Leveling up the World

Chapter 952: World Combat Initiated

The sky turned purple. Looking closer, a thin membrane glittered, keeping the endless void from pouring into the world.

All seven challengers prepared themselves, summoning weapons and casting spells. The Moons, though, remained completely unimpressed.

“I’ll give you an A for effort,” the Blue Moon went on. “Chances were, you would have killed each other before getting here. For making it interesting, you’ve earned a handicap. I won’t take part in the fight.”

The words would have sounded arrogant coming from anyone else. Being the first of the seven Moons put things into perspective. On the surface, that was supposed to be a good thing. It meant that if they took out the Moon of Magic, things might get close to a level playing field.

“We’ll also let you make the first move,” Centor said, holding a massive battle ax. “Get your armor, call your minions, finish your spells, then when you’re ready, come at us.”

That sounded a bit too favorable.

“What happened before?” Euryale asked in a loud voice.

“One with curiosity.” The Emion, the white Moon smiled. “I’d have thought your husband would ask the question.”

“He did,” Felygn noted. “He was just too slow.”

“The last time the entire world challenged a Moon, they all lost,” Astreza said firmly. “Every single living being was banished, leaving this place a barren rock. Then, the Moon summoned us.”

“The Eighth Moon...” Dallion felt himself say.

“Yes, finally the answer to the question you’ve been asking for so long. The eighth Moon wasn’t the eighth Moon, but the first. When all life was banished, there was nothing the Moon held dear. Using up all of its power, it did the only thing it was able to do to keep the world from being swallowed by the void—it summoned us.”

Back when Dallion was a child on Earth, there had been times when he’d often try to do something he wasn’t supposed to. He’d be fully aware of the risk, certain that it was bad, and moments before getting caught had felt an icy feeling within him. This was similar. Despite his fears, he’d seen this as the best chance there was of preventing the complete glassing of the world. Now, he had been made aware that should they fail, there wouldn’t be anyone left to appreciate his efforts.

“An entire world gone,” Galatea said.

“An entire world replaced,” Berannah added.

“Everyone who lived banished,” Emion said.

“The colossi,” Dallion said. “They were the true inhabitants of the world.”

“Yes.” Astreza nodded. “There were others, but they were the ones who challenged their Moon. And their Moon accepted the challenge.”

The tension in the air was thick enough to be cut with a knife. Dallion could feel it coming from his entire party. A fraction of a second later, the first move was made.

Now, Simon said, within everyone’s awakened realm.

COMBAT INITIATED

A red rectangle emerged, and was instantly followed by an array of spells and combat splits. Chained spell spheres emerged as Tiallia, Pan, and Lyulak cast a common mass area spell that aimed to isolate Galatea from the rest of the Moons. Two great dragons, along with all of Dallion’s companion weapons, emerged, as did the Purple Moon’s aetherbird.

Follow me, Dallion instructed as he darted towards the left flank of the deity.

Meanwhile, Jeremy and Simon also paired up, flying towards the right. The coordination of their movements was perfect, suggesting that despite the enmity of several centuries at some point, they had fought together against common foes and frequently at that. Curious what enemies they were fighting against. Wilderness monsters? Other high-powered awakened? The Star? Incarnations of the Void?

Five other Moons flew forward, summoning weapons. Astreza, keeping faithful to his word, flew away at a speed greater than Dallion could achieve, even with magic symbol enhancements.

Second barrier, Simon ordered.

The three mages cast another combined spell, creating a second sphere around the Purple Moon. Testing the waters, Dallion performed several spiral attacks in fifty of his instances.

ATTACK NEGATED

Your attack has been absorbed by GALATEA.

Attack has no effect.

Aware of the attack’s power, Galatea cast a series of aether parries of his own.

Copy that! Simon shouted just as another triple spell was complete. This time a multitude of spell circles emerged throughout the air, all shooting out magic draining chains.

Too proud to move from his spot in the air, Galatea cast a series of barrier spells, but even so, several of the chains managed to slip through, tangling around his left foot.

Yes! Dallion thought. All that he had to do now was to complete casting the pearl of destruction and—

“You never give up, do you?” a flash of purple emerged in front of Dallion. Quickly it gained shape, transforming into a giant purple bird made completely of aether.

Using one of his instances, Dallion glanced to where Aurun and Aquilequia had been fighting the divine familiar. To his mild surprise, he saw the battle still taking place.

“Magic is always the exception,” Dallion whispered.

The ingot projectiles changed focus, targeting the new creature instead. Unfortunately for Lux, they merely went through without causing any damage whatsoever.

“You didn’t have to reach this point.” The aetherbird’s feathers turned into aether shards. “You’d have been a lot happier before.”

“I guess I’m just that good.” Dallion completed the spell, causing a ball of dark purple to emerge in the air. Summoning a new ingot, he propelled it forward, straight at the atherbird.

CRITICAL HIT

Dealt damage increased by 200%

The familiar attempted to shift form, but no matter how many times he did so, the pearl kept on consuming parts of him, creating an ever-present hole in his body.

Taking advantage of the situation, hundreds of spark-infused tendrils shot out from Euryale’s armor, heading straight at Aether.

Scores of red rectangles emerged, dealing additional damage as the pearl kept on doing its thing.

In close to a hundred instances, the aetherbird exploded, releasing aether fragments like shrapnel.

“Expand!” Dallion ordered, summoning his aether shield in front in one instance.

MINOR WOUND

GEM’s health has been reduced by 5%

MINOR WOUND

GEM’s health has been reduced by 5%

MINOR WOUND

GEM’s health has been reduced by 5%

Multiple red rectangles emerged, yet none of the shards affected Dallion and Euryale. Glancing at the dragon battle, it seemed that the aetherbird’s original form had also suffered some minor damage due to this incident. That was good, but even better—Dallion had a direct line of attack. The pearl of destruction remained in the air, seeking a new source of magic and Dallion was determined to provide it with one.

Sorry, he said mentally as he slammed the devouring spell in the direction of the Purple Moon with another ingot.

MINOR HIT

Dealt damage increased by 10%

The nearly black ball drilled through the aether barrier that the Moon had cast, burying itself in his chest. The damage wasn’t a lot by far, but that wasn’t the point. Now that the pearl was there, it would cause a serious drain to Galatea’s magic, allowing the others in the party to focus their efforts and deal with the issue before the rest of the Moons could join in.

“You hit me?” Galatea asked, as he calmly reached into his chest with his right hand and grabbed the pearl. A sound similar to metal clawing granite filled the air, following immediately by loud crunching, then silence. Once the Moon took his hand out, the pearl was gone along with his wound. “No more handicap,” he said with a frown. “From here on, I attack.”