The Might Of A Demigod [1]

A bellowing pressure burst from Odysseus.

Noah used Menzen to counter the pressure with a slight grin, "Why are you angry? I did what you wanted me to."

The clash of Noah's and Odysseus' pressure created whirlwinds.

Helen was forced to take cover behind Erebus.

A green magic circle materialized before Odysseus. He pulled a bone sword through it.

"Bone Magic: Cursed Sword"

Odysseus raised his sword. A golden hue covered the blade's edge and the space between Noah's neck and the sword disappeared.

The sword descended with the swiftness of wind.

"Erebus, now!" Noah shouted.

[ Erebus has activated skill 'Shadow Manipulation' ]

Shadows slithered on the ground and bound Odysseus' limbs like chains. Odysseus was unable to move.

The sword stopped.

Noah activated Instant Acceleration and appeared behind Odysseus. Just as Noah attacked, Odysseus spoke, "Is that all you can do?"

A massive skeleton arm smashed into Noah.

The ground trembled. Intense earthquake began, causing the earth to split. A gigantic magic circle appeared in the sky over Nelio.

Hundreds of skeletons crawled out of the ground.

"Bone Magic: Terracotta Army"

Red mud stuck to the skeletons. Their eyes glowed eerily as the dead soldiers rose again. The massive army of undeads attacked Noah and Erebus.

Odysseus spoke, "You can stop me with these cheap tricks, but for how long?"

"I think I've heard something similar before."

Noah walked out from the rubble and snapped.

[ Deactivating skill 'Gravity Manipulation' ]

Odysseus' brows furrowed as he heard the wind whistling as if something heavy was falling. He raised his head and saw massive wreckages in the sky.

The wreckage fell when Noah stopped holding them with Gravity Manipulation.

Explosions echoed.

One-tenth of the undead army was crushed to bits. Dust and gravel filled the air, creating a natural smokescreen.

Noah bolted towards Erebus.

"Erebus, act as we discussed before." Noah used his skill on Achilles. "Sage Heal."

Growling, Achilles woke up. Erebus stuffed a small tentacle in Achilles' mouth to appease his Blood Hunger.

Sanity returned to Achilles' eyes.

"What is happening…?" Achilles asked.

The dust was settling. They didn't have much time before Odysseus resumed attacking.

"Ignis, that's your new name." Noah explained hurriedly. "Erebus, you and Helen will leave the capital and stop any intrusion from interfering with Odysseus and my battle while taking down all seafolks."

A loud explosion rang. It was the sign Odysseus' had broken Erebus' 'Shadow Binds'.

If Stage-2's Hidden Objective was stopping wars and uniting the kingdoms, it was also possible there was some kind of meter that counted the destruction caused by Odysseus. Stopping seafolks was for the Hidden Objective.

Noah hurried everyone, "Leave!"

Erebus was about to run together with Achilles, but Helen grabbed Noah's arm.

"Wait, you don't understand how dangerous Odysseus is! He is using the Sea Emperor's cores to strengthen his abilities! He is no longer a human, but a True Demigod!

"Fighting a Demigod alone is suicide!"

The undeads found the group. Erebus used his martial skills and fended them off. His punches were swift, kicks powerful, and parries matchless. However, he was overwhelmed by their uncountable numbers.

Helen gritted her teeth, "Not to mention, he has an Ancient Rune! He can…!"

"Bone Magic: Karvel Armor"

Odysseus jumped out of the dust and swung his sword at Noah. He was covered in bone armor which shone ominously.

Helen used her ability and deactivated Odysseus' Ancient Rune.

Claannnnng!

Noah and Odysseus' swords clashed.

Noah spoke, "Ancient Rune 'Displacement'. It allows Odysseus to control the distance between two points.

"He increases the distance between himself and the opponent's attacks infinitely. As a result, no attacks hit him. However, his attacks will always hit their mark instantly regardless of distance."

Helen and Odysseus were flabbergasted.

"How did you know…?"

"That's a first. I can understand Helen, but it's a surprise you already knew about my Ancient Rune."

[ Odysseus has activated skill 'Ki Strengthening' ]

A red hue flared on Odysseus' sword. He sliced through Noah's blade like a tofu.

Noah dodged. However, his arms were severed.

"Inverse Sage Heal"

[ Error! The target is out of range ]

"Sage Heal." Noah used the skill on himself after it failed to work on Odysseus. His arms regrew.

Noah's Sage Heal had a range of 20 meters. Yet, it stated Odysseus was out of range when Odysseus was at an arm's length distance.

Suddenly, Ignis attacked Odysseus.

"Dammit, Odysseus, what are you trying to do!"

Before Odysseus could attack again, shadows chained him.

Erebus and Ignis distracted Odysseus to the best of their abilities.

"Take this. Don't forget my earlier instructions." Noah placed a silver cube in Helen's hands.

Helen and Noah's past wasn't exactly amiable, but Noah didn't have enough time. He needed to make use of every tool at his disposal to defeat Odysseus.

Helen couldn't decide if she should help Noah fight Odysseus, leave him as he requested, or not follow his instructions at all.

Helen could semi-disable Odysseus' Ancient Rune. She could stop the distance-ignoring attacks as long as they weren't too powerful. However, she couldn't help Noah's attacks reach Odysseus.

Unless they could land a hit on Odysseus' victory was impossible.

[ Shalia has activated skill 'Psychic Voice' ]

A familiar voice of Shadow echoed in Helen's mind, 'Helen, listen to Noah. Unless he defeats Odysseus alone, the battle is meaningless.'

Helen's eyes widened. She had seen Shalia's severed head. But, the voice was unmistakably Shalia's.

Shalia spoke, 'You need to hurry.'

While Helen was trying to make a choice, Noah picked a gigantic piece of rubble with Gravity Manipulation and threw it towards Odysseus.

Slash!

The wreckage was split into two halves with a single Odysseus' slash.

"Resistance is futile."

Odysseus scanned the surroundings. He saw Erebus, Ignis, and Helen running towards the port, leaving Noah alone against Odysseus and his hundreds of undeads inside Nelio.

"Is it?" Noah put his hands together with his palm touching.

A black hue oozed out of Noah. Odysseus' sixth sense activated, forewarning him of the coming danger.

[ Activating skill 'Undeath' ]

"Rise, my legion!"

Noah activated 'Undeath' which had been strengthened by Hades.

Half of the undead army attacking Noah came to a pause. Their bone limbs twitched, and a purple hue replaced the green flames inside their eyes. The uncontrolled skeleton soldiers suddenly grew stronger, reobtaining the strength they had when they were alive.

Odysseus lost control over half of his terracotta army.

"Attack!"

The two sides clashed.

In the beginning, they maintained a stalemate. However, the result became apparent quickly.

Noah's undead soldiers were stronger.

Two 10-meter tall undead Lv.90 Jura brothers attacked Odysseus.

Noah could command all those who fell to his hands. That included the hundreds of elite soldiers he eliminated.

But attacks of such level were too weak for Odysseus.

Odysseus spoke, "If you are hiding your strength, this is the time to use it."

Another massive magic circle appeared in the sky. It covered the entirety of Nelio, the forest outside along with the port and a portion of sea.

"Bone Magic: 11th War God"