The Glorious Evolution

”Argh...”

’Insane... I may not be a full-fledged Psych Specialist, but to fall like this... his spiritual prowess must be borderline high-end Solarbound rank!’

They expected to face monsters that would put their spiritual prowess to the test, but not like this. Some of them were still at 100%, and yet, in a single attack, their consciousness barriers were already waving the white flag. If it weren’t for Jojo’s cracked constellation still barely holding, all of them would have fallen under the Nightmare of the Id’s effect.

After all, while Erasure techniques could theoretically negate anything, the cost was staggering. The energy required was a direct tax on the complexity and sheer force of the target; the more intricate or powerful the opposing ability, the more it drained the user to erase it from existence.

Following Gamemaster Envy’s ominous commentary, the Raiders’ Faction supporters quieted down. After everything that went down in this game, they would call anyone a fool if they said Levi’s squad was going to lose... not when only a lowly Hired Blade mercenary was left alive in an entire faction.

They had reason to feel worried, as Rain didn’t seem too pleased to have one of his ultimate abilities blocked by both targets at once... especially by children. But just as he was about to increase the technique’s prowess by feeding it the consumed fear of his allies, a faint, emotionless voice resounded in his mind.

Hearing this from his usually silent partner, Rain was left stunned. He swiftly changed his attention to what was going on behind him. What he saw made his soul quiver a little. Levi chased after the invisible chameleon across the entire length of the rope while holding a staff engulfed in green flames!

If it weren’t for the creature’s ludicrous speed and its formidable subconscious barrier, Levi would have already introduced it to its demise.

Rain’s expression turned stern, realizing that there was more to Levi than he had anticipated. He knew that his spiritual prowess was legitimate and wouldn’t have been surprised if Levi could see his partner in his standby position.

He had fought in hundreds of battles, if not more, and yet barely one or two opponents had ever managed to spot his partner... even when the chameleon wasn’t trying to hide.

He was always there, clinging to its shadow and using everything at his disposal to corner the beast and give it a taste of his aetheric flames!

He was incredibly surprised and humbled to find out that his spiritual vision was useless against the Hexgaze Lurker. If it were the sole method of vision at his disposal, he would have suffered the same fate as Rain’s victims... fighting two untraceable, untouchable ghosts that cast illusions and feast on fear.

But Levi wasn’t normal either.

Each time the chameleon attempted to blend, it left behind a faint, colorful ripple in the local frequencies... a signature that the silver filaments caught like prey in a spider’s web and painted in Levi’s mind.

Realizing that he was on a tight clock, Rain no longer planned on holding back to torment Levi’s loved ones per Bishop’s orders; now, all he cared about was their swift death.

”How horrific...”

Thud... Thud...

It was so bad that a couple of them ended up fainting from the mere sight, startling their friends. It wasn’t just them; even many viewers found themselves incapable of looking at such nightmarish monstrosity for too long.

For a species born to feast on fear, it knew exactly what form to take and how to birth such emotion from its victims with just an image.

While her attempt had helped them recollect their emotions and thoughts, it was useless, as the real attack had yet to arrive.

Under the frozen, petrified looks of the Daywalkers, the Hexgaze Lurker’s lidless eye within the throat dilated until it consumed the creature’s entire gullet.

It wasn’t just an illusion; it was a physical torrent of screaming, translucent ghosts, each face a mask of a consumed victim’s inner fear.

Skree...

Arthur, Shia, Nurah, Tyrese, Evangeline, and even Jojo... their instincts screamed at them to run away, to hide, to do anything to avoid the attack.

’Not under my protection...’

Without hesitation, she channeled every ounce of her spiritual energy to reinforce the Prayer Ward Constellation.

She pushed herself to the absolute limit, and everyone felt it. The terror in the Daywalkers’ eyes faded, replaced by a sense of calm as a gentle, pure radiance began to spill from Jojo’s skin and tiny horn in the center of her forehead.

RUMBLE!!

”Jojo...”

’Cast aside your fear... for I am here, and as long as the light of the Dharma remains within me, it shall remain within you.’ Jojo’s voice resonated in their minds, each word carrying the deep, melodic vibration of a temple bell. ’Namaste...’