505. Terrarium

“Take this— [Barrage of Cinders]!”

I yelled as I swiped up at the [Hellabomination]. I unleashed an onslaught of fiery attacks. My Divine Nebular Scythe blurred, and the wild Primeval Demon moved. I pressed on, giving chase as I activated [Haste]. But no matter what, I couldn’t land a hit on my target.

The [Hellabomination] was too fast. It soared through the sky, zipping up, then swerving down with sudden movements as I failed to catch it. Gritting my teeth, I pointed at the wild Primeval Demon, sending a volley of flaming projectiles its way. It just evaded each attack with ease.

“You…”

I glared down at the wild Primeval Demon as it turned to face me. It opened its mouth, and I saw blue flames coalescing in between its teeth. My eyes grew wide, but right before its fiery blast came, an iridescent beam shot out at it from behind. The [Hellabomination] clamped its mouth shut as it swooped aside, dodging the attack.

“You missed!”

I yelled, facing Clayton Skyshredder as he lowered his crimson blade. Beneath us, a massive battle raged one— armies were clashing as wild Demons ran rampant. I wanted to help my companions, but I knew that dealing with the [Hellabomination] came first.

However, nothing Clayton and I could do would harm the Primeval Demon. The Headmaster of Mavos Academy furrowed his brows at me.

“You are as well aware as I am that this [Hellabomination]’s Grand Skill allows it to evade any oncoming attacks. Killing it as it is is impossible. Our job is to distract it long enough until its Grand Skill fades.”

“But what if its Grand Skill lasts a day?”

I folded my arms at Clayton. And the [Hellabomination] unleashed its flaming breath. I blinked and beat all six of my wings at once, propelling me out of the way. Clayton just popped out of existence for a few moments, before reappearing next to me.

His teleportation abilities were fast.

“We have no other choice. Unless you have some other proposition.”

Clayton pointed, and five golden glyphs appeared above his head. Otherworldly chains shot out, glowing green and shooting out for the [Hellabomination]. But the wild Primeval Demon just dodged it like everything else. It dove down straight for us, narrowly navigating through the approaching chains. And my clones appeared at its side.

They struck out with fiery attacks, flanking it from the front and back. But there was a flash of blue light. The [Hellabomination] didn’t visibly react to them, yet it somehow moved out of the way, letting my clones clash into each other. I clicked my tongue as Clayton shook his head.

“Surprise attacks will not work, Salvos. Even if the [Hellabomination] does not see the attack coming, its Grand Skill will pull it out of the way in time.”

“What do we do, then?”

I watched as the wild Primeval Demon swatted my clones back. The Headmaster of Mavos Academy eyed the hulking creature.

“As I said, we distract it until its Grand Skill ends.”

He flew up as he raised a hand. A frosty spear began to form in his fingertips before lancing out. It elegantly cut through the air, dancing towards the [Hellabomination]. The wild Primeval Demon moved out of the way, only for the winding projectile to give chase. It was a kind of homing spell— one that moved with pinpoint accuracy, growing in speed each time it missed.

I frowned, watching Clayton Skyshredder engage the wild Primeval Demon with my clones. His plan… didn’t make sense to me. I found it to be ridiculous. This [Hellabomination] was such a massive target. We had to be able to hit it somehow!

But I looked on as another volley of spells from the Headmaster of Mavos Academy missed. I watched as one of my clones was struck out of the air and exploded. But before her blast could engulf the wild Primeval Demon, it deftly flew out of the way.

I pursed my lips, but still refused to believe that Clayton was right. After all, I had already hurt the [Hellabomination] once through [The Devil’s Grace]. I had to be able to do it again.

“It appears you are having a bit of trouble.”

A voice said behind me, and I blinked. I spun around, staring at a floating figure behind me. My eyes grew wide.

“You’re… a bird?”

A giant hawk hovered text to me, flapping his wings as he eyed the [Hellabomination] in the distance. He had the body of a four-legged animal— like a lion and a tiger combined— but with the front talons of a bird. He had feathers mixed with fur, and his wings spread twice the length of his body. I cocked my head with a confused look.

“Um, thank you? But I don’t know if there’s much you can do, Mr Bird.”

“I am flattered that you think I am a true animal of nature. Alas, I can only imitate the greatness of a Griffin.”

He replied simply with a chuckle. I narrowed my eyes.

“Wait, you’re a… [Druid]?”

“The highest-leveled in the Human lands indeed. I am Ze-jai, The One With Nature. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Salvos.”

He spoke as he craned his neck my way. My eyes grew wide. I remembered him— I had seen him fight before, through the eyes of my clones. He had been the reason a [Cerberus of Hell] hadn’t broken through to the Mortal Realm. And he was quite impressive, too.

[Druid - Lvl. 167]

“Huh. Can you help us?”

I asked, casting my gaze back to the [Hellabomination]. Clayton Skyshredder created a golden shield. A semi-sphere of sorts. One that I recognized from my duel with him. His [Concave Aura Reflector]. The wild Primeval Demon swung down at him, but its claws didn’t penetrate the glass-like surface.

Instead, the barrier crackled with electricity from the strike. The [Hellabomination] instantly recoiled and dove out of the way, fleeing from flashes of lightning that shot out of the barrier. My clone tried to intercept it, only for a new pair of flaming arms to emerge from the wild Primeval Demon’s side. It grabbed my clone and ripped her apart, tossing her away before she could explode.

I turned back to Ze-jai who simply nodded.

“It will not be easy. This Primeval Demon is nearly ten levels above me. And its Grand Skill is truly remarkable. But I do have a suggestion that could trap it in place.”

“What is it?”

I frowned. The [Druid] shook his head.

“I witnessed your battle just earlier. Before the [Hellabomination] activated its Grand Skill. You managed to pin it down for a moment. You cursed it, forcing it to remain still. Is that correct?”

“Um, yep? I used [Intimidation]... I guess it’s curse magic?”

I tapped a finger on my chin, and Ze-jai nodded. He spread his beak wide in what seemed to be a smile.

“Perfect. Curse magic should work on this Primeval Demon. Even if it can evade physical attacks, mind magic, curse magic, soul magic, and other such spells should affect it just fine.”

“Huh. I didn’t even think of that.”

I blinked a few times. It made sense. [Divine Demon’s Mark] probably worked tooBut I pursed my lips.

“My [Intimidation] isn’t ready yet. And neither is [The D—]”

I paused and caught myself.

“Neither is my time reversal Skill. And it will take a while before either is ready again.”

Those were Skills that didn’t recover quickly. Even my [Divine Radiant Slash] was soon ready to be used again. Ze-jai sighed.

“That is unfortunate. Do you not have any other curse-like Skills?”

“There is [Invoke Wrath], but I am pretty sure that’ll get me killed.”

I shrugged back at the [Druid]. He shook his head.

“My plan won’t work unless I can get the [Hellabomination] to stay still for a single moment. Right now, it is too fast for me to catch.”

His eyes flickered, and I frowned. I eyed the Headmaster of Mavos Academy as he zipped back towards us, still standing atop his cloud. The [Hellabomination] roared, unleashing a flaming breath that missed him as he swerved down.

And I remembered my fight with Clayton in Mavos Academy. I snapped my fingers, and Ze-jai raised a brow.

“Wait— if you just need to catch it… I think Clayton has a Skill that works just like [Intimidation]!”

“Does he?”

“Yep! I’ll go talk to him! You do your thing, alright?”

I flew up as the [Druid] nodded.

“Very well. I shall not draw too close. I know I will only get myself killed if that [Hellabomination] even gets a single one of its hands on me.”

I chuckled, waving at Ze-jai.

“Same— but I’m not afraid. I know I’ll be fine, regardless.”

He peered at me curiously.

“Your confidence in your own survival is astounding. I wish you good luck, Secely’s Sentinel.”

With that, I flew away from him. I created two more clones. They winked into existence, charging straight for the wild Primeval Demon to distract it. They laughed as I reached Clayton Skyshredder who slowed to face me.

“Clayton! Ze-jai has a plan!”

“The One With Nature has joined us in battle? I am honored by his presence.”

The Headmaster of Mavos Academy nodded, but I just waved a hand dismissively.

“Now’s not the time for that! We need you to stop the [Hellabomination] with [Intimidation]!”

Clayton furrowed his brows. He glanced between the wild Primeval Demon and my clones as they were once again swatted around like nothing but flies. He crossed his arms.

“My Skill is not [Intimidation]. Rather, it is [Inflict Fear]. But if that is what you wish, I shall do so. I am certain The One With Nature knows what he is doing.”

I watched as the Headmaster of Mavos Academy raised his sown, aiming it at the [Hellabomination]. I braced myself, and his voice boomed out.

“Halt, Demon.”

I almost instinctively froze when I heard Clayton’s words. But I calmed myself, knowing that only the [Hellabomination] was the target of the Skill. I immediately called my clones back to me. They flew away as the wild Primeval Demon stopped mid-air.

It slowly drifted down, without its wings moving. I glanced back at the giant hawk… at the Griffin… at the [Druid]... at Ze-jai. He raised one of his talons, forming a circle and carefully overlaying it on the [Hellabomination]. Nothing happened for a single moment. Then he whispered.

“[Let The Seed Of Sanctuary Bloom Within You].”

A Grand Skill? My brows snapped together. All at once, trees and roots emerged from the [Hellabomination]’s chest. It screeched out as a forest formed around the wild Primeval Demon. It formed a cage— like a terrarium of sorts, encapsulating a massive biome of vegetation.

It was the very same Skill that had been keeping the [Cerberus of Hell] in place. Ze-jai flew over to Clayton and I, nodding.

“It is not an offensive Skill. It is normally used to protect, but I can easily repurpose its abilities to trap targets instead. Be warned that it will not hold the [Hellabomination] forever. I suggest you take your chance to defeat it now.”

I stared at the [Hellabomination], locked in place. It roared and unleashed a plume of fire that incinerated the vines and the wood. But the vegetation regrew instantaneously. It was being suffocated inside of Ze-jai’s Grand Skill, although it was trying to claw its way out.

“Huh. Maybe I can use [Divine D—”

I started, but Clayton spoke over me.

“This is our only chance. We will destroy it now.”

The Headmaster of Mavos Academy drifted forward with his cloud, raising his crimson sword. He pointed at the [Hellabomination] as my eyes grew wide. I recognized the sensation— the prickling sense of fear overwhelming me.

This was Clayton’s Grand Skill.

“[Disassemble. Deconstruct. Dismantle.]”

Is that his chant? I eyed him as the wild Primeval Demon tore apart a large chunk of the foliage keeping it in place. Ze-jai flew back as he shook his head.

“I do not believe I wish to be near for what comes next.”

“[Dissection. Deletion.]”

Clayton continued his chant. I blinked, then followed the [Druid]. A black aura coalesced at the tip of Clayton Skyshredder’s blade. A dark void that reflected no light. It just grew larger and larger until finally, a thin beam shot out.

“[Definitive Disintegration].”

My eyes grew wide as the beam reached the [Hellabomination] in an instant. It was like the Grand Skill hadn’t even needed to travel. It touched the wild Primeval Demon where it was trapped, piercing through the growing forest with ease.

I stared as the [Hellabomination] convulsed for a moment. The trees, the branches, the vines, and the rest of the foliage rapidly dissipated, turning to dust. The wild Primeval Demon opened its mouth, only for the blue aura surrounding its body to quite literally disintegrate.

The Grand Skill didn’t just affect the [Hellabomination] or the trees. Its aura turned black, like it was withering away. The wild Primeval Demon joined the blue glow around its body next. It rapidly decayed and vanished, crumbling into nothingness.

“Huh. That is… something.”

I stared on, hearing the notification echo in my head. I didn’t know what I expected from Clayton’s Grand Skill, but that was—

“As expected of the highest-leveled [Mage] in the Human lands.”

Ze-jai spoke approvingly, watching as the Headmaster of Mavos Academy lowered his sword. I eyed the [Druid] curiously.

“You knew Clayton could do that?”

“Of course. One would expect no less from his status. And that is only one of his three Grand Skills, anyway. So there isn’t much to be surprised by.”

“Three?”

My jaw dropped. Seriously? Clayton was capable of this the entire time? I thought I stood a chance against him now, but that— I wondered if my own Grand Skill could even hold up against him.

The Headmaster of Mavos Academy descended next to me, shaking his head.

“Now is not the time for chatter. There is still a battle to be fought. Let us go.”

Ze-jai and I exchanged a glance. We watched as Clayton flew off before finally joining him.

“So the [Hellabomination] was the second to fall. An unexpected occurrence.”

Levithus lowered his head, facing the runes on the ground. They glowed brighter and brighter as he smirked.

“Yet… more beneficial in the end.”