CHAPTER 142: 142 - LABYRINTH OF THE NURTURER [12]

"Oh, nice timing."

Raven mumbled in a rather impressed tone after seeing the Hell’s Prisoner slowly falling forward because of Aoi’s attack just now. His lips curved slightly, almost like he found the sight amusing despite how dangerous the situation still was.

He’s still standing on top of the massive head of the boss monster, feeling the ground beneath him shake from the creature’s immense size.

And right behind him, Blake is protecting him from the continuous attempts of the Hell’s Prisoner to retaliate. Blake stood firm, gritting his teeth as the searing heat from the monster’s aura pressed against his body.

After all, Raven can’t move freely while his magic, Lightning Fury, is still ongoing. Why?

It’s because Raven is acting as a lightning conductor at this very moment. He receives the endless lightning strikes pouring down from his summoned magic circle, channels them through his own body, then directs them into [Emmeranne].

And with each strike, the energy gets violently forced into the monster’s skull, exploding over and over inside the Hell’s Prisoner’s head like thunder trapped in a cage.

"We’re done here."

Raven said calmly to Blake, who was struggling just a few steps behind him. His voice was steady, but there was a weight to it, as if he was announcing the end of a long battle.

The duration of Lightning Fury finally came to an end at the same moment Aoi’s mana arrows dug into the Hell’s Prisoner’s ankles and ruined its already damaged middle eye. The timing lined up perfectly, as though it had all been planned.

"Ugh... I can’t move properly..."

Blake grumbled in pain, his voice strained and low.

He’s covered in burns, his skin screaming from the constant exposure to heat and flame. Pain was biting through every fiber of his body, and even lifting his arms felt heavier than usual.

Some parts of his heavy armor had melted, the once-solid plates drooping and warped from the sheer heat.

Well, that much was to be expected. The Hell’s Prisoner never stopped hurling fire-based attacks at both him and Raven throughout the fight.

And to make things worse, Blake was positioned right next to Raven the whole time, meaning he was struck again and again by the violent aftershocks of the lightning bolts raining down from the heavens. Even though they weren’t meant for him, the force was unavoidable.

Luckily, despite his state, he didn’t sustain any truly life-threatening injuries. He was still standing, still breathing, and that was more than enough.

Upon seeing Blake’s condition, Raven didn’t hesitate. He aimed his left hand at Blake, his eyes narrowing in focus.

"[Come]"

Then with just that simple command—

SWOOSH-

"Woah?!"

Blake suddenly felt his body lift from the ground as if some invisible hand had yanked him forward. Raven had pulled him in with Psychokinesis like he was nothing more than an object.

And when Blake’s body stopped right in front of him...

Tap-

"Eh?"

Raven casually grabbed him by the nape like a troublesome child being dragged out of danger.

SWOOSH-

He then unfurled and regrew a pair of majestic black wings, spreading wide and stirring the air violently around them.

"Let’s go."

Raven’s voice was firm and without hesitation—

F W I S H—!

He flew off!

"FUUUUUUUCK!!!"

Blake screamed as Raven took off with him in tow, soaring away from the collapsing boss monster before it could bury them beneath its enormous body.

*****

As that was happening...

-GRRRRRR..!

The Hell’s Prisoner immediately noticed that the constant explosions of lightning tearing through its skull had finally stopped.

But it couldn’t even take the chance to be relieved. Its massive body was already tipping forward, balance lost, gravity dragging it down.

Desperate, the Hell’s Prisoner extended both of its monstrous arms in front of itself to stop the fall.

BOOM!

A thunderous sound shook the ground as the Hell’s Prisoner crashed down on all fours, the impact sending tremors across the hellish battlefield.

-Kuurgh...

The boss monster growled in frustration. It had only been resting, only sleeping peacefully inside its chamber of magma.

Then out of nowhere, someone had come to attack and humiliate it, forcing it to kneel like prey instead of predator!

Rage swelled inside it.

-GRRAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

It let out a scream so loud it pierced the ears, a cry of anger and humiliation.

FWAAAHHH~

Crimson red fire burst violently from its body, engulfing it in waves of blazing heat.

The Hell’s Prisoner looked like it was powering up, flames coating its body like armor, muscles flexing with renewed fury.

It had activated Flame of Hell!

This devastating skill allowed it to summon fire said to come directly from the depths of hell itself. Not only was the flame twenty times hotter than normal fire, but the legends said it had the power to scorch even the soul of its victim!

The downside, however, was that the skill couldn’t last forever. It consumed too much energy, made control difficult, and drained the user quickly. Still, the Hell’s Prisoner didn’t care. At this moment, it needed power to heal and shield itself.

-GAGAGAGAGA!

The Hell’s Prisoner laughed hysterically, convinced that it had regained invincibility, believing no one could even come close without being reduced to ashes.

But then...

FWISH-

"This is kinda hot."

A voice came casually from right beside its massive arm.

Alec had appeared, teleporting into position in the blink of an eye!

-?!

The monster’s three eyes widened. Someone was standing right next to it, and yet, that person wasn’t being burned away!

Looking closer, it noticed that Alec himself was cloaked in raging crimson flames, flames that weren’t his own!

"[Hallowed Flame Sword Technique]"

Alec muttered under his breath, his voice calm, controlled. At once, the fire surrounding his sword grew fiercer— the blade pulsing with energy!

And then...

"[CRIMSON SLASH!]"

S W O O S H—

Alec’s sword moved with a single clean strike, cutting diagonally down!

The Hell’s Prisoner’s arm, which it believed was untouchable— was cleaved through like tofu!

THUD-

-GRAAAAAAHHHH!!!

The severed arm hit the ground, and the Hell’s Prisoner screamed in agony.

Because of the pain, its focus wavered.

The flames of Flame of Hell weakened for just a moment.

Only a single second—

But that second was enough.

BAM-

SWOOSH!

Eve rushed forward like lightning, leaping high until she was in front of the monster’s exposed face!

"[Defense Piercer!]"

SWAAAH–

Her spear gleamed with power as she thrust forward boldly.

SWISH-

The weapon pierced straight through the weakened flames as if they had never existed in the first place.

BOOM!

Then her spear drove into the monster’s skull, shaking its entire head violently!

-GUWARAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

SWAAAHH~

The Hell’s Prisoner howled, its head bursting open further, the flames covering its body dissipating into nothingness.

And the moment the fire vanished—

"[Swift Water Sword Technique]"

S L A S H-!

"[Graceful Slash]"

Curtis, who had been waiting for the perfect opening, swung his blade upward in a sharp diagonal!

With that strike, the Hell’s Prisoner lost its other arm.

-GURRRGH!!

The monster’s body collapsed forward helplessly, its face smashing into the ground with an earthshaking crash.

Yet even in that broken state...

-GRAAAAHHH!!!

Its rage refused to die. The two remaining eyes glared with murderous intent, their intensity so sharp that Alec, Eve, and Curtis froze for a moment.

The killing intent pouring from the Hell’s Prisoner was suffocating, enough to make them hesitate to take another step!

"Wow, it’s still that lively..."

Alec muttered nervously.

"At least it’s tough."

Curtis added, grouping closer to Alec.

"KILL IT! FAST!"

Eve shouted desperately from a short distance away.

But Alec and Curtis turned toward her voice with confused looks.

"Huh?" Curtis frowned.

"Eh?" Alec blinked.

They saw Eve glaring back at them, frustration etched into her face.

"It’s gonna self-destruct, you idiots!"

Her words struck them like lightning.

Immediately, Alec and Curtis looked back at the Hell’s Prisoner, only to see its veins bulging grotesquely, mana swirling chaotically around its body.

It was true.

The monster was preparing to blow itself apart!

"FUCK!" Curtis cursed.

"Oh no!" Alec gasped.

B A M!

Both of them dashed toward the Hell’s Prisoner as fast as they could, but even as they ran, they knew...

They weren’t going to make it in time.

’SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT..!’

’FASTER, FASTER, FASTER..!’

Their minds screamed, but their bodies couldn’t keep up.

The Hell’s Prisoner stared at them with a twisted grin, mocking them even as its body began to glow ominously.

SWAAA-

Light burst from its body as it readied to explode!

But then—

"[Vicious Lightning Sword Technique]"

A familiar voice rang out from above.

"[Cruel Slash]"

And then came the sound.

ZOOOOOM–

A streak of black lightning cut through the air in an instant, slamming into the Hell’s Prisoner’s nape.

And after that—

BOOM!!!

The explosion shook the battlefield, thunder roaring alongside it!

SWAAAHHH—!!!

"KEUK..!" Alec staggered.

"FUCK..!" Curtis cursed.

"WHAT?!" Eve gasped.

The three were blown back slightly, debris and shockwave pressing against them.

But then—

SWOOSH~

"..."

"..."

Silence followed.

And when the smoke cleared... Their eyes widened.

"...!"

The Hell’s Prisoner’s body still stood there... but its head was gone.

It was... Dead.

The monster’s severed head still wore that twisted smile, but it never saw its end coming.

And in the space between the head and the body...

Raven stood. Calm. Nonchalant.

The three stared at him in stunned silence, their expressions complicated.

Raven looked back at them, brows furrowing.

"What? Are you guys angry that I took the last hit?"

He asked, as though none of what just happened was a big deal.