Chapter 66: Damn Demons...
During the battle, Archmage Arlen suddenly sensed his rune on the horses being activated. He gazed at the direction where the horses were and laughed.
Did you really think you can be of use here?
He shook his head and focused on the Greater Demon exuding an intimidating aura. It was the primary reason Max experienced debuffs. The Tyrant’s Presence was a passive ability of a Greater Demon, closer to becoming a Demon Lord.
It was precisely the demon that Archmage Arlen had no confidence defeating.
The Greater Demon was observing them from a distance while his army successfully pushed the Blade Saint Branna to her limits.
Blade Saint Branna executed simultaneous blade techniques.
The Flowing Step, allowing her to reposition herself rapidly, not interrupting her combat flow.
The Blade Domain, creating a zone dominated by her swordsmanship.
A Perfect Parry, a precise deflection technique, negating not primarily a melee attack but a long-range attack of a Boneflame Artillerists, bombarding her with Hellfire Barrage and Magma Mortar from time to time.
Her Perfect Parry automatically enabled Counter Slash, killing an Abyss Knight who attempted to break through her with their Hellfire Charge.
Archmage Arlen tried his best to assist her from behind.
He multi-cast Arcane Rune Burst, targeting the Infernal Priests.
The Infernal Priests were legions’ support. Their ability constantly buffed their allies.
Unfortunately, there were many cannon fooders at D-Rank that bore the assault for them.
There were, at least, three hundred cannon fooders, giving Archmage Arlen a massive headache.
As much as he wanted to execute his signature ability to annihilate them at once, he had to reserve his mana to fight against the Greater Demon.
The Greater Demon was cunning. He didn’t hesitate to sacrifice his legion just to exhaust them to a great extent.
After a while, the legion halved. Branna had yet to show a sign of exhaustion. Archmage Arlen himself hadn’t taken a mana potion.
The Greater Demon was furious. He couldn’t bear to lose most of his legion now.
Without hesitation, he summoned his ten captains—lower B-rank demons. His personal lieutenants.
Each of his captain commanded a portion of his legion, allowing them to fight in coordination.
The ten captains had not joined in the battle. They simply gave commands to the portion of legions the Greater Demon given to them.
Now that they were summoned, the C-rank demons and below, slowly retreated, allowing Branna and Archmage Arlen to take a breath.
Branna and Archmage Arlen glanced at the ten captains beside the Greater Demon.
They vary in sizes, the smallest being a female at a human size.
Branna glanced at them and gripped the sword hilt harder.
She was not satisfied from the number of demons she had slain. She wished to take the life not only the ten of them, but even the head of the Greater Demon.
The Greater Demon stared at them and said in a hoarse voice, {Humans, I acknowledge you’re strong. You can fight six of my captains with just the two of you.
But with me around, do you really believe you can win and take me down?}
Archmage Arlen stared at him indifferently and said, "We would have known if you fought us earlier."
The Greater Demon trembled in fury.
He pointed his gigantic sword at Archmage Arlen and exclaimed, {Very well. I, Varkhaz, a future Demon Lord, will fight. With my Ashrender, I will take your life.}
Archmage Arlen’s eyes widened and smiled widely. His face turned maniac. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "TRY ME!!"
Archmag Arlen went all out. He summoned his signature ability—Runic Dominion.
Every active rune within range was strengthened. Newly created runes would activate instantly. His rune cooldowns reduced. Multiple rune types could occupy the same location.
He raised his Epic rank staff and summoned fifteen Arcane Rune Burst at once and in less than a second, they simultaneously fired at Varkhaz.
Varkhaz didn’t hold back and executed his signature ability—the Crown of Infernal Tyrant.
He unleashed the power of his Ash Crown.
The crown-like formation of jagged volcanic spikes surroundings his head glowed a blinding white light.
His physical power increased dramatically. His hellfire potency rose sharply. His summoned demons became empowered.
He raised his Ashrender and swung horizontally, releasing a massive crescent of Hellfire, swallowing Arcane Rune Burst instantly.
The Hellfire were dispersed as well, showing that their magical power was at the same level.
Varkhaz wasn’t surprised. He acknowledged Archmage Arlen’s magical power. He was only frustrated because he was thousand years old, while Archmage Arlen was definitely less than thirty years old.
Human’s capability to grow was indeed terrifying.
Varkhaz then slammed the Ashrender to the ground, creating erupting magma fissures. Branna, who was getting closer and was about to land a strike at Varkhaz legs, was forced to retreat.
She couldn’t defend herself against the terrifying Hellfire.
Just as the erupting magma fissures expanded, Archmage Arlen cast a Frozen Sigil Domain on Varkhaz’ surrounding.
A network of frost runes patched the erupting magma fissures, instantly freezing them.
Varkhaz growled. He glared at Archmage Arlen and created a battle-field wide infernal zone.
A wave of hell fire—not dense and concentrated than the hellfire his body and sword were emitting—spread on his surroundings, buffing allies while burning his enemies.
Branna had to expend a huge amount of mana to protect herself, but it would only be a matter of time before the hellfire scorched her skin.
Archmage Arlen glanced at Branna and understood she was the most vulnerable. Without hesitation, he cast defensive runes at her, helping her to last long.
When he was finished, he held his breath.
A cold weapon pierced through his stomach from behind. He saw its tip covered by his own blood.
He was taken aback. He glanced at the ten captains behind Varkhaz and counted only nine of them.
A blood flowed out of his mouth.
He felt his strength was being drained away, disabling him to fight back.
He gritted his teeth and grumbled, "Damn demons..."
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