Chapter 178 - 177: Are You the Only One Who Can Get Stronger?
Another streak of light whizzed past. It was Valles’s Thunder Arrow.
WHOOSH!
He quickly aimed for the spot Zelir had just bombarded, using an Armor-Piercing Glazed Arrowhead.
The hard carapace, already cracked, could not withstand the bombardment of Thunder Fighting Qi.
After an explosion, even more fragments flew everywhere.
However, in terms of lethality and destructive range, Valles’s Thunder Arrow was clearly inferior to Zelir’s Aurora Energy Beam.
"Let’s go!" Marcus roared.
After the first round of bombardment, he was the first to charge in, determined to pin down the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm.
Shielded Impact!
THUD!
Marcus’s Composite Shield slammed solidly into the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm’s side.
The ferocious power unleashed by the Middle Level Warrior actually knocked the several-ton behemoth aside, causing it to lose its balance.
"My turn...!"
Maki excitedly licked his lips, battle lust burning in his eyes.
He launched his attack at almost the same time as Marcus.
Maki’s figure flashed to Marcus’s right, giving the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm no chance to recover its posture.
Gripping the hilt with both hands, he put his core into it, swinging the Heavy Sword high overhead in a wide arc!
Rampant Fighting Qi enveloped the blade without reservation, causing it to hum and vibrate.
It could no longer be called a slash; it was more like the blow of a blunt instrument meant to shatter mountains and split stone!
BOOM!!!
The sword strike, infused with all the power of a Middle Level Swordsman, crashed down hard on the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm’s back.
The hard carapace was actually gouged with a deep gash from the blow!
Maki’s combat style was completely different from Gray’s agile and versatile Swordsmanship.
He pursued ultimate Power and destruction.
Therefore, Maki’s combat was a Heavy Sword Style of wide, sweeping, and relentless attacks, with astonishing destructive power.
"HIIISSS..."
After the initial suppressive assault, the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm finally recovered from its confusion.
’These humans... are not ordinary miners!’
’I must annihilate them all!’
It launched a counterattack. Its thick body twisted violently, like a compressed spring suddenly released. The attack was ferocious as its tail, carrying immense force, swept all around it!
The attack had an extremely wide range and was incredibly fast!
Maki, who was just recovering from his attack, felt his pupils contract. He could only rely on his Warrior instincts to hastily roll backward!
The massive creature’s body almost grazed the tip of his nose as it swept by, and the powerful gust of wind it created stung Maki’s cheeks.
The tail end of the sweep slammed squarely into Marcus’s Combat Qi Shield on the other side!
BANG!
Marcus grunted and staggered back a few steps, but he steadied his stance and ultimately held his ground.
After forcing Maki back, the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm raised its head, opened its giant maw filled with concentric rings of sharp teeth, and bit down at Marcus!
This time, Marcus didn’t dare try to block it head-on.
If he were caught by that meat-grinder of a mouth, even his tough Fighting Energy Barrier would be easily shredded by the countless rotating rings of teeth!
Marcus immediately rolled to the side, clumsily dodging the fatal bite.
In that instant, an opportunity appeared once more!
Zelir’s second Aurora Energy Beam finished charging and once again blasted its head!
KABOOM!!!
The already damaged head carapace was blasted to smithereens, and the creature’s flesh was now faintly visible beneath.
Panting, Maki glanced back at Zelir with a look of astonishment.
’Is this the kind of destructive power a Junior Mage can have?’
’He had originally thought facing a monster with such a hard shell would be a battle of attrition.’
’They’d have to rely on the Middle Level Ranger, Valles, and his Combat Energy Arrows, plus his own Heavy Sword to slowly wear it down. Zelir, at best, would just be support.’
’But now, it seemed that wouldn’t be necessary at all.’
’If Zelir blasted the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm a few more times, it probably wouldn’t survive.’
’He’s the real core damage dealer!’
Valles, meanwhile, seized the opportunity as the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm opened its mouth to bite, shooting a Thunder Arrow into its maw like a venomous snake!
BOOM...
A muffled explosion echoed from inside the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm’s mouth and throat!
Although it wasn’t as powerful as the Aurora Energy Beam, the blast still made the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm shake its head wildly.
Copious amounts of green blood mixed with tooth fragments poured from the corners of its mouth. The attack had inflicted considerable internal damage.
However, a strange light suddenly surged from within the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm’s body, flowing over its entire form.
"It’s repairing itself..." Maki recognized the energy fluctuation.
According to the Adventurer’s Association Universal Monster Atlas, the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm, an eroder of the earth, possessed the ability to absorb and convert the energy from Ore for its own use.
This energy could not only repair its damaged carapace, but in doing so, it could also make its structure denser, thereby strengthening its defenses!
Sure enough, the carapace that Zelir and Valles had destroyed together had already recovered by more than half and was still regenerating.
As the light flowed over it, the other plates of its carapace grew deeper in color.
Without a doubt, its Defense Power had also been greatly enhanced.
"Hah!"
Maki charged forward and swung his sword down with all his might!
However, while his previous attack had left a deep gash, the mark from this Heavy Sword strike was noticeably fainter.
The rebound force even knocked Maki’s Heavy Sword back, sending a numbing shock through his grip.
Immediately after, another strange rhythm issued from the Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm’s mouth.
"VMMM... VMMM... VMMM..."
The surrounding rock walls seemed to respond to its call, beginning to boil and churn as if countless living things were surging within them.
Circles of stone began to bulge outward from the surfaces all around.
"The Stone Maggots are coming...!"
Gray tightened his grip on his Longsword, vigilantly scanning his surroundings.
The stone circles cracked open like ripe fruit, and Stone Maggots scrambled out from within!
"Gray!" Marcus immediately shouted in warning.
"Got it!"
Gray was very clear about his role in this fight.
The instant the Stone Maggots burst from the rock walls, he charged forward, sword in hand.
SWISH!
One Stone Maggot hadn’t even fully emerged from the wall before Gray’s sword lopped off its exposed head.
Immediately after, more and more Stone Maggots began bursting out of the rock walls.
They had originally started appearing at the rear of the party, near Zelir and Valles.
But Gray had charged forward without hesitation, drawing the full attention of the Stone Maggots and preventing the rear line from falling into disarray.
So, for the moment, Zelir and Valles didn’t need to worry about their backs; Gray was holding off the threat for them.
Zelir wasn’t distracted. He was completely focused on gathering his Magic.
It wasn’t an offensive spell, however, but one from the Empowerment Magic System!
’Thousand-Teeth Rock Worm... you think you’re the only one who can power up?’
Gift of Barbaric Strength!
Indestructible Body!