Chapter 183: Total Annihilation
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Aoki kept his focus on the four-winged dragon. With powerful attack abilities, spatial mobility, immense size, and no apparent weak points, this creature was indeed a formidable, well-rounded warrior.
At first, the dragon seemed hesitant to strike, perhaps cautious. But now it appeared as though it was becoming harder to contain.
"Najenda, you and Susanoo handle the dangerous species around us. Leave the four-winged dragon to me, Akame, and Kurome," Aoki instructed.
Though his words were polite, he knew the truth.
Najenda was simply not strong enough to help in this fight.
Najenda caught his unspoken meaning, and instead of feeling hurt, nodded in agreement. She understood her own strengths well; although she was strong compared to ordinary people, she was outmatched alongside fighters like Akame and Kurome. Staying would likely only be a burden.
But before leaving, she hesitated and added, "Susanoo has a secret technique that can greatly enhance his strength… though it's costly."
"Not necessary, at least not yet," Aoki replied firmly.
Most imperial weapons came with hidden abilities, and Susanoo's skill, "Magatama Manifestation," was an immensely powerful yet costly one. This violent technique drained one-third of the user's vitality each time it was used, meaning its third use would spell certain death.
While "Magatama Manifestation" could provide a great power boost, the price was too steep to use just yet.
"I understand," Najenda replied, before taking Susanoo with her and retreating.
Aoki turned his attention back to Akame. "Be careful of its attacks—they're insanely powerful. Don't try to block them head-on."
Both he and Kurome had abilities that would help them survive a hit if necessary, but Akame did not share this advantage. Murasame, her weapon, was formidable but lacked any defensive capability.
"I understand!" Akame nodded.
Aoki refrained from saying more. Akame was experienced in combat; he trusted her to make the right moves.
But he remained puzzled, observing the four-winged dragon closely. "What's it doing? Why hasn't it attacked yet?"
At that moment, the four-winged dragon's form abruptly vanished.
Aoki's eyes widened as he processed the realization.
"Damn! It's heading to support the giant snail!"
Now it made sense. The four-winged dragon wasn't focusing on them at all.
Without hesitation, he spread his bat wings, taking flight towards the coast at full speed. Akame and Kurome followed close behind.
Meanwhile, on the coast, Leone, Tatsumi, and the others were locked in a prolonged struggle with the giant snail and its swarm of smaller kin.
Unlike the other battlefields, the fight here was progressing slowly. The giant snail had incredible defense and was coated in a thick, mucous layer that protected it from attacks.
They couldn't seem to land a hit, and touching it directly was nearly impossible.
While they had managed to eliminate numerous smaller snails, the giant snail itself had barely been harmed.
Boom!
A surge of golden energy shot out, striking the giant snail dead on. Flames erupted around the battlefield, consuming the smaller snails in their path, yet the giant snail emerged virtually untouched.
Leone delivered a powerful punch, sending a nearby snail flying across the sand.
"Mine, conserve your energy," he advised.
They had shifted their strategy, aiming to delay the giant snail rather than defeat it, hoping for support to arrive soon.
Mine nodded in understanding, though she looked slightly frustrated. Despite their best efforts, they hadn't made much progress. The ground around them was littered with fallen snails, yet the giant snail remained steadfast.
Suddenly, spatial distortions shimmered in the sky.
A colossal figure appeared, a dragon-like form with four wings, its presence majestic and ferocious.
Leone was the first to spot the creature. Her expression immediately tensed.
"Everyone, stay alert! Another super-dangerous species has arrived—and it feels even more menacing than the giant snail!"
Realizing the threat, the group closed ranks, adopting a more defensive stance.
The four-winged dragon cast a quick glance at the humans below, but it showed no interest in them. Its attention was entirely focused on the giant snail.
The giant snail lifted its head, extending its tentacles toward the sky as if communicating with the new arrival.
The four-winged dragon's eyes grew colder as it opened its mouth, unleashing a beam of silver light.
The giant snail quickly spat out a large ball of mucus in an attempt to block the beam, but the silver light pierced through instantly. It tried to escape, but before it could move, the silver light struck.
The shell that Mine had struggled so hard to break vanished without a trace.
The silver light tore through the giant snail's body, leaving a massive hole, and its aura quickly faded.
"Fuck!" Lubbock shouted.
The others gasped, staring wide-eyed.
Even with the giant snail's formidable defenses, it couldn't withstand a single attack from the four-winged dragon.
What if it had been them? Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
The giant snail's head split open, releasing a silver bead that floated toward the four-winged dragon.
At that moment, a dark shadow darted through the air, racing toward the silver bead.
Aoki's expression remained calm, having observed everything that had just happened.
To him, this was a positive turn of events—one less super dangerous demon to contend with.
Having just witnessed the four-winged dragon's destructive power, he was not overly surprised.
The four-winged dragon turned its gaze toward Aoki, its eyes cold.
Initially, it had intended only to retrieve the "essence" and leave them alone, but now Aoki had dared to intercept it.
This human-like creature even possessed a piece of "essence" himself. It might as well reclaim both at once.
Buzz!
The four-winged dragon opened its mouth, gathering silver energy.
A heavy sense of unease washed over Aoki, and his eyes narrowed as an invisible spear surged forward.
Soul Shock!
The four-winged dragon's body stiffened, the silver light in its mouth dissipated, and it plummeted downward.
"Lubbock!" Aoki shouted.
"On it!"
Before Lubbock response even faded, strands of silk shot out, instantly binding the four-winged dragon.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Lubbock asked, nervous.
He had just seen firsthand the terrifying attack of this super dangerous demon, and getting so close was nerve-wracking.
"Don't worry!" Aoki replied, seizing the silver bead and lunging toward the four-winged dragon.
As a "space travel" user, he was well aware of the weaknesses in such abilities.
Essentially, space travel was highly susceptible to interference. When carrying others, any resistance could disrupt the ability.
Similarly, enough external force could prevent "space travel" from being effective.
Of course, higher-level spatial transfer skills might be more resistant to interference.
Though not entirely confident he could control the four-winged dragon this way, it was his best shot.
Before Aoki could close in, the four-winged dragon began to stir and seemed close to regaining consciousness.
Without hesitation, Aoki unleashed another Soul Shock.
A full-power Soul Shock could only be used three times a day, and this was his last one.
He leapt onto the four-winged dragon's head, clenched his fist, and struck down hard.
Boom!
They crashed into the ground together.
Jolted by the impact, the four-winged dragon's eyes blazed with fury as it realized its predicament.
Having lived for millennia, it had never experienced such humiliation.
Lubbock strained to hold his line, while Aoki held tightly to the dragon's head.
Though Aoki's punches injured the four-winged dragon, they failed to cause fatal harm.
Leone and the others rushed over to assist.
Despite their combined efforts, they couldn't fully restrain the four-winged dragon, and it looked as if it was about to break free.
Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed by.
On the four-winged dragon's head appeared a black-haired girl, wielding a long sword with a cold, unyielding gaze.
The four-winged dragon's eyes shifted, sensing an overwhelming danger and instinctively trying to escape. But the next moment, it found itself immobile.
Its ability had failed.
Phew!
Murasame's blade sank fully into the dragon's head, black runes spreading across its scales.
A deep fear flickered in the dragon's eyes. It opened its mouth, only for its head to droop weakly.
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And also:
Imperial weapon = Teigu
Teigu = Imperial weapon