Bloodbound Codex: I Grow Stronger in Secret

Atlas’s thoughts paused as his entire attention shifted toward the Barrier formed by the Roots. From beyond those Roots, he could sense something massive approaching it, something whose every step was heavy enough to send tremors through the ground beneath their feet. The tremors weren’t strong enough to damage the chamber yet, but they were enough to make everyone understand that whatever was approaching was far larger than the Monsters they had encountered before.

’That huge of a Monster? Judging from the Spirit pressure earlier, this Barrier will break in an instant.’ Atlas thought as he kept his perception focused on the other side of the Roots. The explosion from their previous attack had already weakened the area, but even then the Monster had continued moving without slowing down, making it clear that the combined attacks of Himalton and the others had failed to stop it completely.

Atlas’s gaze shifted toward Alberion, who could now be seen standing above something similar to a pedestal made from the same Roots. His right arm remained lowered slightly, and the Roots around the chamber continued responding to his movements as if they were directly connected to him. Despite the tremors passing through the ground, Alberion’s expression remained nonchalant, though Atlas could tell from his posture that he was concentrating on maintaining control over the Roots.

’An Unique Ability to manipulate Roots? He is powerful. He can probably do almost anything with them inside a place like this.’ Atlas thought while observing him. ’And he still carries that sword with him, which means he should also be proficient with it.’

From the way the Roots had moved earlier, Atlas could already tell that they were not something made by spirit itself. They seemed to originate from the small Roots buried deep beneath the ground, yet Alberion had somehow forced them to grow far beyond their original size while also increasing their hardness and controlling their movements at the same time. That level of control couldn’t be achieved through ordinary Spirit Energy manipulation alone, so Atlas naturally concluded that it was related to Alberion’s Unique Ability.

The fact that Alberion was also a Knight from the Elven Continent made his sword another important factor. Atlas had never seen him use it, but someone who had reached this level while carrying a sword wouldn’t simply keep it at his waist without knowing how to use it. ’So, his Roots are probably his main method of controlling the battlefield, while his sword should be his method of fighting directly, Interesting.’

Before Atlas could continue his thoughts, he and everyone else suddenly turned toward the Barrier as they sensed something changing. The tremors had become stronger, and the Roots covering the entrance began bending outward from the middle. Alberion immediately raised his arm slightly, causing the Roots to tighten and move toward the damaged section in an attempt to seal it before anything could pass through.

That attempt lasted less than a second.

Two massive hands suddenly appeared through the Barrier and grabbed the Roots from opposite sides. The next moment, they pulled in different directions with such force that the entire Barrier began tearing apart. The Roots that had previously been strong enough to contain the explosion were ripped open as if someone was tearing apart a thick sheet of cloth, and the sound of cracking Roots spread through the chamber.

Alberion’s pupils narrowed as he lowered his right arm slightly. He could already tell that continuing to hold the Barrier would be pointless, the strength coming from the other side was simply too much, and if he tried to reinforce the Roots any further, he would only waste Spirit Energy without changing the result.

At the same time, Himalton’s telepathic voice reached everyone.

’That is enough, Mr. Alberion. We had to fight the Boss eventually, so let’s just get this over with together.’

Atlas also heard the message despite remaining completely concealed. He wasn’t surprised by it because he had already expected someone at Himalton’s level to possess a Technique or Ability capable of sending telepathy directly toward a chosen individual. ’An SS-rank should have something like that. I don’t know whether it’s a Technique or something related to the rank itself, but it doesn’t matter right now.’

His attention returned to the Barrier.

The Roots were being torn apart completely now, and the Monster behind them was finally about to emerge. The moment the last large section of the Barrier was ripped away...a figure stepped out from the dark pathway.

Its body towered hundreds of feet above the ground, almost reaching the ceiling of the chamber. The first step it took outside was enough to make the ground tremble again, and even before everyone could see its complete body, the pressure surrounding it made their bodies react instinctively.

Everyone looked toward it.

Atlas remained still, but his eyes narrowed slightly.

The Monster was not simply large.

Its entire body was broad and massive, with a physical structure that immediately separated it from every Monster they had encountered inside this Ruin so far. Its right arm, from the shoulder all the way down to the palm, was made entirely from red flesh and skin. The muscles were clearly visible beneath its surface, and its fingers ended in thick claws that looked capable of crushing a human body with a single movement.

Its left arm was completely different.

From its shoulder to its fingertips, it was made entirely from stone.

Not armor, not a layer covering its body.

The entire limb itself was Stone.

The contrast between the two arms made the Monster look even stranger, especially when the rest of its body was revealed. Parts of its torso appeared to be made from flesh while other sections contained stone-like structures growing directly from its body. Its face was also divided between the two materials, with portions of its features appearing organic while other parts looked as if they had been carved from rough stone.

Saliva continuously dripped from its mouth as it breathed, falling several feet before disappearing into the dust-covered ground.

But the strangest part wasn’t its appearance.

It was the Spirit Energy.

The Monster constantly released an enormous amount of Spirit Energy without making any deliberate attempt to attack. The pressure spread throughout the chamber and made the remaining members of Team Asfalon feel as if their bodies were becoming heavier. Even the air seemed difficult to breathe, and each of them had to use their own Spirit Energy to resist the pressure.

Himalton’s pupils shrank as he stared at the Monster.

’It... It’s completely unscathed after all our attacks?’

He had expected at least some visible damage from the combined attack. Himalton’s Arrow had contained an enormous amount of concentrated Spirit Energy and Gravity, while the three attacks launched immediately afterward had been the strongest attacks the remaining members of Asfalon could produce. Even if the Boss had survived, he had expected wounds.

But there were none.

Not even a serious scratch could be seen on its body.

’Shit! We have to take it down quickly with another strategy.’ Himalton thought as his eyes swept across the remaining three members of Team Asfalon and Alberion.

He didn’t waste another moment.

Himalton finally moved from his hidden position and descended from the ceiling, his body appearing behind the Monster while the transparent Bow remained in his hand. He landed at the left corner of the chamber, far enough from the Boss to give himself room to attack while also keeping the Monster between himself and the others.

’Mr. Alberion! Can you hold this Monster with your Roots? Even one second is enough!’ The telepathic message went directly toward Alberion.

Alberion didn’t answer verbally. He simply raised his right arm.

Roots immediately emerged from the ground.

They appeared from several different points around the Monster before rapidly growing upward. Their thick bodies wrapped around its massive legs one after another, tightening around them and forming several layers of restraints.

The Monster finally reacted.

Its head slowly turned backward.

The movement alone caused the members of Asfalon to tense up because they realized the Boss had noticed where the Roots were coming from.

Alberion’s expression became more focused as he continued controlling the Roots. ’Just one second... I only need to hold it for one second.’

At the same time, another telepathic command reached the remaining members.

’Heedeon, Armado and Raison, prepare your strongest attacks with Gravity or any Fundamental Force mixed within them. We will be creating a hole through the skull of this Monster right now!’

None of them needed the command repeated.

Heedeon immediately moved toward one corner of the chamber and began concentrating Spirit Energy into his body. Armado moved toward another position while drawing his sword, and Raison took the third position as Spirit Energy began gathering around his gauntlets.

Himalton himself turned the transparent Bow horizontally and began gathering Spirit Energy into it again. Everyone understood what they were trying to accomplish. They weren’t trying to slowly weaken the Boss anymore. They were going to concentrate all four attacks on one point and destroy its head before it could break free.

The Monster, however, didn’t seem particularly concerned. Its enormous head continued turning until its eyes finally settled on Alberion. The Roots around its legs tightened, and more Roots emerged from the ground and wrapped around its lower body, attempting to completely lock it in place.

And just as they did lock it in one place...Himalton shouted in his mind as all of them attacked at once ’Fucking Die!’

And with that, all of them released their attacks, while unknown to them...Atlas had also finally made his move.