Amelia watched with growing frustration as the giant stood once more, its body regenerating at a speed that defied all logic.
Even the most powerful healing magic she knew of couldn't work this fast, and none of it compared to the monstrous regeneration happening before her eyes.
This creature was unlike anything she had ever encountered.
Amelia raised her palm, narrowing her eyes, focusing on her next attack.
Above her, a massive, pointed icicle began to form, growing until it was as tall as the giant.
The air around it crackled with cold energy, and the temperature dropped to a bone-chilling cold, the sheer force of her magic making the atmosphere feel heavy and oppressive.
With a single wave of her hand, the icicle shot forward like a javelin, hurtling toward the giant's chest.
Grrrrr-RAAAAWR!
The creature let out a deafening roar, its four massive arms reaching out to grab the icy spear. But despite its best efforts, the icicle's momentum was unstoppable.
The sharp point pierced through the giant's chest, driving all the way through to its back.
The giant's roar turned into a strangled gasp as the life force drained from its eyes. It stood frozen in place, impaled by the icicle, its massive body slowly going limp.
For a moment, the world around them seemed to hold its breath.
Amelia descended gracefully, landing on top of the icicle that impaled on the giant's chest.
Her expression was cold as she looked down at the defeated creature.
"I guess you've got a weak spot after all," she muttered to herself.
But before she could relax, the giant's eyes snapped open, glowing with an unnatural fury.
With a sudden, violent motion, it swung one of its massive fists toward Amelia, aiming to crush her where she stood.
Bam!
The impact was met with a loud crack as a large ice wall appeared between them, blocking the giant's fist.
Although the wall cracked under the force, it held strong, preventing the creature from reaching her.
Undeterred, the giant swung another fist, but once again, an ice wall appeared in its path, shattering partway but still holding firm.
Amelia's gaze was steely as she floated just out of the giant's reach, her voice calm yet filled with certainty. "If this had been before my breakthrough, I might have considered retreating. But now, you are no match for me."
Her words weren't just a boast; they were a statement of fact. Since reaching the Ethereal Manifestation stage, her control over her power has reached new heights.
The difference in their strength was vast, like the sky above and the earth below.
While the creature's attacks struck fear into others, to her, they seemed almost pitiable, like the helpless flailing of a child.
The giant, undeterred by its inability to reach her, let out another roar, pounding its fists against the ice walls in desperation.
But Amelia remained composed, watching as the creature's futile efforts only highlighted the gap between them.
It was powerful, yes, but power without control or intelligence was nothing more than brute strength—a force she could easily overcome.
Growing tired of the back-and-forth, Amelia decided to try a different approach.
The orb pulsed faintly with an inner light, its surface smooth except for a small crack on it.
As the giant's body lay motionless, Amelia floated down gently, the small orb held in her hand.
Her eyes stayed on Spark, who stood casually beside the massive corpse. She approached him, still thinking about the giant creature's ability.
"How did you know its weakness was its head?" Amelia asked, her tone curious as she studied Spark's face.
"It was the only part it was really protecting," he replied, his voice as calm as ever.
"Really?" Amelia frowned slightly, her brow furrowing as she tried to remember if the giant had actually guarded its head during their fight.
It hadn't seemed particularly defensive about any part of its body. She replayed the battle in her mind, analyzing every move. "I did not notice that..."
She trailed off, her gaze drifting back to the lifeless giant.
"What kind of creature is this?" she muttered to herself.
The giant's ability to regenerate was unlike anything she'd ever seen. Even the most powerful healing magic took time, and none could heal so quickly and completely Find your next read on m_v l|e-novelhall.net
Lost in thought, Amelia barely noticed when Spark moved closer to the giant's remains. His voice brought her back to reality.
"Hmm... An Asura, now that's rare to see," Spark commented with mild interest, crouching beside a large chunk of the giant's red flesh and poking it with a stick. "It feels just like a rock, too."
Amelia turned to him, her expression skeptical. She couldn't tell if he was serious or if this was just another of his mysterious comments.
The name 'Asura' was new to her, and as someone well-versed in her clan's vast records, it was hard to believe such a creature could exist without her knowledge.
Her clan's history spanned over a thousand years—if they had no record of this creature, how could Spark know? The thought made her suspicious.
"What is an Asura?" she finally asked, her tone filled with curiosity and doubt.
"It's a race of giants from ancient times," Spark replied casually, not even glancing up as he continued to poke at the flesh. "They were said to have the strongest regenerative abilities of any race."
"A race of giants?" Amelia echoed, her confusion deepening. She knew about many races—some well-known, others hidden—but even those hidden races were documented in her clan's archives.
This, however, was entirely new to her.
She narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied Spark. "Did you just make that up?"
Spark shrugged, a lazy grin spreading across his face.
"I have read a lot of books," he added lightly. "Plus, I have a knack for knowing things others don't."
"Where did you read it? I have never come across anything like that," she asked again, her skepticism growing.
"It's simple," Spark replied, sounding almost nonchalant. "This race went extinct so long ago that they never made it into the records. As for where I read it, that's a secret."
She shot him a side-eye, her disbelief evident.
His words were often wrapped in layers of uncertainty, making her unsure whether to trust him.
"Sometimes, I think you just enjoy confusing people," she muttered, half to herself.
Spark chuckled softly, leaning back on his heels.
"Maybe," he said, his tone playful. "But where's the fun in giving everything away?"