ATLAS PENDRAGON.
The wind blew softly, stirring my tied-up long white hair. My red eyes scrutinized every movement of my opponent, searching for any sign of weakness.
This guy was dangerous, but I couldn't show fear. I had to keep calm and think clearly.
Adelaide was fighting against that Nightmare-level monster, Anastasia and Arceus were in danger, and now I had to face this masked lunatic.
Without warning, Enigma launched his first attack. A crimson energy burst sprouted from his hands, slithering towards me like a hungry cobra. With a simple movement of my hand, the ground rumbled as a ten-meter earth wall rose from the ground and curved in front of me, absorbing the impact of the attack. With a fluid gesture, the earth barrier crumbled and its fragments turned into sharp projectiles that flew towards Enigma.
An energy sphere materialized around Enigma, disintegrating the stone projectiles. Enigma extended his hand and a wave of dark energy shot towards me.
I reacted by instinct, creating an earth barrier in front of me. The impact was brutal, making the ground shake beneath my feet and cracking my improvised shield.
—Who the hell are you, Enigma? —I provoked, keeping my tone light despite the tension I felt.
Enigma tilted his head, as if considering my words. —I don't have to answer anything to you. But tell me, how do you think your dear wife is doing against my Special-grade Nightmare? Do you think she'll be able to protect your precious children?
The mention of my family made my blood boil.
«Don't fall for his game. He's trying to destabilize you».
I couldn't help my voice from hardening. —Adelaide is more than capable of taking care of herself and our children. You should worry more about yourself.
I raised my right hand and a torrent of blue flames flew like a laser beam towards Enigma.
I watched as he raised his left hand, materializing an energy sphere that surrounded and protected his body.
The blue flames fell on the sphere causing a devastating shock wave. The dust cloud rose while the surrounding trees were destroyed, leaving a crater in the ground and a desert area of dozens of meters. I watched with frustration as his sphere resisted the flames while they dispersed around.
—If my barrier were thinner, maybe you could break through it, Uhm —his cold voice sounded as if he were praising me.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Ignoring his comment, I teleported behind him. My fist, wrapped in blue flames, descended towards his unprotected head. To my surprise, he simply tilted his head to one side, dodging my blow as if it were nothing, while turning around and raising his hands, counterattacking with huge crimson rays.
«Damn it!»
I was forced to retreat due to the impact of the rays on my magical barrier. A cloud of dust rose while my protection nullified almost all damage. When my body stopped, I arched my back and touched the ground with both hands.
«Let's see how you dodge this».
Dozens of earth spikes, as thick and tall as centennial trees, rose from the ground where Enigma was. I saw him rise into the sky, surpassing the height of the spikes while his clothes waved in the wind, completely dodging my earthen attack.
That's when I saw it: a purplish-black gas rose in front of his face. My blood froze upon recognizing it.
—Shit! —I exclaimed as I felt my face pale and my body begin to tremble.
«This poison... it's not a simple neurotoxin. It's similar to that of S-grade giant snakes. The ancestral sinister thoughts and intentions mixed inside make it almost impossible to eliminate.»
The revelation hit me like a hammer: Enigma must have modified his heart, partially turning himself into a giant snake. That's why he showed no fear, he was immune to his own poison. However, for anyone else, even for a High-Rank mage, it would be practically impossible to survive.
I forced a smile while evaluating the situation. The attack area was too wide and didn't differentiate between friends and enemies. If Enigma used that strategy, many innocent lives would undoubtedly be lost, including my children.
«I can't let this happen.»
—Seal of the ten thousand poisons! —I shouted as the lumps on my shoulders exploded and a red ring of flesh twisted forming a circular rune, sealing the poisonous gas inside.
Only after securing the poison did I have time to look at him. Enigma sighed, as if disappointed by my intervention.
I moved my hands and huge blue fireballs filled the sky like large stars. The waves of flames crossed the firmament, almost completely evaporating the air molecules. The two miniature suns crashed against his protective sphere, while he clicked his tongue with his left hand stretched out.
The tremendous collision made earth and sky tremble. Terrifying changes occurred in the forest while my suns threatened to destroy everything. The gravitational force distorted space and time, while dust, earth, rocks, and trees flew everywhere, reducing part of the forest to rubble.
I observed Enigma inside his sphere, with his arms crossed trying to resist the force of both stars, he seemed to be struggling.
—Don't get so cocky! —his voice, previously devoid of emotion, now conveyed great anger.
A great light illuminated the forest when a crimson energy field manifested as Enigma dramatically opened his arms. The shock wave shook the forest while dust and pieces of stone flew away. My eyes widened when I saw my suns disintegrate instantly.
I clicked my tongue in amazement when my face hardened while the world decelerated around me. My entire body was covered by a powerful blue aura, maximizing my senses.
[Divine Art: Six-Winged Celestial Archangel (S-)]
I felt how my skin began to glow with a golden radiance, my muscles tensed and grew, and from my back sprouted six majestic wings of pure light. The magic transformed my muscles into living armor, and my physique expanded to exceed two meters in size.
—If you don't get serious, I'll tear you to pieces, Enigma! Enough games! —I roared like a beast.
A powerful red aura roared in his body —Sounds good to me.