Chapter 148: Darkening Horizons_Salvos (A Monster Evolution LitRPG)

Chapter 148: Darkening Horizons

 148. Darkening Horizons

 An ethereal creature came crashing down at me. The image of a Dragon tore apart the earth, shredding through the ground, blending it into mud and spraying it into the air. A [me Burst] pulled me to the side just in time. I barely avoided the attack. It was the kind of Skill I expected a [Hero] to have. Not some random Kobold man!

 [Wrath of the Old Gods]. Hrmph, so you survived its fury.

 Zix strolled past the carnage he had wrought, casual, ignoring the falling debris and dust around him, each nonchnt stride bringing him closer and closer to me. I growled, activating [Ember Core] as he came to a stop ten paces away from me. With that single Skill, he ravaged half of the area, turning it into a cratered mess jutting out with the asional spiky rocks and rubble, poking out like shattered teeth hiding in the sand.

 The crowd was deathly quiet now; the damage Zix inflicted upon thend was enough to even instill fear within the watchers. I couldnt see mypanions from where I was standing, but I had no doubts that they were clutching at their chests and worried for my life.

 I shook my head, dusting myself off.

 That makes no sense.

 I steadied myself, facing down Zix as he loomed over me. He wasrge for a Kobold. His scales were the same color as the night. But that didnt matter. I tugged at the threads at my fingers as I spoke out.

 Youre saying that you want to kill all Humans just because a few of them are doing bad things?

 No. 

 He let out a mirthlessugh. It sounded more cruel the kind of chuckle Id expect from a wild Demon. The mes girdling the arena cast a sheen over his obsidian body; the fire danced in his eyes, flickering, swaying, reflecting a burning hatred in them.

 I do not simply wish to eradicate all of Humankind. I will bring their [Heroes] to their knees, tear down their monuments to both Spirits and Demons, and cleanse the Mortal Realm of all the heretics who dared challenge the Cult of the Old Gods.

 I blinked.

 Thats a bit extreme, isnt it?

 Perhaps, but it is the only way the world

 He didnt get to finish. Once again, Zix was so caught up in his own words, he let his guard down. I dashed forward as the Star Forge came into existence right behind me. Its twinkling form shifted. It contracted, then began to expand as Ished out at the Kobold man with a [Barrage of Cinders].

 Bracing himself, Zix held up his arms in a cross. But I pulled away at thest second. [me Burst] yanked me to his right as the erged Star Forge snapped down at him. The warped orb of fire began to twist and turn, spiking out from all sides as a significant chunk of my mana disappeared, before it finallybusted.

 The st shot up out of the ground like a white spear. One that consumed everything within it, incinerating even the ghost of the ashes caught within the mes. It lit up the night sky. A beacon for all those around Unarith to see.

 But that wasnt all. I stepped back from the raging inferno and unleashed a cone of blue mes into the mix. The zing wave washed over the earth, turning it into a deep ck. If this arena ever had arable soil if it ever was capable of growing crops it was no longer the case now.

 Its a good thing Zix talks a lot. It was something I noticed, even back in Ghostlight. He enjoyed hearing himself speak. It was something that resonated with me. The sound of my own voice was alluring, especially when I wasnt in my Mortal Form. And I often made the mistake of speaking too much in battle.

 But I wasnt the one making this mistake now.

 I was grinning. I created a kusarigama, ready to strike whatever burnt remains of a Kobold came stumbling out of the mes. But the smile soon slipped off my face. My tongue receded back into my mouth as I saw the obsidian-scaled Kobold walking out of the fire. He halted as my magic dissipated. His robes were entirely burnt off, the wound in his chest still there. And his body was singed, covered in light burns. But otherwise, he was unharmed.

 I stared at the High Zealot as he showed a grin of his own.

 H-how?

 

 ***

 

 Edithe couldnt believe her eyes at what she saw. She just witnessed Salvos let loose some of the most powerful magic the Demon had ever cast, only for Zix to shrug it off with only a few scratches to his body.

 The red-haired woman knew it was magic above Salvos level. She knew that Salvos could only conjure such powerful mes that quickly thanks to Daniels boon. But it wasnt enough to evene close to killing the Kobold.

 Thats fucking bullshit!

 Daniel nced her way, startled by the sudden outburst. Edithe didnt feel embarrassed. She couldnt help but curse. That was because she saw something only she could see. Perhaps Salvos might be able to discern it if she really looked for it. But Edithe highly doubted that was high in the Demons priority list right now.

 What is wrong, Edithe the [Mage]?

 Xidra stepped up to the red-haired womans side.

 Whats wrong? You tell me whats wrong how the fuck does Zix have a dozen differentyers of spells protecting him against fire?

 Does he?

 And its not just regr spells. Theyre Skills! They have to be Skills. There is no way he was able to cast magic that uniform so many times over himself.

 Edithe watched as Zix leapt at Salvos. The battle in the arena resumed after the brief interlude. The powerful magic from Salvos had taken many of the onlookers out from their immersion from its intense heat. But now, they were starting a soft chant. A susurration that was slowly spreading through the crowd of Kobolds surrounding the arena.

 It pissed off Edithe. Why were they all on his side? There had to be some supporting Salvos, right? Well, if they were present, they were being awfully quiet. Maybe only Xidra and the few guards from the Risen Dragons were actually rooting for Salvos.

 And they were here, far to the side, almost entirely separated from the arena.

 That is an interesting observation.

 Xidras voice drew Edithes attention away from the fighting. Zix was relentlessly pressing Salvos with powerful strikes. The Demon managed to avoid most of them, but failed to rally any sort of proper counter attack which could harm the Kobold. So, they were at a stalemate.

 What do you mean? Whats wrong?

 The tone of Xidras voice clued Edithe in that something was amiss. Xidra crossed her arms, her face twisting to a scowl.

 Zix the [Warrior] may be powerful, however hecks the capacity to cast such magic. His ss is a variation of a [Monk]. He draws power from his own will. He does not use mana or magic in the sense which you are describing. The same goes for his evolution. My nephew can attest to that.

 She nced over at Hoxle, and he nodded.

 Yep. Were [Drags]. Well, Im just an ordinary [Drag] since I havent gotten past Level 40 yet for it. But even if he somehow reached Level 100 for his evolution, I dont think he couldve possibly been given a super [Mage] kind of an option along the way. Were a very physical Subspecies, you see.

 He flexed an arm and spread his wings out wide. Edithe ignored it, instead looking at the arena in anger.

 That damn cheater!

 She stomped a foot on the ground right as an explosion resounded in the background. Zix took to the skies, avoiding the st of rock and debris that hailed back down from the st.

 Hes using others Skills no, artifacts too, to give him his extreme fire resistance. Does that bastard not know honor?

 I mean, we did cheat too, but, uh

 Daniel spoke in a small voice. Edithe red his way, promptly shutting him up before he could continue.

 We have to tell Salvos about this. The only way shell be able to defeat him is if she fights him without using her magic.

 She started forward, only for Xidra to put a hand out.

 Assisting abatant during the Trial of the Scales is strictly forbidden by its rules. You will vite the sanctity of this duel if you speak up.

 Edithe frowned as the chanting in the background grew louder. She wanted to argue but time was running out. Salvos only had half an hour before [The Will of the Hero]s effects came to an end. And while the duel hadnt raged on for that long, the Demon was given the Skill before the fighting started.

 Both Zix and Salvos have already broken the rules to this stupid duel. And if their damn chanting is allowed, I dont see why I can''t just shout a few words too. Im going up there, Xidra the [Herbalist], and with all due respect, you cant stop me.

 Shaking her head, Edithe stepped past Xidra and shoved her way through the retinue of guards boxing them in. She was going to expose herself by walking out, but she didnt care. Salvos had to win this. After all, the penalty for losing was death.

 

 ***

 

 Zix zipped through the air,ing straight for me as I loosed a white Refined zing Bolt his way. I backed away from his flying figure. He barely paid heed to the attack. The fire sshed off his scales like I was pouring some hot water over him. It burned him, yes. But it wasnt evening close to killing him.

 Something was wrong. I could tell, something was just not right about this.

 He struck the earth like a falling star. The impact sent me stumbling back as he drew himself back to his feet.

 You are nothing more than a heathen, lost in your ways, believing the foolish lies of the Risen Dragons. There is no salvation for you. Your only redemption is death.

 Zix charged me, once again apanied by a Dragon at his tail. It was a different Dragon from before. While the previous one had silver scales, this one was crimson in color. These were not real Dragons. Merely projections, created from his Skills. But it didnt matter. They brought with them their might, and that was enough to send a chilling fear down my spine.

 I desperately threw myself away from the attack. The Kobold man moved as if he was ance being thrust forth. He didnt turn or pull after me. The image vanished as he stopped right by the mes marking the edge of the arena.

 I panted as I picked myself up from the pile of rubble Inded in.

 Why do you keep calling me that? Im not a heathen!

 Oh?

 He spun around to face me.

 You im not to be a heathen, yet you fight for Xidra. You even work with the scum of Humankind, despite their repeated acts of heresy against our Gods. Tell me, how can you make such a bold assertion with such a straight face?

 Its true! And its Xidra the [Herbalist]. 

 I nced over to the side, searching for mypanions. I narrowed my eyes as I spotted a small scuffle happening close to the area. A familiar red-haired woman and ck-haired man were standing there, caught by a crowd. It looked like they were being escorted by a few of the Risen Dragons guards, but were swarmed by a dozen members of the angry audience. Although most of them were too low leveled to do anything against either of them.

 Salvos!

 Edithe called out, waving an arm as she bounced up and down right by the wall of mes.

 Stop using fire magic against Zix he has multipleyers of potent fire resistance magic protecting him!

 I paused as the words slowly registered in my mind. There was a roar more Kobolds swarmed mypanions at her words. They were shouting, crying loudly about cheating. Edithe fired back with her own usations as she shoved Kobolds off her.

 Zix made an irritated sound.

 Hrmph, outside influence? During the Trial of the Scales? Truly, the Risen Dragons have never fallen lower than today.

 You say that, but arent you cheating too?

 I could feel the effects [The Will of the Hero] waning. I had to settle this fight now. I just had to bait Zix into another monologue

 The obsidian-scaled Kobold leapt into the air, carried higher and higher by the single, pping wing at his back. I watched him ascend above even the tallest minaret in all of Unarith. Heads turned. Eyes were fixed on the ck dot in the sky.

 Did you think that trick would work three times? Surely you must have expected me to learn about your antics by now.

 Thats no fair! Come back down here!

 I was about to create another bow and arrow, but stopped myself. Instead, I picked arge rock off the ground one about the size of my head and tossed it his way. He drifted to the left of it almost indifferently as it missed him. Even though I threw it as fast as I could!

 This world is filled with wrong. It flows with sin and evil and death. There is much left to cleanse. But I shall fight for what is just. For all thats right, for all thats good. I shall do what I must. Until I take myst and final breath.

 An idea crossed my mind. I just had to toss the rock faster so that it would hit him. I created a pair of chains and hooked it around a piece of debris that was my size. Zix continued, but this time, there was power in his words.

 [Cmity Shall Come, The World Will End, So May The Old Gods Give Me Strength].

 His voice boomed throughout all of Unarith. It drew the attention of the angry crowd that was trying to swarm mypanions. Xidras eyes snapped wide open. Gasps left the mouth of more than a single Kobold.

 That is a Grand Skill. His evolution did it already reach past Level 100?!

 Someone whispered. Was it Xidra? I wasnt sure.

 Then darkness seemed to brew over me. I thought it was just clouds floating over the stars and the moon in the sky? But it wasnt. It was a shadow. One that grewrger andrger over me.

 Zix morphed. His arms and legs began to misshapen. Part of his limbs seemed to retreat into his now-bloated body. Then his back curved forward into a hunch. A crooked shape that continued to extend in length. His wing, once alone, was now joined by another. And they spanned twice the size of his new body.

 He was he looked like a Dragon.

 This is but a peek into the divine power of the Gods! Sing me your hymns, oh little girl. Cry, scream, and beg for forgiveness. Perhaps you will be shown mercy in the afterlife.

AliNovel

Chapter 148: Darkening Horizons