Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System
Chapter 145: Reaper Time

"Fffuuu–"

He found himself immediately contorting himself to lean back as though playing limbo as the hulking greatsword soared for his head. It came an inch from shortening his nose, passing just barely over his face as he could feel the wind coming off of the transient blade.

He slid over in the same evasion, slashing his blade across the giants' side. The moment it made contact, the warrior was cast aside.

For the spellblade and knight, a harder time was had in facing the ethereal giants; without magic negation, it was as though facing beings of flesh and blood.

It was a hit-and-run confrontation for the others, while Finn cut through the magic-born warriors like cake.

Back up near the magical elevator, Jasper bashed one such giant with his shield before slashing through it. Even as the knight quickly dealt with one, he had to raise his shield again as the club from another phantom struck against it.

Charlotte moved through the center path, bringing her blade through a pair of the warriors using a skill that extended its length and width threefold:

["Grandiose Sword"]

Though she quickly handled the two in front of her, the spellblade looked back to replace another giant charging her head-on.

As the ethereal brute swung its club, it was quickly intercepted. Finn dashed through, flipping over as he slashed right through the false giant.

He didn't stop for a moment, chasing towards the Old King, who warped himself to the last standing statue of the regal room. Amidst his sprint, he was intercepted by a swarm of magic soldiers once again—

"Graaaah!"

"Ruuuuah—!"

The massive warriors all rushed him at the same time, forcing the assassin to dance around the barbaric assault.

He distinctly felt the fluctuations in the air around him, sensing each weapon without having to look around.

Leaning back, multiple blades and clubs passed right by, slamming into the ground as he was left perfectly unscathed.

—One.

—Two.

—Three.

—Four.

—Five.

In quick succession, he stabbed and sliced through the obstacles in his way, leaving the phantoms to dust. With nothing left to block his view, he locked onto the figure atop the cracked monument.

["Blade Warp"] [Mana: -100] [1700/3000]

The moment he caught his blade, meeting the Old King head-on, that staff shined again. He knew instinctively what the hollow ruler was going for, dashing right for him as he quickly stabbed his dagger towards the Old King's heart—

VRRR

Before the tip of his blade could even touch the sable skin, the towering figure vanished. He spun himself around, immediately locking onto where the mage reappeared—atop a closed-off balcony overlooking the throne.

["Blade Warp"] [Mana: -100] [1600/3000]

His foot landed on the eroded railing of the regal balcony, bringing him to equal height of the Old King. Once more, he called the spear into his hand.

Just as he thrusted it forward, the fleeting mage warped, leaving the spear to stab into the stone wall behind.

"Over here, mate!" Jasper shouted.

Finn turned around, overlooking the chamber from the balcony as he saw the knight, who was occupied by more of the phantom giants. Just a few meters away from Jasper was the Old King, weaving together another spell.

Once more, he threw his dagger towards the fleeting figure—

["Blade Warp"] [Mana: -100] [1600/3000]

As he arrived just in front of the Old King, the attempt from the figure to vanish again was halted:

"Grrraa!"

The hollow king let out a groan as his own body twitched and seized up. It was another opportunity; help from the inner consciousness of the king.

'Now—! I have to do it now!' He thought.

["Greater Gale Blessing"] [4:59]

["Spring Foot"] [0:59]

He set forth with utmost speed and momentum, sending the spear straight towards the heart of the compromised giant. It plunged into the skin and past the muscle, sinking into the firm body of the hollow king.

Being brought to such close proximity, he could smell the adrenaline coming off of the husk, like a nose-burning citrus.

Finn pushed with all of his strength, though the husk of Zigmund contested it with all of his might. Atop the uneven footing of the giant statue's head, he strained himself, struggling to push the spear deeper past the king's grip.

"Nnnrgh!—" Finn gritted his teeth.

["Shadow Grafting"] [2:59]

Another set of arms made of darkness extended from his back, clasping onto the spear to add to his push. It was a newfound sensation, having to be adjusted in the moment as he used the ethereal limbs as though they had always been a part of himself.

Even calling upon the extra set of arms, it barely pushed the spear another couple inches, struggling against the superior strength of the Old King.

"--Give it everything you've got! Tonight's the night!"

From the swarm of phantom giants in the chamber, Nova sang through her microphone while both the knight and spellblade protected her.

["Kiss of Empowerment"]

The bard's voice took to that of a rock artist, echoing against his ears as a scarlet force wrapped itself around his body. A surge of strength flowed through him, replaceing himself gaining an edge as he pushed against the giant, digging the spear deeper.

"Nghh!" Finn struggled.

"Ruuuah…!" The Old King contested.

Placing all of his being behind pushing that spear further wasn't enough as a second wind from the hollow king brought him to be overwhelmed. The blood-slick spear was gruesomely removed by the tenacious strength of the Old King before pushing the assassin back.

Finn stumbled as he found the sable-skinned figure twice his height immediately retaliating. While his footing was off, he was left completely open as that glistening staff was swept towards him like a sword.

["Skin Hardening"]

Across a single moment, his vision was engulfed by the blinding light of mana before the swift magic collided with his face. The ethereal blade cut into his right eye, lacerating his face as he instantly found half of his vision taken away.

It was only thanks to the split-second hardening of his skin that the magic projectile didn't split his head open entirely. Find adventures on m_v l|-NovelFire

"Haah–"

For a moment, he felt lightheaded as the pain blended into the adrenaline that pumped through his body. Before falling backwards, he found his back pressing against something solid instead of simply falling off of the giant monument.

"Come on, Finn…!"

He glanced behind him with what little vision he had left, replaceing the relieving sight of the fair-skinned spellblade beside him, with her hands against his back. In that brief moment, he placed his foot down as he caught himself, not bothering to wipe his face as blood abundantly leaked.

"We have to go for the heart–right now," Finn said, replaceing his voice rasped.

"I know," Charlotte responded.

Just as the Old King raised his magic-weaving staff into the air, both combatants dashed forth. The stygian giant tried to warp away, though was immediately seized once again, instead pointing the staff towards the two that approached.

Finn got within a couple meters of the king before witnessing the staff glow as a bundle of thorny vines suddenly sprouted, spreading in every direction and multiplying rapidly. He used his daggers to cut at the chaotic roots, though they only seemed to sprout further as he found himself overwhelmed by the tidal wave of vines.

The thorns dragged across his skin, cutting into him from every direction. He pushed against the eruption of vines, thrashing his blades while the spikes continued to cut into him in return.

All that was on his mind was the giant ahead, keeping his single eye on the mage while moving one step at a time.

"Agh–!"

A scream tore his attention from the Old King, looking to his left as he found that the spellblade was swarmed by the thorns as they cut into her skin.

'Shit–' He thought.

["Partial Exo Shell"]

A natural, black material clad itself around his body, all except for his head; the ability assimilated from the monstrous mantis was still being overwhelmed by the magic-sprouted vines. He moved against the prickly abundance, making his way to the girl, though those few meters felt like a mile as the wild vines thrashed like unruly serpents.

They pushed him back further, cutting into him as they pushed-and-pulled like a saw against the impromptu armor.

"Dammit…!" He struggled, being swept up in the riptide of artificial nature.

A thousand cuts were placed on his body, though the pain did nothing but keep him conscious and with further focus. He pushed and struggled against the thrashing sea of thorns, reaching his hand out to the girl trapped as well.

"Charlotte–!" He shouted.

She reached to him with the best of her strength, though their fingers were just shy of being able to meet, "I…Finn! Just go–!"

"What?!" Finn yelled.

"I'm fine…! It hurts, but I'm fine! So, go–!" Charlotte assured him desperately.

It was difficult to digest those words when the woman he cared about was covered in cuts, though he knew it was the logical decision. With the knight and bard cornered by countless of the phantom giants still, the swarm of vines encapsulating the spellblade, it was clear that the favor of the battle was not their way currently–

It had to change; he needed to kill the enemy–that was what he knew for certain.