Villain Ch 422. Grueling Wake Up Call [Part 1]
Liam's frustration boiled over as he shouted, "Shut up!" His teeth ground together in annoyance, and his eyes blazed with irritation.
On the other hand, Darren, though he maintained his intense focus on Allen, mirrored the same vexation. His hands clenched involuntarily, mirroring his inner turmoil.
Their irritation was palpable because, deep down, they knew Allen's words held an uncomfortable truth. They were indeed entangled in Sophia's web, playing by her rules because of that ill-fated video. The fact that even an A.I like the devil emperor could see through their charade intensified their frustration, despite the possibility that Allen's observations might have no direct connection to Sophia. It was a bitter pill to swallow, one they weren't ready to face.
A wicked grin crept across Allen's lips as he relished his small victory. "Seems like I've struck a nerve, haven't I?" he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery.
Since Liam and Darren had chosen to confront him, Allen had decided to deliver a far less gentle wake-up call than the one he had offered Elio. He intended to toy with them, subjecting them to a slow, grueling torment that would fuel their frustration. He understood that as long as Al, the assassin A.K.A his another persona in this game persisted, Darren and Liam would stubbornly remain, their pride refusing to let them back down.
Darren swiftly summoned his chat screen and began typing a message to Liam.
Player_Eater: Knock him off from there. I will summon my carnivorous plant.
He knew he could only summon five plants, and they were limited in number. One healing plant had already been used, leaving him with just four. If the situation got worse, he might have to summon another healing plant, which would leave him with only three cannibal plants.
Liam caught Darren's gaze and subtly shook his head, indicating that he couldn't comply with that plan. In response, Darren quickly adjusted his strategy and typed out a new message on his hologram keyboard.
Player_Eater: Distract him. I will use my plant bomb to knock him off.
Catching their exchange, Allen's dark aura enveloped the area as he used his Demonic Lance skill. Sinister black lances materialized one by one, hanging ominously in mid-air, ready to strike. His gaze remained cold and unyielding as he locked onto Liam, his tone dripping with mockery.
"Come to me, pathetic servant. Aren't you supposed to serve your master well?" Allen taunted. "If your master orders you to take the weapon from me, even if you have to die to take it, you have to do it."
Liam couldn't help but click his tongue in annoyance. It was a bitter pill to swallow, cooperating with Darren, especially when he wasn't particularly fond of the idea of letting Darren claim all the glory. But in this dire situation, their victory was the top priority, and he had to set his personal reservations aside.
In this tense standoff, Darren and Liam exchanged a brief nod, an unspoken agreement between them. Liam knew that their success relied on their ability to work together as a team, even if it meant putting aside their pride and ego for the moment.
Liam clenched his grand ax tightly, determination in his eyes. He lunged at Allen. His expectations were more measured this time, realizing that overpowering Allen might be an impossible task. Instead, he set his sights on something else, something that could give them the edge they desperately needed.
With a swift and determined motion, Allen waved his hand forward, commanding his dark lances to launch a ferocious assault. The black, razor-sharp projectiles shot forward like a deadly swarm of hornets, aimed directly at Liam, who was in the midst of his attack on the ground.
The lances moved with uncanny speed and precision, creating a hauntingly beautiful yet terrifying spectacle as they sliced through the air. Each lance was imbued with dark energy, leaving a trail of ominous black mist in their wake.
In a desperate bid to shield himself from Allen's relentless barrage of black lances, Liam took a calculated risk. He swung his grand ax down with all his might, slamming the weapon into the ground below him. The impact sent a resounding boom echoing through the battlefield, causing the very ground to tremble.
The earth responded to Liam's command, forming massive stone spikes and enormous stone hands that erupted from the ground. These stone constructs were substantial, their colossal size meant to act as a formidable barrier against the incoming black lances.
The black lances collided with the stone constructs with tremendous force, resulting in a dazzling display of sparks and dark energy dispersing in all directions. The battlefield was illuminated with flashes of light as the lances clashed with Liam's spikes.
Liam's gamble had paid off; the stone spikes and hands proved to be an effective blockade, successfully intercepting most of the black lances. However, some managed to slip through the gaps, striking Liam's avatar and inflicting additional damage. Luckily, Darren's Healing Plant helped him to recover a bit.
Despite the immense pressure, Liam remained determined. His health continued to deplete, but he knew that his actions had given him a fighting chance to survive this deadly encounter with the devil emperor.
With a display of agility and determination, Liam swiftly ascended the stone spikes as if they were a makeshift ladder, propelling himself towards the enormous stone hand. As he reached the hand, he used it as a springboard, launching himself high into the air. With all of his might, he aimed to strike Allen, his knuckles around the ax crackling with latent energy.
Meanwhile, Darren, seizing the opportunity, summoned his three Carnivorous Plants below them. These grotesque flora sprouted from the ground with an insatiable hunger, their vine-like appendages ready to ensnare anything within their grasp.
The battlefield had become a chaotic scene, with Liam in mid-air, poised to attack, and Darren's carnivorous plants emerging from the earth below. It was a desperate attempt to regain control of the situation and turn the tide of their battle against the formidable devil emperor.
But the wicked grin on Allen's face signified another thing.