The Goddess yanked Clyde toward her with uncompromising strength. Clyde gritted his teeth, not having time to do anything to resist the pull.
Goddess Pele opened her mouth; Clyde could see a reddish glow starting to rise in her throat.
Knowing that it's gonna be bad if he doesn't do something about it, Clyde clenched his fists and gathered his mana there. In the split second before Goddess Pele spewed fire from her mouth, Clyde punched her in her left face with all his strength.
*BUAGHH!*
The blow knocked Goddes Pele's face to the side; flames shot sideways instead towards Clyde and destroyed the ground it passed.
Clyde's unexpected punch made the Goddess widen her eyes in surprise. She released her grip on the Inferno Blade and staggered backward.
The Goddess wasn't staggered because she was in pain. She was only shocked about Clyde's strength, which actually had such an impact on her - a Celestial.
Clyde, who already got his sword, kicked Goddess Pele in the chest again to throw himself away. The Goddess was once again pushed back several steps by the kick.
Goddess Pele still widened her eyes, unable to believe what had just happened. Does a lowly human just kick her? It was unacceptable!
The Goddess' reddish hair stood up and fluttered, now more akin to fire. The great volcano in the distance rumbled and erupted in flames and fog, responding to the Goddess' anger.
Now, Goddess Pele's whole body is covered with reddish light and a heatwave that radiates in all directions. Her eyes turned red like coals.
"HOW DARE YOU?!"
*WOOONGGG!*
The screams of the Goddess created a shockwave that spread around and drooped the surrounding plants. The ten party members who had just felt a bit of freedom now had to feel the brunt of that pain again.
They all spat out a mouthful of blood as it felt like their internal organs were being ripped apart by just that voice.
Only Clyde was unaffected by the voice of the Goddess. He stood firmly in place while giving her a sharp glare.
'Now this is going to be more serious.'
Clyde finally decided to take the Elderglass Sword out of its scabbard as well. He held the fiery Inferno Blade in his left hand and his Elderglass Sword in his right.
Goddess Pele let out a furious scream and lunged at him. Clyde used his remaining Stats Points to increase his Magic Power Level. Because for now, he feels he will need a lot of Mana.
[ Magic Power: 35 - 40 ]
[ Stat Points: 18 ]
To fight a Goddess, Clyde knew that he had to use all his strength. He is now taking a big risk by fighting a real Celestial and he doesn't want to lose his first fight. If he has to use up all the Points he has saved then Clyde will do it.
Clyde also lunged at Goddess Pele while activating his Skills.
[ Burning Hand (Lv. 30) is activated! ]
[ Pure Lightning (Lv. 30) is activated! ]
Bluish-white lightning and flames which were now a brighter orange than before appeared to surround Clyde's body.
Goddess Pele who previously attacked filled with only rage now felt astonished when she felt Clyde's huge surge of power.
'What happened?' the Goddess wondered. But she was so close to her target that she couldn't stop. Instead of considering it, the Goddess increased her speed intending to issue a big attack when the impact between them happened.
Clyde also decided the same thing. He poured massive amounts of Mana into the Inferno Blade and Elderglass Sword, making the flames and lightning that enveloped the two weapons burn even brighter and stronger.
·ƈθm Clyde gritted his teeth and swung both swords with all his might at the approaching Goddess Pele.
*CLASH!*
The two of them ended up clashing with great power.
*BOOM!*
*WOOOOSSHHH!*
Explosions and shockwaves spread in all directions. The Goddess' fire collided with Clyde's fire and lightning power. Creates a stunning spectacle of destruction.
The spreading flames and lightning destroyed the trees in the forest and the grass that had previously grown abundantly filled this place.
The wave also hit the ten people who were still struggling with their pain.
'What a power... if this continues we will die!' Leyan thought while looking around. He caught Samuel's eye.
Samuel also wore a pained expression; Leyan immediately understood what Samuel wanted to say. They must quickly go to the portal before dying in this place.
Leyan and Samuel struggled to their feet and helped the others to walk toward the portal. Meanwhile, in the distance, the sound of the battle between Clyde and Goddess Pele could be heard.
'I can't believe he fought a Celestial. Is he trying to sacrifice himself for us?' Clyde stared at the center of this wave of fire and lightning. He couldn't see what was happening because of all the fire and some lightning that filled this place. But Samuel knew that was where Clyde was fighting Goddess Pele.
Clyde must also know about the bound that will make their power of system useless in front of Celestials. Yet now, Clyde fights her so they can go toward the portal.
In Samuel's mind, the possibility of Clyde dying and sacrificing for them was very high. He gritted his teeth, feeling guilty.
'With my strength now I can't help him. The only thing I can do is comply with his request, we must safely escape into the portal!'
Samuel and Leyan helped the others amidst the surge of Mana that filled the place because of Clyde and Goddess Pele's battle.
The reason why the two of them were still able to move - even if barely - was because they had just gotten power from the pond. If not, then Samuel and Leyan would just lay there with the others, waiting to die because they couldn't stand the pressure anymore from the waves of the battle between Clyde and Goddess Pele.
*BOOM!*
*BOOM!*
Explosion after explosion was created. Samuel, Leyan, or the others didn't bother to turn to see what was happening as they were busy staying alive by channeling their Mana to withstand the shockwaves that hit them. From the sheer force of shockwaves they received, they could grasp a picture of the battle.
Once again they were surprised by Clyde's strength. They already knew that Clyde was strong. But they don't know that he is strong enough to fight a Celestial head-on.
The party members had finally entered the portal. Now it was up to Samuel to decide whether he should close the portal or let it slide.
If he closed it, then maybe Clyde would have no way of going back. But if he kept the portal open, it was possible that the shockwave from this battle could reach Sivagadh Fortress.
*BOOM!*
Again an explosion sounded. This time, something shot out from the center of the chaotic Mana surge. A moment later something landed and didn't fall from where Samuel was standing. It was Clyde, who had somehow been knocked over by Goddes Pele's attack.
However, Clyde immediately stood up shortly after he fell. Clyde realized Samuel was staring at him dumbfounded and said. "Why haven't you left yet?!"
"How about you?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I'll find a way to get back," Clyde said. "If you stay here you will die. I can't fight while protecting you."
Samuel gritted his teeth. Once again he felt angry at himself because of his lack of strength. But Samuel realized that it was useless for now.
"Go!" Clyde shouted.
Samuel looked at her and nodded. "Be careful."
After that, he jumped into the portal and a moment later the portal was closed.
Clyde glanced at the place where the portal had been. He felt a little moved hearing Samuel's words. He looked genuine when he said that, Clyde could tell from the look in his eyes.
But the sound and pressure of Mana from afar brought him back to the situation he was in now. Goddess Pele floats in the air with a body covered in fire.
Clyde was sent flying here because he was caught off guard earlier. But he didn't feel significant damage because he was able to withstand her attack by crossing his two swords.
Clyde dashed to approach the Goddess. Flames and lightning flashed brightly around his body. After increasing his Magic Power Stat, Clyde felt an increased surge of Mana throughout his body. Makes him more confident to use his Skills for a long time to give significant damage to the Goddess.
Goddess Pele, who was already burning with anger, rushed to approach him. She waved a flaming hand at Clyde, but Clyde can fend it off with Inferno Blade.
Then Clyde thrust the Elderglass Sword covered in bluish-white lightning at her. The Goddess who had expected that Clyde would do that, grabbed his Elderglass Sword and squeezed it, intending to destroy the sword.
However, Clyde immediately channeled his Mana to enlarge the lightning in the sword so that the lightning flowed into the Goddess' hand.
Fighting fire with fire and lightning looks like it's not a good match. Clyde realized that too. But he only had those two elements in his Skills so he had no choice but to make the most of it.
~~~