Chapter Thirteen: In the Darkness (4)
Lomei kept a close eye on every move of Vladkov. The strength he displayed as he leaped into the air was astonishing—this was the first time she had seen this silent Dark Knight reveal his true power. His Dark Combat Energy had been pushed to its extreme, and the metallic buzzing from the Knight’s Spear indicated that it had reached a remarkable height due to his Dark Combat Energy. Even a dark magical beast like the Komora Python could not withstand the spear tipped with magical combat energy.
Yet Vladkov had underestimated the Komora Python, a dark magical beast with innate earth-based magic. By constantly absorbing the essence of the earth, it possessed extraordinary magical power in this area. Alongside its dark magic derived from physical instincts, its earth-based essence was the source of its immense strength as a dual-magic superbeast.
The moment Lomei saw the Komora Python raising its head and opening its massive maw, she realized Vladkov might be in trouble. Though the Knight’s Spear infused with Dark Combat Energy was virtually invincible, Vladkov himself was still just a mortal. Such exotic magical beasts could unleash counterattacks far beyond ordinary imagination when attacked, and their hidden strength was not something ordinary warriors could fathom. Even Lomei herself was surprised at how well she understood these dark magical beasts’ strengths and nature. In her memory, she didn’t seem to have studied them in detail. But when the Komora Python opened its mouth and spat out pale yellow magical energy, Lomei instinctively assumed it would release petrifying magic. At the same time, a light-based dissolving spell formed in front of her chest, rapidly turning into a massive beam of light.
By this point, Vladkov had lost all sensation. His entire body was numb, and he relied solely on the inertia from his final burst to carry out his actions. He couldn’t even close his eyes. Like a statue of a knight wielding a spear, he charged headlong at the Komora Python’s giant form, without any hesitation or ability to stop. The moment he landed in that position, he would shatter like a hard yet brittle stone statue on the ground.
The demonic energy released by the Komora Python at the cost of its vital essence is essentially a desperate measure, somewhat similar to how magical beasts self-destruct by detonating their magic crystals, leading to mutual destruction. Although it may not result in immediate death, even if it survives, the Python’s strength will be greatly diminished, and it might never regain its peak power again. Magical beasts usually won’t resort to such tactics unless their lives are at stake. Vladkov, on the other hand, has almost no defense against this petrifying demonic energy emitted from the essence of magic. Ordinary protective spells like shields are completely ineffective against this primordial demonic energy that penetrates every part of the body.
The brilliance of the Knight’s Spear did not diminish in the slightest despite Vladkov’s loss of consciousness. A brief lapse in awareness could not reverse the surge of powerful combat energy. Its massive maw and head faced the dazzling light of the Knight’s Spear, resulting in a dull explosion, like hitting a giant watermelon. Even though the Komora Python had raised earthy essence above its head as a shield and bared its serrated double rows of fangs, it was still utterly overwhelmed by this strike of peak-level dark combat energy.
Its huge head was instantly shattered. The humming, vibrating blade of the Knight’s Spear thrusts 36 times back and forth in an instant, crushing the Python’s head like shattered watermelon flesh. Its sharp fangs scattered like unripe watermelon seeds, mixed with blood and brain matter, drifting downward. Without its head, the Komora Python’s thick body twisted wildly, causing disaster for the surrounding scorpions. Its barrel-like body thrashed violently as it died, rolling across the ground like a giant millstone. No matter how resilient the scorpions were, they could not withstand the force unleashed by the Python in its final moments. The entire scene resembled a sea of blood and corpses.
The death of the Komora Python brought no change to Vladkov’s situation. Now transformed into a stone statue, Vladkov remained completely rigid after the last burst of energy from the Knight’s Spear. He continued to fly straight upward with the spear raised, but as his strength faded, he would fall to the ground. With his will not yet completely lost, Vladkov couldn’t even manage a bitter smile. He could only watch as his body rose to its peak in the air before suddenly crashing to the ground and shattering into pieces.
The beam of light in Lome’s hands finally erupted at that moment. A pure, flawless jade-colored beam of light burst forth from his hands, instantly expanding to envelop the falling Dark Knight. Just as Vladkov sighed in despair that his pursuit had ended in death here, he suddenly realized his body could move again. In surprise, he twisted his body and found he wasn’t hallucinating. By then, the scorpions beneath him were already waiting eagerly, ready to devour his body the moment it fell.
The knight’s spear in his hand flashed with a brilliant glow as a clear, pure beam of holy light enveloped Vladkov. Instantly regaining consciousness, the combat energy within him surged again, transforming into streaks of light like falling petals or flowers scattered by celestial beings. Each of these interwoven light dots emitted a fierce murderous aura. Dozens of scorpions rushed forward, rolling downward in a magnificent array known as “Heavenly Net of Death.” This move not only drained Vladkov’s magical energy but also turned the scorpions trying to take advantage of him into minced flesh.
Stumbling to the ground, Vladkov felt his once weak body suddenly filled with boundless energy. Without a doubt, it was his companions who had cast a healing spell on him. He didn’t have time to figure out who had done it. Three black magic bats flew toward him, clearly targeting him. The knight’s spear once again emitted blue star-like lights, creating a 360-degree penetration that enveloped all three bats, which were about to attack from different directions. With agonized screams, the three bats turned into fragments and splattered everywhere in a cloud of blood.
Lome’s removal spell freed Vladkov from his petrified state, while Komer’s healing spell helped the exhausted Vladkov regain his strength. The right-wing defense still needed Vladkov to hold it together; otherwise, any gap would lead to the collapse of the entire defense line. Shatima was already caught in chaos, forcing Komer to release three Dark Fire Skeletons in advance as replacements to protect himself.
When Vladkov killed one of the Komora Pythons, the other one silently moved to the front. Komer knew that such creatures could be deadly with a single strike, so rather than passively waiting for it to attack, it was better to take the initiative. Three Dark Fire Skulls might be able to hold off ordinary scorpions, but against a Komora Python—a terrestrial, dark-type apex monster—they were far too weak. The Python’s thick scales and massive body were beyond the Dark Fire Skulls’ ability to withstand, and ordinary physical or magical attacks could hardly deal it any real damage.
Resolved, Komer hesitated no longer. After casting spells and gestures in succession, dark thunder began to roll across the entire square—Thor’s Hammer! This was one of Komer’s top-tier lightning spells, having saved him in many situations.
Amid the swirling clouds and mist, Thor’s vague figure began to appear in the sky. Due to the limited space, Thor’s image seemed somewhat reduced. Lightning magic was better suited for use in open wilderness areas, where there were more natural elements to draw upon, but its power diminished significantly indoors.
Thor’s thick legs appeared faintly through the clouds and mist. The rolling clouds and flashing sparks immediately made the various monsters surrounding them realize the approaching crisis. For dark monsters, aside from light-based magic, lightning magic was likely the only thing that could harm them. This variant of elemental magic was a natural enemy of dark monsters, with all types having the lowest resistance to it—though that didn’t mean they were completely defenseless against it.
The Komora Python quickly hid beneath its massive body, seemingly realizing that Thor, appearing in the sky, was targeting it. Its body stretched and contracted rapidly, ready to escape from the scorpion camp and flee into the darkness to avoid this disaster.
But it was already a bit too late. As the Komora Python leaped out of the scorpion swarm, it provided the perfect target for Thor’s Hammer. Monsters remained monsters—though they could sense the threat, they couldn’t find the best way to escape or defend. If the Komora Python had stayed hidden among the scorpions, even if Thor’s Hammer struck, the scorpions’ innate dark nature would have helped mitigate much of the damage. But now, by emerging from the scorpion swarm, it had placed itself in the most exposed position for Thor’s Hammer to hit.
The massive, pitch-black Mjolnir, held in Thor’s uncertain arm, suddenly erupted like a brilliant starry sky, emitting countless dazzling electric arcs. A dense network of arcs descended abruptly, enveloping the head of the Komora Python just as it tried to dive into darkness. Drawn by the Python’s dark magic, the intense arcs instantly released tremendous explosive power. Roaring thunder sounds surrounded the Komora Python—this was a moment of life and death!