The battlefield became a maelstrom of magic and martial prowess. The warriors weaved through the air with unmatched agility, delivering devastating blows to the Great Ogre General. Spells exploded in radiant bursts of energy, engulfing the beast in a cacophony of elemental forces.
With each clash, the ground trembled, and the heavens seemed to hold their breath. The battle raged on, the outcome uncertain, as the eight cultivators poured their very essence into the fight. Their synergy, honed through countless battles, became evident as they seamlessly coordinated their attacks, exploiting the Great Ogre General's weaknesses.
Spells collided with brute strength and martial arts techniques merged with the raw power of magic. The air crackled with energy, and the battlefield was bathed in a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues. Each cultivator's resolve burned brighter with every passing moment, fuelled by their unwavering determination to become stronger and overcome the seemingly insurmountable foe.
However, despite the valiant efforts of the eight cultivators, the Great Ogre General's regenerative power and the sheer magnitude of its World Energy proved to be overwhelming. As the battle waged on, the wounds inflicted upon the monstrous beast began to close and heal with astonishing speed.
The first warrior swung his mighty sword with unyielding determination, cleaving through the ogre's defences. But with every strike, the wounds sealed themselves, leaving only a faint scar as evidence of the skirmish. The second warrior's daggers danced in a mesmerizing display of skill, but the Great Ogre General's resilience proved insurmountable. Its impenetrable armour, and rapid healing nullified their efforts.
The third warrior's thunderous strikes reverberated through the battlefield, yet the Great Ogre General's vitality remained unscathed. Its regenerative abilities surpassed the damage inflicted, frustrating the cultivator's unwavering resolve. The fourth warrior's shadows writhed and twisted, attempting to ensnare the ogre, but its formidable strength shattered the ethereal bonds with ease.
The first mage's fiery inferno engulfed the battlefield, scorching the air and singeing the Great Ogre General's flesh. Yet, the inferno only fuelled the beast's fury, stoking its regenerative powers to greater heights. The second mage's entangling vines sought to restrain the creature, but the ogre's immense strength tore through the natural restraints with disdain.
The third mage's lightning bolts crackled and illuminated the sky, striking the Great Ogre General with unrestrained force. However, the surge of electricity only invigorated the beast, invigorating its healing capabilities and bolstering its resilience. The fourth mage's gentle light suffused the battlefield, imbuing the wounded cultivators with renewed vitality, but it was a mere respite in the face of the Great Ogre General's relentless onslaught.
Despite their best efforts and the awe-inspiring display of their skills, the cultivators found themselves outmatched and overwhelmed by the Great Ogre General's tenacity and the vast wellspring of its World Energy. Exhaustion and frustration were etched upon their faces as their attacks seemed to have little lasting effect.
Letty, watching from the sidelines, her heart heavy with concern, knew that something drastic had to be done. She had heard of their true strength and knew the depths of their power. She knew they were stronger than this, but they had intentionally only attacked with their most basic skills. Aiming for a long, drawn-out battle.
'These guys aren't willing to use their trump cards. How stupid. At this rate, our troops will die while they waste time.'
With a resolute gleam in her eyes, Letty spoke in her mind.
"Duke, we need to make a switch."
…
The ogre continued its rampage and was about to unleash a barrage of hits on the 'tired' cultivators when a flaming arrow tore through the battlefield and exploded in front of the ogre.
Once the dust had settled, the crowd looked toward the source of the attack and saw Duke standing on top of the gate staring straight at the Great Ogre General while drawing his Sun Chasing Bow. He had returned to his original appearance and was quickly recognized by the more informed observers.
"The Solar Hunter!"
This was the nickname he had been given due to his use of fire-type magic with his archery. While not a name as famous as the powerful Queen Abyss or the ridiculously enchanting Alice, he was still known as Tsimikas' second-strongest combatant.
Duke focused his yang attribute mana, feeling its pulsating energy coursing through his veins. Duke knew that he carried the hopes of his comrades and the weight of their trust upon his shoulders.
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The atmosphere shifted as Duke's presence demanded attention. His gaze locked onto the Great Ogre General, determination burning within his soul.
'You wanted a boss to fight; you got a boss to fight.' Duke did his best to motivate himself despite his fears.
He nocked an arrow, its shaft shimmering with divine radiance. As he drew back the string, the bow resonated with power, humming with celestial energy that surpassed his previous understanding.
With a release that felt like an extension of his very being, the arrow soared through the air, leaving behind a trail of blazing brilliance. It struck true, piercing the Great Ogre General's chest with a resounding impact. A shockwave rippled outward, and for a moment, the beast faltered, its regenerative abilities momentarily disrupted.
There was nothing a negative energy mortal feared more than positive divine energy! The giant creature was powerful and almost unmatched at close combat against the others, but it had met its nemesis in terms of attributes and style. The beast was large and powerful, but it was not agile. It had a lot of energy and armour, but it was also a walking target.
But the Great Ogre General, fuelled by its immense reservoir of World Energy, recovered albeit much slower than usual. It did not mind sacrificing far more energy than usual to heal. It tore the arrow from its flesh, the wound sizzling before Duke's eyes. Its vengeful gaze turned toward his, and a chilling smile twisted its grotesque features.
The battle raged on, and Duke, fuelled by determination and his connection to Hou Yi's blessing, continued to fight. He unleashed a flurry of Phoenix Arrows, each imbued with the power of a phoenix and concentrated yang energy. The air around him crackled with energy as if the heavens themselves acknowledged his valiant struggle.
Yet, the Great Ogre General's relentless onslaught continued, its berserk skills and indomitable strength pushing Duke to his limits. The creature jumped toward Duke and completely ignored the others, reaching the gate with a quick dash. It struck out at Duke, and the latter evaded the former's bone-crushing strikes with fluid grace; his archery skills pushed to their utmost limits. But it seemed that no matter how many arrows he let fly, no matter how precise his aim, the ogre's regenerative power remained an impenetrable barrier.
The battlefield trembled under the weight of the clash, the tension palpable in the air. The fate of the eight cultivators and the hopes of the battlefield seemed to hang in the balance. It seemed as if Duke's energy was waning, and a flicker of doubt threatened to take hold of the observers. But at that moment, a surge of unseen power coursed through his being. A familiar matrix, similar to the one that had just appeared under Queen Abyss earlier, materialized. Duke felt invigorated as Soul Chain Share fully activated!
'This is the same matrix Queen Abyss used as the signal.' sharp-eyed observers quickly noticed this trait. Drawing their own conclusions.
'Guess this is my limit by myself.' Duke was a bit depressed because he thought he could damage the creature by himself, but he had still done well. Once he had run out of his own personal energy, Soul Chain Share activated.
The sharp eyes observers searched for Letty but found that she was nowhere to be seen. No one had seen her vanish, so her disappearance raised a few brows. If Woodsy decided to hide someone's presence on the battlefield, no one there would be able to notice anything. Thus Letty had been hidden away safely the moment Duke had distracted everyone.
Duke, on the other hand, was having the time of his life. For the first time since he left the inheritance site, he was now able to properly receive Hou Yi's legacy! Hou Yi's divine energy coursed from the Sun Chasing Bow into Duke and unleashed a light akin to that of divine intervention. Thanks to Soul Chain Share, Duke could bring out the real potential of the Sun Chasing Arts. With renewed determination, he drew upon his reserves, tapping into a wellspring of strength he had not yet known.
Duke's arrows took on a newfound brilliance as his yang attribute mana melded seamlessly with the divine energy of his bow. He unleashed a storm of arrows, each one finding its mark with unerring precision. He was not using any spell or skill. All he did was reinforce his arrows with yang-type divine energy, and under Soul Chain Share, that was enough.
Duke could create arrows according to how much energy he had left. The metal arrows he produced were made of a unique metal alloy. One that the Sun Chasing Bow was also made off. Thus as long as he had mana, he would never run out of arrows!