Chapter 83: The Tendril’s Wrath
Seiji moved swiftly through the crumbling streets of Blackstone City, his silhouette darting from one building to another. His usual playful demeanor was present as he leaped gracefully, but his muttered words betrayed his growing anticipation. "I wonder who will be guarding the treasures. Hopefully, they're entertaining." His grin widened, though his thoughts remained sharp.
Meanwhile, amidst the ruins, Nicklaus emerged from the aftermath of his Crucifixion Tendrils, his figure illuminated by the faint red glow emanating from the black stone walls. His voice broke through the tense silence, laced with mockery.
"You see," he began, brushing dust from his coat, "why can't we ever have a civil discussion? You people are always so… aggressive. Weaklings, yet so eager to fight."
Shenlog, standing with a commanding presence, turned to Jingwei. His voice was firm yet tinged with urgency. "This guy… he's as strong as I am, No jokes, Jingwei. Either you up your game now or you'll die a Sentinel today."
Jingwei nodded, his face grim but determined. Shenlog's body began to glow faintly, his transformation imminent. His muscles rippled beneath his clothing as scales began to form, hard as steel and glowing faintly with a fiery red hue. His arms thickened, claws extending from his hands as jagged, white spines protruded from his shoulders and legs. His face transformed, with glowing dragon-like eyes piercing through the darkness. The light from the transformation reflected off his scarlet dragon armor, its surface detailed with intricate engravings of fire and destruction.
Nicklaus halted his mocking tone for a brief moment, his gaze steady. "Oh, my. That's… fascinating." His lips curled into a smirk as he admired Shenlog's form. "Let's see how strong that fancy armor really is."
Out of nowhere, a red tendril burst from beneath Nicklaus, piercing toward Shenlog with unnatural speed. The sharp crack of its emergence echoed like a thunderclap. It struck Shenlog's chest but failed to penetrate, the armor's toughness evident as the tendril slid uselessly against the reinforced dragon scales.
More tendrils erupted from the ground, twisting and slashing in every direction. Each strike aimed to skewer Shenlog, but his armor proved impenetrable. Nicklaus watched with mild amusement as the tendrils continued their relentless assault, their impacts causing shockwaves that cracked the ground below.
"Impressive," Nicklaus said with a chuckle. "Your armor can withstand my tendrils. But how long can you keep this up?"
Shenlog, now high above the ground, grabbed the tendrils coiling around him and shouted, "Heat Flame Pressure!" His hands emitted an intense, searing heat that incinerated the tendrils, causing them to writhe and snap into ash. The scorched remnants fell to the ground as Shenlog propelled himself downward with fiery propulsion, aiming directly at Nicklaus.
"Good job, Dad," Jingwei muttered from a distance, a smirk tugging at his lips. His hands began glowing faintly as he prepared his own attack. "Toad Swamp Technique!" he shouted.
From the ground, hundreds of tiny toads emerged, their slimy bodies emitting a thick, noxious gas. The croaks of the toads filled the air, creating a cacophony of sound. The venomous gas began to spread, seeping toward Nicklaus, who remained unflinching.
Nicklaus tilted his head, visibly annoyed. "I hate noise." He stomped his foot, and immediately, red tendrils erupted from the ground, skewering each toad with precision and speed. The ground quaked as the tendrils moved, leaving nothing but splattered remains of the toads.
Before the gas could settle, Shenlog closed the distance, blurring forward with a burst of flame and unleashing his Dragon Fire Blast Technique. A torrent of fire erupted from his mouth, spiraling toward Nicklaus in a fiery inferno.
Just as the flames reached Nicklaus, the tendrils responded instinctively, bursting upward and forming a protective wall around him. The flames licked the surface of the tendrils but were redirected outward, engulfing a distant section of the city. The screams of collapsing structures and crumbling stone filled the air as the flames consumed everything in their path.
Emerging from the tendril wall unscathed, Nicklaus dusted himself off and said, "You know, I should help you understand. You're wasting so much energy." He gestured toward the ground with a smile. "You see, this entire city is under my control. My ability plants a single tendril underground, which then branches out into billions. These tendrils follow wherever I step, protect me without command, and attack without hesitation. You could call them my… loyal pets."
His voice dripped with condescension as he continued. "You can't win. It's already over."
Raising his arms wide, Nicklaus invoked his Crucifixion Style: A Hundred Shreehold of Tendrils. The ground beneath them shuddered violently, splitting apart as massive tendrils erupted skyward. Each tendril stood tall like a monolithic structure, towering above the city and blocking out the light. The tendrils moved with terrifying precision, smashing through buildings and creating shockwaves with each emergence.
Shenlog darted through the chaos, his flaming feet propelling him forward. The air around him shimmered with heat as he dodged one tendril after another. Jingwei, however, wasn't as fortunate. A tendril pierced his chest, the sharp impact drawing a pained cry from him as he collapsed.
"Jingwei!" Shenlog roared. He grabbed his injured son and propelled them both upward, away from the carnage.
Standing atop one of the tendrils, Nicklaus smirked. "Forgive my manners," he said with exaggerated politeness. His voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Allow me to share my condolences for your injured boy. You see, my tendrils are energy-halting, capable of cursing my opponents by cutting off their flow of energy. Your boy is as good as dead in this fight."
Shenlog growled in response, his rage visible in his glowing dragon eyes. He landed on a nearby rooftop, placing Jingwei down gently. "Can you stand?" he asked.
Jingwei winced but nodded weakly. "Barely."
Shenlog turned and extended his hand. "Red Dragon Summon!" he roared. The sky above them twisted as a massive red dragon materialized, its scales gleaming like molten lava. Shenlog climbed atop the dragon, holding Jingwei securely. The dragon exhaled a shimmering orb of energy, engulfing Jingwei in its protective glow and beginning the healing process.
Nicklaus tilted his head, observing the scene. "Impressive," he said with a slow clap. "But it won't save you."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone