Chapter 530: Original Root Mode
Da da da!
Under the watchful eyes of the live broadcast audience and many on-site contestants, the female knight reached the magma-covered ground in front of the Sun Golden Crow and stopped. She drew the sword from her waist and pointed it at the Golden Crow.
"Your Highness..." Nozomi murmured.
On the other side, Nozomi, who was engaged in combat with the guardian Mythical beast Lion Majesty, noticed the female knight approaching the Sun Golden Crow.
She felt a pang of worry upon seeing this. Why had Hina allowed Her Highness to challenge such a formidable beast?
Though Nozomi grumbled inwardly, she knew Hina lacked the authority or strength to stop Her Highness. Even Nozomi herself was uncertain of Her Highness's true power.
Tear! Tear!
While Nozomi was momentarily distracted, the Yamata Lion Majesty unleashed a torrent of purple poisonous smoke, glowing with blue light, surging toward her.
Wherever it passed, not a blade of grass remained. The earth and stones corroded with a sizzling sound before vanishing entirely, as if a layer of soil had been scraped away. The remaining ground took on a heavy, eerie purple hue.
Caught off guard, Nozomi prepared to defend herself. Suddenly, the cloudy sky parted, and a radiant sun appeared, casting its light downward. The poisonous smoke collided with the sunlight, producing a strange crackling sound before neutralizing each other.
Seeing this, the Lion Majesty wanted to curse. Why was this so difficult?
It was bad enough being attacked by a group, but facing two opponents who could counter its abilities was unfair. In its normal state, it was being suppressed and beaten like a gopher. It envied the Sun Golden Crow, overpowering its foes effortlessly, and the Dragon of Hades, locked in a one-on-one duel with a demon apostle. Why was it the only one taking such a beating?
As one of the three guardian Mythical beasts, the Yamata Lion Majesty was far from weak. It was a collaborative creation of Life Orochimaru and Venomous Orochimaru, it harnessed life energy to amplify its poison attribute, which directly targeted life itself, posing a severe threat. Bearing the Yamata name, it possessed significant strength and hidden trump cards.
However, its current opponents were formidable. Nozomi wielded light and heat abilities that partially countered the Lion Majesty's poisonous mist. Her top-tier strength made her a challenging adversary, even in a one-on-one fight. On the other side were the Sun, Moon, and Star sisters of the Tarot Totem. The eldest, Yangnu, possessed vibrant life energy. Her stand, symbolizing the sun that nurtures life, countered the Lion Majesty's yin-like poison with yang-like vitality, neutralizing its effects.
"Silver Moon!" a voice called out.
Moonlight streamed across the sky, enveloping the Yamata Lion Majesty. Its eyes glazed over, caught in the Moon Girl's soul-captivating ability. As one of the first to receive a stand Orb, her power rivaled mid-tier Mythical Kings. Had she sought fame, she could easily claim demigod status. Her role as a containment support drove the Lion Majesty to the brink of frustration.
"Thousand Light Flowers!" Nozomi shouted.
Seizing the moment of the Lion Majesty's daze, Nozomi unleashed a high-powered technique. Massive flowers bloomed around her, entwined with wisps of golden light, creating a dreamlike scene. Light particles condensed within the buds and erupted.
Rumble!
Streams of searing light pierced the poisonous mist surrounding the Lion Majesty, striking its body. Some areas sizzled, emitting a meaty aroma, while others were torn open. The beams shot across the canyon, stopping only when they hit a golden barrier at the cliff's edge.
The Lion Majesty snapped awake from the pain. As more streams of light attacked, it summoned poisonous mist to erode them, dodging clumsily to avoid further damage. It barely survived the assault in embarrassment.
Gulp! Gulp!
Its missing flesh regenerated rapidly, thanks to its life-based powers. But the Lion Majesty glared at Moon Girl with resentment, its eight heads and sixteen green eyes fixed on her. That human's ability was infuriating, and it yearned to eliminate her.
Moon Girl, an elegant, dark-haired woman in a holy dress with a silver moon-adorned black belt, met its furious stare with a mysterious, slightly raised smile. The Lion Majesty bristled—was she mocking it?
Before it could retaliate, a wave of intense heat surged. Turning toward the Sun Golden Crow, the Lion Majesty was stunned. The Golden Crow's black form had transformed into a slender, golden figure radiating sacred light. Wisps of golden light and shadow draped around it, carrying a restrained yet terrifying heat that sent the surrounding temperature soaring.
The Lion Majesty was speechless. This was the Original Root Mode, a state achievable only by high-tier Mythical Kings. It involved returning the Mythical beast jade's particles to the body, requiring immense control. In this mode, a beast's combat power surged dramatically.
The reason for the Lion Majesty's shock wasn't just the mode's strength. With the Sun Golden Crow activating it, the barrier's link to the Golden Crow was severed, burned away by the intense heat. The burden of maintaining the barrier now fell entirely on the Lion Majesty and the Dragon of Hades.
But the barrier wasn't its primary concern. The Lion Majesty was ready to flee. Among the three guardian beasts, the Sun Golden Crow's Original Root Mode was the most terrifying. Being so close, it risked being caught in the crossfire and accidentally killed.
(End of this chapter)