Clang!
Blade and claw collided with a dull, heavy crash.
Genichi's body trembled slightly, and he was forced back half a step.
But Udaeus's giant claw had already been severed by three inches.
The corner of Genichi's mouth lifted.
Just as he thought.
Udaeus's strength no longer overwhelmed him absolutely.
It was still stronger than he was, but the gap had narrowed to an acceptable range.
And if he added enhancement magic on top of that...
Genichi drew a deep breath and began to chant.
"O sun of the sky whose boiling oil never cools, let all things recoil before your form. Bloom, Root of the Laurel."
As Root of the Laurel took hold, his agility and endurance rose instantly.
"Awaken."
Swift Wind activated, and wings of air unfurled beneath his feet.
"Can cut burning iron, can cut burning iron, can cut burning iron. Full release of flame."
The Red Dragon Spiral layered over him, red flame magic intertwining with black wind magic.
With three enhancement spells stacked onto himself, Genichi felt his strength, speed, and durability surge dramatically.
He charged at Udaeus.
One slash fell.
Udaeus raised a single claw to block.
But this time, Genichi's blade sliced straight through the bone claw.
A crisp cracking sound rang out.
That massive skeletal claw shattered into pieces.
Udaeus roared in fury, and its other claw came crashing down at Genichi.
Genichi's figure flashed and vanished from where he stood.
Apparition.
The next second, he appeared behind Udaeus.
Another slash.
His blade carved across its spine, leaving a deep gash.
Udaeus reeled in pain. Its massive body spun violently, and the bone spikes on its back lashed out like a whip.
Genichi's eyes sharpened. He instantly used Apparition again and vanished.
The spikes missed him and slammed into the wall, punching so many holes through it that the whole surface looked like a sieve.
Genichi reappeared in the distance.
He lifted his head and looked at Udaeus.
The gigantic lizard-like monster was staring him down.
In those deep crimson eyes burned fury and...
Wariness.
It could feel it.
This human was not the same as last time.
He was stronger.
Far more dangerous.
Genichi looked at Udaeus, excitement glinting in his black eyes.
"My power's improved."
He murmured softly.
"My speed's caught up."
"My defense too."
"The only thing I'm still lacking now..."
He tightened his grip on the sword.
"...is a way to overcome your regeneration."
He had already experienced Udaeus's regenerative ability firsthand.
Those severed bone claws could regrow in just a few minutes.
The wounds he cut into it could heal in mere seconds.
If he could not suppress that regeneration, then no matter how long he fought, he would never kill it.
But...
Genichi had a way.
Envy.
One of the Seven Deadly Sins: Envy.
Effect: damage inflicted could not be healed.
But through Genichi's own experiments, he had discovered that effect was not absolute. Still, it was enough to drastically weaken Udaeus's regenerative power.
And on top of that...
"It's not that simple."
Genichi chanted softly.
His other skill could impose the concept of dragon-attribute weakness onto an enemy, further suppressing its vitality.
With those two abilities layered together, Udaeus's regeneration would be reduced by at least half.
As long as the damage he dealt reached a certain threshold, he could grind Udaeus down to death.
Of course, if he was not strong enough to begin with, then none of that mattered.
Just like the last time he had challenged Udaeus at Level 4. The damage he dealt had been too small. Even if he weakened its regeneration, he still could not wear it down.
But now...
He was already Level 5.
Genichi tightened his grip on the sword and fixed his gaze on Udaeus.
In those black eyes burned a cold, steady will to fight.
"I refuse to believe..."
He murmured softly.
"...that I still can't grind you to death this time."
The moment the words fell, he rushed forward again.
The battle lasted a full three hours.
For three hours, Genichi and Udaeus clashed again and again.
The wounds he inflicted did not disappear as quickly as before, and the intervals between severing and regeneration grew shorter and more unstable.
The effects of Envy and his second suppression skill were building up bit by bit.
The injuries on Genichi's body grew more numerous as well.
Even though he did everything he could to evade, Udaeus's attacks were too fast and too fierce. There were always moments he could not avoid.
His left arm was pierced through by a bone spike, leaving a cross-shaped wound.
His right leg was struck by a bone claw and nearly fractured.
His chest was smashed by a burst of bone, leaving a deep tear across it.
But he did not stop.
Every time he was injured, he drank another high potion.
One bottle, two, three...
The stock of potions he had brought was almost gone.
But he did not care.
As long as he could kill Udaeus before he ran out, that was enough.
Finally...
As the fight entered its fourth hour, Genichi found his chance.
One of Udaeus's bone claws had been cut off by him, and the other was still regenerating.
Most of its ribs had been shattered and were slowly healing.
There was a deep crack across its spine, one he had left there earlier.
And now...
It showed him an opening.
At the instant its claw began to regrow, its chest was exposed before him.
That was where its magic stone was located.
Genichi's gaze sharpened.
He used Apparition instantly and appeared right in front of Udaeus's chest.
The sword in his hand drove viciously toward the magic stone.
The blade tore through bone and flesh, plunging deeper and deeper.
Both abilities were poured into this single strike at once.
The moment the tip of his blade touched the magic stone, Genichi felt enormous resistance.
But he did not give up.
Using every ounce of strength in his body, he forced the sword forward little by little.
One inch, two, three...
And then...
Crack.
The blade pierced through the magic stone.
Udaeus's body shuddered violently.
The light in those deep crimson eyes went out at once.
Then...
The gigantic lizard-like monster crashed to the ground.
Genichi fell with it.
He lay there on the floor, gasping for breath.
His body was covered in wounds, his mind drained dry of magic, and his high potions were gone.
But he had won.
He had killed Udaeus with his own power.
The corner of Genichi's mouth lifted slightly.
The smile was exhausted, but satisfied.
"I won..."
He muttered softly.
After resting in place for a while, he slowly moved his body.
The wounds had already scabbed over.
They were not fully healed yet, but at least they would not hinder his movement.
He got to his feet and walked over to the magic stone Udaeus had left behind.
Then he closed his eyes and began to chant.
"Shadow Monarch."
The instant the words fell, a black silhouette separated from beneath his feet.
It was his shadow.
"Put away the magic stone and the drops."
Genichi pointed at the storage bag on the ground.
After everything was packed away, there was a crisp snap, and his figure vanished from the thirty-seventh floor in an instant.
(End of Chapter)
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