Dungeon of Pride, Laplace

Chapter 870- The Mirage (2)

The smoke that contained traces of cold energy, was chilling enough to send shivers down the spine of anyone below level 500. The atmosphere in the hall dropped sharply and faint traces of ice began accumulating at the edges of the wall.

While all this happened, Yverza quietly stood in his place without showing any signs of moving. In fact, it looked like he was waiting for his enemy to complete their preparation.

The effects of the smoke became apparent after a while as it enveloped the nearby corpses of the Crypt Scarabs. Initially motionless and lifeless after being defeated by the seven kings, the bodies began to twitch and convulse as if being reanimated by some unseen force.

Limbs disjointed and severed appendages wriggled as if being remote controlled. One could imagine thousands of corpses plopping around, the sight was both grotesque and strangely mesmerizing.

The disjointed hands and legs, torn corpses, beings who were already killed by them moving again was not a sight that one could see every day.

 The seven kings standing upon the mountain of corpses, were stunned by the sight. Right underneath them, the once inert husks of the scarabs began to stir with a newfound vitality once again.

"Move!!"

Gil-Garna and Shasurna quickly moved away from the mountain of corpses. The next second, as if guided by the bluish black smoke, the dismembered parts of the scarabs started to converge towards the coffin in a synchronised and purposeful movement. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Like a colony of ants entering its nest, the scarabs and their parts were being drawn inexorably towards a central focal point that was the coffin, their twisted forms melding together in an ominous and enigmatic way.

ROAAARRR…

 And then, with a deafening roar that reverberated throughout the hall, the being who had hidden within the coffin made its presence known once again.

Towering over Yverza and almost reaching the ceiling itself, what emerged was a giant mass of bodies. Composed of countless scarab carcasses fused together, the being looked both grotesque and intimidating.

In the dim light of hall, its surface glimmered with bluish black light like living veins pulsing and squirming. As the colossal creature lumbered forward there was an undeniable sense of power and menace emanating from it.

"Interesting, this is how it should be. Come, let me see how strong you have become"

 In the face of the giant mass of bodies, Yverza looked just like an ant. Something that could be squashed with just a stomp of a foot.

However, this ant was no ordinary figure but one of the seven kings of the forest. When he saw, the giant lifting its foot to squash him down. He gave a fierce grin and threw a punch.

BANG… air was immediately blasted apart as the two attacks connected causing everything in the immediate area to be blown away.

Yverza could feel the weight pressing down on its body, although the giant looked clumsy and slow, it nevertheless had the power of thousands of crypt scarabs combined into one. Its strength couldn't be underestimated.

That being said… What of it? He was not among the ones to back away from the challenge. In fact, since entering this dungeon, he had been itching for a good fight.

 "Finally some worthwhile opponent has appeared" With an excited grin, he readied his weapon which was his own body and braced for a fight.

The giant on the other hand gazed at him almost with a human like intelligence. A bluish black light flashed in its eyes, it was unknown what it was thinking. Neverhtless, what it did, remained the same.

After it saw that it couldn't stomp this ant which was not even the size of its pinky toe, it stretched its hand back and threw a punch with all of its might.

 Matching his aggression, the Ivroy Terraquake Rhino also threw a punch. Two fists, one the size of a big boulder and the other an adult human's head collided. Just based on the size, it was clear which one would get smashed the next second.

However, contrary to expectation, it was this tiny fist that actually pushed that boulder like fist and even caused the giant to take a step back.

"Good, again. Let's go again".

After the first initial clash, both parties had an understanding of each other's strengths. The time for feeling each other was over.

 Yverza gave a hearty laugh, his muscles covered by his endogenous armour bulged and an aura of unmatched destruction released out of his body.

On the other hand, the giant mass of bodies also accumulated all of its strength. Droves of bluish Black energy released from the coffin and entered the giant. The air crackled with an aura of dark energy, and a raw undisguised power coursed through the creature's veins.

Looking at the creature one could clearly say that it was no ordinary monster but a force of nature, a manifestation of numerous deadly monsters.

BOOM… there was a silence for a second before it was broken by the two. The clash of steel against scarab flesh echoed through the hall continuously.

BOOM… BOOOM… BOOOM… An epic battle between the mass giant and the Ivory Terraquake Rhino began.

.

.

In the heart of the ruins on the 85th floor, amidst the swirling mists of death and destruction, two warriors clashed in a contest of wills. Devastation spread everywhere and anywhere they went.

Walls ran with cracks, pillars crumbled and the ground was marked with huge pockmarks. One could imagine how powerful their clash was from just the remnant shockwave that spread through the surroundings like a ripple from their every clash.

Even just being exposed to a bit of this shockwave would make anyone lower than level 500 puke out blood and faint right away.

Observing their battle from a distance, Shasurna couldn't help but click his tongue in jealousy.

"Look at him enjoying. Dammit, if I knew the Crypt Wight had this kind of skill I would have attacked it myself first".

Just like his fellow seven kings, he too was itching for a fight. Sadly, they had already decided on the order of things and he couldn't intervene now even if he wanted to.

Still… "As amazing as the battle was, it seems like that is the full strength of the Crpyt Wight. If so, it wouldn't be long before the victor is decided. What do you think".

Beside him, Gil-Garna narrowed his eyes. He did not comment and continued to observe the battle with his keen eyes. Despite knowing that there was no way Yverza would be defeated, he noticed something amiss in their battle.

 The energy that fuelled the giant's movements seemed to pulse and surge unpredictably, like a volatile storm gathering within its massive form. That energy that should have been expended over time as it battled Yverza was still getting stronger as time passed.

 It was as if the giant was charging energy for one final…

Just as those thoughts arrived in his mind, Gil-Garna understood what the giant was trying to do. Immediately, he tried to caution the Ivory Terraquake Rhino. However, he was a step too late.

The colossal corpse giant, fueled by the unstable energies surging within it, suddenly sprouted a couple more arms.

Given that it never had a form to begin with and only a mass of distorted bodies, it shouldn't be surprising that it could change shapes. Yet the simple minded Yverza was caught off guard by the sudden mutation of its enemy.

The giant's multiple arms swung forth in an erratic and destructive manner and the rhino king braced himself for the onslaught absolutely confident in his endogenous armor. However, to his surprise, the attack didn't come and instead, he saw his enemy suddenly grab hold of him.

This came as a surprise and Yverza was unable to dodge it. Plus, given the strength of the mass giant, which was practically comprised of thousands of crypt scarabs and now that it had even sprouted multiple arms, it was difficult for even one such as him to get out of his hold.

All he could do was watch as the giant brought him near his mouth.

Was it trying to eat him? This was the first thought that came to his mind. However, given that the monster was just piles of body, it did not have a stomach. There is no way it could eat him.

That said, he did not have to wait long to know the answer. In front of him, the giant's form began to distort and convulse, the blush black energy inside it expanding with a threatening intensity and causing the giant to look fat almost comically.

"Yverza be careful, this thing is no Crpyt Wight. This creature, it is trying to self destruct and take you along with it"

 At the same time, Gil-Garna cautioned. However, there was nothing to be done. The energy within the giant had swirled out of control and reached its peak.

The giant's bloated body ran with numerous cracks, one could even observe the energy expanding in a rampant manner through it. And then with a flash of light, the creature unleashed its ultimate skill: a self-destruct ability that unleased all the energy within the bodies of the thousands of crypt scarabs into a one single final attack.

A skill of epic proportions.  Sensing a faint trace of danger, both Gil-Garna and Shasurna backed away, using their own skills to defend themselves. As for Yverza, he was caught up in giant's grip and couldn't avoid the attack.