Chapter 146

Arthur's Point of View

Center of the Magical Squall

Even without harming myself physically or putting my body at risk, I can win. There is no reason to use a ridiculous surge of energy to win this fight. If I'm going to move forward and face whatever enemies that come my way, I need to control vast amounts of energy without the side effects.

So, my eyes began to burn as I created the largest gravity pillar I ever have. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, and I assumed it was because I was trying to accomplish something I never had before. While the Demon was staggered, a pillar descended upon it.

"Let's see how you like this…" I mumbled to myself in a strained tone.

Slamming into it from above, the surrounding clouds parted out of the way as it forced the Demon to hunch over before slamming it down into the water. The clouds began to reform before being pulled downward with the pillar, making it look like a stream of clouds slamming into the ocean below.

Waves splattered into the sky from the sheer force, and I quickly made sure no natural, or rather, unnatural disasters occurred. The Demon fought to stand as it was slowly pushed down. My pillar surrounded its entire body to the point of engulfing it. I felt it extend far above the planet's atmosphere as I made it larger and larger. Aside from Thana, this was the second time someone was able to struggle against the ability. Although, this one was struggling more than Thana did.

I slowly moved closer with wide and focused eyes as I began to gather energy into my hands. Lighting worked, but I clearly stopped too soon. This time, wind, lightning, and even water would carve out the Demon's hide until it was hollowed inside and out. When it was locked in place and no longer able to move about freely as it struggled just to stand, I began to strike repeatedly and ruthlessly.

Roars of pain carried over the waves below as I felt my body vibrate from the sheer volume. A few tentacles tried to attack me, but my defenses were perfect. Any water laser that targeted me was immediately set back upon the Demon. Its tentacles were slow and obvious since their movements were restricted at the base of the Demon.

So much blood, skin, and body parts from the Demon filled the ocean below that the water turned red in the surrounding area. Eventually, the overgrown fish began to topple onto itself. Its body folded in a most unpleasant manner. However, I didn't let up. I continued to attack even as the waves began to wash over it. My gravity pillar kept it pinned as it sunk into the ocean below.

With so much regeneration, I noticed that the surrounding energy started to thin. There was still a sickening amount of Demonic magic covering the area, but not nearly as concentrated or thick. If I could keep this up for longer than it could regenerate, I would win. It's just a shame it took a figment of my own imagination to motivate me into action.

Could this Demon kill me? Maybe. The Star Creature said I wouldn't die, but I have a feeling that there are a few on this planet that could put that theory to the test. Despite its power, part of me wanted to let them try, while another part wanted to fight for this world for the people I had come to know. Forsaking this world seemed foolish just because I had a death wish at the most random of times.

Again, the Demon rose from the depths. Now that the ocean below was red, it almost looked like a gate to hell itself. Fighting back, we both traded blows as the Demon began to change its tactics. It was intelligent enough to know that attacking me would result in it hurting itself. So, it began to shoot weaker blasts of water in my direction.

Apparently, this was to distract me as all the tentacles disappeared into the water one by one. It wasn't until I heard a sickening sucking sound that my attention turned down to see multiple maelstroms forming below. Now the ocean was a swirling red death. My attention jerked up to the Demon as I saw it stopped sucking in with its move before its chest bloated.

A torrent of bloody water shot from its maw in a manner than was far more violent than before. The Demon's bloody waterfall of death slammed into my gravity pillars as it shook its head violently as I struggled to dodge the horrid attack. The stream was constant, and I felt my focus shifting as my defense was strained from the wildness of the attacks. Opening a portal right now would've been tough, so I sent out lightning strikes through the Demon's attack.

It gurgled in pain as the electricity traveled down its throat. However, it wasn't until my ears picked up a new sound, that the Demon stopped attacking me. Both of us stopped as we looked around, confused. My eyes picked up a sensation from the top of the pillar, and I was confused as to who would be above us at such a height. Looking up, my eyes widened as a massive meteor came into view as it obliterated the clouds and lit the sky on fire.

The Demon roared as my focus broke, and the pillars disappeared while I dashed away. However, the Demon was too slow as it slammed into it. I watched as it raised its arms, tentacles, and body to try to stop the accidental attack. Needless to say, the Demon was crushed as the water exploded as it disappeared under the meteor and into a veil of steam.

Walls of water shot in every direction, and in my stupor, I was barely able to stop them. However, as I hovered over the ocean, I became anxious as the Demon's energy was still present. My eyes flickered about as I tried to find where it might be. It lessened again, but the meteor, despite its size, was apparently slowed by the Demon enough not to die. The size did worry me, and I thought I was about to destroy several different continents with floods.

My worries quickly shifted when several tentacles shot from the water and pulled me under. "Are you fucking kidding me!?" Was all I was able to shout.