Chapter 129: The Righteous Gang-Up
"All together, now!"
Rhodes was the first to charge, the God's Chain having faded away, leaving the Goddess free to move once more. He had known the chains of faith would only last for a short time, that they were not enough to kill her. Their purpose had been to bind her, to weaken her, so that he and his companions could strike the final, fatal blow.
"Got it!" Eirik was right behind him, his muscles bulging, his own longsword now glowing with a magical light. He and Rhodes both aimed for her legs, their blades coming down as one.
"This is for the Great Elven Forest," Serie's cold voice, now filled with an unprecedented killing intent, echoed from above. She hovered in the air, a series of magic circles unfolding around her, and unleashed two spells at once: dozens of light spears shot towards the goddess, and a wave of frost breath spread across the ground, to slow her down, to create an opening for them.
The goddess, her body and her power now constrained, let out a piercing shriek of pure, unadulterated rage. She was still a god. To be ganged up on by these ants... it was the ultimate humiliation.
"Away with you, you insects!"
She had eyes only for the god-slayer. A wave of black vines shot from her, effortlessly blocking Serie's light spears, and then wrapping around Rhodes and Eirik's own blades, stopping their attack with a sound of grinding metal.
"It's so tough!"
They both retreated, a cold dread washing over them as they looked at the goddess, now wreathed in a mass of writhing, black vines, like some monstrous, tentacled beast. With her power suppressed, she was now using her original ability. It was better than the energy beams, but the psychological toll was just as great.
He tried to counter with his own chains of mana, but they were too weak, and shattered with a mere flick of her vines. But he was not alone. Somme let out a deep, guttural war cry, a cry of frustration that the others had gotten the first blow, and he charged, his dwarven strength enough to hold back the encroaching vines.
"Well done!" Rhodes said, and he and Eirik attacked once more, but were once again repelled.
Just then, Olivia spread her wings and flew into the air. She closed her eyes and, with her hands clasped to her chest, she began to cast a holy spell, a spell unique to the Sky-Winged. A circle of purification appeared beneath her, and a gentle, holy light fell upon the goddess's writhing vines. A sizzling sound filled the air, and the once-iron-hard vines began to rapidly dissipate, and even the black aura around the goddess seemed to thin.
"You dare!" the goddess roared. Normally, such a pathetic little purification spell would have done nothing. But now, with her power bound by that accursed man, it was actually harming her. She sent several of her main vines lashing out at Olivia, like the tentacles of some great sea-monster, a strike that seemed to tear at the very air.
Norne and Somme both moved to intercept. Norne's sword struck a vine with a shower of sparks, the force of the blow sending him flying back, his arm numb and trembling. Somme managed to block the other vines, but he, too, was forced back several steps with a grunt of pain.
To ease the pressure, Eirik took out several of the small, black orbs and threw them at the goddess's face. She recognized them and turned her head to avoid the flash of light. But to her surprise, the orbs exploded in a brilliant fireball, engulfing her in a wave of searing heat and concussive force.
Eirik watched, his eyes fixed on the smoke and fire. A moment later, a beautiful, but mud-streaked, arm emerged from the flames and, with a casual wave, dispersed the smoke.
The goddess's face was a mask of pure mockery. His bombs had only managed to leave a few scorch marks on her vines; they hadn't even touched her. But that had been his plan. The bombs had been forged by Dural, and were not nearly as powerful as the ones from the dwarven treasury. His goal had been to just distract her. And it had worked.
While she had been focused on him, Olivia had finished casting her healing spell, and Norne and Somme were back to their full strength. She was now continuing to cast her purification spell, trying to weaken the goddess. But the goddess's attention was now on Eirik. She remembered this ant, who had thwarted her again and again.
She fixed her cold gaze on him, and a small, black hole of energy condensed at her fingertip.
"Watch out!" Rhodes shouted. He hadn't thought she could still use that attack. It seemed she could, but not as freely as before. He swung Org, and a blade of sword-energy shot towards the beam.
Sizzle.
Like a drop of water in the ocean, the blade of energy was instantly swallowed by the darkness.
(End of chapter)
~~~
Get early access to 20+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter