Chapter 187 187:Taking The Lead[2]
Chapter 187 Chapter 187:Taking The Lead[2]
Under everyone's bewildered eyes, the screen of cold waves that was enough to wipe them down was torn apart.
Everyone's eyes widened with horror making them wonder if they were seeing an illusion.
"What kind of power is this?!"Parth, who noticed this scene, almost pulled out his hair.
Not only Parth, but everyone's eyes were painted with shock and horror.
Ezekiel, who witnessed the strength of the attack, felt a chill down their spine because the attack of that caliber was enough to tear him down into mittens.
Only Lucas knew that it was the magic of Mana Devour that could eat up the enemy's magical energy and turn it against them.
Frederick sucked in cold air watching Lucas' unyielding back.
"What the hell were you doing till now if you had such power?!"Frederick shouted while supporting his frozen body with his spear.
"I was observing your stupid actions."
Lucas's lips curled up as he saw Frederick's frantic expression.
"If our actions were stupid why were you watching and wasting time?"Frederick mocked, while staring at Lucas' face which made him feel weird.
For some reason, Lucas' face looked more mature than before, like a person who had been through many dangerous situations.
The calmness that he exuded along with a temperament, struck his throat.
There was a strange calmness hiding the strong intent behind it like a still duck who is swinging its toes frantically in water.
Lucas raised his brows scanning Frederick from head to toe.
After this round, Lucas was clear about one thing.
Frederick might be a guy who can lead to victory, and be a strong backbone of a team but when it comes to strategies, and making plans, he lacks a lot.
That part of this must've been handed over to his subordinates.
"If I didn't observe your stupid actions, I wouldn't have known its weakness or pattern."Lucas chuckled.
"Weakness?Did you find somethi-"
Lucas interrupted Frederick in the middle and said.
"Watch this."
Leaving Frederick astonished, Lucas stepped forward towards the remnant.
Lucas gathered all the mana and stretched out his fist towards the remnants.
During the trial where he used the battlefield as a practice arena, he learnt that he could use mana devour even without a weapon.
For that, you just need to use a part of the body to attack while assuming that this is a weapon made of your body.
It's all about imagination.
The Ice Witch created dozens of layers of mana in front of it just like when it blocked the attack of Frederick.
Thus, a layer of ice wall that was hard to break was formed.
However….
[Mana Devour]
[Asura's Fist]
The layer of mana was stirred and sucked in towards Lucas frantically.
A dense layer of mana condensed over Lucas's hand forming layers over layers and shined brightly.
Over his clenched fist, Lucas directly condensed a fireball that grew larger upon absorbing mana.
Lucas's fist covered with a vortex of flame, smashed the ice wall in an instant as if tearing through a piece of paper wall to hit the remnant's body.
The layer of ice wall exploded into tatters and the flame over his fist engulfed the whole layer blasting it into water vapour and tearing it down.
Melting and dismantling the wall, Lucas's fist moved towards the Ice Witch's chest and noticed a slight wriggling movement.
BANG!
A shock wave rippled.
The remnant body was quite hard. Though Lucas's attack didn't create a dent or rupture, its body disappeared and appeared to be stuck to the hardened wall at the end of the floor with a loud bang.
The Ice Witch shrieked with a belated roar after which a red line started from the place where Lucas's sword was drawn to the place where the remnant was stuck over the wall.
BOOM!
The body remnants began to crack and crumble and in the aftermath, it spread out another blast throughout the cavity with a terrifying shock transmitted from it.
Before the remnants could heal its body, Lucas, who gathered along the red line, struck with his sword creating another explosion.
After that Lucas immediately jumped back and using shadow steps retreated towards the group.
"I am still not 100% sure, however.."
"Since this is a boss type of monster designed by the Tower, it follows a set of movements like a game."
"What?"
"Really?"
Lucas, staring at everyone's expression, began answering.
"Its attack pattern is an ice type of intermediate attack followed by a boss attack of that loud chilling blast wave of tsunami and its body is always sucking the cold air."
"We know that much!"A boy shouted.
"Tell us something different!!" Ezekiel shouted.
Lucas nodded and explained.
"Every time it attacked us with that cold blast, its body would soften and be easier to destroy. Once we destroy the body, the new model will be weaker; however , by absorbing the cold mana, it will harden and grow stronger. If we manage to deal damage during this period, it will heal itself."
This event didn't take place inside the book so he didn't have any prior information about this monster however he knows that boss monsters in trials are trickier to deal with.
He had already come far away from his initial poor self and his horizon and insight had broadened. Moreover, undergoing that trial and having the experience of 8-Star his mentality had stabilized and matured a lot.
Lucas paused for a bit.
"Now, here is the pinch."
"To kill it, we need to pierce its chest and destroy the core which is not possible when it softens as its body crumbles easily while safeguarding the core. During the softening phase, it can move its core to another place if we attack the chest."
"So we need to kill it when its body hardens before the full-power ice blast."
"Frederick and I will take the lead. All of your focus is on diverting its attention. Before it casts the final attack, someone needs to step up and hold it down so that it won't retreat or escape."
At that moment, a hoarse voice broke the reverie.
"Why do I have to listen to your shit? What if you are wrong?"
An angry shout drew everyone's attention.
"I.." Lucas looked back to answer but his speech was cut in the middle.
"I don't take orders from you."A boy named Razor roared.
"You are just a fucking comm…."
Before Razor could finish his sentence, a shadow flickered behind.
Swish!
Lucas, who stood at the front, disappeared, startling everyone.
A red line was drawn and a faint breeze blew past Razor.
THUD!
With a low sound, a hand dropped on the floor drawing everyone's attention, and it was only then everyone's eyes noticed Lucas's figure standing behind Razor who grimaced and rolled on the ground in pain holding his empty shoulder.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
"Kykkkk!"
A painful shriek echoed.
Razor's knees buckled up and he fell to the ground.
"I don't like people who bark unreasonably."
"You son of a bit-"
Words struck Razor's mouth, as a sword was placed over his neck followed by a cold declaration.
"Choose whether you want to die by my sword or get killed by the monster."
"You can do what you want.."
"However…"
Lucas didn't speak further but…
A smile hung over Lucas's lips that made everyone shudder.
Razor gritting his teeth, glared at Lucas who as if getting the answer raised his sword to deliver the finishing blow.
"Lucas, leave him. Just ignore that guy for now."Charles intervened, which made the student's noble faction sigh in relief.
Lucas shook his hand and meeting Charles's deep gazes, he could not help but smile inwardly understanding the meaning behind those hazel.
'Don't kill him. It will cause trouble later. Just use him as a shield or cannon fodder.'
Lucas wanted to make a statement and seeing everyone's expression, he knew it was done.
Even Ezekiel kept his lips shut as if it had been glued.
"I will follow you this time. But only this time."Ezekiel snorted.
Others nodded their heads followed by Ezekiel's declaration.
"But what about the last hit then?" Ezekiel asked, drawing everyone's attention.
"Anyone who thinks they are capable enough to pierce through its defence and deliver the last strike can come forward."
As soon as Lucas's words fell, everyone averted his gaze
"Ezekiel, do you think you can do that?"Lucas pressed on Ezekiel who turned his head to avoid meeting Lucas' gaze.
"Let me remind you one thing. We can only get points and get into rank if we can kill this shit. So if anyone has the strength to overpower it or take it down, follow us as you please."Lucas spoke coldly, folding his hands as if to mean,you are free to do as you please.
"See, you don't have the guts to do the job yourself but have a mouth to complain with. Even with my explosive ability, I am not confident enough to destroy the core. One needs delicate control with great strength."
"So, what should we do?"
"We can't give up as if it's nothing."
"Damn it!"
Complaints erupted one after another.
"Just stop messing things up and listen. Most of you will get the chance to attack it. So, it depends on your ability if you can finish this."
With this, Lucas formulated a plan. that undergoes a series of rectifications as Lucas isn't confident in being a good strategist.
Even though many were still thinking of stealing the prey, Lucas just sneered inwardly cause none had the skill to deal the final blow except Frederick.
Rose can play that part but since she is an archer and the distance is a bit great, the possibility is quite low and if he take the shot,he may blew up the entire body and it will form a new body dragging things to square one.
So, in the end , no matter how they fight, Frederick will be the one to end it. As per him, he just needs to provide enough support to get good points.
It was then a piercing scream echoed interrupting the meeting, and another blue body appeared that sucked in cold air.
"18 seconds."
"Huhh!"Frederick gasped in surprise.
"It takes 18 seconds to form a new body after its body turns soft or destroyed."
"Let's go!"Lucas' loud voice reverberated which made Frederick follow his lead quickly.
"Why can't we hit it when it is soft?"Frederick said as he moved swiftly towards the Ice Witch.
"As its body turns soft, it is like a liquid that can displace the core position; however, when it is hardened and solidifies, it can't," Lucas muttered, raising his fist.
Mana was sucked in as red and blue lines flashed toward the Ice Witch.
Lucas and Frederick glided along the line drawn towards the Ice Witch and raised their weapons, seeing which the Ice Witch hastily unfolded a defensive barrier.
Before striking, Lucas's loud voice echoed in Frederick's ears.
"Don't condense your energy to strike at the centre. Let your lightning flicker, condense and disperse the ice wall after which your spear tip will melt it. Melting many layers of ice is easier than destroying it by force."
Following Lucas's advice, Frederick charged his entire spear preparing for a hit while Lucas paced up alongside Frederick and struck against the barrier of ice casted by the Ice Witch.