Like Lois's awakened skill, Shadowstep · Rending Sky Waltz, Gregory's Wrath-Eyed Buddha was famed for its impregnable defense—yet it also granted him overwhelming, battlefield-crushing strength.
His awakened skill—Thousand-Hell Arhat Palm—was the ultimate prison-breaking technique of ancient battle monks, pushing the Buddha's might to its limits: a force to shatter all laws, smashing even magical shields to dust.
When the six colossal arms of the Buddha struck in unison, their afterimages descended like a collapsing firmament. The sheer power split the air with each blow, pounding down on the Many-Eyed Demon Lizard's iron scales like a torrential rain.
[-722]
[-691]
[-778]
…
The Thousand-Hell Arhat Palm unleashed an unrelenting barrage, damage numbers flaring one after another in the air.
Moments later, Gregory stepped back, planting his feet firmly, his chest heaving like a war drum.
As the dust cleared, the Demon Lizard's hiss tore through the air—its massive health bar had been carved down by nearly a quarter.
"Not bad for a big guy!"
Lois's eyes lit up. For once, she didn't even flinch at the rows of vertical pupils along the beast's underbelly. Instead, she dug into her pocket and pulled out a chocolate lollipop.
Alex raised a brow.
"You change flavors pretty often. There a reason behind that?"
Lois gave a small huff, tossing a cascade of colorful candies into the air before catching them again, one hand on her hip.
"Strawberry when I'm in a good mood. Grape when I'm in a bad one. Lemon when I'm bored. As for chocolate—"
She unwrapped it with a snap, her eyes sharpening.
"—that's my signal that I'm fired up and entering battle mode!"
Alex had no words for that. Inwardly, he thought: If eating candy counted as cultivation, she'd be max level by now.
The moment the lollipop touched her lips, her gaze turned razor-sharp. Black mist surged from behind her, and shadow wraiths flickered within.
In the next instant, the playful mask vanished. Her dagger spun once in her grip, and her whole figure blurred into motion, darting straight at the Many-Eyed Demon Lizard.
"Shadowstep · Rending Sky Waltz!"
Her awakened skill detonated in a flash—black afterimages like countless phantom blades closed in from all sides, every strike aimed for a vital point.
[-5600]
A blood-red number flared high into the air.
The burst of Shadow was as vicious as ever—
The Many-Eyed Demon Lizard's HP plummeted to less than half in an instant.
This level 10 Lord-tier beast had never suffered such humiliation—
In just two rounds, over ten thousand of its HP had been cut away.
Its vertical pupils snapped toward them, murderous light erupting. A roar split the air as its body swelled, muscles bulging—it had entered Berserk Mode.
Dozens of vertical eyes along its underbelly snapped open all at once, a sight so dense and grotesque it could make one's scalp crawl.
Alex narrowed his gaze.
"It's about to unleash its ultimate skill."
Experience had taught him well—
The ultimate moves of a Lord-tier beast were never to be underestimated.
Even the level 8 Coldpool boss, the Bloodfang Crocodile, could deal a sudden burst of 2,400 damage with its ultimate.
But the Many-Eyed Demon Lizard's Thousand-Eye Demon Light?
Its range was massive, its killing power devastating, and its cast time frighteningly fast.
The safest approach—interrupt the skill the moment it began to channel.
Alex's arsenal of active skills wasn't vast, and Bone Breaker was only gold-tier. But the Extreme Blade · Thunder Calamity in his hands carried a 30% chance to inflict paralysis.
Combined with his blistering 5,200 Agility, he could strike three times in the blink of an eye.
Clang—!
The first slash struck the beast's belly plates with a sound like cleaving iron; lightning exploded instantly, and the chained god-thunder effect triggered by sheer luck.
The massive lizard froze mid-motion, arcs of lightning racing through every seam in its armor.
Paralysis—inflicted!
A sharp gleam flashed in Alex's eyes—he didn't hesitate for a breath.
The second strike came down with monstrous strength, tearing the belly plates apart. Blood fountained out in a violent spray.
[-6100]
From the rear, Lois ground her teeth in frustration—
Her awakened skill's proudest strike now looked pale beside the sheer brutality of this man's ordinary slash.
Gregory only grinned foolishly as he let the Buddha form fade—the outcome was already decided.
Bound and unable to unleash its ultimate, the Many-Eyed Demon Lizard had been reduced to nothing more than prey. With a single decisive stroke, Alex severed its head.
[Lord-tier Monster Slain: Many-Eyed Demon Lizard]
[EXP +201]
[Loot ×2]
The spoils were plentiful—Gregory's level jumped straight to eight.
Lois let out a sigh.
"I thought this was going to be a brutal fight… never expected it to be so easy."
Alex gathered the loot, knowing full well the real reason—
It was the earlier beast tide. That battle had sharpened them to a razor's edge, leaving the Demon Lizard with no chance to fight back.
"Huh? Why haven't we been teleported out yet?"
Gregory frowned, suddenly sensing something was off.
Normally, once the realm's lord was slain, the clear condition would trigger instantly, and the reward settlement would begin.
But now—the surroundings were as silent as a grave. No sign of the familiar light of teleportation.
A cold weight sank in Alex's chest. His gaze drifted toward the towering throne, and a chill traced down his spine—
The stone statue's eyes… moved.
"Something's wrong."
Lois's tone turned uncharacteristically grave.
"I can feel it… that statue is waking up."
The statue's head lowered ever so slowly. Its ashen pupils were swallowed by a strange, bewitching gold.
The stiff, lifeless mouth stretched open—too wide, in a way no human face could—revealing a grin of bone-white teeth.
Its voice was warped and piercing, as though echoing up from the depths of an abyss:
"By the God's Palm, the guilty shall be judged."
"If you seek redemption—then you must complete the Trial of the Divine!"