Chapter 1039: [Time] to(for) counter (war)
“W-what the hell just happened?!,” Zhen Feng exclaimed in shock.
In the past, whenever Zhen Liu employed his puppets to fight, it tended to be a one sided slaughter. The puppets Zhen Liu used, especially the ones that had a more unique look to them, had a tendency to tank or so if any attack thrown their way and deliver payback that was ten times more painful. However, there were times when Zhen Liu’s puppets had their defenses overwhelmed and the price for such powerful puppets became clear .
Any damage they took, he took too.
As such, seeing Zhen Liu’s latest puppet suddenly get a hold punched through it was…unnerving.
“Well, she obviously manipulated the chain I strike at a weird angle,” Zhen Hai guessed.
“Okay, but how? I didn’t sense her using any aether to do that. Also why are you so calm? Our cousin got a hold punched indirectly through him.”
In truth, Terra actually did use aether to manipulate her chain attack.
When she threw the the steel ball into the air, it wasn’t just for dramatic effect, but so that she could infuse the entire chain with electrical properties and charge thr surrounding air with electricity as well. After that, she only needed a very minute amount of aether to actively change one thing about her weapon in real time: the magnetism of the chain’s length.
Up and down the length of chain, Terra had manipulated her aether in such a way that several portions of the chain links had developed similar magnetic polarities or opposing magentic polarities.
Like repels like.
Opposites attract.
By manipulating this property, Terra made it so that after the steel ball and missed its initial impact that it would be to suddenly bounce and swing towards whatever direction Blazejudicator was trying to dodge towards.
It didn’t matter if he dodged left, right, upwards, backwards or forwards. The chain would’ve followed him regardless.
Meaning that the end result would always be, the steel ball busting through Blazejudicator’s body and creating a massive hole.
Granted, neither Zhen Feng nor Zhen Hai knew about this fact, so the latter didn’t answer the first part of the former’s question. But he did answer the second part.
“I have no idea how she managed to do that with a chain whip, but I’m not freaking about it because look. Zhen Liu hasn’t reacted to the damage in the slightest.”
…
[Oh, so that’s why you brought up the solidness thing.]
[Told you.]
[Well, I guess we can just…hold up…what the fuck am I sensing?]
…
<
Prior to this moment, Terra was fairly certain that Zhen Liu was the current Kaijin Lord. For only the Kaijin Lord would do something as absurd as create a warrior made of living flames and summon it like a demented aether puppet.
But now…she was having doubts.
Kaijin like her father and birth mother were supposed to be unstoppable forces of nature. Meaning even in something as simple as a sparring match, there shouldn’t have been any way to…
To…
‘Wait a minute…why am I acting so overconfident over such an easy attack?’
<
<
[Humbling Fist!]
Pow!
<
When Terra’s attack impacted Blazejudicator, the attack had actually done…absolutely nothing. Moment before actual contact took place, Blazejudicator had dispersed his body so that it only appeared as if the ball had torn their body asunder.
A good thing too, due to the ball being coated with enough aether and [Chaos] that it would’ve actually done serious damage to Blazejudicator.
Regardless, once they made themselves appeared defeated, Blazejudicator used a bit of [Pride Flame] to inflate Terra’s ego so she wouldn’t notice that they were reforming. Once fully formed, Blazejudicator followed up with a fist empowered by [Humility Flame].
Due to the opposing nature of the two flames, any damage inflicted was a touch stronger than what could be anticipated in a given moment.
Which was why Terra was forced to take several steps back after taking a punch from Blazejudicator.
Now the two combatants were back to their starting position but looking a bit more worst for we-
EXPLOSIVE SOUND OF SHIT GOING SIDEWAYS!
<["What the fuck?!"]>
Unfortunately, whatever sparring plans they had in mind went out the window with the sound of an explosion coming from the front gates of the city…and an emergency announcement.
<[Citizens of Undertow! This is not a drill! We are under attack! All noncombatants are to get to the shelters, immediately!]>
…
‘Frosttusk, Hurricroak! Status report! Who’s attacking.’
[Maestro, you’re not gonna believe this, but-]
[ENEMY KAIJIN!]
‘OH BALLS!’
_______Moments before the boom_________
[Well…this is a boring ass morning,] Hurricroak complained to Spring Brawler and Frosttusk.
Other than that deep talk they had with Tortallion the night prior, the kaijin left to defend the ship were more or less bored out of their skulls(?).
[Meh…it’s…fine…]
[Is it though? I figured someone from Undertow would’ve tried something stupid or reckless by now,] Hurricroak continued to grumble.
At this grumbling Spring Brawler couldn’t help but to shoot Hurricroak a flat look.
[What?]
[Ma’am, just because we’re designed to fight, doesn’t mean that there isn’t more to life other than… hold up…what the fuck?]
[Hmm? What’s up?]
[Am I going crazy or does the cavern look…darker…in that direction?]
[Huh?]
[Over there.]
Prompted by Spring Brawler’s observation, Hurricroak and Frosttusk went to the edge of the ship to see if he was telling the truth or going nuts. Unfortunately, it was the former.
[That’s a weirdly noticeable bump.]
[I think it’s getting bigger.]
The entirety of the [Abyssal Lands] was illuminated by glowing moss that grew on the walls and ceiling of the cavern. Meaning, it was very noticeable when something large and imposing blocks out the light.
In the horizon, a large black bump could be seen, blocking out the glowing moss. On top of that though, the kaijin could sense a weird aura coming their way.
[Wait a minute…guys, Tortallion is the only other kaijin we know about, right?]
[Yes…]
[He should be…wait, no. The ringmaster briefed us that Logos and Pathos detected the energy signatures of other kaijin from other time periods. Why?]
[Oh…then that explains the weird glowing assholes on top of it.]
[Huh?]
As the bump of blackness in the horizon grew larger and larger, the kaijin began to notice that riding atop the bump were several humanoid figures that appeared to be…surfing.
At a glance, these humanoids appeared to be normal mortal warriors who have activated their [Regalia] and were now surfing on the wave as a means of attack. That latter part was true, but the former detail was incorrect.
When the kaijin try to focus on the specific figures riding the wave, waves of revulsion and anger overcame their senses.
[Oh…so this is what you and Razorstella were talking about when Screamira was stating down the War Elder…,] Hurricroak observed while feeling the rage boiling in her veins.
[It’s infuriating enough to make even myself to lose their cool,] Frosttusk said without slowing in the slightest.
[Yup…it makes me feel angrier too. Then again, it could be because there’s more than one of them.]
[Then we should go ahead-]
But before Hurricroak could suggest they got off their asses and intercept the encroaching attackers, one of the surfing warriors had lept off their board and took to the air.
[What the hell?]
[I’m sensing building energy. He’s going to attack!]
As they did, a set of six rainbow colored wings suddenly exploded from the back of this ascended warrior. Once the wings had unfurled, several giant bow and arrows made of light manifested in front of them.
The distinctive tang of [Chaos] could be felt from each of the arrows, and each one had enough power to punch a hole in most of the kaijin brave enough to try and block it.
[Chaos Art: Morningstar Barrage]
At the winger warrior’s command, a hail of light arrows fell down like judgement from the heavens, aiming to break open the gates to Undertow.
However…
[Chaos Art: Oceanic Aegis]
BOOM!
A certain turtle-like kaijin wasn’t having any of this shit happening today.
Faster than the arrows of literal light, Tortallion summoned forth a dark green turtle shell that covered the entire front gate of Undertow under its protection.
The arrows of light shattered against the dark green shell, but noticeable scorch marks could be seen dotting the surface.
[I sent you bastards away for defiling my old friend’s grave and brazenly displaying it in front of me. Now you go ahead and dig up our predecessors as well?! I’ll send you to the bottom of the deep for this!]
But alas, this warning fell on deaf ears.
