บท 59: Chapter 59: Lizards Wrath
Jörmungandr slithered forward, his massive form coiling through the debris-strewn landscape as he was in his natural form. The Otsutsuki guard stood ahead, with the remains of their settlement looming ahead, its alien architecture a stark contrast to the dead world that sat ahead. The World Serpent's eyes narrowed as he spotted his opponent.
"So, you're the next one to fall." Jörmungandr hissed, his voice a low rumble that shook the very ground.
The Otsutsuki guard smirked, his pale features twisting into a look of disdain. "Fall? You overestimate yourself, serpent. Mere abominations like you dare to perform such blasphemy against the Gods. Your deaths will not be easy ones!!"
Without warning, Zenshiki's body seemed to dissolve into a constellation of glowing spots. Jörmungandr's eyes widened as the spots scattered, only to reform behind him. A powerful kick slammed into his scales, sending ripples of pain through his massive form.
"Interesting." Jörmungandr mused, his tail lashing out with incredible speed. But Zenshiki had already disappeared, his body once again becoming a swarm of luminous dots that danced through the air.
The World Serpent closed his eyes, focusing on the subtle vibrations in the air and ground. He could sense the spots moving, predicting where they might coalesce. As Zenshiki reformed to strike again, Jörmungandr was ready. His massive jaws snapped shut, nearly catching the Otsutsuki guard.
"Not bad." Zenshiki admitted, reappearing a safe distance away. "But can you keep up?"
The battle intensified, with Zenshiki using his Shifting Spots technique to launch hit-and-run attacks from all angles. Jörmungandr, despite his size, displayed remarkable agility, his serpentine body twisting and coiling to defend and counterattack. He chose to fight in his larger state since he wasn't limited in how much power he could use.
As they fought, Jörmungandr began to analyze his opponent's technique. The spots weren't just for show – they were a form of instantaneous teleportation. But there had to be a limit, a pattern he could exploit.
"You're quite the slippery one," Jörmungandr commented, his voice calm despite the intensity of the battle. "But every technique has its weakness."
Zenshiki scoffed, his body once again dispersing into spots. "Bold words from someone who can't even touch me!"
But this time, as the spots reformed, Jörmungandr was ready. He had noticed a subtle delay in Zenshiki's movements after each teleportation – a fraction of a second where the Otsutsuki was vulnerable. The World Serpent's tail whipped forward with incredible precision, catching Zenshiki just as he solidified.
The impact sent the guard flying, crashing through several structures within the settlement. Zenshiki emerged from the rubble, his once-pristine appearance now marred by cuts and bruises.
"Impossible," he snarled. "How did you—"
"Every pattern can be deciphered," Jörmungandr replied, his eyes gleaming with intelligence. "Your technique is impressive, but it has a rhythm – one that I've learned to predict."
Fury contorted Zenshiki's features as he launched himself back into the fray. The spots danced more erratically now, their movements harder to track. But Jörmungandr remained patient, his ancient eyes taking in every detail.
As the battle raged on, the World Serpent began to incorporate magic into his attacks. Wards shimmered around his scales, deflecting Zenshiki's strikes. Arcane symbols glowed in the air, creating zones that disrupted the Otsutsuki's teleportation.
"What is this?" Zenshiki growled, finding his movements increasingly restricted.
Jörmungandr's voice was tinged with satisfaction. "Did you think I relied solely on brute strength? I am a child of Yao, the Sorcerer Supreme. Magic flows through my very being."
The tide of the battle shifted. Jörmungandr's magical wards and traps began to limit Zenshiki's options, forcing the Otsutsuki into increasingly desperate maneuvers. The World Serpent's attacks grew more precise, each strike pushing Zenshiki closer to defeat.
In a last-ditch effort, Zenshiki gathered all his power, his body erupting into a dazzling display of spots that filled the air. "Let's see you predict this, serpent!"
But Jörmungandr was ready. As the spots converged for a final, all-out attack, the World Serpent's body began to glow with an otherworldly light. Ancient runes cascaded across his scales, and the air itself seemed to warp around him.
"Ouroboros Bind," Jörmungandr intoned, his voice echoing with power.
The magical energy surged outward, enveloping the swarm of spots. Zenshiki's scream of rage was cut short as his body was forcibly reconstituted, bound by glowing chains of arcane energy. The Otsutsuki guard struggled, but the magic held firm, neutralizing his Shifting Spots technique.
Jörmungandr loomed over his defeated foe, his voice soft but filled with ancient wisdom. "Your power is formidable, Zenith. But true strength comes from understanding the flow of battle, not just raw ability."
With a flick of his tail, Jörmungandr rendered Zenshiki unconscious, ensuring the Otsutsuki would pose no further threat. The World Serpent then turned his attention to the heart of the settlement, where a massive explosion went off.
~
While Jörmungandr dealt with Zenshiki, Irene found herself face-to-face with the Settlement Leader. The Otsutsuki commander stood tall, his presence radiating an aura of immense power. Irene, her scarlet hair whipping in the wind generated by their clashing energies, met his gaze without flinching.
"I am Gurashiki, leader of this settlement," the Otsutsuki announced, his voice resonating with authority. "You dare to invade our domain?"
Irene's lips curved into a confident smile. "I am Irene, daughter of Yao the Sorcerer Supreme. And yes, we dare. Your kind has threatened our world for too long."
Gurashiki's eyes narrowed. "Sorcerer Supreme? I know not of this title, but it matters little. You will fall before the might of a God."
Without further warning, Gurashiki thrust his hand forward. The air itself seemed to ripple as a powerful shockwave raced towards Irene. But the scarlet-haired mage was prepared. With a graceful motion, she traced a series of glowing sigils in the air. A shimmering barrier materialized, dispersing the shockwave's energy.
"Impressive," Gurashiki admitted. "But let's see how long you can keep that up."
The battle escalated quickly, with Gurashiki unleashing a barrage of vibration-based attacks. The ground beneath them shuddered and cracked, buildings crumbled, and the very air seemed to distort with the force of his power. It was reminiscent of a natural earthquake, but refined and amplified by the Otsutsuki's alien physiology.
Irene, however, was far from outmatched. Her mastery over enchantment magic allowed her to reinforce her body, moving with superhuman speed and agility. She wove complex spells on the fly, countering Quake's attacks with barriers, redirections, and magical constructs.
"You're skilled, I'll give you that." Gurashiki growled, his frustration growing as Irene evaded another devastating attack. "But skill alone won't save you!"
The Otsutsuki leader's body began to vibrate at an intense frequency, allowing him to phase through Irene's magical attacks. He closed the distance rapidly, his fist cocked back for a devastating blow.
But Irene had anticipated this. Just as Gurashiki's attack was about to connect, her body shimmered and transformed. Where the scarlet-haired woman once stood, a massive dragon now loomed, its scales gleaming with magical energy.
Gurashiki's eyes widened in shock as his attack bounced harmlessly off the dragon's hide. "What manner of sorcery is this?"
Irene's draconic voice boomed across the battlefield. "I am the Dragon of the Apocalypse, master of enchantment. Your vibrations are impressive, but they cannot shake my resolve!"
The battle shifted to a new level of intensity. Gurashiki's vibration attacks, powerful as they were, struggled to penetrate Irene's draconic defenses. Meanwhile, the Dragon of the Apocalypse unleashed devastating magical assaults, each one pushing the Otsutsuki leader back.
Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Gurashiki changed tactics. He began to manipulate the vibrations of the entire settlement, turning the very environment into a weapon. The remaining buildings collapsed, the ground heaved and buckled, and waves of distorted space lashed out in all directions.
Irene, even in her dragon form, found herself hard-pressed to counter the sheer scale of Quake's assault. But she was far from defeated. Drawing upon her vast magical knowledge, she began to weave a complex enchantment, one that would turn the tide of battle.
"Universe One." Irene intoned, her draconic form glowing with an otherworldly light.
The space around them began to warp and twist. Gurashiki's eyes widened as he felt his control over the environment slipping. The settlement itself seemed to fold in on itself, rearranging according to Irene's will, making a massive shockwave of energy go off.
"What... what have you done?" Gurashiki demanded, his usual confidence shaken.
Irene's dragon form shimmered, returning to her human appearance. Her eyes glowed with magical power as she explained, "I've reconfigured the space of your entire settlement. Your vibration control is impressive, but it relies on your understanding of the environment. Now, that environment obeys my rules."
Gurashiki snarled and launched another attack, but found his powers diminished and unpredictable in this reconfigured space. Irene, on the other hand, moved with a perfect understanding of her newly created domain.
The battle's conclusion came swiftly. Irene's enchantments and attacks found their mark with unerring precision, while Gurashiki struggled to defend himself in this alien configuration of his own settlement. With a final, devastating spell, Irene brought the Otsutsuki leader to his knees.
As Gurashiki lay defeated, Irene stood over him, her voice firm but not unkind. "Your power is formidable, but you relied too heavily on brute force. True mastery comes from adaptation and understanding."
With the Settlement Leader subdued, Irene turned her attention to securing the area. She could sense her siblings finishing their own battles and knew that soon they would need to plan their next move.
'I wonder what they will do once-'
Irene's thought was cut off as she felt an overwhelming presence envelop the entire plane she was on as if a higher being was looking down on them.
Irene had felt a lot of things in her life, but there was one emotion that she just now had the pleasure of feeling.
Fear.
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