Igni picked up the gun and inspected it. Nothing seemed wrong about it, making her sigh in relief. Right as she was about to leave the crater, her feet started sinking into the magma.
"...!"
The stopped time had already resumed its normal flow!
Although her body could withstand extreme temperatures, her clothes were a different story. In just a few seconds that she was standing there, the soles of her boots completely melted, even when they were protected by her body's own flames.
The temperature of the magma was way above what it should be, probably because it is inside the God Territory of the God-level demon.
In a hurry, she hopped off the crater and onto the edge of the volcano. As soon as she landed, beyond the horizon, she saw a pillar of bluish-white light spread.
She didn't know which of the two released it, but that doesn't matter. It doesn't change the fact that the sight of it made her feel extreme anxiety for Will's safety.
"Will! I'm coming!"
Beyond her notice, however, something actually changed inside her from earlier. The reason why time stopped for a moment while she was trying to be faster was actually an awakened skill of hers.
She jumped down, heading to where Will was supposed to be fighting. As soon as her bare foot touched the ground, she felt a weird burst of energy rush up her body.
As soon as there was contact between her feet and the ground, a full image of the entire island appeared before her as if it were a 3D projection. As this happened, the halo on top of her head was spinning so fast that it was starting to turn a fiery red in color, as if overheating.
"What...?"
She stopped for an instant, not sure what had happened. Inside her mind, she knew her location, Will's location, the Shark's Avatar's location, and even the millions of demons around. It was dizzying how so much knowledge passed through her head in an instant.
One fortunate thing that happened with this was that she found the location of the exit. Igni sighed, relaxing her nerves. The halo on top of her head stopped spinning as the 3D map faded like an illusion. She then looked toward where the blue pillar of light rose earlier.
With new information and the ley of the land still fresh in her head, she rushed forward with light steps. Her figure vanished from her previous spot instantly.
---
Pain.
That's the only thing that's left in my senses now.
In the short minute that I stopped using Flame of Evolution, I was already battered to no end. My left shoulder was even dislocated after a bad hit. Not just my forehead, but even my ears and nose were bleeding.
"..."
Looking up, the shark was still floating around idly. It was definitely having fun tormenting me, not even trying to land a fatal blow anymore. Although I felt bad about how it was looking down on me, surviving longer is a good thing.
"...!"
As I was panting heavily, barely able to meet the oxygen requirements to keep my brain running, a notification echoed inside my head.
[Tem...rary Con... Su...ssfu.. Rel..yi.g new sk... ..format..n... ..mplet..]
It was choppy and almost unintelligible, but along with it, a flood of knowledge entered my head.
"... Good job, Igni!"
I don't know what she did to gain this overpowered skill, but that's fine! I waved the sword before me, concentrating the last bit of energy I had on the tip. Then I shouted the name of the new skill I gained.
"[Temporal Stasis]!"
As I roared, a light blasted from the sword to cover about a hundred or so meters around. The flying shark up in the air was included in the range, of course. Anything that the light touched was completely frozen in place.
"But as expected of a god-level demon..."
Despite being enclosed in a space that could stop time for anything, it was still able to move freely. It was moving slower, though, so the skill was definitely working on it. I was worried that it would try to break out of the space, but after seeing it try to destroy the cylindrical area that stretches from the ground up to the heavens and fail, I heaved a sigh of relief.
"...!"
I belatedly realized that in this space, I can't breathe either. Rather than the shark, wouldn't I give it out first at this rate? At most, I can last two minutes before fainting from lack of oxygen.
Furthermore, now what?
I did enclose it in a barrier, but I can't even fight any longer. My body was too battered to even move properly. Swing my sword? No, that last skill took all my remaining energy.
I sighed and looked up at the panicking shark. It seems like it was still busy looking for a way to escape. If it decided to eat me first, then I'd die before I could even dodge or block. It was as if death was waving at me from above...
'Wait, Igni?!'
A shadow suddenly appeared below the shard and fell rapidly. I ran desperately, moving my battered body, and reached the spot she was about to land on. Well, I didn't make it in time to catch her, but she didn't need help anyway.
"My Lord, here!"
Without wasting a single moment, she passed the gun to me and looked upwards. The shark had already stopped rampaging and was looking at the two of us with hatred.
I quickly checked the gun, still in its rifle form, and noticed that one bullet was loaded and ready to fire. It was fortunate, as I was already out of energy to even open the [Spatial Storage] and get a new bullet.
"Ok! I'm counting on you."
I whispered as I placed the rifle against my shoulder and aimed. Igni, who heard my words, nodded her head as she quickly clad herself in flames. But it didn't last long before the fire died out.
""...?""
Ah... Right. This space stops even air molecules from moving! Unless Igni keeps moving around, the flames will quickly run out of oxygen needed to burn!
With a bit of quick thinking, Igni used [Flame Clad] again, but this time, she used her wind element to manually guide the air around her, letting her flames burn even when inside the barrier.
She wielded her usual flaming sword and flew into the air, slashing at the giant shark like it was just a normal enemy.
The demon didn't wait for her, though, and swam down in the air to meet her attack. Igni wasn't fazed and bravely charged ahead. The two figures clashed, and with a blinding flash of light, they were sent flying in opposite directions, returning to their previous positions.
"Igni...?"
I couldn't believe my eyes. Was this really her? She's more powerful than she was before! What the hell happened in the short time I didn't see her?
Igni didn't wait and flew up again. This time, the shark stayed still and waited for her approach. As she reached biting range, the shark opened its maw wide and tried to take a nibble of her.
"[Flame Circle]!"
However, before she got caught in it, Igni sent a wave of powerful flames forward, burning the inside of the demon's mouth once more.
*KRAAAAAAAAH!*
Unlike the time that I injured it, Igni's flames burned the demon severely. As proof, the shark's lower jaw fell down as it got charred from the joints.
As the shark was reeling in pain, Igni sent a flaming slash to its eyes, aiming to bling it on one side. Unable to react in time, the shark's eyes were easily cut and gouged out.
"... Am I still needed here?"
I can't help but mutter as I watch Igni trample the god-level demon.
With how fiercely she's fighting right now, I would believe it if someone told me that Igni reached god level without my knowledge.
As I was keeping watch over their battle, I finally managed to recover a bit of energy, enough to complete the finishing touch to the bullet loaded on the rifle.
"Igni!"
Hearing my signal, she quickly moved close to the shark and sent three or four more slashes before backing off. The shark was completely exposed!
*Bang!*
I pulled the trigger, sending the last bullet flying in the air. I watched it draw a straight line up to the shark's damaged eye, fly inside, and pass through the other side.
"What?!"
I can't believe that the gun could actually pierce its body that easily. I looked at the gun, then at the shark, then at Igni. Finally, pieces of the puzzle were starting to get pieced together.
"Igni... Reached a demigod level?!"
I said it myself, but I still couldn't believe it. However, other than that, I can't explain how she suddenly got so powerful or how the gun's recoil was lessened even when the fired bullet got several levels more powerful.
The only thing that differed was the faint red aura covering the gun and my body, which perfectly matched the aura released by Igni's [Flame Clad] skill.
As I was lost in thought, the space started cracking. We killed the avatar of the shark inside its God Territory after all. Without that to maintain the space, it would crumble soon.
"My Lord, hold on to me!"
Igni rushed back down and carried me like a princess. Although it was embarrassing, and completely out of character for me, I couldn't help it since we needed to escape fast.
As if she knew just where to go, Igni ran straight to the exit. There, a blue portal was releasing a faint glow.
Without hesitation, Igni jumped into it, and we vanished in a flash of light.
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