…What?!"
only to have Saurian Demon King blocking it with a hand.
"Hey lad, when you face a much stronger opponent, wouldn't it be a bad idea to use such a straightforward tactic?"
Saurian Demon King grabbed Izayoi's fist tightly while his smile disappeared.
A monstrous amount of pressure came down on Izayoi, causing his senses to tell him to flee.
(This….This guy……)
"Though I may say so, the fist that you let fly was quite filled with raw talent. Just that it's quite a pity---Nah, I will just ditch that thought. Just take this as a free lesson. I cannot kill you here so don't die on me just yet……"
Saurian Demon King lowered his stance and widened his eye as he used a palm to strike at Izayoi's centre while twisting it to give a spin to it. The accumulation of experience over the span of many a thousand winters that developed such a striking method caused Izayoi to feel an unprecedented amount of pain stabbing at his internal organs.
(Pu…….)
Though Izayoi felt as if his blood was flowing in reverse and the broken blood vessels caused him to taste blood in his mouth, he continued to clench his teeth to suppress the pain…
And twisted his body to lash out at Saurian Demon King with his leg.
"What….!"
The unexpected counterattack caused Saurian Demon King to gasp in surprise.
Having planned to take out the opponent with one strike, who would have expected that he not only survived the strike but was still able to give a counter attack. That in itself was a big surprise for Saurian Demon King.
As both of them were sent flying backwards, they both skipped across the surface of the sea before landing quite a distance away from each other.
The first to get back up on his feet was Saurian Demon King.
(That….That was really shocking. To think that he was able to withstand that strike and return a counter at me.)
Despite the fact that Saurian Demon King wasn't the strongest species, it was no joke that his spiritual power exceeded that of normal divine beings.
Having accumulated the accomplishment of meditating under the sea and in the mountains for thousands of years respectively, a snake could also achieve the peak of monasticism and transform into the rare species of dragon: [Dragon Deity].
However, Saurian Demon King had sped up this process by half when he had meditated upon a Deep Sea Submarine Volcano for a thousand years. Having obtained the accomplishment in the inhabitable heat and highly viscous pillow lava fields in the sea, he now had a power on par with Gaia and a sea god combined.
And that strike was one that condensed the essence of the Earth and the sea which shouldn't be able to be withstood by a human.
"Lad….What in the world is your body constructed from?"
"That's my line you moron!"
Izayoi used the back of his hand to wipe off the trickle of blood from his mouth as he finally got to his feet after some trouble.
Though Saurian Demon King had expressed his surprise in a relaxed manner, he definitely received Izayoi's kick at full power. Nevertheless, he still got back up with ease.
To date, Izayoi had battled with two Divine class spirits and they were not without scratches. It was just that they were able to use their exceptional regenerative powers to nullify the effects of Izayoi's attacks.
However it was obvious with this Demon King…that Izayoi's attack was practically useless.
Though it was a strike that could rock a planet to the core, an unprecedented result had appeared.
(Tch! Has it finally appeared…?)
Izayoi panted heavily as he accepted the situation before him.
He had already predicted this day where he would meet an opponent that would cause him to be in a pinch.
A demon lord that had a body tougher than his own finally stood in front of him.
(Ha…As expected of the world of Little Garden. It wouldn't have been interesting otherwise…!)
Not wasting any strength on little tricks, rushing headlong to square off with his strongest opponent.
As a look of pure delight spread across Izayoi's face, his heated blood rushed to his brain which kicked into overdrive to allow him to grasp faster combat assessments and reactions.
Throwing aside the original plan to guard the fruits, he now focused on the plan to let his steam out in the game: To defeat the guy before him.
Though he had thought up of many ways to break through those defenses…he still fell back on the first plan of trying the same tactic as he made a direct attack.
Part 7[แก้ไข]
A second after surviving the fall to the plunge pool of the waterfall, Asuka already started to shout with all her might for they still weren't clear of the danger that was fast approaching:
"Quickly! Gallop Now!"
As though saying "I will run even if you didn't tell me that!" the Hippocamp had neighed as it rushed forward.
Choosing the same route back would be too dangerous. She was alone to fend for herself and she couldn't afford to be delayed by the Kelpies.
(Which route did Faceless choose…Argh! Blast it! I don't even have time to ponder!)
Though the tsunami was much weaker due to Izayoi pulling his punches on it, there was no mistaking that it would all be over if the wave came over them. The wave that bulldozed its way through the forest inundated the sea of trees without a shred of mercy.
Frantically urging her Hippocamp while waving her whip, Asuka finally spotted the figure of Faceless ahead.
(Found her…!)
The steed of Faceless was undoubtedly of a famous breed but the Hippocamp that was strengthened by Asuka's powers was not to be underestimated. Judging it to be a good opportunity, Asuka was about to urge her steed to step up its speed---
The tip of the Serpens Scorpio Sword blade narrowly missed the tip of her nose and she was forced to slow.
(……Is that a warning for me?)
The distance between them was roughly twenty meters. The attack radius of that whip sword roughly covered the width between both river banks.
(The rules forbid killing of opponents. I should be able to get pass if I give it my all….I think…so…)
---As long as Faceless doesn't have any other cards up her sleeve. However, the price would be Asuka riding into [Underwood] fully nude.
(…Uwu….)
Just the thought of it caused Asuka's face and ears to go red. Suffering that kind of humiliation even if she won made death more preferable. However, Asuka didn't have any other choice currently.
…I can't win without stripping? This painful thought caused her to feel a twinge in her heart.
Just when Asuka swallowed nervously and steeled her resolve to rush forth---
Kasukabe Yō descended from the sky in her shining winds.
"Asuka! Are you all right?"
"Ka...Kasukabe-san! Where have you been just now?"
"Sorry, I was waiting for you guys further downstream after defeating Griffith."
Asuka blinked her eyes in realization. It was only now that she notice how she hadn't seen a shadow of any [Two Wings] participants.
"Oh……Kasukabe-san went to fight alone?"
"Nn. None of the [Two Wings] will be coming. There's only her in front of you."
They held each other's gaze and nodded in unison. There wasn't any hope if she went alone, but if there were two, they might be able to overcome the obstacle.
"Kasukabe-san, could you help me to delay her for a moment while I try to rush pass her?"
"…I will try my best."
The reply that came was hesitant. After all, the opponent was really strong and Yō wasn't able to give her word for that promise. But in this race, there would be many opportunities for Yō to target Faceless.
Take for one, the rule that disqualified a player who gets unseated from the mount and into the water.
Or the rule that restricted her from killing others.
And the most important factor was the fact that riding on a steed caused her to lose her mobility.
"Asking me to engage her in a fight would be impossible……I can only hold out for 10 rounds at most."
"Got it. Then let's do it only at the last part for it's a straight road that we can use to have our final fight!"
Just as they confirmed their strategies, the both of them were suddenly exposed to the sunlight that marked the end of the gloomy forest.
As their vision broadened, [Underwood]'s Great Tree appeared before their eyes.