The Martial Unity

2003 Declining Condition

SSSSSS…

The Metabody System grew disabled after Weaving Blood healed Rui one final time with the last ounce of power it had.

It had served him well.

Without Nemean Blossom and Weaving Blood, he would have died in the very first attack that the chimera had unleashed on him. These techniques were attack-limited rather than time-limited. The more attacks one endured, the quicker Weaving Blood and Nemean Blossom depleted.

Yet, in the thirteen years since he developed the Metabody System, not once had the Metabody System been depleted within a single minute.

Not even the Gatekeeper had come anywhere close to depleting it within such an absurdly short timeframe.

Yet, against the chimera, it depleted at an extraordinarily astonishing rate.

Such was the horrifying power of a Master-level beast.

Despite the massive preparations and growth he had made to fight the monster, he was still forced to become overreliant on the Metabody System to survive.

And now, it was gone.

The physical Adaptive Evolution that served as a crutch was now gone.

Yet, the chimera's displeasure only mounted.

What was supposed to be an effortless operation to crush a threat perceived by the dungeon was shaping up to be an annoying battle against a creature with a tenacity that made cockroaches blush.

It sought to end this quickly.

And that was exactly what it moved to do.

RUMBLE!!!

The world shook violently as the Master-level beast threw a titanic blow at Rui. The sheer momentum of the blow rose to even greater heights as the creature's wings propelled its claws forward. Its gigantic hybrid arm flew at Rui at astronomical speeds, tearing through heaven with horrifying power.

Rui could have chosen to avoid it.

It was an extremely attractive option. Without Nemean Blossom and Weaving Blood, taking the attack head-on was almost suicidal.

Yet, Rui chose to take it head-on.

His eyes flashed with determination as an attack with terrifying power crashed into him.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

The resulting collision shattered the very fabric of heaven and earth.

A devastating collision gouged an enormous crater that consumed half the Mellow planetoid. The resulting seismic radiation reverberated through the very fabric of the microcosm that contained them.

Yet, the rage and fury of the chimera only rose when it beheld Rui standing.

He stood.

His body ravaged with broken bones and wounded flesh.

Yet—

"Niflheim." His whisper was chilling.

WHOOOOOSH!!!

The realm of frost and ice returned with a horrifying cold that exceeded any Niflheim that Rui had ever produced before. A domain powered by the full power of a Master-level beast. It was a feat that he paid the price with a ravaged body.

Yet, it was worth it.

The Chimera's eyes flared with monstrous bloodlust as vengeful rage and fury overtook it.

RUMBLE!!!

The very world quivered, shuddering with fear as the Master-level unshackled every ounce of restraint, unleashing every iota of power it was able to muster against Rui. At that moment, countless attacks converged on Rui.

Blow after blow.

Whip after whip.

Tornado after tornado.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

The very root of the Mellow Manifold shook as the chimera unleashed an onslaught unlike anything the Mellow Manifold had beheld. The true, unshackled might of the chimera ravaged the entirety of the Mellow Manifold, not even the core of the dungeon was safe from the horrifying power that the creature unloaded.

Yet, not a single attack struck Rui.

Tornadoes, bull rushes, blows, tail attacks.

Nothing.

Fury and frustration erupted from deep within the creature as it strained its body under the antithetical conditions of Niflheim. It was unable to make much use of its dragon and phoenix sides, and it was forced to use its angel side the most.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

It was exactly as planned.

Not only was Niflheim objectively the most antithetical to the chimera, but it also sealed away the fire breaths of the chimera.

This was an extremely important tactic.

Rui could not absorb the fire of the chimera through Flux Earther, which meant that if hit with a focused fire breath, he would die on the spot. As long as Niflheim was active, the fire-

breathing of the dragon and phoenix side were less optimal.

It was also why he had strategically chosen Breathing Crucifix.

Everything thus far had been for the sake of sealing the fire of the chimera. Thus, even if it killed, he would—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

"Niflheim."

The world grew colder even as his body broke further.

Without the protection of the Nemean Blossom and Weaving Blood, it was impossible for him to withstand the power of the chimera.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

Rui evaded a flurry of devastating tornadoes that ravaged nearly the entirety of the Mellow Manifold.

Yet, the passive area of effects of the tornados was omnipresent throughout the entire battlefield.

And they could not be avoided.

SPLAT SPLAT SPLAT!

Countless wounds emerged across Rui's body from countless sharp wind currents. Without the Metabody System to defend or heal him, it became increasingly difficult to sustain the battle.

His time was ticking.

Yet, the manifold had not come undone.

'Then I just need to buy more time.'

Boundless determination surged from within his heart as he pushed himself to remain in the battle despite everything.

He didn't need to hurt the chimera.

He didn't need to win.

He just needed to survive and stand on his feet.

It was far easier than winning, one would think, but only now was he realizing how absurdly difficult it was to merely survive.

"Huff…" He staggered as he narrowly managed to avoid dying from an astronomically powerful tornado blast.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!!!

With each passing attack, his wounds grew.

With each passing moment, his stamina depleted.