Blacksmith of the Apocalypse

Things became a little crowded in the VIP Lounge of Minas Mar. They had assembled all their collaborators, mercenaries, and allies currently present in Little Gamma for a final briefing before the “climax”.

Since things had slightly changed, knowing that there was someone of legendary status among the enemy, their plan also needed corrections. This was why they had also called in local leaders like Gallwell and Brock to prepare thoroughly as a backup.

There were many grim faces upon the reveal of the full extent of the enemy force they were expecting. To hear that someone with a legendary status was among the attackers shocked many of them. After all, people like Gallwell or Brock had only just stepped on the Path to Legend.

“Wouldn't it be more sensible if we took the fleet and met them before they reach Little Gamma?” Joannia, the fleet commander of Epsilon suggested. As someone from a place with next to no contact with a system force, it was her first time hearing of legends.

When the path to legends was mentioned, she couldn't even hear it, since she had yet to reach lv.90. This was why could suggest such a bold tactic, unafraid of the extent of the power of a legend, which was treated like a nuclear weapon by forces like Spatia or Chrona.

“No, we are in a better position if we defend here, than facing them out there,” Monique explained their decision. If they met them on the open field, or rather the open mountain range, they would lose their advantage of having the Guardian Tree in their back. It would also go against their original plan, which was to give Python another stage to act as the protector of Little Gamma.

As they talked, the fight in the arena took its turn, with Dowloon gaining the upper hand. The surprising turn of the fight was appreciated, but overshadowed by other news, as the notifications from the scouts came in, in the middle of the briefing.

The swarm of cultivators and their fleet had come to a hold among the mountains south of Little Gamma. Hidden from the view of the Tree Station, it seemed like they were waiting. Waiting for the right time to act.

“Alright, I think everyone should have understood the situation at this point. Let's finish the meeting quickly so everyone can go and do their tasks,” Seth announced. Since they were waiting for the right moment, they still had some more time. At least until the final of the grand Tournament ended.

“And someone has to inform Python to finish up.”

...

<Ding! You have been afflicted with the status effect of Deadly Poison! -50 HP per second>

<Ding! Your skill <Poison Immunity> has failed to resist Deadly Poison!>

<Ding! Your skill <Deadly Poison Resistance lv. 4> has failed to resist Deadly Poison!>

<Ding! Poison Energy has invaded your body. Poison Counter +2>

<Ding! Your skill <Poison Immunity> has succeeded to resist Poison Energy!>

Ibelin was coughing heavily as he drank a healing potion to offset the deadly poison for now

The effects were much worse than the last time he faced her. How could she use such a terrifying poison?

Last time he managed to hide the effects, but it was too late now. He should have prepared something to negate poison, instead of relying only on his skills. But he felt it would have been wrong to just chalk it up to being not prepared.

His opponent had made a terrifying transformation. It was not just her outward appearance that turned from the composed and fair poison fairy into a figure oozing terrifyingly deadly poison after he shot off half her face.

Her fighting style had become much more terrifying in these past few days. When she put her mind to it, he stood no chance against her in a melee fight without the buff of the holy duel. He had seen her fight with Caleb, but experiencing it himself hit differently. Especially, since she started oozing poison, she had gone completely berserk.

Throwing around Ma Deus, he tried to shoot her when she stormed at the barrier again, but he couldn't keep up. The pain in his throat and eyes made it hard to see and every tick of the poison caused pain across his body. When he managed to aim, she simply vanished into the smoke and came from another place. Once again, the dagger pierced the barrier and sprayed in poison.

<Ding! You have been afflicted with the status effect of Deadly Poison! -70 HP per second>

<Ding! Your skill <Poison Immunity> has failed to resist Deadly Poison!>

<Ding! Your skill <Deadly Poison Resistance lv. 4> has failed to resist Deadly Poison!>

<Ding! Poison Energy has invaded your body. Poison Counter +2>

<Ding! Your skill <Poison Immunity> has succeeded to resist Poison Energy!>

“Urgh,” the poison actually stacked, forcing him to cast “God's Grace”, a heal over time, on himself, to stop his quickly bottoming out health bar from falling to 0. If things continued like this he would have to-

Boom! Another miss! No, not completely! He had grazed her hip this time. it seemed like her reaction had dulled. Then- Crack!

<Ding! You have been afflicted with the status effect of Deadly Poison! -90 HP per second>

<Ding! Your skill <Poison Immunity> has failed to resist Deadly Poison!>

<Ding! Your skill <Deadly Poison Resistance lv. 4> has failed to resist Deadly Poison!>

<Ding! Poison Energy has invaded your body. Poison Counter +2>

<Ding! Your skill <Poison Immunity> has failed to resist Poison Energy!>

His barrier was pierced again, and the poison was stacked again but his resistance had failed. A sudden pain pierced his pain, like a terrible migraine and his whole body ached. The vertigo had him almost throwing up his lunch. Was this the poison energy wrecking his insides...?

Boom! A miss. he had a hard time standing straight, not to mention aiming. He gritted his teeth, if only he had put some effort into learning more holy skills. He doubted he would have such a problem now if he had learned <Cure> or <Detoxification>.

As things stood, there was no way he could win this the normal way. Who would have thought he would use this twice in the same day...? Reaching into his inventory, an imperial orb appeared in his hand. The holy hand grenade.

Although he wouldn't survive, but it would cause much less damage to him than to Dowloon. His hands grabbed the cross-shaped pin when his barrier suddenly shattered. Without deterrent shots, the poison fairy had finally succeeded in layering the damage and breaking through.

Despite her efforts, it didn't matter anymore. She couldn't stop him from pulling the -

“No you don't!” she exclaimed, her gaze so bright and wild it burned into the back of his eyes, just before he was blinded by a bright streak of silver light. He felt the terrible pain of something piercing his guts, followed by a burning heat and pain radiating through his whole body.

It was just a fraction of a second before blood shot from ALL his orifices and he lost consciousness.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

...

Godfrey fell to the floor, lifeless. She had done it. In a panic, she had used her last Silver Sparrow to end Ibelin, but it had paid off. He was unable to activate the final weapon! The golden ball rolled from his dead hand, the cross still stuck in it.

A hot wave of relief washed through her aching body as the realization hit her. She had won! She had actually won! The frustration, the sorrow, the sadness if her original loss were not for naught. Ultimately, she had succeeded.

She canceled her technique and the poison fog dissipated, slowly giving view of the lifeless body of Ibelin Godfrey. That was slowly vanishing as he respawned in the medical wing. It was the irrevocable sign that she had truly won, something nobody could take from her now.

“..we have a winner! Dowloon is the champion of the Grand Tournament and the final of the Pythian Games!”

She was able to hear Umi Kaldrop's announcement in the distance as her consciousness slowly slipped away. All tension had left her body and the substances she had taken were running their course. A smile appeared on her face at the last moment before everything went dark.

...

The winner was announced, but the fleet of cultivators had yet to move. What were they waiting for? Since they didn't crash in right after the fight, Minas Mar had to continue the event as planned, which meant that once Dowloon was revived and healed, they would hold the prize ceremony.

As the sun slowly lowered and set the sky ablaze with a fiery sunset, the workers prepared a simple pedestal on the arena. Nobody fixed the floor, as they didn't want to wipe away the proud sign of the final battle.

This was the battlefield of the two finalists, this was where the strongest would be given their hard-earned rewards. Giving them the rewards, was Seth's job, as the Tower Master of Minas Mar. Since he would have to appear on the stage to give everyone their prizes, maybe this was the moment the enemy was waiting for.