Chapter 395: end draws near
This time it didn't take long for Amaya to break free from godmother's control and take back her body, as she already learned her lesson last time.
So instead of fighting against someone who was clearly way beyond her league, she just asked help from Saraswati and Mnemosyne, the goddesses of mind and memories watching over her.
As for Leon, it goes without saying. With a part of Apollo residing in his head and the blood of gods sealed in his veins, - this kind of control trick was always a losing game.
Apollo could easily solve godmother's skills and spells with zero effort, even the little time he took was probably just so he could train Leon and teach him something.
As for Saisha being normal, well that's a different story altogether. One filled with nothing but spoilers.
The trio of them stood against the students, blocking their charge as they tried to go where the battle was happening.
...
Saisha was blocking Amelia, Katherine and Rebecca. Maybe the godmother sensed their importance in his heart or whatever, but the three girls seemed especially affected by the calling magic.
Though lost in a trance last time, she knew of Amelia's limits through their battle, hence she did all she could to stop her from ever bringing out that red crown or element of chaos into this battle again.
Not when Rio and godmother's battle was already destroying every last inch of this planet this very instant.
Luckily for her, the godmother didn't dare meddle with chaos and anger a primordial either. So their second fight was all about magic and melee.
Saisha exhaled heavily, brushing strands of white hair out of her eyes, her body aching from the constant movement. "Why are they all so good at fighting?" she muttered under her breath, parrying another incoming strike from Katherine, whose raw strength was overwhelming her.
It wasn't as much a strain on her body, as much on her brain, as even unconscious, Amelia and Rebecca seemed to be in perfect sync. Adding Katherine into the mix, was just the cherry on top.
Luckily for her, all three of them liked close combat and she was well taught by elves all her life on how to avoid just that.
She had a plethora of restraining skills, not to mention the surplus of nature's presence on this planet, adding just the right buffs to her element and overall strength.
"I'd really like to be your friend and fight together side by side, but for now, this will do."
....
As for Amaya, she was literally in hell mode.
her body stiff with fury, her eyes glowing with an intense, golden radiance. Her hands tightly gripped the Book of Rebellion as an angelic halo started circling over her head.
The book was a Mythical grade soul bound artifact which had records of battle between the army of heaven and demons of hell.
"Twice," she muttered, her voice low and dangerous, her golden pupils staring at the mark of godmother inside everyone's heads. A small tree shadow suppressing their consciousness, like a serpent coiling around their brains. Its mere presence made her blood boil. "You tried to control me twice."
Knowing godmother was getting killed by Rio, she just chose to pour her anger out on these puppets. As even if that bitch could only feel 1/1000 of what she's gonna make them feel, it'll still bring her some sort of satisfaction.
Without hesitation, she tore a page from the Book of Rebellion, the sound of ancient parchment ripping through the air like thunder. The page dissolved into shimmering light, and as the mana from her body poured into it, the scene drawn there began to materialize above her head.
Heavenly soldiers, each draped in gleaming silver armor with massive, majestic wings of pure light, began to emerge from the tear in reality she'd created.
Though looking mighty beautiful, their forms were ethereal, flickering between the planes of reality and imagination. Like some VR projection on the verge of collapse.
But their purpose was clear. These angels, each armed with long spears and sharp swords, were manifestations of remnants for the divine judgment, and they awaited only her command.
"I'm really pissed." She cursed and swung her hand, signaling the start of battle.
Over a dozen angels descended upon the battlefield like vengeful deities, blocking the mad charge of all the rankers instantly. Beating them into submission, even worse than when Rio tried his hands.
Anytime one of the controlled students dared to advance, they were met with divine retribution--flashes of lightning splitting the air, long spears striking with pinpoint accuracy, or thunderous smites that forced the students to their knees. Those unlucky enough to be hit directly by the angels' weapons found their limbs severed, their wounds taking longer and longer to heal with each strike.
Some didn't heal at all.
"You're going to pay for this," Amaya growled, watching as the vine serpent writhed in pain and started screeching and burning under the heavenly might.
... .
[You need to go and defeat that godmother, Leon. Don't forget what she took from you, have your revenge.]
Apollo's words were the first thing Leon listened to since waking up, and after seeing that Amaya and Saisha could handle everyone, he rushed towards the main battle.
To Leon's knowledge, he broke free from the Godmother's control after seeing the face of Kami smiling at him, asking him to avenge her, - and hence his mind was only clouded by thoughts of revenge.
Poor protagonist, always thinking that the power of love and friendship is what's helping him.
He could see the Godmother's body in the sky, which seemed to glow with a dark, celestial energy, her form shifting between reality and something far more terrifying.
And thus his own body moved forward on instinct, weaving through the wreckage of the battlefield, while avoiding blasts of energy and flashes of divine light falling here and there.
... .
Rio vs Godmother
A violent storm was rising in the far distance where sounds of explosions and shockwaves rippling through, had kicked the dark clouds away.
The sacred tree hung freely above the ruined metropolis, its colossal branches piercing the heavens and roots stabbing the hells. An ominous power radiated from the tree's core, a nexus of nature and soul energy. Something that felt both holy and ominous at the same time. This was the seed of Godmother's strength, and she would protect it at any cost.
Standing before this twisted marvel, Rio stared into the heart of the storm. The fierce winds whipped at his body, rippling against the shiny armor protecting him.
As the Godmother stretched out her hand, the world seemed to bow before her.
"Rio..." her voice echoed through the empty space like a melody laced with venom, "Your death shall be the catalyst for the rebirth of my world."
With a single gesture, the tree responded. Thousands of razor-sharp leaves detached from their branches and shot toward him like a storm of daggers.
In response, angelic wings unfurled behind Rio's back. His eyes shone in a golden hue that shunned the illusion of time and space. (True eyes) , covered with illusory glasses further highlighting those effects. (Watchman's Glasses - Heimdall's blessing.)
The mark of white U and a red dot in the middle appeared on his forehead, and he felt his head getting calm. A feeling where everything was so clear, so silent and so focused, filled his brain, where he felt everything that is, was just for him to witness. (Vishnu's Tilak - a blessed mark obtained by the devout followers of the Lord of preservation, Vishnu, or those favored by his favorites.)
His movements were fluid, almost lazy, as he dodged the onslaught of deadly foliage. Each step was calculated, each pivot a dance, as he narrowly avoided the lethal projectiles.
"Too slow," he muttered, swiping his hand through the air. Invisible threads of mana trailed his fingers, slicing through the incoming leaves. "I expected more from a world's guardian."
The Godmother frowned, her grace momentarily broken by a flash of irritation. With a snap of her fingers, the very earth beneath Rio's feet began to split and rupture, molten lava spewing from the cracks, as pillars of flame shot toward him, bending to the Godmother's command.
"Come on, show me something I haven't seen before." Rio said, flipping backward to avoid a burst of magma. "Is this how you're planning on wasting your final moments."
With a flick of his wrist, Rio summoned his sword. Its blade, as black as the night sky, seemed to drink in the surrounding light, leaving only shadows in its wake.
Every swing of his met with resistance as the Godmother manipulated the environment around her. Air formed barriers, the space started freezing, and the distance between them kept flickering, one moment a meter, next a mile.
Though no matter how she tried to escape or disappear, hoping to buy herself time, Rio would appear right on her tail next instant. (System had locked her position on his mark for easy teleportation)
The clash between them was unlike any battle the students had seen, and something no one would ever expect from a C rank awakener, or normal dungeon boss.
One made new laws and propositions, and the other sliced them to pieces. Every step, every move, every swing, was an art form. Something worthy of praise and appreciation.
"Stop running and face me fair and square." Rio shouted as godmother disappeared once more, "You have god in your name for godsake. Atleast show respect for that." (Apna nhi to apne naam ka to khyaal rakhle, amma)
But after taunting her, instead of chasing her like he did many times before, this time he disappeared and teleported directly on top of the sacred tree. A tiny ball of flame falling down his feet, like a slithering raindrop.
Yet as it came into contact with the tree, like it touched gasoline, it started spreading to every corner instantly.
"Fire in the hole, bitch." Rio said in a snarky tone after setting it ablaze.
Noticing his movement and heat of hell, the tree bent and twisted, dropping all chances of attack and just cutting and dropping all the branches which came into contact with flames.
As the sacred tree was set on fire, the cloudless sky suddenly darkened once more. As sounds of screams started coming from everywhere. The whole dungeon shook heavily in an earthquake, like the planet itself was protesting against this attack landing near its heart.
Suddenly the sky cracked open, and large amounts of water poured down the tree. Covering it in a cocoon of liquid, yet even this freezing state could not put out the tiny ambers of flames burning here and there. Spreading slowly.
The godmother appeared behind Rio with a roar, a scream that broke the barrier around his soul and nearly shattered his eardrums.
The Godmother's control over the planet was reaching its peak. And so was her anger. She no longer held back. In over many millenniums when has she ever sufferer such a scene. She even forgot about the running time, or securing the core, she just wanted to kill him now.
"That's more like it." Rio said, ignoring her razing anger, still taunting her. "Now show me what you really got."
"You are nothing, human," she hissed, her voice dripping with malice. "You are a mistake--a cursed child of a lost world. Destined to be destroyed, and destroy everything else, Your presence alone is an affront to everything light, life, and nature stands for."
"I will end you, Rio. And show those beings hiding above the stars, that there is no prophecy that cannot be broken. No man that cannot be killed."
The Godmother unleashed her true power, and the sky above them exploded into a maelstrom of chaotic energy. Stars themselves seemed to fall from the heavens as meteors rained down upon the battlefield.
The sun started melting, and the moon began freezing, as the godmother raised both her arms and pulled the whole sky crumbling down on him.
[Host, this is getting out of hand. If you don't finish her soon, we're looking at a planetary collapse.]
"Relax, system,I've got this." Rio said with a grin. "And besides I haven't used my sword techniques for so long. Let's see if I still remember it right."
[You do know who's recording and watching this battle right. The more you show, the more they'll know.] System said, looking at a student with grey eyes staring in their direction, from behind the army of angels Amaya summoned.
"That's why I'm giving him a show." Rio said without turning his head, "Let him see the sword strike which will cut his core in half too."
"Silence star , Starfall strike." (I know you all forgot, but I have told you about this technique in chapter 194) Rio muttered and with a burst of speed, his figure disappeared completely. Leaving only the sound of breaking through the speed and space barriers.
Face to face with a falling star Rio muttered the final term, "Obliteration" And swung his sword. The striking blade slicing through the meteors, cutting them in half.
"So cool." he said, staring at the two halves falling down, from his left and right. Passing through them, "I always wanted to do this." He said with a smile and rushed towards the next meteor, and then to the next... and so on.
The dangerous move of godmother, supposed to frighten his heart and crush all his hopes, could only fuel his sword fantasies and anime mc hobbies.
"Damn no wonder, Sasuke, Zoro, Saitama and Kenpachi all do this. It's so freaking cool."
[Wasn't Saitama the bald guy who one punched the meteor, and not slash at it.]
".... U deserve being muted mfer."