With the Scorchwing Demon and the underworld summon already dealt with, only the remaining two of Tobias’ infernal spiritual creatures stood between Serena and victory.
Not wanting to give the enemy any more time to breathe, the Elemental Guardian’s serpentine lower half lashed out, cutting through the air like a deadly whip.
The black tendrils of the Abyssal Echo tried to wrap around it, but the force of the attack from a creature one grade higher was difficult to resist, and the dark tendrils released by the Echo were shattered.
The stone body of the Guardian, which had been mostly focused on brute force up until now, shifted its weight to move with a surprising amount of grace. Reaching towards the Echo, and giving it a push so strong that it would have cracked the ribs of most humans. The Abyssal Echo shrieked as its body was forcibly pushed back, its tendrils stretching in all directions like the limbs of a broken spider.
But the Echo was not so easily defeated. It retaliated with a burst of dark energy, creating a vortex of shadow that threatened to consume everything within its grasp.
The swirling mass of darkness tried to pull the Elemental Guardian in like a black hole, distorting the light around it. The Guardian’s movements slowed for just a fraction of a second, while the curse from Tobias’ other contract worked to restrain it as well.
The Echo’s tendrils reached for the Guardian’s arms, dragging them down with an almost suffocating pressure. It wasn’t enough to fully hold the Guardian, but for a moment, it seemed like the tide might turn.
However, while the stalemate between the 3 spiritual creatures was ongoing, the Starweaver flying above drew upon the power of a familiar constellation, a beam composed of starlight fell directly on the Echo, drawing its now immobile body up towards the sky.
The Guardian took advantage of the opening, lifting its stone fist high and hammering it straight on its floating body with an explosive force.
The punch sent shockwaves through the air as the creature’s form cracked and momentarily dispersed under the impact in a violent explosion of shadow. Thankfully, the dispersion was temporary, and its body reformed quickly, although its appearance was now visibly weaker.
Where previously, its figure was composed of the deepest black shadows that seemed to consume all the surrounding light, now its slumped figure was a translucent grey.
‘Only one left!’
Kain and the others who supported Dark Moon, couldn’t help buzzing in anticipation. Winning the first match will get them one step closer to being declared the overall first-place team among the first-years.
However, the remaining contract of Tobias was the most mysterious and the one they knew the least about. It also did not appear as intimidated by the green-grade Guardian as its teammates were.
Indeed, at this moment, the rotting spiritual creature let out a horrific, otherworldly cackle.
As the Elemental Guardian’s oppressive figure approached it, the rotting contract didn’t react immediately. Instead, it slowly raised one arm, and the air around it seemed devoid of any energy as if the very atmosphere was being drained of life. T
he Guardian, still energized from its earlier victories, charged forward, its stone fist raised high. However, the moment the Guardian’s hand closed in on its target, the opponemt’s eyes flashed, and an almost imperceptible ripple seemed to pass through the arena.
Before the Elemental Guardian could react, the rotting creature’s next curse took hold fully. The stone arm of the Guardian started to crack, as if the very earth that composed it was beginning to rot away.
Chunks of stone flaked off the arm, turning into brittle dust that drifted into the air. The water flowing along its leg grew sluggish, as if it were losing its momentum in the face of an unseen force.
This was one of this contracts’ most powerful curses, and the power of it was clearly exemplified by its ability to still be so effective against a green-grade spiritual creature.
The curse, Time Decay, is a rare skill with both dark and time attributes. Although the time attribute is secondary. It causes a time distortion that results in a temporary rapid aging.
Therefore, if Kain were struck by this curse he may take on the form of a frail old man for a period of time until the curse was either lifted or the opponent ran out of energy.
However, despite its seemingly perverse effects, it was not limited to use by higher-level creatures because the “aging” was only temporary and completely superficial, with only physical strength being somewhat impacted by the decay due to aging. The mental strength, intelligence, spiritual power, etc. were all left intact.
Rather than a true aging effect, it was more like an illusion of aging, and once the target’s strength surpassed a certain threshold…
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The water flowing on its body unfroze with a violent crash reminiscent of the sound of waves hitting a cliff. The stone arms that had been rotting began to grow stronger as, with support from Serena and the Starweaver, the effect of the curse began to fade.
The guardian then summoned a wave of water to engulf the opponent. However, likely due to the minerals present in the water due to its dual earth and water attribute, the water was much heavier than normal.
The heavy water slammed into the rotting spiritual creature with the force of a crashing tide. Its murky depths surged around its body, the minerals present in the water weighing down its limbs, creating a crushing pressure that restricted its movements.
The creature shrieked as the oppressive liquid squeezed its form, its decaying body straining against the immense weight.
Eventually, the thrashing spiritual creature’s movements grew sluggish, and then its body began to break apart under the pressure, its rotting limbs cracking and snapping as the weight of the heavy water pinned it down.
Serena quickly ordered the Elemental Guardian to stop, in case it was actually killed.
Tobias, standing in the midst of the arena surrounded by the cheers of the audience, could only watch as his final spiritual creature was defeated.
The Dark Moon team was now one step closer to victory.