557: Astarat's War: Humans v. Terrors (X)

Astarat's War: Humans v. Terrors (X)

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After noticing that something seemed wrong with Solomon's current state, Brutki responded with a savage attack, unleashing a powerful surge of deathly energy in the form of constant eruptions. Each geyser was on par with the miasma found near the center of the Endless Death Domain.

If he were in his base condition, Solomon would undoubtedly suffer grave injuries from this attack, given the fact that Brukti's current power eclipsed any of the Three Heavens. Fortunately, Solomon's current abilities far surpassed his prior capabilities.

Solomon's gaze grew severe as the green eruption reflected in his eyes, growing closer at an alarming rate. At the same time, Xezos's voice sounded in his mind. "You have to remain motionless for the time being. The slightest movement will agitate your body before it can calm down. However, you're not helpless. You employ that technique which should present minimal issues."

"Is that so? Then I shall indulge in that power," Solomon responded. His shoulder relaxed as a strange astral gleam burst from his body an instant later. Cataclysmic undulations of arcane energy surged in the space before Solomon's body but made no contact as it was drawing upon a unique principle.

The stronger the astral gleam in Solomon's eyes grew, resembling an array of constellations, the more the fierce undulation stimulated the remnants of arcane energy lingering in the atmosphere. These remnants originated from the Constellation Press and Arcane Burst but felt at least five times stronger than before.

Eventually, the energy enveloped Solomon's body, forming a perfect sphere as the deathly eruptions arrived before him. Within seconds, the geysers overtook the comparatively small globe, eclipsing it within a cloud of dense death energies.

Despite this outcome, Brukti's frown deepened. He felt no increase towards the Death Essence in the area, meaning that not only had Solomon not perished from this attack, but it was unknown if he even suffered any wound. After all, the amount of deathly energies supplied to the attack was enough to force a mutation in Solomon any given injury.

The wound would then spew Death Essence gradually, and depending on the caliber of the enemies, the amount spew would not be meager. Unfortunately for Brukti, the dense cloud was blown apart by a burst of astral winds, revealing a type of barrier that resembled the night sky filled with a bright aurora. 

Inside the barrier, Solomon stood still while a trickle of crimson blood seeped down the corner of his mouth as he wiped it away. He only glanced at the blood for a second before returning his gaze to Brukti. 'I was fortunate enough to have enough remnant arcane power. If not, I would've relied more upon the depleting energies flowing through me.'

Based on the remaining percentage of Xezos' arcane power, Solomon understood that the earlier skill couldn't be utilized by itself. Not only was it too exhausting, but it bordered on the edge of a Domain Ability, one of the highest tiers of arcane applications.

"Nevertheless, you've done well. Judging by the dissipating Death Essence, your opponent is much better off than you. We can win this fight," Xezos said, affirming Solomon's confidence. In a fight like this, an iron will was half the battle. The moment his resolve slipped would mark the instant he gave into the pain running rampant throughout his body.

"I can hold on," Solomon responded, raising his arm with shaky moments. The agitated internal state finally subsided, granting Solomon the opportunity to move through the pain he felt. However, he couldn't make any significant movement since it felt like his muscles could rupture at any moment.

At the very least, he couldn't receive any more physical attacks head-on. Thus, the astral sphere surrounding him condensed until it hugged his body, forming an absurdly powerful energy armor. The Essence Aegis wasn't worth mentioning now that this technique was applied.

Meanwhile, Brukti didn't act upon his rage as he seemed to reign in all of the berserk aura encompassing his body. Instead, he did something he hadn't attempted to this entire fight; he took the time to analyze the situation. The trickle of blood didn't escape his detection, so he knew Solomon's condition was a step away from terrible.

But, so was his own. The flames of the Death Command burning within his body were embers at this point. The thin concentration of Death Essence was enough to sustain its power any longer. And, once the embers were extinguished it would take a huge amount of deathly energy to restart them.

Furthermore, this couldn't be done by Brukti as he was too inexperienced. Not to mention, his current power was only a mere fragment, it wasn't enough to control the Death Command in a dormant state.

'At most, I can only unleash one or two more attacks aside from regular attack. But, the feeling that new defensive technique is horrifying. Simple physical attack probably won't make it past that technique,' Brukti thought.

Afterward, he raised his arm to the sky as tempest of deathly energies gradually spiraled around his body while erecting skyward. Inside the center of the tempest, Brukti's arm morphed into a colossal greatsword with only one extremely sharp edge. Once its form was completed the tempest burrowed into the weapon, saturating the thick vein flowing down its exterior. 

Following this move, the deathly energies in the area were reduced to a thin mist. The density was no longer thick enough to obstruct anyone's vision. Even Zul Commanders could see all of the carnage on the battlefield for kilometers to come.

The sight was enough to turn anyone's storm as mutilated corpses, severed limbs, and bloody innards were scattered across the entire battlefield.

Though Brukti prepared his move, Solomon seemed relatively inactive. There were zero fluctuations or any signs of him preparing a similarly big move. From Soren and Valerie's perspective, all they saw was their familiar figure standing amidst a storm of death. 

Solomon's long hair swayed wildly as the tempest expanded but simultaneously thinned. After passing roughly two hundred meters from Brukti's body, it stopped expanding any further.

"It will all be determined with this last attack. The winner is the proof of the superior race," Brukti said in a deep tone that echoed throughout the battlefield. This attack was the largest he had conjured to date. 

"Your focus is misplaced. Superiority is an idealistic thought," Solomon responded calmly. As if ignoring Brukti's word, he took a step forward and spread open by his palms still by his side. A blazing aura reminiscent of the Soul Embers of Spiritualization surged from both his arm as a gentle smile appeared across his face.

He then continued, "If we perish, we are to be replaced. You can try to conquer this world, but there will always be an emergence of the new generation to quell your attempts to usurp our world. I'm prepared to offer my listless life for this cause and because of that I doubt that you'll emerge the victor."

"We shall see," Brukti responded, sparing no more words. They had said all that needed to be conveyed at this moment. Since they understood that both sides has exhausted themselves to desperate straits, anymore talking would only waste the precious duration of their combat viability.

The blazing aura around Solomon's arms surged once again, going twice and radiant and three times as large while Brukti lowered his blade until it was horizontal. A faint calm appeared between the two as each side.

'You have been my cherished comrade for quite some time Xezos. However, I don't know how much longer we'll maintain that relationship. Should this be our last battle together, understand that you've also been my friend that I could confide in all this time,' Solomon said as a brief sentimental look appeared in his eyes. Following this emotion, sorrow also appeared.

'My friend, I am fortunate to have called you this for decades. However, I believe you are strong to keep going. Overcome your opponent so that we can persist for another day.'

Solomon didn't respond as he understood Xezos' emotions entirely. A fierce glint surfaced in Solomon's eyes as he tapped his foot against the ground, causing a line of destruction in his wake.

Conversely, Brukti also rushed towards his opponent. With their nonsensical speed, it only took an instant for them to transverse the distance separating them. Two attacks―one involving a humongous sword of death and the other being two fists exhibiting the ferocious power of one's soul collided against each other unleashing unprecedented energy surges.

Bizarre spatial cracks opened around Brukti and Solomon as their attack devastated Astarat. A huge crater formed underneath the toward as the war between the two attacks waged on. The mixture of the energies even caused a backlash on them but they were too focused to give in now.

Solomon roared in pain as he took an extra step forward, sending a dangerous burst of astral power into the attack. Silver sparkles manifested inside the cerulean flames whereas Brukti decisively exhausted the remaining Death Essence, sucking the Catastrophe Line dry of the energy.

One last grandiose exchange took place as both sides were forced back from their attacks. Solomon's arms appeared useless as they hung limply by his side, but Brukti fared even worse. Starting from his legs, his body steadily turned to brittle stone as he looked at Solomon.

His body was too tired for him to utter anything. However, his gaze conveyed the message he wished to say. This wasn't over―that was the message Brukti wished to voice as his body blew to dust following the violent spatial winds leaking from the numerous spatial fractures.

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