LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 46
Chapter 46: The Phenex’s Trial
Whooosh…
[Phenex’s Core Ability: Blazing Flames activated!]
[Phenex will continuously regenerate a significant amount of vitality until the end of combat.]
The growth system of Lemegaton isn’t limited to mere stats; it extends to the diversity and effects of skills.
Take Phenex, for instance. A multitude of new fiery abilities have been unlocked, enhancing the effects of existing ones. The Blazing Flames alone have increased the vitality regeneration so much that Phenex is nearly invincible in subjugation battles.
As a side note, the second core ability, Heat Transfer, has been swapped out for another due to the current single-boss subjugation context. This flexibility to mix and match skills at will is one of the hallmarks of Lemegaton’s system.
[Phenex casts Will-o’-the-Wisp!]
[Five flames rise to the desired location, briefly illuminating the surroundings.]
[The effect is greatly amplified in darkness.]
Whooosh!
Five orbs of fire ascend, lighting up the dark chamber. Only then does the ancient arena come into full view for all.
Faust had strategically chosen Phenex to lead the subjugation team, optimized with a skill set for such tasks. The wisdom of this choice was becoming increasingly apparent.
“It’s huge!”
“Be careful!”
Screech…
Hiss…
Tamaga spewed something smoky from its grotesque maw.
Even without inhaling, it was evident. Mists of ominous hue are usually poisonous.
“It’s poison! Hold your breath!”
The experienced Jakim shouted first, and Ruby covered her mouth.
As for Phenex…
Whooosh…
[Phenex uses Pain Sharing!]
[Phenex unleashes a fan-shaped wave of flames.]
[The Flame Wave inflicts 200% of combat power as damage, distributed among enemies within range.]
Boom!
The Pain Sharing sent a wave of fire across the area.
Crackle…
Crackling intensifies…
The toxic mist caught fire, spreading like a wildfire, consuming other pockets of poison.
Cough… Cough…
“Ugh…”
Even the burning smoke was pungent enough to bring tears to the eyes.
“Haah!”
Phenex leaped and struck Tamaga’s shell with force.
Clang!
A familiar sound, Tamaga’s body seemed as hard as the forepaw of a limping Agnea.
Indeed, the difficulty had escalated.
But then,
Whooosh…
Sizzle!
“Screeeeech!”
With a swift motion, her sword glowed crimson hot, piercing through the shell and leaving a long scar on Tamaga’s body.
[Phenex uses Armor Melting!]
[For a duration, physical attacks partially penetrate the enemy’s defense.]
[Inflicts additional flame damage.]
“Screeeech…”
A drooling Tamaga.
From Tamaga’s perspective, it must have been an absurd situation.
A single slash had cleaved away a chunk of vitality. Had hp been visible, that attack would have made the hp bar fluctuate wildly.
This was not only due to Phenex’s basic stature but also Faust’s peculiar nurturing method.
Faust had generously invested growth resources in Phenex. While dreaming of evenly nurturing all familiars, he knew it wasn’t immediately feasible, hence the massive investment in the five-star and six-star lines.
This was why his field still had lower-level familiars deployed.
After all, the theory goes that it’s not the minor familiars but the leaders who fend off intruders. Once the leaders are sufficiently nurtured, the regular familiars will also find their chance to grow.
Back to the matter at hand, each of Phenex’s strikes must have felt like an insurmountable attack to Tamaga.
Crackling…
Thus, quicker than expected, Tamaga moved to subjugation phase 1.5.
Rumbling…
Tamaga burrowed through the ground, causing vibrations.
[Tamaga uses Rock Swimming!]
[Tamaga rapidly regenerates any damage taken while swimming through rock.]
Whoosh…
Jakim, with a massive club slung over his shoulder, scanned the surroundings.
“Watch for when the vibrations lessen, dodge just once.”
“You be careful!”
“Hmph, as if I’d die in a place like this.”
[Ruby’s Core Ability: Inner Beast activated!]
[Ruby can transform parts of her body into a werewolf’s form. The effect peaks when the full moon rises.]
Creaking…
Ruby’s arms and legs became covered in fur.
Boom!
Almost simultaneously, Tamaga burst through the side, aiming for Ruby.
Whoosh!
Ruby leaped from her spot, moving swiftly.
Boom!
Tamaga disappeared into the hole it had created.
Phenex quickly chased after the spot where Tamaga’s tail vanished.
Whoosh!
“…Huh?”
Phenex disappeared into a pitch-black tunnel, and soon after, the sound of Tamaga writhing came from a distance.
“…What?”
“Here it comes again!”
Crashing…
In an instant, both Moam and Jakim moved to avoid the swiftly passing Tamaga. Moam lacked the agility to catch Tamaga, and Jakim’s strength was on the wane. They could only watch.
Unexpectedly, instead of Phenex emerging from where Tamaga had appeared, she popped out from the same hole Tamaga had vanished into earlier.
“It’s gone!”
“What is?”
“The tunnel! It’s cut off midway!”
“…”
Jakim grasped the situation.
“…I see.”
“Do you know something?”
“The rift that was in the center of the ruins until just now has disappeared.”
“…What?”
His words were accurate.
The rift, which had been emitting a low hum, vanished suddenly.
Everyone stared in the direction Tamaga had disappeared.
“Could it be that creature…?”
“Here it comes!”
Boom!
It was still just a suspicion.
But soon, it turned into certainty.
Whoosh!
Jakim leaped to avoid the attack aimed at him.
And then…
Whoosh…
There was a rift where Tamaga had charged. The rifts were interconnected.
Whoosh…
A new rift formed right under where Jakim stood.
“…Damn it.”
“Jakim!”
Boom!
Like a shark snapping at bait, Tamaga snatched up Jakim and ascended.
“No!”
Whooosh…
Whoosh!
Phenex swung her sword at Tamaga, who had swallowed Jakim.
Sizzle!
“Screeeeech!”
Screaming, Tamaga fled, with Phenex and Ruby in hot pursuit.
Sizzle!
[Ruby’s Core Ability: Brawler Weaponry activated!]
[Ruby cannot use weapons in her Inner Beast form.]
[Each successful attack by Ruby extends the duration of Inner Beast, and a successful kill significantly increases it.]
Crackling…
Crack!
Ruby’s claws tore through Tamaga’s shell as she passed.
Crack!
Crunch!
– Aaaargh!
But soon, Tamaga disappears beyond the portal.
Thud, thud, thud…
He was swimming calmly beneath the ground.
“That damned beak-nosed fool is dead! Stupid creature…”
“…Ruby, it’s your turn to ring the bell.”
Thud, thud, thud…
…Nod.
The vibration stopped.
It’s coming.
Kabooom!
Fwoosh…
Tamaga’s target is Ruby.
However, Phenex, anticipating this, stood in front of her.
With the momentum to bisect the charging beast, Tama, feeling the chill, played his hand.
Whooosh…
A spatial rift formed in front of Tama and Phenex.
“Tch…”
Before Tamaga could enter the rift, Ruby and Moam scanned the surroundings.
‘Where is it? The next rift…’
Whooosh…
‘Darn it…’
A rift appeared right near Ruby.
“Damn…”
Kabooom!
Swoosh…
“Ruby!”
“I’m fine!”
“…Huh? Why?”
“Well…”
Ruby had expected Tamaga to emerge from the rift and swallow her immediately, but surprisingly, Tamaga flailed and crashed into the wall.
Why?
Rumble…
Thump!
Something was vomited out of Tamaga’s mouth.
Bang!
Something hit the wall.
“Pant… Pant…”
“…You survived inside the belly?”
“Don’t mess with me. Did you think I’d die to such a thing?”
[Jakim’s Basic Ability: The Underdog’s Fight is activated.]
[When losing half of maximum life, damage reduction dramatically increases.]
“How did you survive?”
“Somehow… the goblin way.”
“Ha… Haha! You’re funny!”
Sssss…
Tamaga twisted his head and opened his mouth towards Phenex and everyone else.
“Oh no…”
Boom!
The guardian, Moam, fell forward, shielding them.
Hiss!
The vicious acid and teeth broken by Jakim’s rampage inside continued to hit Moam as they were spat out of Tamaga’s mouth.
[Moam’s Basic Ability: The Best Defense is Smashing! is activated.]
[Moam’s strength increases in proportion to the recent damage received.]
Whirrr…
A bluish energy formed on Moam’s body.
Crack…
While Tama released his offensive and hid deep underground again, Jakim said,
“He’s clever, targeting the slowest one first.”
“What do we do?”
“I’ll be the bait.”
“What?”
“No time! Decide for yourselves what to do!”
“……”
Individual judgment.
The punitive force is composed of powerful familiars of 5 stars or higher.
Naturally, they could easily crush an intruder party with their own strength. It didn’t make sense for them to struggle here.
“Here it comes!”
Kabooom!
Tamaga, aiming for a surprise attack, pounced on Moam.
But everyone except Moam turned their heads in another direction. It was unlikely that Tama would target the sturdiest Moam.
Obviously, the target is…
“Being treated as the weak one is routine…”
Whooosh…
Kabooom!
A rift created by Jakim’s guidance on the wall, and suddenly Tamaga’s head popped out.
Tama, though blind, could sense the strangeness. As if he could see the crisis.
The prey’s momentum had changed.
“Ugh!”
Jakim, with the head of a club, pressed down on Tamaga’s lower jaw, resisting.
Crack!
On the other side, Ruby, whose limbs had taken the form of a werewolf, used her arms to push back and prevent the mouth from closing.
Crack…
Both were pushed back, resisting.
“Not yet…”
– Growl!
Moam successfully grabbed Tama’s tail as it passed through the rift.
Finally.
– Roar!
If Moam had tendons, they would have bulged out. Moam, with overwhelming strength, pulled Tama back.
As if in a tug-of-war, Tama stopped. The cessation of movement meant the monster’s death was near.
Fwoosh…
Phenex spun around Tamaga’s body.
[Phenex uses Superheat Slash.]
[Deals explosive slashing damage to a single target.]
This too was a skill prepared by Faust for the punitive battle. It was fitting for the finale.
Fwoosh…
Slash!
The cutting edge was so hot that it cooked instantly. The overwhelming damage cut short Tama’s second phase.
Clatter…
Clatter, clatter…
Tamaga’s body rose, spraying blood in all directions, and then…
Boom…
It fell and did not move.
Click…
The victorious Phenex smirked.
“You guys are quite something, aren’t you?”
She had grown since before, and so had her master Faust and the familiars dwelling in his dungeon.
The second punitive expedition against the Rotten Root ends.
[The boss battle with ‘Gluttonous Tama’ has concluded.]
[You have acquired 4,500 unprocessed magic stones from Tama’s vomit.]
[With Tamaga’s death, the monsters in her territory weaken.]
[With Tamaga’s death, anomalies occur in the territory’s boundaries.]
……