Chapter 287 Assault on Hell’s Gate - 05
As Mammon's corruptive influence surged forward, the holy barrier trembled under the relentless assault. The air crackled with a discordant energy as the malevolent force clashed against the sanctified protection erected by the Vatican Paladin.
The barrier flickered, its golden glow momentarily dimming under the overwhelming pressure of Mammon's greed. Dark tendrils of corruption snaked their way through the divine defenses, probing for weak points and attempting to unravel the sacred weave that held them together.
The soldiers within the defensive perimeters could feel the palpable tension in the air as Mammon's corruption sought to infiltrate their haven. The ground beneath them quivered as if struggling to withstand the weight of the demonic influence.
Despite the formidable onslaught, the Vatican Paladin remained steadfast. With unwavering determination, he continued his sacred incantation, pouring more divine energy into the barrier to fortify its resilience. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he channeled the strength of his faith into the protective shield.
In this moment, the darkened sky above the ruined highrise building heralded Mammon's arrival with the ominous beating of his draconic wings, sending shockwaves through the air.
His golden armor-clad form soared across the sky, casting a looming shadow over the defensive perimeter. The soldiers below, both demonic minions and those defending against the corruption, bowed in subservience as Mammon approached.
The very atmosphere seemed to twist and distort in Mammon's wake, the intensity of his greed-infused presence amplifying the strain on the holy barrier. The Vatican Paladins, recognizing the gravity of the situation, redoubled their efforts, pouring every ounce of their faith into reinforcing the sacred shield.
As Mammon descended, perched atop the highest building ruin, he could observe the defenders struggling at his mercy. The corruption of greed emanating from him intensified.
Despite standing behind the shield erected by the paladins, the soldiers within the defensive perimeter felt the insidious influence clawing at their minds, tempting them with thoughts of boundless wealth and power.
Their iron will was tested to the limit of human capacity; the soldiers barely passed this test despite the reduced intensity of corruption.
Mammon looked down from the top, his draconic eyes glowing with mockery and amusement, as if a child playing with ants drowning in his own urine. The soldiers, now facing the embodiment of a Hell Lord, stood resolute despite the overwhelming pressure.
Mammon's voice, steeped in the intoxicating allure of avarice, resonated across the besieged defensive perimeter. "Mortals, prostrate yourselves before your newfound lord. I am the embodiment of greed, and in submission to me, I shall lavish upon you unimaginable wealth and opulence, fulfilling your every desire."
Despite the enticing offer, the unwavering Paladins persisted in their sacred incantation, fervently channeling the power of their unwavering faith to staunchly resist Mammon's insidious corrupting influence.
As the alluring whispers of Mammon's promises crept into the mind of Penthesilea, outside the protective embrace of the holy barrier, her formidable resolve wavered. The whispers, like insidious tendrils, coiled around her consciousness, tempting her to kneel before the Lord of Greed and forsake all she held dear.
The formidable Amazonian, despite her strength and divine blessings, felt the relentless onslaught of temptation. Countless voices whispered promises of wealth, power, and untold pleasures, while Mammon's corrupting influence clawed at the edges of her sanity, threatening to unravel the very fabric of her heroic spirit.
Exposed to more than ten times the intensity of the corruption force endured by those within the safety of the barrier, Penthesilea faced an unparalleled test of her will. The seductive whispers enticed her with illusions of grandeur and opulence, challenging the very core of her humanity.
In that grandiose vision, she witnessed her long-lost kingdom transformed into a flourishing empire. Her nemesis, Achilles, lay defeated beneath her feet. Her people, liberated from Greek enslavement, thrived in peace and prosperity, and rival kingdoms dared not wage war against her empire.
On the precipice of succumbing to the maddening allure, Penthesilea, a warrior of unmatched valor, made a fateful choice. Determined not to betray her principles, she retrieved a dagger hidden within her suit. With unwavering resolve, she raised the dagger to her own throat, choosing death over submission to the demonic whispers that sought to ensnare her soul.
But, at the very moment she was about to plunge the knife into her neck, a powerful force arrested her hand. Mammon's telekinetic power halted her hand in its tracks, preventing the knife from advancing, and then the weapon was wrenched from her grasp, embedding itself into the ground far beyond her reach.
"Oh? What have we here? An ancient human? How have you survived until now? No... you're not just any run-of-the-mill ancient human, are you? Judging from the lingering divine power within you, you should be one of the heroes from the myth... and from the era of the gods at that?" Mammon said with interest.
The Hell Lord of Greed descended to the ground and approached Penthesilea, who knelt on all fours, resisting the corruption of greed with all her might.
Mammon stopped in front of Penthesilea, his hand slowly reaching for her long, silky black hair, bringing it to his nose to sniff, before smiling in delight.
"HAHAHAHA Great! This is!...."
Boom!!
Once the smoke had subsided, there was no sign of Mammon; only the red energy-like construct remained. If not for his lingering corruption that was still active, the onlookers might have believed that Mammon had become one with the soil. However, despite Mammon's corruption power still being active, it had been significantly reduced.
As everyone took a closer look at the red energy-like construct, they observed a 30-meter titan with 100 arms floating behind it. Within the chest area of this formidable entity, Daniel stood, gazing at Penthesilea, who in turn looked back at him in a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Are you okay?" Daniel inquired.
Startled by the question, Penthesilea blushed slightly, feeling a sensation as if something were scratching at her heart. It was an uncomfortable yet contradictory feeling—unpleasant but strangely good—to hear such concern from her lord. This unfamiliar emotion prompted her to consider a thorough check-up at the medical center once the ordeal was over.
"Um, no... I mean, yes! My lord, I'm okay," Penthesilea stammered in response, still blushing. She made a mental note to visit the medical center after the events unfolded.
At that moment, Mammon rushed out from the ground. Without uttering a word, he aimed to stab Daniel with his sword, charging towards him within the chest of the red energy construct. However, he was once again met with a colossal fist.
Boom!
Mammon's battered body was slammed into the ground, leaving a crater where he lay. His armor was bent and dented, blood seeping from his mouth and nose, and his clothing in tatters. Despite the remnants of gold and jewelry adorning his armor, Mammon looked more like a destitute figure than the formidable Hell Lord of Greed.
"You damn human! I've had enough playing with you. I'll show you my full power!" Mammon roared, and as he attempted to unleash his full strength, the power of corruption quickly subsided, as if Mammon had halted the release of his corruptive influence to gather power for a direct confrontation with Daniel.
In an awe-inspiring display of power, Mammon underwent a breathtaking transformation. His form shifted and expanded, morphing into a colossal, 20-meter-high golden dragon with menacing red eyes and two demon horns adorning its head. Its wings stretched out majestically.
Without waiting for Mammon to finish his transformation, Daniel controlled his Hecatonchires Avatar, directing its immense strength to grip Mammon's dragon's long neck, while other arms secured his wings, and the remaining ten arms pinned the golden dragon to the ground. With relentless force, the remaining arms began to pummel Mammon without mercy.
The Hecatonchires Avatar, under Daniel's control, unleashed a relentless assault on Mammon's dragon form. The golden dragon, still in the midst of its transformation, was caught off guard. The powerful arms of the avatar struck with unyielding force, delivering merciless blows to Mammon's vulnerable form.
The Hecatonchires's hundred arms, unleashed in their full might, delivered thunderous impacts with each strike, resonating through the very ground. Mammon's dragon form struggled against the onslaught, its incomplete transformation leaving it defenseless. The once-majestic creature writhed beneath the relentless barrage, its roars of rage drowned out by the continuous assault.
"Argh!" Boom!
"No!" Boom!
"Wait!!" Boom!
"Hey!!" Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Mammon attempted to utter something, but each time he was interrupted by the merciless pounding of Hecatonchires's fists.
Without a shred of mercy, the arms relentlessly pounded and battered Mammon's form, preventing the completion of his transformation. The golden dragon's scales cracked and splintered under the forceful blows, its feeble attempts at retaliation proving futile in the face of such overwhelming power.
"Enough!" Mammon roared, canceling his transformation and teleporting out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding Hecatonchires's fists that were poised to pummel him once again.
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