Overload

The hammer collided with the mana veil, as the latter contracted and folded, standing firm in the face of the attack. But the demon could tell something was different in this strike.

The surrounding pressure was already rising at an alarming rate, and he could feel his mana veil pushing inward.

Astaroth was pushing down with all his might, his oversized body exerting its full weight downward too, but he wasn't budging.

'Is this not going to work?'

But as he thought that, the ground under the demon started caving in, inch by inch, and the veil he was pushing against also seemed to give way, slowly, bending inward.

Astaroth saw the demon behind the veil sweating, his brow already wet, and lifted his sword up in a guarding position.

'Why isn't he striking at me? I'm completely static. I thought he was being arrogant earlier, but is it something different?'