LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 254: Neo VS Apollo
Jack's undead would flood the forest in overwhelming numbers.
Even Typhon wouldn't be able to stop them all from finding its Core.
The two were waiting for the undead to find something when the monsters in the forest noticed their presence.
They attacked the undead, and a battle ensued.
Neo was about to participate until he sensed a familiar presence.
"Is it him?" Jack asked, sensing the presence.
"Looks like it," Neo nodded. "You do your job. I will go deal with him."
Neo jumped lightly and moved through the forest at breakneck speed.
The surrounding trees swayed gently in the breeze.
Their leaves rustled softly as the ground beneath him shifted with each swift step.
The familiar aura was being radiated in such a way that allowed others to locate its source.
It helped Neo find Apollo, who was sitting under a large tree, his posture relaxed despite the chaos nearby.
"You are here," Apollo said.
He patted the dust off his clothes with an eerily calm expression.
"Are you sure you want to fight? Even Ares and Emma couldn't stop me. You would die a meaningless death," Neo said.
Instead of answering him, Apollo talked about something else.
"I was saved by Niles Radcliff when my city was attacked by a giant phoenix."
"….?"
"He used to be an up-and-coming hero. A Necromancer who can use the corpses of his enemies and increase his army.
"Doesn't that sound strong? Everyone had high expectations of him. But power got to his head and… the rest is history," Apollo said with a voice devoid of emotions.
"Why are you telling me about this?" Neo asked.
"Emma was kind," Apollo continued to talk to himself. "When Zeus had awakened, he destroyed an entire city in mad rage and fought Kronos.
"Zeus was able to move in stopped time, but he could hardly match up to Kronos. He would've been killed right there, if not for Emma arriving at the scene and saving him.
"Zeus remained stubborn even after that. He wanted nothing but to fight and fight and fight. His nasty personality was enough to warrant an execution letter against him by Titans and the Awakener Association," Apollo continued.
"Zeus would've been killed if not for Emma taking his side. She helped him calm his rage and trained him to become much stronger. But do you want to know something funny?" Apollo asked.
"…."
"Emma's family lived in the city Zeus leveled. She should've been the one who wanted to kill him the most, yet her kindness knew Zeus did it by mistake, and she instead helped him." Apollo chuckled.
"But now? Emma is a manipulative freak. She is always looking for ways to control people around her. I know she is doing it to help us. But it doesn't change the fact she is using the wrong methods to do right things."
"What are you trying to say?" Neo asked.
"It's that Darkness element, isn't it?" Apollo spat. "That wretched evil always changes people. That thing should be forbidden."
"…"
"You were kind too. But look at what you are doing now. You are going to rescue the Child of Mana and wake up Typhon because of your selfishness. The Darkness changed—"
"Apollo," Neo cut him off and unsheathed his sword. "Don't force your ideals on me. I never did any kindness. It was all my selfishness. If it helped someone, it was just a coincidence."
Apollo glared at Neo
Seeing the hero he had started to idolize say those things infuriated him.
"It's useless talking to you," Apollo said. "Don't worry. I will save you."
Apollo unleashed his first attack.
A blinding arrow of holy light hurtled toward Neo.
The sheer heat of the arrow burned the ground, scorching the earth beneath it, and causing steam to rise from the cracks.
Neo dashed forward.
His figure blurred as he moved at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
He ducked, and the arrow flew past him before it exploded, sending molten shards flying in all directions.
Neo reached Apollo's range.
Divine Swordsmanship Second Stance—
His blade swung upward in a quick and light, but devastating arc, aiming for Apollo's chest.
Tsubame Gaeshi.
Apollo summoned a bow of light and blocked.
The clash of weapons sent a shockwave rippling across the battlefield.
Neo's momentum forced Apollo back a step.
Gritting his teeth, Apollo retaliated with quick but powerful chants.
Light elements churned in the sky and the dark clouds parted as the energy skyrocketed.
They fused together, forming spears of light that rained down from the sky.
Each impact left craters in the earth, sending plumes of dirt and debris flying.
Neo weaved through them.
He moved like a blur in the chaos.
"You're faster than I expected," Apollo admitted.
He raised his hand, and a sphere of solar fire began to form, growing brighter and hotter with every second.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
Neo planted his feet and slashed toward the hurtling miniature sun.
Divine Swordsmanship Fifth Stance—
His sword clashed with the sphere of solar flare.
Seigetsu.
His sword flowed like water — calm and continuous — and diverted the attack back to Apollo.
Apollo dodged the attack by quickly moving away.
Neo didn't waste the opportunity.
He slid the blade back into the sheath.
His hand rested lightly on the hilt of the sheathed blade.
Divine Swordsmanship First Stance—
Suddenly, with a flash of motion, Neo drew the blade in a single fluid movement.
Issen.
His sword flashed.
One moment, it was resting in the sheath, and the next, it was next to Apollo's neck, inches away from beheading him.
"-God Step."
Apollo's figure shone brightly and he completed his chant.
His form broke into a cluster of light, and Neo's sword passed through empty air.
The lights gathered far away from Neo's current position and transformed into Apollo.
Neo didn't pursue him immediately.
He shifted his weight, and a frown appeared on his face.
'That attack should've beheaded him before he completed his chant.'
Neo had no intention of holding back in a battle, even if Apollo was his friend.
'I feel lethargic, and my movements are slow.'
His eyes narrowed.
'He has infused Life and Light elements into our surroundings. They are weakening me like a debuff.'
"So you noticed it," Apollo said, "but it's too late."
He raised his hand toward the sky and completed his chants.
"O Great Spirit of Mine… Descend."
The sky released a shrill cry.
The eerie sound reverberated through the battlefield.
The barrier of the Savage Expanse was stopping Sunshine from descending.
But it could not hold its own against the overwhelming might of the Spirit.
The invisible barrier surrounding the Savage Expanse shattered, and a giant sun appeared in the sky.
Its radiant light threatened to blind all who gazed upon it.
Neo's limbs grew heavy.
The heat from the descending sun intensified, suffocating the air.
He felt as if a mountain was placed on his back.
It didn't stop there.
The heat continued to surge until the trees and the ground began to burn.
Neo's clothes were lit on fire.
His skin began to sizzle from the intense heat.
The forest around them was ablaze.
The air became thick with smoke.
Trees crackled and collapsed as flames spread rapidly.
"You've lost, Neo," Apollo said. "Stop here or I'll unleash the full power of Sunshine."
The moment Apollo had been successful in summoning Sunshine, his victory had been confirmed.
The ground trembled beneath them and the oppressive heat warped the air.
"Are you sure about this?" Neo asked. "Summoning Sunshine here will disturb Typhaon and it would increase the chances of him waking up."
"I don't have any other choice. If I want to stop you, this is the only way."
The corner of Neo's lips rose.
Even as his body burned,
Even as his body refused to move due to the immense weight pressing him down,
He was confident.
Apollo frowned, not understanding the source of Neo's confidence, when suddenly Neo chanted.
"Black Dawn of Despair."
Darkness surged from Neo like an exploding volcano.
It covered everything.
The sky, the ground, the forest.
The once bright forest was now consumed by darkness.
The vibrant greenery turned pitch black, and the smoke-filled air became still.
Apollo felt an intense headache attacking him, and countless voices started to speak in his mind.
He groaned and grabbed his head.
"What did you do…"
His words were stuck in his throat when he looked at the sky.
The horizon was divided into two parts.
The sun shone in one half of the sky, and night had descended on the other half.
'He pushed back Sunshine…?'
Apollo couldn't believe the sight before his eyes.
The half of the forest where he stood was lit by Sunshine, and the half where Neo stood was blanketed by the night sky.
…
"Looks like Neo is starting to get serious," Jack said.
He stared at the sky that had been divided into day and night.
The wind howled through the trees, but there was no warmth.
The night side was chilling, and the air thick with a sense of foreboding.
"I knew the Tremor-ranked Spell was supposed to be strong, but this is beyond my imagination," he chuckled bitterly.
He wondered. If Emma saw the scene, would she still call Neo weaker than Jack?
He shook his head, erasing the useless thoughts.
"Now, are you guys going to come out, or will you keep staring at me?" he spoke to empty air.
The gazes he felt were still there.
They didn't belong to Apollo.
Jack had an idea who was the source of those gazes.
"If you aren't going to come out, then I will have to force you to do it."
Jack snapped his fingers.
The forest trembled as thousands of undead, who infiltrated the Savage Expanse, exploded, and a wave of fire spread, burning everything in its path.
It engulfed the forest, scorching everything within its reach.
The flames twisted and churned.
They devoured hundreds of monsters in the Savage Expanse.
More monsters appeared to replace their dead brethren and attacked Jack.
Jack grinned.
The Darkness beneath him stretched.
It enveloped the corpses of the dead monsters and ate everything except their bones.
He used his Unique Skill.
Giant magic circles materialized in the skies.
Black lightning descended down from the magic circles and hit the skeletal structure of the monsters.
The darkness bubbled on the ground.
Suddenly, the bony corpses trembled.
They slowly stood up, now under Jack's control, and began to attack the living monsters.
The more Jack killed, the bigger his legion grew.
Using his Unique Skill to create such large numbers of undead at once would've put immense burden on him normal situations.
But Neo's Spell solved the problem.
The Spell, Black Dawn of Despair, strengthened Neo's allies, and debuffed his enemies.