Infinite Mana In The Apocalypse c1-705
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The dragon looked at our two figures with a deadly glare as it spoke
"I've played around with you fools long enough."
Chapter 59 - Inundation II
I looked to the newly appeared human and the winged creature it was commanding. These natives actually had someone of this level of strength, surprising me even more.
The human that had dirtied my scales was about to die, only for this one to swoop in and save him in the last minute. The issue was that this new one actually posed a threat to me. Well, his beast did anyways
I had brought myself to the point of empathizing with the creatures of this world because of the similarity of events they were going through, but that was the wrong choice.
If I wanted to be successful in my goal in this small world, I had to be ruthless. I have my own people to worry about. With that being said, I would take care of this threat in front of me first
My injury should not flare up as long as I do not completely go all out, so I started by casting my ability, Draconic Summoning.
The usual ferocious winged half dragons filled the air, their numbers growing to 100 in a blink. These would be used to keep the vile summoned creature at bay while I take down its master. That was the fastest solution after all
I commanded the half dragons to attack, and the winged creature went towards them at high speed. It was powerful enough that a single strike from it melted through the body of my summons, and it released a poisonous gas that spread out and melted more than 20 of the half dragons in a blink
I became even more serious seeing this, and I realized I only had a few seconds to make my move against the human. If he dies, the creature dies with him.
My wings vibrated as I converged the wind elements around me and my body disappeared from my location, shooting towards the human in the distance
I passed the position in the sky where the poisonous creature was fighting against my summons, and knew victory was in sight as the creature would never catch up to me before I can take down its master
It was truly vile, as it had nearly taken down almost all the half dragons, but the few seconds it bought me was enough. My chest rumbled as I let out another one of my fiery breaths towards the figure of the human
VOOM!
I felt an impact and left no room for mistake as I formed multiple pillars of purple lightning that also crashed wide at the location of the figure
When the explosion cleared, a surprising sight presented itself.
What?!
The green creature was the one that could be seen at the point of impact. I was nearing its position so that I could finish off its master, but I met it instead. I tried pulling back as its poison was very powerful, but didn't succeed in time as the creature exploded
BOOM!
Ugh. Green smoke covered my body as I was pushed back. The creature had self destructed and left me some breathing room, but it didn't last for long as another one exactly like it appeared in the air once more
F.u.c.k.i.n.g come on!
I was becoming furious at the large pool of mana the human seemed to have as my senses tracked him to a position far behind me. He must have escaped my breath and summoned the creature where he was so he could have it self destruct and wound me.
If I didn't watch myself in this fight, I might actually come out on the losing end. I wasn't too worried though as my strong life essence had already pushed out the poison that was attached to my body.
Also, with the reckless way this human was using his energy to summon and unsummon his creature, he would run out soon enough and become my prey.
To handle the newly appeared creature that was coming towards me, I reinforced my body with multiple mana barriers. This was a dragon's strength that many beings dreaded
Dragons had nearly boundless mana pools and an expert use of the mana around them, making it nearly impossible for someone of the same level to take them on. It would be the same against this human
Do you really think your mana reserves would match mine?
The barriers stacked all over my body as my claws felt the impact against the winged abomination. Every one of its strikes destroyed some of the barriers protecting me, but I supplied the mana and restored them right after
The creature could actually match my speed as its strikes became more ferocious in the sky. Every few seconds, it would release a noxious blast of gas that almost teared apart all the barriers I had
The human watched the battle with rapt attention in the sky, meaning the summoning of this beast should be his most powerful skill. But how many more times can you summon it after I destroy this one?
My body increased its size as my strengthened tail whipped out and smashed into the poisonous creature. The sharp spikes pierced through its hard muscles, and the creature clutched onto me as it exploded
BOOM!
Significant damage was taken from this blast, but I would heal from it in a few minutes. I looked up to the human to see if he had the reserves to summon another one of those creatures, but he stood still with a calm expression and rose his right hand towards me
Brilliant light covered my body as I healed the injuries and pushed out the poison at a fast pace as I prepared for the human's last ditch attack. No matter how calm he looked, I knew he was only putting up a brave front
Come on. Bring your last attack. Let me withstand it and show you the terror of a genuine Black Dragon right after
Rumbling ensued in our surroundings as I felt a surge of energy from all corners around me. Energy that was in no way lower to my conflagrant breath condensed above and below me, and to my left and right
Transparent outlines of shifting mountains appeared as they rumbled and the heat increased to an alarming degree with me at the center
"Okay what-"
BOOM!!!
Suffocation. That was all I felt as I continued to cast multiple energy barriers that continued to be shredded the moment they were created. Thick magma was assaulting me from both sides, the high temperatures searing my scales the moment I didn't replace the barriers fast enough
I felt extreme pain as the injury in my chest flared up and made the situation even worse.
Huff. Huff. Huff.
I released bated breaths as the decimation around me cleared. Half of my body was charred as I looked to the human above me in fear. I could help but let out a scream
"What the hell are you?!"
This thing, this being, he definitely wasn't human!
"Now that, is just insulting"
His same nonchalant reply came out, making the gears in my mind spin faster as I thought of options out of this
"Don't start thinking too much, here's some more"
He disregarded me as his arm stayed in the air, multiple rumblings resounding as transparent volcanoes formed around me once more and a green circle that brought to light the poisonous beast shined out
I looked at the sight in front of me in trepidation as I wondered, just what the hell had I gotten myself into?!
Chapter 60 - Mercy?
Hunters and beasts overlooking the battlefield had moved away from each other as they watched the apocalyptic scene
A majestic dragon was being cornered and showered with an abundance of unbelievably destructive spells.
At the same time, a grotesque beast was pouncing on the dragon and shredding the scales on its body to a bleeding mess as its poison spread
The dragon crushed to the ground as one of its wings had been torn. Spurts of flames blew out of its mouth as the energy around it bubbled.
The grotesque beast ignored all of this as it continued to rain attacks on the body of the dragon, its body releasing noxious blasts of gas every now and then. The strong body of the dragon gradually could not endure and a voice was heard
"Please…"
---
My voice was low, but it was aimed at a specific person in the skies. My energy reserves were at the lowest as this horrendous creature cont
inued its relentless attacks.
The wound I incurred as I desced down had flared up and was causing me to not be able to focus. I repeated again
"Please, stop."
We were of the same positions. Our lands were invaded and taken over, our people forced to submit and pioneer other worlds. I just wanted to make things a bit better for my people.
The man looked down at me coldly. His summon had stopped ravaging me for this instant.
"Do you know how many people you and your forces have killed?"
I turned somber as I heard this question
"I know, but our hands were forced."
We really were backed into a corner. I couldn't even bear the treatment that the royal family was receiving, how much worse would it be for the commoners?
"No. Your actions are your own responsibility"
The man shook his head as if I were wasting his time. I had to try harder if I wanted to come of this alive. My brain was working overtime as I tried to find a way out of this
"The beings that sent me here, they will send more once they know of my failure. I can work with you to fight off the ones that come in the future."
Right. Any sane person would want help for droves of coming enemies. Even if I had to heel under somebody's else's boots, I could at least survive for the time being. I waited with ragged breaths as I looked to the human in the skies
Only two words rang out.
"No thanks."
Two words that spelled my end.
My emotions churned as I saw the poisonous creature lunge towards me again. Anger. Frustration. Despair. That was all I felt.
Why?! Why did things have to go this way for us? Enslaved or killed, we couldn't change our fates!
My defenses could no longer withstand the creature's strikes. I couldn't form anymore mana barriers around me. My reserves were depleted.
In a few seconds, my right wing was torn off. The excruciating pain actually dulled as I fell down deeper into despair.
I'm sorry everyone. I wasn't able to do it.
I looked to the forces of half dragons and dragonoid creatures behind me that were madly screaming and leaving behind any reservations to try and save me, but it would all be for naught
My left wing was then torn off. I could only use my tail and claws to block the strikes of the poisonous creature, but it's poison had already spread throughout my body, dwindling my strength even further
Bated breaths came out as my life force neared its end. I looked at the unexplainable human in the sky as a few thoughts passed before the darkness came. Would he be able to lead his people to a different path?
I would never be able to know the answer, as the world that had been going in slow motion resumed, and the relentless beast continued pounding me
My vision blurred, and my eyes closed to meet the eternal darkness.
---
I looked to the screeching beasts that watched their boss be torn to pieces by the Virulent Abomination.
A moment after the dragon's death, the world had began shaking
I recalled the mysterious being's words as I commanded my summon to focus its rampage on the thousands of beasts rushing about in the battlefield
An uncomfortable feeling like a wound that was healing had begun spreading throughout my body as the world started shaking.
I went to the ground to grab the cores and what seemed like a skill book that dropped while I observed the changes around me. The world's energy seemed to be bubbling and I heard the mysterious voice once more, this time more clearly, without any headaches
[The hardest part is done, leave the rest to me. Do not resist the addition to the system of power that is occuring. When it is complete, you will have a multitude of options for your direction of strength]
I nodded my head towards this mysterious voice as it mentioned things I didn't completely understand. I was expectantly waiting for the revenge the voice mentioned after this. The enemies behind this, if they sent their forces here, it meant that I would be going to where they were to have a possibility of revenge.
So, where were they hiding?
Vengeful emotions rose from my calmness as I recalled the pain I wanted those enemies to feel. I didn't spare the dragon, no matter what words he was saying, and I wouldn't spare any of them either.
The changes around us increased as the Virulent Abomination continued to decimate the forces of the beasts around the battlefield
The small uncomfortable feeling I felt gradually intensified, and I stayed in the air as I waited for the changes to finish, and the surprises that would come thereafter
---
Kazuhiko was baffled at the level of strength that the newly appeared hunter displayed as he battled the dragon. He had thought his own strength was great, but he was completely wrong
His eyes shined as he looked towards this strong figure. If his memory did not fail him, this was the fast rising hunter called Noah Osmont from the Blessed Empire.
The hunter had thrashed the terrible dragon like it was nothing, casting skills he never thought were possible. That was the strength he wanted, that was the goal he had to reach!
---
In an unknown space, a mysterious hexagonal prism was spinning rapidly.
It seemed to be working overtime as it controlled the energies of everything around it to bend down to its wishes. It felt violated when foreign invaders came and woke it from its slumber.
It watched powerlessly as masses of its people were massacred. But it was young, and it learnt fast. It began by making drastic decisions that beings like it would normally never do
It chose a few champions to stand against the invaders, and one of these champions was given a privilege that most knowledgeable beings in the universe would be shocked to hear
But this mysterious being felt like it still wasn't enough. So it was defying expectations and bending the rules once more to create a function that would make it's champions even stronger
Essence was furiously being absorbed and used as a plain blue box that was showing blank attributes, skills, and equipment was getting a new addition right below it. Most of this essence came from this being's own reserves, with the rest coming from deaths of the many beasts that continued to meet their grisly ends even now. The death of the final S rank beast gave enough essence to accelerate this process
This new addition flickered in and out of existence, almost as if there was a restriction preventing it from coming to life. It felt as if it was something that should not be allowed to appear
The addition gradually became more and more stable as it could clearly be made out. Blue words shined brightly at the bottom of the base of the panel. They read, [Skill Combination]
Chapter 61 - An upgrade
The world retained its calmness.
I didn't know how much time had passed, but I came to with my body feeling somewhat lighter than it was before.
I wondered what had changed as I looked around me and saw hunters looking around in a confused manner while my summon continued its rampage.
I observed the blue boxed panel in the corner of my eye to see if there were any changes there. Nearly everything seemed the same, with exactly one simple change that was shining blue at the bottom of the panel
[Skill Combination- Combine skills of the same rank to bring out unknown power. Compatibility is the key. Limited to skills at 100 proficiency.]
I blanked out for a second after reading the description of this newly appearing function. I then looked at the multitude of skills in my panel that had all reached 100 as I began to feel excited
I thought I had grown powerful enough, but with this, I can go even further.
I had been rushing about the entire time this past week and currently felt mentally exhausted, and I was planning to relax the next few days
I didn't get another message or voice after defeating the dragon, making me assume that the system addition of [Skill Combination] which the mysterious voice
was talking about had taken a toll on it, and it would take some time before it approached me again
I was planning on slowly learning about this new function, which skills were compatible to combine, and what they become after the combination. Ideas were already mixing in my head that I couldn't wait to try
I left my Virulent Abomination to continue clearing the thousands of beasts that had yet to run away as I moved from my position in the air to heal the many injured hunters around the battlefield
I could feel the eyes of the hunter I saved watching me very closely as I moved, but I ignored it for now. I was curious about him too as he was deemed important enough by the mysterious voice to be saved, and I was even more sure of it being him after recalling one of the figures I saw in the three smaller rooms. That smirk on his face very closely resembled what I saw
Clearing the battlefield took a significant amount of time as two hours quickly passed. Hunters that were standing on opposing sides helped one another as squads were made to go clear the remaining countries that the dragon had occupied
With its death, the powerful rank A hunters could easily work together to take down the lower ranked beasts and save their people
The hunter that was watching me closely approached me as I was healing an injured soldier on the ground
"Noah Osmont, right? Thank you for saving my life."
I turned to look at the man with dark hair that had a confident smile on his face.
"Not a problem, it was something I felt obligated to do. You are?"
I was replying as I healed the hunters around us. After a certain point, they just brought more and more injured people where I was, which I found to be easier than running around looking for them myself
"Kazuhiko, or most commonly known as the Dark Sword."
The person and the face clicked as I remembered the famous hunter that stood atop everyone else in the United Federation
"The most powerful hunter in the United Federation huh? Thanks for holding down the beast until I made it in time"