eyes were certainly its most vulnerable area, but the target was so small that successfully landing a hit seemed anything but simple.
"I’ll try."
Having clarified his approach, Lynch charged toward the Ausen Giant Python. However, the creature was visibly wary of this move. Whenever Lynch approached, it lashed out frantically, denying him even an inch of proximity to its eyes.
"I’ll restrain it! But there’ll only be one chance!"
Avery quickly pulled out a scroll, tearing it apart with swift precision before gripping her Magic Wand tightly. She began chanting a Spell loudly, and as she did, the scroll floated into the air and transformed into a golden flame that crackled intensely.
Under the scorching heat of the flames, the air began to distort, as though a portal to the Otherworld had opened. Golden chains emerged from the warped space, rapidly coiling around the Ausen Giant Python.
Avery raised her right hand and clenched it fiercely. The chains wrapped around the Python abruptly tightened, and with a downward gesture of her hand, a deafening boom echoed as the Ausen Giant Python was slammed onto the ground.
"Hurry!"
Avery’s face turned pale, sweat pouring down her cheeks, clearly showing the immense strain this spell placed on her.
Lynch wasted no time. He switched to his Fearless Great Sword, accelerating his movement until he resembled a human projectile, streaking straight toward the Python’s head.
As he neared within 20 meters of the Python, corrosive acid suddenly seeped from the creature’s body, pooling on the ground and quickly coalescing into elemental monsters. These creatures formed a barrier, halting Lynch’s advance.
"Help him! Quickly!"
Avery’s trembling voice urged the surrounding fighters.
The soldiers and Knights obeyed, brandishing their swords and charging into the fray. Yet, when facing these highly corrosive monsters formed purely from elements, their weapons proved ineffectual.
Ordinary blades failed to kill the monsters, and the acidic splatter from their strikes easily corroded armor and weapons alike, sometimes melting their swords within seconds.
The front line was unable to move forward, while Avery’s spell seemed to be nearing its limit. Cracks began to appear in the chains restraining the Python.
"I’ll hold them off!"
In the critical moment, a figure rushed forward—it was Adam.
Adam’s condition was visibly dire. Covered in blood, his tattered clothes revealed muscles that had been ripped and torn, leaving not a single intact piece of flesh. He looked ready to collapse any second.
Yet, he still charged ahead, blocking the elemental monsters and creating an opening for Lynch.
"Go... quickly!"
Adam didn’t need to tell him twice. Lynch was already darting forward like an arrow, heading straight for the Python. Losing its final layer of protection, the Ausen Giant Python betrayed a hint of panic, shutting its eyes to shield them with its scaled eyelids while thrashing wildly in desperation.
But in the moment its eyelids closed, the space around its eyes warped violently—
Space Distortion!
The nearly 20-degree attack instantly shredded the Python’s vulnerable eyelids, exposing its massive eyes fully under Lynch’s gaze.
This was the moment!
Lynch accelerated, channeling all his Fighting Spirit into the Fearless Great Sword, which began to radiate a dazzling silver glow. With all his strength surging through him, Lynch swung the blade fiercely at the Python’s exposed eyes.
"Squelch!" The Great Sword sliced through the thin membrane and effortlessly split the massive eyes in half. Countless blood vessels and nerves burst forth, spraying in streams.
The Ausen Giant Python, overwhelmed by unbearable pain, descended into sheer madness. With Avery’s spell reaching its limits, the chains shattered, and the Python broke free, rampaging furiously and thrashing everything in its sight.
The cavern trembled violently as acid rained down like a torrent, devastating both the Blood Origin Cult and allied forces alike. Within moments, the battlefield transformed into a nightmarish hellscape.
"Lady Avery! Dodge quickly!"
"My Lady!"
Suddenly, the Python shifted its attention toward Avery, prompting alarmed cries from nearby Knights who tried to rush to her aid.
Avery herself noticed the danger and instinctively tried to retreat. However, the earlier Spell had drained her completely, leaving her in a weakened state. She staggered after just two steps, collapsing to her knees and bracing herself on her Magic Wand.
The next instant, the Python’s massive blood-red jaws snapped down toward Avery!
"Squelch!" A sickening sound echoed.
A broken body was gripped between the Python’s jaws, with blood cascading down its twisted muscles.
Lucas!
At the crucial moment, the young noble shoved Avery aside and took her place before the Python.
The left side of his body had been entirely dissolved, leaving behind only a mangled husk now clenched between the Python’s jaws, resembling a pathetic ragdoll after enduring brutal torment.
In his dying moments, Lucas forced his head up, his eyes scanning the crowd as though searching for something.
Finally.
His gaze locked onto Lynch.
Gone was the scorn and contempt he once held; all that remained were respect and desperation.
His lips trembled as he struggled to utter, "Lynch... Sir!"
"I... I’ll gather all... Elemental Energy..."
"...and concentrate it..."
"...on your spell!"
With the last of his strength, he roared, "DO IT!"
Lynch didn’t waste time talking; words were pointless now. He stepped forward, quickly flicked his fingers, and a flash of violent Dark Element materialized into a bolt of black lightning, surging into Lucas’s body.
The next moment, the Python’s massive jaws clamped shut, crushing the broken body to bits and ending Lucas’s life.
Simultaneously, the raging Dark Element detonated in a death storm...
