Chapter 69 – Battle

The first spell Punk cast was the Formal-Level Summoning Magic—Summon Earth Elemental!

When dealing with a large monster like a glabrezu, it was crucial to avoid close combat. Moreover, most glabrezus possessed additional spell-like abilities. Although the glabrezu before him appeared to be newly advanced, Punk dared not let his guard down. He had to be especially cautious of the glabrezu’s confusion spell—if he were hit by it even once… it would essentially mean game over!

Summoning an earth elemental to help absorb damage was a wise idea. A frenzied demon lacked the awareness to prioritize attacking the summoner, so upon spotting the more conspicuous earth elemental, it immediately struck the elemental with its massive claws wreathed in foul energy.

Large chunks of earth and stone were torn away, leaving three deep gashes across the earth elemental’s chest. A corrupt and eerie aura swiftly enveloped the elemental, causing the once-smooth-moving summoned creature to become stiff and tremble.

“Unholy Strike.”

As an innate spell of the glabrezu, this close-combat spell was executed with seamless mastery. As the attack concluded, the earth elemental’s body became covered in grotesque, chaotically patterned markings. Punk could even sense that, within mere seconds, the chaotic energy of the Abyss had already corroded the elemental’s spell core…

Watching his earth elemental being torn to shreds by the enemy in just two strikes, Punk’s pupils contracted slightly. This monster was at least three spellcasting levels above him. Although Punk knew many positive energy spells could counter this demonic creature, and this glabrezu was a “dumb brute” that only knew how to attack without any sense of evasion, using those positive energy spells risked attracting more and stronger demons. What if he exploited the demon’s inability to dodge attacks and tested…

Punk summoned another earth elemental. Its primary purpose was to endure damage, ensuring Punk’s spellcasting wouldn’t be interrupted. The glabrezu “cooperated” perfectly, completely ignoring Punk in the distance and charging with wild howls toward the low-growling earth elemental before it…

Now it was time for the mage to unleash his offense!

Several all-too-familiar “Kinetic Bursts” were cast instantaneously. Five or six pale purple energy spheres, traveling at speeds at least fifty times faster than sound, slammed into the completely unprepared glabrezu.

And then… art was explosion!

Amid the roar of detonations and violent tremors in the air, the glabrezu’s dark green carapace, covered in vicious bone spikes, was instantly shattered by the devastating Kinetic Blasts. Foul-smelling blood splattered everywhere. The attack blinded all of the glabrezu’s eyes, and its agonized screams echoed across the nearby wilderness. Although the wounds were healing at a visible rate, it would be unable to see anything for at least two minutes!

Rather than retreating from such sudden injuries, the glabrezu grew even more exhilarated.

Yes! Exhilarated—Punk could clearly sense the emotional waves emanating from the glabrezu. There was not a trace of fear, only excitement for battle and delight in bloodshed!

“What a lunatic!”Punk cursed under his breath. He cast the Levitation Spell on himself once more, floating in the air. Enhanced by Greater Swiftness, Punk now possessed speed and maneuverability surpassing that of a fighter jet. Yet, even so, he dared not let his guard down. The glabrezu possessed a Grapple skill akin to a Combat Skill, allowing the massive demon to execute an extremely rapid Charge. From his inherited memories, Punk only knew the description was “extremely fast”—he had no idea just how swift this charge truly was. Thus, he had no choice but to push his flight speed even further!

The decision to accelerate was undoubtedly correct. Blinded, the glabrezu began attacking frantically. The bloody Abyssal energy on its massive claws grew increasingly dense, their rapid swings leaving behind crimson energy trails in the air. The raging Abyssal energy dispersed the blood-dust, tore through the atmosphere, and carved bloody, foul trenches into the ground below.

While flying at high speed, Punk continuously cast spells. One Kinetic Burst after another was unleashed, though most were blocked by the demon’s blood-red claws. This glabrezu had yet to forge its own weapon, but the power of Unholy Strike alone was sufficient to withstand Punk’s Kinetic Bursts. Of course, shattering parts of the chitin on its claws was an unavoidable cost—but for a demon with superhuman regeneration, such minor injuries were trivial.

Occasionally, a pale purple kinetic sphere would break through the haphazard defense of swinging claws and strike the glabrezu’s body. Without the protection of Unholy Strike, its flesh was torn to shreds by the kinetic force, and copious amounts of blood nearly dyed the demon’s dark green chitin crimson.

Yet these severe wounds were merely light injuries to a Formal-Level demon. Though the bleeding appeared gruesome and pitiful, they didn’t even hinder its ongoing assaults!

Moreover, one of the glabrezu’s eyes had now recovered. It began targeting Punk with deliberate attacks as he circled around it. Since Punk carefully avoided the range of Confusion, the glabrezu wasn’t foolish enough to waste the spell on an elusive target. However, its Unholy Strike never ceased throughout the engagement.

For the glabrezu, being hit by Punk’s attacks meant light wounds. For Punk, a single strike from the demon’s Unholy Strike would undoubtedly result in severe injury!

Punk was already considering retreat. Though the System’s analysis indicated the glabrezu’s wild attacks were unlikely to hit him, and theoretically he could outlast this energy-wasting demon—even with its higher level, it couldn’t sustain such profligate expenditure forever (a conclusion Punk drew from navigating the chaotic energy storms multiple times)—he deeply feared this mad creature’s “spectacle” might attract another demon, or even an entire horde!

With this in mind, Punk decided to end the confrontation. He cast a Formal-Level Greater Daze at the demon. While the spell had limited effect on a monster of this caliber, it would be enough to halt its attacks for a few seconds!During the three seconds the demon stood frozen in place, Punk quickly cast “Fossil to Mud” beneath its feet. The unprepared glabrezu lost its balance and crashed headfirst onto the blood-dust-covered ground. Its massive body sent clouds of dust billowing into the air while sharp bone spikes pierced dense holes across the terrain.

The dazed glabrezu seemed to shake its grotesque head groggily. While wildly retaliating toward the distant Punk, it struggled to rise!

“Stay down!”

It wouldn’t be standing anytime soon, for Punk’s next spell had already arrived!

Formal-Level Conjuration Spell—Kinetic Crush!

A massive pale violet shockwave continuously poured onto the glabrezu’s crimson thick legs. As the energy erupted in successive physical impacts, the demon’s chitin-covered limbs began emitting sickening cracks of shattering bone. Its agonized screams shook the earth, whipping up swirling storms of blood-dust across the landscape.

Given the glabrezu’s enormous size, Punk’s kinetic spell couldn’t fully envelop its entire body. Thus, he settled for targeting the demon’s legs, aiming to cripple its mobility!

(End of Chapter)