Chapter 353: Dungeon Invasion (Part 3)

Point-of-View: Rexon "Rex" Wards———————————————————————————

"Now, die...[Demonic Art: Perforate]!" Roared the Archdemon, as he drove his claws towards Ciel.

Suddenly, a loud blast rang out as she leaned back and unleashed explosive energy from her feet, launching herself away with a wince of pain before gasping sharply as a deep wound appeared across the middle of her chest, blood streamed down.

Her legs buckled as her feet skidded back across the muddy ground, the Archdemon spinning around as I closed in on him and lunged forward, driving my blades towards the middle of his body.

"You are quite annoying to deal with," He uttered venomously, as he shuffled across to evade my attack, swinging his claws at my head, before flying back up with an irritated click of his tongue as his slash phased through me.

"That was way too close," Frowned Ciel, letting out a quiet sigh of relief as our Healer sprung into action and closed up her injury.

What was that attack?

The spot where she got injured was in line with the trajectory of the thrust of the Archdemon’s claws...it must be some kind of invisible, piercing burst.

Fortunately, it seems to have a relatively short range, maybe around a meter, if she hadn’t blasted herself back, it would have...it would have burst right through her.

Damn it...he can’t so much as scratch me, but I don’t have the firepower to inflict any serious damage, especially now that the element of surprise is gone.

He’s several times faster than me too...but I can somewhat follow his movements, likely thanks to watching Kai and Ariella fight. I think that goes for Ciel too, her reaction time wasn’t this fast before.

Still, unlike how those two propel themselves around with Negative Energy, her doing the same with her explosions injures her in the process, it’s not a move she can keep using with reckless abandon.

She got healed this time, but if the others get too involved, the Archdemon is likely to target them too.

He’s displayed two Demonic Arts so far, Atomic Pulse and Perforate...both are powerful, but they won’t have any effect on me.

But he’s keenly aware of what my Magic can do now, and he isn’t going to attack me blindly.

What do we do?

The Archdemon stayed up in the air for a moment, assessing his options as he glanced between us, before firing out a Negative Energy blast down towards me as he swooped down towards Ciel.

I raced that way as fast as I could, his blast hitting the muddy ground with a loud, splattering crash, Ciel drawing out her blade and springing back as he closed in on her, before slashing at his throat.

He blocked the swing of her blade with his claws, a sharp clang ringing out upon impact, right as Ciel blasted herself back again while simultaneously firing out an explosive blast from her mouth.

The Archdemon quickly raised his right arm up, his forearm getting blown off as the blast struck the middle of it and erupted fiercely, right as I closed in on him and drove my blades forward with powerful thrusts, targeting his throat and Core.

I grimaced as he ignored me and shot forward, my blades whizzing through the air as he charged towards Ciel, weaving through the air as she fired off several explosive projectiles, before spinning around as he closed in and whipping his tail across as she began to raise her sword.

His tail struck her wrists, knocking the blade out of her hands, before he swung his arm across and unleashed a fierce blast of Negative Energy, blowing her away.

She let out a sharp gasp of pain as her back slammed against the wall to the right of the space, coughing out blood.

She collapsed onto her knees onto the mud as the Archdemon shot towards her while I sprinted that way in desperation.

"[Demonic Art: Atomic Pulse]."

My chest tightened as Ciel screamed in pain, several sizzling burns appearing across her skin as she trembled in agony, the Archdemon raising his claws.

I tightened my grip on my blades and flung them out towards him, sending them spinning through the air rapidly.

He let out a scoff as he glanced back, spreading out his left wing to bat away one of the blades before catching the other one with his tail and tossing it away.

"How foolish, throwing away your weapons...I may not be able to hit you, but now you possess no way of damaging me either!" He sneered, before he began to chant as he drove his claws down towards her head, "[Demonic Art: Perfo-...]...-what?!"

I leapt forward and grabbed the Archdemon’s sides, turning him intangible and phasing him through the ground.

I tilted my head back as he swung his right arm back, his claws cutting into my left cheek, grazing my tongue before slicing out my right cheek.

Blood streamed down the lower half of my face as he split my mouth open, before I turned.him tangible again and sprang back as I let go of him, having got almost everything below his shoulders buried, only his head and right arm above ground.

"W-Woah, thought I was dead. Thanks, babe," Smiled Ciel with a slight grimace, as she shakily began to get back onto her feet.

"This will not hold me for long!" Snapped the Archdemon, as he placed his right hand on the muddy ground and began to break free.

"I know. But it’ll be long enough...Ciel, hit him with everything you’ve got," I uttered as I placed my hand on her shoulder, turning her intangible.

"Huh? Ohh, yeah! [Explosion Nova]!" She chanted as she raised her arms up, the Archdemon’s eyes widening in alarm as a massive ball of explosive energy began to form, frantically struggling to break free.

As strong as he may be, he doesn’t have much leverage to muster up his strength in his current position, this may be our only chance to win and survive this battle!