Chapter 122: Symbiosis
A deafening silence.
They were like untended weeds, or plastic bags rustling in the wind.
Wherever Morgan went, destruction followed.
But thanks to the mountain of corpses, Lena’s war of attrition was working, slowly draining Morgan’s stamina, until his [Berserk] wore off, his movements slowing.
“Even the strongest creature will eventually run out of fuel. The laws of this world are cruel, forcing you to face reality…” Lena’s lips moved, her mismatched eyes gleaming, as if reminiscing, her footsteps echoing on the scorched earth.
This area had been devastated by Morgan, flames and traps everywhere, but Lena was unfazed, each step landing precisely where Morgan wouldn’t expect, just millimeters away from the traps.
[Slowing Curse]
[Anti-Magic Barrier]
[Invisibility]
The unseen Banshee cast powerful support spells on Morgan, while curses, impossible to avoid, entered Lena’s body.
Curses, the Banshee’s exclusive skill, were a type of mental attack, their effect instantaneous and unavoidable, following their target even to the ends of the earth.
So, the combination of an ogre and a Banshee, one attacking, the other supporting, was indeed a formidable foe, no wonder even the hero’s party had struggled.
But Lena, having absorbed the core of the Lord-level abyssal creature [Phytos], was no longer vulnerable to such mental attacks, even those of the same or higher rank.
“Want to try the abyss?”
Lena’s lips curled into a mocking smile, as if responding to the Banshee’s curse.
Her eyes flashed with a brilliant white light.
[Terror] [Abyssal Depths]
Two opposing energies clashed and merged within her, erupting in a dazzling light, a wave of destructive power sweeping outwards, instantly obliterating everything within a certain radius.
Its power rivaled a small nuclear explosion.
A thick mushroom cloud rose into the sky, ancient trees uprooted, the entire forest engulfed in dust and smoke.
Morgan, protected by his [Thick Hide], endured the attack, his eyes wide with shock.
The ground had caved in, a hundred-meter-deep crater, a bottomless abyss surrounding them, was this something a weak human could do?
This was the only question in his mind…
“Roar—!”
He roared.
He leaped.
The ogre, after a moment of hesitation, chose to fight, perhaps because in the ogre’s world, there was no such thing as a “strong enemy,” only food and territory, or perhaps he still had a hidden trump card.
Lena wasn’t flustered; she had already planned her strategy.
The spectral figure behind her lowered its head, letting out a deafening roar.
Morgan faltered, his speed slowing under the pressure of the giant beast, but the ensuing [Berserk] fueled his rage, robbing him of his reason.
“Just as I suspected.”
Lena smiled. “No wonder I couldn’t find the Banshee, it was hiding here.”
The next moment, Morgan lunged at Lena, his jaws snapping shut!
Crunch.
It didn’t taste like human flesh, more like a centuries-old, unwashed gym sock, frozen solid…
Morgan spat out the Abomination’s arm, pus dripping from his mouth.
Lena’s magic had finally penetrated his [Thick Hide], its corrosive power seeping into his flesh and bone.
Her undead creations were now imbued with abyssal energy, their attacks not only sharp, but also corrosive, bypassing defenses and destroying from within.
So, under Lena’s constant spellcasting, more and more undead creatures emerged, joining the battle.
With the demonic power’s sustenance, she didn’t have to worry about running out of magic, unleashing a torrent of undead, an unstoppable force…
…
Morgan roared in pain.
After years of dominance, he had finally tasted defeat at the hands of a human, an unprecedented humiliation.
And he was also hosting a rank six Banshee, how could they lose?!
Yes, two rank sixes, not just one.
Two Lord-level monsters, sharing a single body.
Banshees, as special spiritual creatures, could possess a host when near death, a skill called [Possession Curse].
And a high-ranking Banshee could only use this skill once in its lifetime, taking over the host’s body, mind, and memories, erasing the original soul, a complete assimilation…
But for some reason, the Banshee hadn’t taken over the ogre’s consciousness, the two monsters existing in a strange symbiotic relationship, relying on each other’s strength, their souls intertwined.
Years of fighting together had strengthened their bond, their two souls merging, becoming one, creating the current ogre chieftain, Morgan.
“I should have guessed.”
Lena watched as the massive ogre was buried beneath her undead army, sighing. “It’s not uncommon for monsters to be possessed by spirits, but a symbiosis between a Banshee and an ogre, this is a first, how fascinating…”
Ogres possessed immense strength and tough hides, but lacked magic and intelligence.
Banshees were incorporeal, their spirits fragile, but they possessed powerful curses, natural mages.
Both were rank six, Lord-level monsters, it was hard to imagine them joining forces.
“This is truly a game-changer,” Lena chuckled, a hint of excitement in her voice.
Encountering Morgan here meant the hero wasn’t far away.
Now that she had mastered the abyssal power, her strength had increased dramatically. Dealing with the still-developing hero would be child’s play, wouldn’t it?
This was getting exciting~
“Roar!!!” The ogre, ignored, roared in anger.
“You’re so noisy, yelling non-stop, who are you yelling at?” Lena tilted her head, a wicked smile on her face.
A surge of demonic energy erupted from her, the spectral figure behind her solidifying, like a withered plant absorbing water, regaining its vitality.
“See, the difference between humans and monsters… hehehe…”
As she spoke, [Phytos]’s monstrous head, covered in eyes, slammed down on Morgan…
Boom—
A terrifying pressure descended from the sky, like a collapsing building, the ground beneath them cracking further.
The ogre’s roar was cut short.
A giant crater formed, and Morgan struggled to climb out, but his movements were too slow, the spectral figure pushing him back down.
Barely clinging to life, Morgan used all his strength.
“Ah, I used a bit too much force… can you handle it, strong Mister Ogre?”
Lena chuckled, her devilish smile evident.
Compared to [Phytos]’s massive size, Morgan was now like an ant beneath an elephant’s foot, his advantage gone, his movements panicked, his club slipping from his grasp, rolling away…
Lena picked up the club with a hand formed from black mist, swinging it, unleashing a shockwave.
“Oh, a magic weapon, I was wondering where an ogre got the magic power to cast spells, neither a Shaman nor a mutation, so it was a hidden trick.”
She put away the club, looking at Morgan, his previous arrogance gone.
A Lord-level monster was nothing, and a Banshee was even less. Even ten or twenty of them wouldn’t be a match for Lena now…
Heh~
Satisfying.
She finally felt the joy of revenge, the pain in her arm and her internal injuries fading away.
What could be more satisfying than revenge?
Lena almost felt reluctant to kill Morgan; keeping him alive would prolong her enjoyment.
But she had to kill him, not just for the materials, but also because Morgan was a stepping stone for the hero’s advancement.
She would take away the hero’s stepping stone, replacing him.
Even if it was a futile effort, delaying the hero’s growth was still a good thing…
