My Skills Can Evolve Infinitely in a Game-Like World

Chapter 42: Time Running Out

Notifications flooded Aurelius’ field of vision.

With each passing second, the Intelligence required to resist Medusa’s Gaze increased.

Aurelius’ mind processed everything quickly.

Almost instantly, he realized the predicament he was facing.

His time was running out!

Although the notification did not state what would happen if he failed to meet the requirement, the outcome of the two captives not far away had already betrayed everything.

He had to act quickly!

Staring at Priest Mayin and the gray pupils hidden beneath his stone mask, Aurelius did not hesitate.

With a thought, a second Fireball materialized around his palm, and he hurled it toward the enemy almost immediately.

Unfortunately, this one failed to catch the Dark Apostle by surprise.

With a wave of the Priest’s hand, countless dark threads grew out of his palm, wrapping around the Fireball.

Like serpents devouring their prey, the Fireball shrank until it finally disappeared.

"Yes! Yes! Keep resisting!"

"Only by resisting can you further please my Lord! You’re only working to hasten His descent!"

Priest Mayin’s laughter echoed throughout the room.

Although his body trembled violently, his hand held the mask and kept it firmly in place.

His gaze remained locked onto Aurelius’ figure, as if afraid that he would run away.

From Aurelius’ point of view, the result of this was clear.

[... You have resisted the effects of Medusa’s Gaze.]

[...41]

The notifications continued flashing.

Yet the closer they drew to his Intelligence stat, the calmer Aurelius became. He felt his mind growing cooler, and his thoughts became sharper.

His eyes swept across the opponent.

He understood that although Priest Mayin’s current state was strange and he seemed unable to take action, he was still not someone he could fight against at his current level.

He needed to create an opening!

Then, kill the opponent in a single strike as Selene had attempted before him.

The moment that thought took root, a plan slowly took form within Aurelius’ mind.

In reality, not even a split second had passed.

Priest Mayin was still celebrating the destruction of the previous Fireball when another sphere of flames was launched in his direction.

Then a second.

And a third.

Fireballs emerged from every direction, though Priest Mayin showed no signs of panic.

Shields emerged around him and swiftly suppressed the flames’ impact.

Within moments, the many Fireballs had been extinguished.

Yet that short period of time was enough for Aurelius.

Under Priest Mayin’s surprised eyes, he didn’t choose to keep a certain distance between them, but instead rapidly drew closer.

In the meantime, Sacred Flames gathered in his hand once more, this time transforming into a several-feet-long golden lance.

Aurelius’ hand tightened around its handle, raising it as though ready to thrust it at the Priest.

"A mere Mage dares to engage in close-quarters combat against me?"

"Didn’t you witness the fate of your little girlfriend over there?"

"Are you overestimating yourself? Or underestimating me?" Priest Mayin sneered, raising his hand to defend against the weapon strike.

But just then, his eyes widened.

The lance in Aurelius’ hand suddenly shot forward on its own.

There was no sign beforehand, nor was there any movement in Aurelius’ muscles.

Like a bullet leaving a gun’s barrel or an arrow leaving its string, the lance whistled through the air.

[Radiant Lance: The Player can transform illusory light into a material golden lance...]

[...It combines the range of Spirit Bullet...]

Priest Mayin had no time to defend against this strike.

Before he could blink his eyes, Radiant Lance had arrived before him and drove into his abdomen.

The sound of flesh being torn apart echoed.

The lance’s tip quickly penetrated Priest Mayin’s body, emerging from his back while forcing him to take several steps back.

"You—You!"

Priest Mayin tried to speak, but the Sacred Flames of Solar Manifestation suppressed his own darkness-powered Mana.

Blood flowed out of his lips, while fragments of internal organs continuously spilled from the wound.

The next moment, the Radiant Lance exploded into tiny specks of light that spread throughout his body.

Like countless needles, they pierced everything from the inside.

An excruciating scream escaped Priest Mayin’s lips.

Aurelius watched as the other party struggled, weaving black tendrils in an attempt to resist the remnant Sacred Flames.

Given their natural suppression of evil powers, the Sacred Flames should have been enough to engulf the Priest and burn him completely.

Unfortunately, the gap between him and Aurelius was still massive.

Although slowly, Priest Mayin was working to extinguish the flames.

It was only a matter of time before he succeeded.

Under normal circumstances, Aurelius could take this opportunity to kill him.

However, he couldn’t.

His Spirit... had been consumed.

Launching several Fireballs, activating Radiant Lance, all while keeping Solar Manifestation active, had taken a heavy toll on him.

By now, he could no longer cast a single skill.

It was already a miracle that he managed to remain standing, resisting the urge to collapse to the ground.

Aurelius struggled to glance at Selene.

Unfortunately, her state was even worse than his, having faced Priest Mayin’s Rank 2 attack head-on.

She was unable to move, much less take action to kill the Dark Apostle.

For a moment, it seemed that the outcome had been sealed.

Priest Mayin would soon recover and finish them off.

It appeared that Aurelius’ only chance was to grab Selene and flee before it was too late.

However, Aurelius did not despair.

The exact opposite. A relieved smile appeared on his face.

He reached toward his waist.

This time, he didn’t reach for the vials at his waist, but for the opposite side of his belt.

A cold sensation instantly struck his fingers.

As he withdrew his hand, the source of this chill revealed itself.

It was a gun.

Completely silver with golden embroidery, it looked more like an exhibit piece than a true weapon.

Yet as Aurelius placed his index finger on the trigger, he felt the overwhelming force lurking inside.

The entire gun trembled, like a gluttonous monster thirsting for the enemy’s blood.

With some difficulty, Aurelius raised it, aiming its barrel toward the struggling Priest.

Then, he squeezed the trigger.

Not once, but several times.

Bang! Bang! Bang!