721 – The Strengths of the Apocalypse

I shoot the huge ball of [Dite] flames towards the taotie.

It jumps to the side to dodge. The [Dite] impacts the ground where it stood, exploding into a pillar of dark red flames.

But I had factored in that it would dodge. Having flown to cut off its escape, I slam my tail into the taotie, forcing it into the [Dite] flames.

It punches its tentacles into the ground to leap into the air, managing to jump around the flames. I fire a [Dimension Claw] towards at its landing point. Without any tentacles to block, a chunk of flesh is carved from the taotie.

“OOOh!”

The taotie frantically covers its body with tentacles and begins regenerating as it moves away from me. Despite being the more close-quarters focused of the two of us, the taotie’s backing away.

It does have the ultra-long range [Hungry Beast’s Flame Prison Wind], but it can’t possibly hope to gain enough distance to use it when its speed is so inferior to mine. It’s simply forced to retreat in order to buy enough time for [Autoregeneration].

It’s the proof that I’ve gained the upper hand in this fight. I’m pressing the taotie into a corner, despite its absurdly high stats. I had to struggle a little at first while I was learning the full effects its skills, but I’ve now found an answer for most of them.

『[Heavenly Father’s Rage]!』

The sky shines.

This skill… [Heavenly Father’s Rage] is certainly fast to activate, and the area it effects is large. But I have kept my altitude low since the last time, and have been kept watch for signs of it activating. It’s not impossible to react to. The moment I sense the skill activating, I fly straight towards the taotie and begin casting magic.

Directly behind me, a pillar of lightning crashes down.

『You’re not going to hit me that easily! [Curse Knight]!』

Two pale blue lights shoot out from me. Each of the lights form into the shape of a knight on horseback, and they split left and right to approach the taotie from opposite sides.

“OO…!”

Retreating backwards, the taotie tries to swat the [Curse Knights] down with its tentacles.

“[Cocytus]!”

A magic circle floats in the air behind the taotie. Having sensed my casting, the taotie stops stepping backwards.

Behind it, a giant block of ice appears. Unable to back away from the [Curse Knights], the taotie flails its tentacles, managing to knock them both down at the last second.

But as it does, its front becomes exposed. Having charged directly towards it from the front, I slam my claw into its face.

“Goboh!”

The taotie’s back crashes through the [Cocytus] ice.

I’m about to give chase to press the attack, but then I spot a huge quantity of purple liquid to begin spewing from the mouth in its chest. It’s using the [Extreme Poison] skill.

Giving up on closing the distance again, I send a [Dimension Claw] into the purple cloud. The tentacles it raises to block are chopped off, and a deep cut is carved into the taotie’s body.

『I am the absolute existence… So why…』

At this rate, I can win! There’s no doubt that I’m the one pushing it into a corner.

I noticed this while fighting, but since becoming an apocalypse, I’m ridiculously strong. Until now I hadn’t had a proper perspective, as the only equal fight I’ve had was against the tricky-type abbadon, but the apocalypse’s stats and skills really are superb.

The apocalypse’s stats are those of a high-speed attacker type, but also without any fatally low stats. My prior evolutions contribute a lot to this, but I also have a lot of highly versatile skills.

[Dimension Claw] is pretty much perfect for keeping enemies in check at mid- and long-range, [Curse Knight] allows me to synchronise my attacks, [Dite] has incredible firepower for how easy it is to use, and [Cocytus] is great for battlefield control.

As an apocalypse, I both have excellent brute strength, but to an even greater extent I have versatility. I can fight at whatever distance prevents my opponent from making best use of their skills, while still making full use of my own skills to keep them in check.

I fly to just outside the effective reach of the taotie’s tentacles and keep pounding on it with [Dimension Claw].

“O, OO, OOO…!”

It petrifies its tentacles to create a shield, but the tentacles’ regeneration is unable to keep up with my barrage. Thanks to the one-sided beatdown I was able to deliver earlier, I’ve gained a considerable MP advantage. I should be able to press my advantage until it dies.

“OOOOOOh!”

While dodging the toatie’s desperate attacks, I send out another [Curse Knight]. As the taotie swats down the [Curse Knight], I slam a [Dimension Claw] into its defenceless chest. The fangs from the mouth in its chest break off and fly through the air.

With the taotie’s stance broken, I drive a second [Dimension Claw] into its side. It tries to block, but is too slow and ends up taking the full brunt of the attack.

『O, OO… I am… the ruler of all…! This time, I will…!』

All the taotie’s muscles swell up, and its blood vessels press against its skin. It raises its arms into the air.

『Not this time! This is the end!』

I cut its arms with [Dimension Claw], carving out a deep chunk of flesh. But its arms don’t lower.

『Wha-…』

『[Earth Mother’s Lament]!』

The taotie’s arms slam into the ground.

A huge shockwave races across the ground towards me. The power has clearly increased from last time.

I’ve started flying away, but it doesn’t look like I can avoid the shockwave entirely. I cover my body with my wings.

The shockwave blasts me back and breaks my wings, but I’ve managed to avoid heavy damage. Staying airborne, I repair my wings. Looking down, I see a new huge fissure.

“OOOOOOOOh!”

The taotie roars. Its body is covered in a red aura. Its eyes are open wide and bloodshot, and glint sharply as it glares at me.

…That’s probably the [Flames of Antipathy] skill.

【Characteristic Skill [Flames of Antipathy]】
【Can only be activated when the user’s MP is less than 50%.】
【By surrendering to anger, the user’s physical abilities become much more powerful, and their body becomes tougher.】
【Continuously consumes HP and MP while in use.】

…It’s brought out its trump card. The restrictions and cost look pretty harsh, but that just means its effect is probably enough to warrant them. It’s not wrong to say I’ve driven the taotie into a corner, but in a sense it’s also true that the real battle starts here.