The Cheery Black VS Demon Lord Cassius (Part 2)

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The ground quaked violently, the tremors reverberating across the battlefield as an ethereal, skeletal knight burst forth from the earth in a cloud of dust and glowing mana. The knight's hollow eyes locked onto Naoto, and a deep, resonant voice filled the air.

"Good morning… First Chosen Hero."

Naoto smirked, recognizing the legendary figure before him. "Ernest Zylback Riscone… Looks like I've got some serious help now."

As Naoto turned to head back toward the battlefield, the resurrected First Chosen Hero moved with unsettling speed, grabbing Naoto's collar.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Naoto questioned, his voice tinged with unease. Without warning, the galiant ghastly knight hurled Naoto through the air like a rocket.

"DON'T YOU DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa—" Naoto's scream echoed comically as he soared across the battlefield. Just as suddenly, the First Chosen Hero shifted his position, catching Naoto midair and placing him gently on the ground.

Dusting himself off, Naoto glared at the knight. "Do—don't you EVER do that again! Understand, First Chosen?"

The skeletal knight turned his head mechanically toward Naoto and nodded in acknowledgment.

Naoto pointed ahead, his tone firm and commanding. "You see those guys?" He gestured towards Miri and Tobe, locked in combat with Demon Lord Crockus. "We're going to help them. The target we need to kill is Demon Lord Crockus, understand?"

The resurrected 1st Chosen Hero nodded silently, adjusting his stance.

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He shifted positions once again as he grabbed Max's greatsword with a vice-like hold, off the ground, he then launched forward with gale-force speed. With a powerful downward strike, he brought the greatsword crashing down onto Crockus. The Demon Lord managed to raise his arm to block, but the blade cleaved into it, sending a resounding shockwave through the battlefield and fracturing the ground beneath.

Crockus' eyes widened in disbelief, a sentiment echoed by Miri and Tobe as they thought in unison, Who is he?

As Tobe turned to see Naoto approaching, he raised an eyebrow. "Well… looks like you're still alive."

Naoto rolled his eyes. "Shut up, Shortspark. That beam hurt, y'know."

Tobe smirked, his tone laced with curiosity. "Soooo… who is he?"

"The 1st Chosen Hero, Ernest Zylback Riscone," Naoto replied.

"So that's the 1st Chosen Hero, huh?" Tobe muttered, watching as Ernest seamlessly synchronized his attacks with Miri, their combined strikes pushing Crockus to his limits. Tobe's excitement slowly bubbled over. "Hella cool!"

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Naoto spun his Angel Scythe between his fingers, feigning annoyance. "Groan Alright, Shortspark. I'm jumping in. Sitting here is making me feel rusty." Activating his Spark, 'Darkened Rage,' Naoto's body envelops in dark surging aura and blurred forward, his scythe descending in a powerful arc. Crockus barely managed to block the strike, but the sheer force sent cracks spreading across his defenses.

"Damn! He's resilient... and quick!" Naoto thought, gritting his teeth. Together, Miri, Ernest, and Naoto unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, forcing Crockus to go into the defensive. In desperation, Crockus erupted with a multi-elemental explosion, the blast hurling Miri and Naoto away. Miri landed hard on her back, groaning in pain, while Naoto skidded to a stop on his rear. Ernest, however, managed to land and stand firm, unscathed, and ready for the next assault.

Naoto pushed himself up, his expression sharp. "Let's finish this," he muttered, charging forward alongside Ernest. Crockus summoned two floating multi-elemental swords, their ethereal blades radiating energy as they clashed against the duo. Sparks flew as steel met arcane power, the sound of battle ringing through the air.

Miri, catching her breath, saw Elma toss a healing potion her way. Oculis floated beside her, emitting a steady glow of healing energy. "Thanks," Miri murmured, chugging the potion.

Back in the fray, Ernest deflected one of Crockus' summoned swords while Naoto evaded the other, swinging his scythe in a calculated arc. Crockus' counter was swift, grabbing Naoto by the neck. The Demon Lord's grip tightened, his eyes glowing with malice.

"Utter Control!" Naoto bellowed, his hand glowing white as he grabbed Crockus' arm. For a moment, it seemed to work, but Crockus sneered.

"Foolish parlor tricks," Crockus growled, hurling Naoto into the side of a mountain.

"NAOTO?!" Tobe shouted, his voice echoing with panic.

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Crockus inspected his arm, noting the crushed imprint of Naoto's grip. "Such strength…" he muttered before redirecting his attention to Miri and Ernest. The pair launched a coordinated assault, their strikes precise and unrelenting. Crockus summoned another wave of spells, hurling elemental blasts that lit up the battlefield.

Ernest's greatsword cleaved through the chaos, while Miri's sword strikes disoriented Crockus. Yuka's Gyutei intervened, binding Crockus' arm with its tongue. But Crockus retaliated by yanking Gyutei's tongue and pulling Gyutei towards him as he delivered a devastating punch, sending the frog flying into Yuka, knocking them both down.

On the floor but fueled by desperation, Yuka summoned Cassius, the towering Demon General, imbuing him with mana as her Encouragement Skill amplified his power and performance. Cassius joined the fray alongside Ernest and Miri, their attacks landing in devastating tandem. Crockus struggled to keep up, his defenses faltering under the relentless onslaught.

A pincer attack from Miri and Ernest left him exposed, allowing Cassius to deliver a ground-shaking cleaver strike that slammed Crockus into the dirt.

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From the cliffside, Julius, who was bandaged and healed up, observed the tide of battle. "It seems we have the upper hand!" he announced, but his declaration was cut short as a razor-sharp whirlwind of multi-elemental energy erupted from Crockus. The battlefield was thrown into chaos as allies were scattered.

"MIRI!" Tobe screamed, sprinting through the chaos to find her. Miri, writhing in pain, waved him off as Elma and Oculis worked to heal her. "I'm fine! Heal the others first!" she insisted, though her voice was strained.

As the whirlwind dissipated, Crockus emerged, his eyes glowing a fierce green. In a blur, he appeared before Miri and Elma. Elma reacted instantly, hurling an explosive potion at point-blank range. From the shadows, Jun launched numbing and confusion needles, then lunged with his dagger. Despite the strong effects, Crockus caught him and unleashed a devastating blast to Jun's chest sending him sprawling.

Elma advanced, her hammer striking Crockus' weak points with precision. "I'll break that core of yours!" she roared, targeting the glowing orb within his chest. Each strike caused visible cracks to form, but Crockus retaliated with a powerful punch that sent her flying. Her belt's flasks exploded on impact, further damaging his arm.

Miri, now back on her feet, activated her buffs. "Strength Up! Defense Up! Agility Up!" she called out. "Bastion, we're going all out!" With newfound vigor, she launched a relentless barrage of slashes.

Seeing this, Tobe clenched his fists. "Gotta up the ante! Ambition Ignition: Determination Red, 50% Release!" His body surged with red flowing energy as he rushed to Miri's side.

Timing his attack with her full-rocket-powered slash, as he simultaneously delivered a powerful shockwave punch. "EAT IT, YOU ROCKY, OVERPOWERED FREAK!" he shouted as the blow sent Crockus tumbling.

The Demon Lord growled, rising slowly. "Now you face us," Tobe declared, a condescending smile on his face. Together, they stood firm, shoulder to shoulder, as they prepared for the final stand.

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Demon Lord Crockus roared, his voice reverberating across the battlefield like a thunderclap. "I've had enough..." he growled, ripping the sleeves off his Demon Lord battle armor with a savage pull. From his arms erupted multi-elemental spheres—blazing orbs of raw, chaotic energy swirling with fire, ice, lightning, and earth. His crimson eyes burned with fury as the spheres began to hover around him ominously.

"You insolent worms... JUST. WON'T. DROP. DEAD!" With a sweep of his arms, Crockus unleashed a barrage of energy—rays, beams, lasers, and blasts shooting forth from the spheres in an apocalyptic deluge aimed at Tobe and Miri.

Tobe smirked, glancing at Miri. "This attack… is all too familiar!"

Miri slightly grinned back, her expression steady despite the chaos. As she unfused Bastion from her sword, the shield gleaming as she raised it high. "Let's go, senpai!"

The duo charged forward, the ground trembling beneath their feet. As the elemental onslaught rained down, Miri advanced steadily, using Bastion to deflect and block the attacks. Her shield glowed as it absorbed the impact, while Tobe darted nimbly beside her, his Cat-like Instinct allowing him to dodge and weave through the deadly energy with a fluid grace. He split off to the right, sprinting with speed and precision.

"Time to clear these out!" Tobe shouted. He thrust his hand forward and cast Vine Whip. A vine burst from his palm, snapping through the air like a living weapon. He swung it left to right, striking the floating elemental spheres and knocking them off their trajectory. Sparks and shards of energy exploded around him as he continued his assault, which irked Crockus.

Meanwhile, Miri charged Crockus head-on. The Demon Lord sneered, aiming a concentrated beam directly at her. Miri, unfazed, activated Shield Rush and plowed through the attack, the shield's energy negating the beam as she slammed into Crockus. Her momentum pushed him back, his feet digging trenches into the ground.

"You're strong," Crockus growled, straining to push back against her. "But not enough to—"

Miri smirked and then gritted her teeth as Bastion's rocket thrusters activated, roaring to life. The sudden burst of power drove her forward, forcing Crockus back further. "Try keeping up with this force!" she shouted as she timed a perfectly executed Shield Bash, slamming into Crockus' chest and stunning him.

"Now!" Miri called.

Tobe leapt into action, launching himself into the air. He twisted mid-flight, wrapping his legs around Crockus' head. With his left hand, he aimed for Crockus' eye, driving his thumb deep inside it, while his right fist delivered a rapid succession of ten powerful punches to the Demon Lord's skull. Each blow sent red shockwaves rippling through the air.

"How's this for a headache?" Tobe quipped before delivering a backspin kick to Crockus' face, sending the towering demon staggering backward.

Miri pressed the advantage, slashing with precision and ferocity. Her blade danced, delivering a flurry of strikes interspersed with shield bashes. She then fused Bastion with her sword once more, activating Single Slash to Thousand Cuts. Each consecutive strike left glowing trails, battering and shattering Crockus' form and exposing cracks in his armor. With a final thrust, she aimed her sword for his core, propelling forward with a rocket-powered burst.

Crockus roared, catching the blade inches from his core. The energy beneath his rocky arms bulged and surged with mana as he held it in place. "Not this time," he snarled, delivering a palm strike to Miri's chest, sending her skidding backward.

As Tobe charged in from the side, aiming a roundhouse kick at Crockus' face. The Demon Lord bent backward, narrowly dodging the attack. Crockus retaliated with a flurry of punches and point-blank multi-elemental blasts. But Tobe, with his Cat-like Instinct, evaded each attack with precision. He began dodging, evading and countering with calculated punches, each strike growing in speed and power.

"One punch, dodge, dodge, dodge…" Tobe muttered in his mind, it's like he can predict Crockus' attacks, as his movements accelerated. "Two punches, dodge, dodge…" His strikes became a blur. "Three punches, dodge, 2 punches, dodge, dodge, dodge, four punches…"

Tobe activated Iron Arm Impact (Lasting Manifestation Form), manifesting two additional arms of iron mana energy. With four arms, he unleashed a relentless barrage of punches, each impact driving Crockus back. The Demon Lord's armor cracked under the onslaught.

"Enough!" Crockus roared, sprouting two additional arms of his own. He caught Tobe's arms, spreading them apart. With a guttural yell, he delivered a powerful kick to Tobe's midsection, sending him tumbling across the battlefield.

Miri, taking advantage of the opening, dashed behind Crockus. Sensing her presence, he instinctively fired a blast backward. But it was a feint—Miri had used False Judgement, and the attack missed completely. She reappeared in front of him in the air, delivering a rocket-powered downward slash. Her blade cleaved through Crockus' body, nearly reaching his core.

Crockus snarled, as he forcefully tried to change the material of his entire rocky body and form from rocks and stones to hard basalt, grabbing her blade and her arm to halt its descent. "You're… persistent..." he spat in struggle, his core beginning to glow with unstable energy.

Miri didn't flinch, even as he charged a devastating point-blank multi-elemental blast with his other arm. "I'll... end you..." she said through gritted teeth.

Before the blast could fire, Tobe flanked from the side, delivering a double punch to Crockus' head and torso. The impact diverted the blast, which grazed Miri's face, leaving a small scarring scorch mark but sparing her from the full force.

But Crockus wasn't done. As he reeled from Tobe's strike, while he was getting sent and flung from Tobe's strike he fired a thin, concentrated beam of multi-elemental energy with his other hand. The beam pierced through Miri's side, her eyes widening in shock as blood spattered onto the battlefield.

"Miri!" Tobe shouted, his heart sinking. Anger surged through him... Ambition Ignition, ... Dark Red 75%. His body ignited with a dark red surging fiery aura, he then glared at Crockus, pressure filling the air as his eyes glowed the same dark red as his aura... Now.... He wasn't playing around anymore...

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End of Chapter Stats of our Young Adventurers:

Tobe Lvl 108 - (Race Abilities: High Jump, Cat-like Instinct, Ricochet) (Spells: Mana String, Explosion Impact, Fall Lighting, Space Space, Aqua Control, Reconstruct, Firas Bolto, Rock Spire Shotgun, Vine Whip, Shock Shoot, Iron Arm Impact, Mana End Nuke) (Spark - Ambition Ignition 25% Current)

Flake Lvl 65 - (Skills: Ice Creation, Icicle Rush, Frost Breath, Ice Ball Shot, Familiar Fusion)

Miri Lvl 110 - (Race Abilities: Halo Flash, False Judgement, Weightless Embodiment) (Skills: Strength Up, Defense Up, Agility Up, Slash, Pierce, Shield Block, Shield Bash, Shield Rush, Bastion Wall Shield, Bastion Weapon Integration, Mana Blade Shoot, Rocket Burst Thrust, Single Slash to Thousand Cuts)

Oculis Lvl 69 - (Skills: Health Drain Tendril, Soft Healing Glow, Wide Party Heal)

Yuka Lvl 94 - (Race Abilities: Creaturea Lamvia, Beast Codex Insight) (Skills: Contract, Summon, Half-Summon, Encouragement. Summons: Blubby Lvl 75, Scale Lvl 75, Balboa Lvl 75, Spryt Lvl 75, Gyutei Lvl 75, Fang Lvl 75, Cassius Lvl 75)

Jun Lvl 98 - (Race Abilities: Danger Sense, All-Four Rush, Bleeding Bite) (Skills: Disguise, Silent Step, Smoke Bomb Drop, Snatch, Stab, Slice, Hook Pull, Needles, Healing Steal, Decoy, Theft Hook, Escape Plan)