Knossos(4)

The grasshopper-like monsters began rapidly approaching Mark, who prepared to receive them.

"Electric javelin!"

Four electric thunderbolts came out of the magic circles, piercing several monsters and creating some space between him and them, but considering the remaining number, Mark could not stop. He covered the blade with electricity and launched himself at the group of monsters. Such a decision might have seemed crazy, but since the space was limited, if he had remained passive, he would have ended up being swamped by them.

'Golem heart.'

There was no room for hesitation and he immediately activated his ability, changing his perception of reality.

<Primary goal survival, calculate possible solutions... minimize damage to the body... only solution with the highest level of success is through transformation... problem encountered. The body does not have the necessary experience to activate transformation. More time is needed to solve this problem.>

'All right. Increase sensory perception and deal with aura control while trying to activate transformation.'

'swing.'

Swinging the sword with utmost precision, he decapitated a monster.

'Crii!'

"Electric explosion."

Without even looking and relying on his senses and his ability to detect monsters, he directed as many as six magic circles toward the monsters about to leap at him. Various explosions traveled down the tunnel, but Mark's concentration was focused on the other incoming monsters.

He moved his leg back, preventing one of the monsters from sticking one of its sharp paws into his flesh, and as he was about to swing his sword to cut the monster, the aura of his body seemed to move on its own toward his arm, increasing its strength.

As soon as he vertically split the monster, he jumped as high as he could, avoiding ending up surrounded by the monsters.

"Flashbang."

The six magic circles released a blinding light that hit most of the monsters present while he was still in the air.

<The first phase of the transformation is completed. The aura is connected to the magic circuits of the left arm, beginning the second phase. Possible use of aura reduced at 80%>

His body fell toward one of the blinded monsters and with the force of gravity in his favor, he thrust his blade into the monster's back and from there the extermination began.

With the monsters blinded, Mark's blade swung continuously without the slightest instability, killing as many monsters as possible. The number of monsters began to decrease, but wounds began to appear on Mark's body.

To activate the transformation, both aura and magic were needed so he could not abuse the two and had to rely mainly on his body. However, he was in a confined environment, and even though he did his best to dodge, it was normal that he was forced to take damage.

<The second phase of transformation is completed. The aura is connected to the magic circuits of the right arm, beginning the third phase. Possible use of aura reduced at 60%>.

"Electric explosion."

Throwing six more explosive electric orbs again, he managed to create some space to catch his breath, but it was not for long.

For Mark, that was a fight with his endurance. He knew that without the transformation, he wouldn't be able to escape Valletta, but even in that situation where his breathing was heavy and sweat was starting to form on his forehead, Mark's brain was in complete calm as he thought of possible strategies.

'clank!

He blocked with his sword and scabbard the assault of two monsters when a third escaped his senses and came dangerously close to his leg.

Putting strength into his arms, he fended off the two monsters, but it was too late to dodge and the casting of spells was becoming slower because of the aura. With few options available, he concentrated all the aura he had on his leg, which was true that it protected him from suffering a serious wound, but the aura he possessed was not enough to completely block the attack, so he received a deep cut on his leg.

Even with the wound he received, Mark's expression remained unchanged and he slashed the monster's face, killing it.

Taking a few more steps back, Mark quickly drank one of the few potions he had left and managed to heal most of the wounds he had sustained, but the stamina he lost was not so easy to recover.

<Completed linking to the magic circuits present on both legs. Beginning the last phase, linking the magic circuit present on the spine. Possible use of aura reduced at 20%>

Meanwhile, Valletta who was at the back began to tap her foot impatiently. She wanted to see how Mark would despair as he was slowly being devoured by the monsters, but what was happening was the exact opposite. The number of monsters was beginning to decrease rapidly, and what bothered her most was how he seemed to be not concerned about the situation he was in.

"I'm tired of waiting, it's time to put an end to this freak of nature raised by the Loki Familia."

Unnerved by having wasted all that time, that she could have used to chase after Finn, she took one of the cursed daggers, which her henchmen had, and threw it in Mark's direction.

Mark, who was killing the last remaining monsters, sensed something approaching quickly and did not hesitate to move to the side, but could not completely avoid the incoming dagger that managed to cut his arm.

"HAHAHA! Now let's see how you survive with your suppressed status!"

Hearing Valletta's mocking scream, Mark retreated even further, coming up to have his back against the doorway and prepared to finish off the monsters as fast as he could, but even seconds after being cut, he showed no effect of the curse.

<Aura connected to the magic circuits, beginning the flow of magic.>

"How?!"

Seeing Mark, who did not seem to have any problem, Valletta could not understand, but when she saw his dull gaze on her, an eerie feeling spread through her.

'Not good.'

'zap!

She followed her instincts and raised her broadsword in front of her, managing to block Mark's blow that seemed to teleport in front of her.

"Ghhh!"

The impact of the blow pushed her back allowing her a momentary glimpse of Mark's appearance, who was now surrounded by purple lightning.

"Kill hi-"

Before Valletta's command could be executed, the henchmen, who still could not understand what had happened, found their heads rolling on the ground.

Valletta was speechless from the events. Only a little while ago she was enjoying herself, but now she found herself preparing to get serious, or at least she was until she saw Mark's state.

'cough!'

Mark coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to one knee. The electric aura around him was unstable and looked like a flame that was close to extinguishing.

<Destabilization of the aura. Few seconds remaining before returning to the previous state.>

Mark used the sword as a support to rise as soon as possible and shifted his gaze to Valletta who was looking at him suspiciously, ready to react to any unexpected events.

'Fighting her in this situation doesn't seem possible.'

Mark was not used to the transformation and even under the effects of his skill, fighting in that state was not easy. He could only move quickly in straight spaces and performing complex movements at that speed was impossible for the current Mark.

'zap!

With that thought, he ran forward. Valletta lifted her broadsword again, thinking he was attacking her, but when she saw him overtake her, her expression filled with anger.

"Oi bastard where do you think you're going!"

Using the jewel she had, she made sure to activate the mechanism to lower the gate.

In Mark's vision, everything seemed to be going in slow motion, but at the same time, he could not focus on things well. Even in that state, though, he saw the gateway ahead begin to lower.

'10 meters.'

The gateway had already descended by a third.

'8 meters.'

The gateway had descended even further.

'6 meters.'

The gateway had already dropped by half.

'4 meters.'

The gateway had reached Mark's chest height.

'2 meters.'

The gate was only a few centimeters away before it closed completely.

At that point, Mark launched himself forward and began to slide across the floor, passing just in time through the remaining space, narrowly risking being decapitated.

"FUCK!"

Barely hearing Valletta's expletive, Mark did not hesitate to keep running. He had to get away as fast as he could. Everything seemed to blur as he ran through the labyrinthine corridors, but it seemed that the effects of the transformation were over.

As soon as he returned to his normal state, all his strength left him and due to the force of inertia caused by his speed, he bounced several times on the floor before finally stopping on his stomach.

<Objective achieved, deactivation.>

"AHHG!"

Gritting his teeth, he supported the accumulated wave of pain he had suffered since he had activated the ability, multiplied by two because of 'limit break'.

Every muscle in Mark seemed to scream. The effects of the transformation were having a strong impact on his body; he felt like a puppet whose strings had been cut. His brain was ordering him to move and reach for the potions on his side, but his body was not responding.

'Come on! Move stupid body!'

No matter how much willpower he had, his body had reached its limit, but what he heard next made him pale.

'tap tap' 'tap tap'

Someone was rushing toward him.

(Change of perspective.)

"This place..."

Aiz, who had been traveling through the labyrinth until then, arrived in a large room. There were seven giant broken cruets to which the various tubes that filled the room were connected, and strangely for Aiz, she felt some sort of attraction from this place.

"This presence is the same as the fetus jewels."

In fact, Aiz felt the same feeling she had when she went to the 18th and 24th floors.

"I knew you would come here Aria. Just like a moth to the fire."

From the other side of the room came the red-haired woman, holding her eerie broadsword.

"Where are the fetuses!"

"Hidden in the labyrinth, but I doubt you will be able to find them when you are all about to die here."

'clank'

Aiz saw the woman throw something on the ground. At first, she paid no attention, but when she saw that it was the tip of Finn's spear, her pupils contracted.

"It was easier than expected to deal with that Pallum." -As she said it, she flashed the bloodstained blade.

"Th-that's not possible!"

Since Aiz was young, she had always seen Finn's back to be firm and imposing, never once did she see it collapse, so she could not accept that reality.

"Don't worry. Once I have done with you, it will be the others' turn."

'CLANK!

The woman easily parried the blow from Aiz, who could no longer hold back her anger.

'CLANK!' 'CLANK!' 'CLANK!'

Thereafter, they exchanged blows at an incredible speed, destroying everything around them, but no one seemed to have the upper hand, at least until the woman began to get serious.

"GNNGH!"

The weight of the woman's blows increased dramatically, pushing Aiz back.

"Without your wind Aria, I risk killing you too easily."

The woman appeared in front of Aiz, ready to split her with her broadsword.

"Awaken tempest!"

Wrapped in her wind, Aiz managed to dodge the woman's blow in time, which managed to create a deep cut even on the adamantine floor.

With both of them no longer holding back, their fight became even more destructive. Each of their clashes generated powerful shock waves that would easily kill a level 1.

Strangely enough, the woman who was always indifferent managed to show a modicum of feeling as she fought Aiz, but it was time for her to end.

After dodging the woman's broadsword, Aiz, who was in the air, used the wind to hurl herself with her sword pointed at the woman, who also prepared to intercept her blow.

''CLANK!''

Dust rose everywhere, not allowing anyone to see what had happened.

"It was a good battle... but this time I win Aria."

'Cough!

With a deep cut on her chest, Aiz's body began to fall.