One-Eyed Monster

Everyone was ready.

The Soul Puppet, primed for Self-Explosion, was bound by Estev’s smoke, struggling against its restraints. Facing it, Milo, armored and brandishing a bronze sword, slowly stepped forward.

”Brad, make me Berserk!” Milo shouted. He needed Brad’s Berserk power; only in that state could he wield the bronze sword known as the Sword of Spirit Slayer.

Brad had long been prepared. As a potion specialist among the Alchemists, he knew Berserk Potions well. After Milo’s command, Brad spread his arms; a dense fog dissipated from his body, quickly forming into a globule of vapor in his hands.

This globule was Brad’s Berserk Potion. He carefully brought this globule to Milo’s side, then erected a Spirit Power barrier, and swiftly infused the vaporous mass into Milo’s body.

Milo’s body crackled, undergoing a slight transformation, especially his sword-wielding arm which grew increasingly strong. He stepped forward, holding his bronze sword horizontally, ”Let it be imbued with flame!”

Stan Sol had previously crossed swords with Milo, but at this moment, he did not hesitate. His Flame War Pet regurgitated a Flame Tongue at his command. Stan Sol then channeled his own Spirit Power along this stream of fire, encasing the flame. The flame swiftly transformed into a fiery dragon and enveloped the bronze sword.

The bronze sword, now imbued with flame, released a spectacular gleam as dazzling as sunlight.

The Sword of Spirit Slayer, blessed with flame, was awe-inspiringly mighty.

The Soul Puppet was a product of the Dark Arts. Although Milo, Estev, and the others didn’t know how to counter it directly, they knew that the Dark Arts had a weakness. They were aware that Dark Wizards were particularly sensitive to Natural Forces, especially sunlight.

Therefore, they had crafted this Sword of Spirit Slayer to mimic sunlight’s radiance, intending for the Soul Puppet to experience the unsettling sensation of sunshine.

”With the Sword of Spirit Slayer, I shall cut down all entities of darkness. With the light of this flame, I will shatter the Dark Arts,” Milo chanted solemnly. This Sword of Spirit Slayer he wielded had once slain the Mantai Mountain Monster and the Vero Tree Spirit, so overcoming this mere Soul Puppet should not be difficult.

”Stop it from self-exploding! Aim for the heart!” The Great Witch Biggs finally regained her senses and shouted at the top of her lungs.

Hearing those words, Milo didn’t hesitate. He swung his bronze sword twice and aimed straight at the Soul Puppet’s chest.

However, the struggling Soul Puppet was not so easily defeated. Though bound by Estev’s smoke, its head could still move.

The moment Milo’s Sword of Spirit Slayer lunged, the Soul Puppet transformed. Its head abruptly swelled, and its trapped body became slender, slowly slithering out from the smoke’s embrace. Simultaneously, it opened its massive maw and spat a jet of black liquid!

”Be careful, Elder!” Pedro exclaimed, flicking his palm to instantly throw a Spirit Shield in front of Milo. The Soul Puppet’s sudden attack forced Milo to retract his sword, his body involuntarily swaying to one side. If not for the Spirit Shield, he would have been struck squarely by the Soul Puppet’s black liquid.

The Spirit Shield, drenched in the black liquid from the Soul Puppet, quickly dissolved. Pedro staggered back two steps; the intense power of the black liquid was evident.

”It’s Spirit-Corroding Liquid!” Pedro shared his realization with the others.

”Good!” Brad, usually a man of few words, reacted instantly upon understanding. As an expert in Berserk Potions, dealing with this kind of liquid was well within his capabilities. In no time, he formulated an Alchemy Equation and promptly applied the resulting potion to Milo’s body.

Estev’s smoke and Stan Sol’s Flame War Pet struggled to delay the Soul Puppet, buying time for Milo. However, the smoke could no longer bind the creature. The Soul Puppet’s body had become extremely pliable, flowing like water and constantly shifting. Estev’s smoke could hardly keep up, and the light from Stan Sol’s Flame War Pet posed no threat to it.

This was the power of the Soul Puppet; even their combined strength could not subdue it. It could divide into two or merge two into one. It could become as strong as an ox or as fluid as water...

The struggle against Estev and the others revealed the Soul Puppet’s formidable strength. However, they failed to notice that the fiery red glow, indicating its imminent Self-Explosion, had gradually faded from its body.

”Its self-destruction power has disappeared!” The Great Witch shouted again. She had essentially become a commentator on the Soul Puppet, desperately sharing all the knowledge she possessed about it.

She even wondered what she had been doing earlier. Why did she only recall these things at such a critical moment? Still, it didn’t seem too late now.

Fully enhanced by Brad’s potions, Milo, clad in armor and bronze sword in hand, once again stood opposite the Soul Puppet. If not for Estev and Stan Sol’s intervention, Milo wouldn’t have had the chance to face the Soul Puppet directly.

”By my sword, by my Spirit!” Milo roared, charging forward bravely, sword in hand!

The Soul Puppet once again spat out the Spirit-Corroding Liquid. But this time, Milo was no longer afraid. Stan Sol’s flames once again lit the bronze sword with a fiery glow, while Estev used his smoke to envelop the Soul Puppet.

This time, the Sword of Spirit Slayer pierced the Soul Puppet’s heart!

POP! HISS! A muffled groan escaped it.

”Helm of Spirit Protection! In my name, protect my Spirit Power!” Milo began chanting again. He knew that after this successful strike, the Soul Puppet would surely release something even more terrifying than the Spirit-Corroding Liquid.

The Soul Puppet began to distort, deflating like a punctured balloon.

”Pedro!” Milo shouted.

”Yes!” Pedro, following Milo’s previous instructions, formed a Spirit Defense wall with his Spirit Power. He also used his Exchange Spell to create a sealed space, specifically designed to contain the Soul Puppet.

Although they didn’t know if it would be effective, an inexplicable determination filled them—a willingness to act, regardless of the consequences.

BANG! The Soul Puppet contracted violently, parts of its body beginning to rupture.

The aftermath of the Soul Puppet being stabbed was chaotic, its every subsequent movement drawing everyone’s attention. The various gases and liquids leaking from its ruptured body were all potential threats.

Pedro and Brad were responsible for dealing with these hazardous substances, while Joela focused on reinforcing Milo’s armor. Estev and Stan Sol, meanwhile, worked to keep the Soul Puppet tightly contained!

Even the Great Witch and her companions were frantically occupied, though largely with worry.

Unnoticed, the three Black Crow leaders, still bound by Estev’s smoke, were slowly awakening.

CLANG!

The sound came from the three Black Crow leaders, causing Estev to turn his head involuntarily.

”Oh no!” Estev murmured, his control over the smoke faltering for an instant.

The Soul Puppet broke free from some of its restraints and began to split apart at an alarming rate, catching Milo and Stan Sol completely off guard.

Simultaneously, the now fully awakened Uli tore free from the smoke binding the three leaders and, with the Bone Fighter’s characteristic uncanny speed, rushed towards the unguarded rock.

All of this had been for this very moment!

This was Wizard Reed’s chaotic plan. Once the Soul Puppet sent the signal of its division, his remote-controlled bewitchment would compel those three high-level figures to charge the stone!

Everything that had transpired here was merely a prelude to opening the gate!