Bro, I'm not an Undead!

Chapter 1003  Mild Intervention

Queen Embrell had made sure to create a fitting distance between herself and the fight that had been about to enfold. The collateral damage had turned out to not be as devastating towards her land as she had anticipated. At least for now.

She had watched from afar, slowly realizing how, with both combatants' showings, she might have died instantly if she were to fight against either of them.

This wasn't strictly because they were definitely stronger than her, a Transcendent Stager, but it seemed that both of these men had Hidden Classes and she knew nothing about them. What would likely have caused her defeat was responding horribly to either of their first moves. That was usually what it all boiled down where fights of this caliber were concerned; the first move and the first response.

When Embrell had seen the erection of the Territory, her heart had skipped a beat.

She realized in that instant, that she had been, and she had to be rooting for Skullius the entire time, and him getting dragged into a Territory didn't bode well. This was especially true for someone like him, who wasn't an Incandescent Stager. What dissolved this preconceived notion that she applied on the challenger for her people – for her nation – however, was the giant, glowing construct in the distance.

The Preeminent Attegoth.

How was it that this thing, which she knew from Darwel was related to that man, was still active when he was in a Territory?

It was curious. Curious indeed.

A spark of hope glinted in the Queen's heart.

As it turned out, she wasn't the only one who viewed the great glowing structure as a symbol that spoke of victory for the Sif and everyone allied with them.

Several figures approaching the vicinity of the battlefield also viewed it as such, and to them, it was a positive.

Another aged individual close to where the battle was proceeding also saw the great structure as a symbol of victory, but not for her side. Her old eyes narrowed maliciously.

What the result of the Territorial expulsion turned out to be fueled the negativity that blazed from them.

***

[Courting Death] was as unforgiving as ever, especially with the 500% passive boost given by [Infinite Sword God]. As soon as its dark red complexappeared, it eviscerated anything that was touched by it, dismantling the air and the mana flooding it.

The Ode was not an exception to this horrific effect, and he didn't have a chance to defend or to plant another Thriving Green flto revive himself. His body was butchered in an instant, leaving behind only a cloud of thick red that swam slowly in the temporary vacuum.

….

Hmmm...

'Could that be the end of it?' Skullius frowned, his brilliance stark and promising.

He would have loved to believe that the Ode was done for, but…

…!

"This is my Creed! Restore my flesh to perfection!"

Again, he heard a powerful voice that didn't cany from any flesh.

Of course!

The Ode could speak with his soul, and Skullius' [Courting Death], unlike the determined slash Skullius had used to kill the Ode the first time, and the ones he used in the Ode's Territory – through the active use of [Infinite Sword God] – couldn't destroy his soul.

'I miscalculated!' Skullius thought as he set to rectify his mistake.

His speed would have allowed him to kill the Ode in an instant… and perhaps it did.

By the tthe Creed the Ode used had begun to manifest the internal structure of his body, Skullius' Bashful Abomination – while muttering words of glee against Skullius' command for it to not speak during battle – was already slicing him in half.

The world was drained in as Skullius slashed, and he could see, in drastically slowed time, the taut tension on the Ode's barely formed face.

The brat was done for!

As young as he was, he was certainly powerful, but Skullius didn't hesitate to snuff that potential away, regardless of the consequences.

He could handle them. He had been counting on them.

However…

BOOOOM! CRAAASH!

Skullius' eyes turned oddly round.

A prominent ignition had made itself known from a familiar direction, and its source wasn't anything to sneeze at. No, not at all!

Skullius didn't need extraneous senses from nature to tell.

The Attegoth had sustained a massive amount of damage!

A portion of its top canopy of skulls had been pulverized by a shocking, cold eruption that seemed more like the collapse of space than the explosion of an element!

'Who the hell…!' Skullius fumed.

Who indeed!

He only hesitated for a tenth of a moment with his decisive attack on the Ode, but that was enough.

The Ode shrieked desperately:

"STOP!"

And it was so.

Skullius was forced to stop and watch as the Ode's body fully formed along with his vibrant mana core.

Damn Creeds!

The Ode didn't bother to mock or snigger. His first order of business was to cast three Thriving Green flames in different locations and dash away from Skullius' brilliance, creating a massive distance between them.

He then glanced at the Preeminent Attegoth, portions of it, glass-like as sparkling flakes of snow floating from the sky, dropping to the ground.

The one to deal the blow to the Attegoth was all but known, and this told the crimson-haired young man much.

"So that's it! That's how you're so stupidly powerful, even in my Territory!" the Ode cried with a sick look on his face. "But… what a foolish weakness!"

Skullius scowled like a demon.

Right then, he was freed from the command on his soul and once again the Ode was killed before he knew it.

As he appeared from one of his flames, Skullius was closing in; he was much slower because he almost had to guess in which of the three possible respawn points the Ode would emerge.

That subtle gap allowed the young man a chance to speak.

"Majestic Territory Expulsion, Old Folks' Campfire!"

....!!!

For a second time, Skullius was caught in the Territory. Its activation was just as fast as the last tit was used.

However, Skullius was prepared this time.

He was prepared for the voices!

He was prepared for the Ode!

"Bring it on!"

He shot straight towards the green fire, where the Ode had appeared last time. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a useless move.

As it so happened, the four giants by the fire were no longer sitting down, tending to their weapons. They were standing, their weapons in hand.

…!!!

A voice called out from the sky, where the Ode was, buried behind the swirling clouds, a mad grin on his vein-lathered face.

"TRIUMPH OF THE ARSENAL!"

…And the Secondary assault function began.