[Vol. 7] Chapter 277: I Get It Now, Anti-Magic Blood Counters Mages!
At first, absorbing just 0.1% might not sound like a big deal. It seems kind of weak.
But here's the thing, this passive doesn't take a small chunk of the target’s current stats. It takes from their maximum HP, MP, and all other stats!
It might not be obvious in fast, one-sided fights, but if the battle turns into a long one, which is exactly what priests like Violet are best at, this passive becomes ridiculously powerful.
In other words, the [Eternal Scepter of the World's Heart] doesn’t just drain enemies and heal or buff Violet during battle. It’s basically a special mechanic-kill weapon.
Even if she never deals real damage, just landing a thousand normal hits will guarantee a kill. No matter how strong the opponent is.
In fact, most of Violet’s advanced strategies, including the three Semi-Divine artifacts that activate [Iron Blood Arena], are specially designed to work with the [Eternal] passive.
By the late game, except for a few boss fights that use pure cheat-level mechanics, Violet’s fully-leveled priest character could theoretically solo almost any boss. Ironically, it’s the small, fast-spawning enemies that are more annoying and need help from teammates or summoned creatures.
Back in the previous fight, Violet had already noticed it the first time she rushed in with her staff, even though Carinvega blocked the hit with her strange energy wave, the [Eternal] passive still worked.
To be honest, Violet didn’t have many great ways to deal with this kind of turtle-like, all-around defense.
Her attack options were always pretty limited.
Those few holy-light spells were more like jokes, and even summoning her “light incarnation” probably wouldn’t break that strange, rule-breaking shield.
Instead of going all out with a [Destruction Mode] that would flatten not just Carinvega but the entire Academy City and even the Austre Empire, using the [Eternal Scepter of the World's Heart] clearly made for a much safer and smarter strategy.
So far, she had hit the enemy three times with the staff, which meant she had already drained 0.3% of Carinvega’s maximum HP, MP, and all stats.
With all her buffs flying around, Violet herself didn’t feel much difference. But for the one being drained, that growing loss was becoming harder and harder to ignore.
Noticing her opponent’s hesitation, the black-haired girl raised an eyebrow.
[What, I’m not allowed to own a Primordial Artifact? Do I need your permission or something? Are you the [Agent of Fate] or the Crybaby~?”
[You…! Gods are not allowed to hold Primordial Artifacts. That’s the rule! You’ve committed a great taboo!]
Violet rolled her eyes.
Violet had already heard about this "rule" back when she talked with Sethlin about the difference between [Primordial Artifacts] and [Law Artifacts]. Sethlin had explained it clearly and warned her.
But to Violet, it felt less like a strict rule and more like a kind of protection. She never really sensed any of the so-called rejection effects. Though she stayed alert deep down, there was no way she was going to show weakness in a situation like this.
She grinned and showed a cheeky smile, baring her teeth just a little, clearly on purpose.
[I’m using it, so what? You got a problem with that, Crybaby?]
[You!!!]
Oh? Someone’s mad now.
Realizing she couldn’t use her attack skills in this space, the so-called [Agent of Fate] finally started to look visibly irritated for the first time.
But all she could do was step forward in anger and throw a punch right at the black-haired girl's face!
“Pa~”
Violet didn’t even bother to block it.
She let the pale, soft-looking fist hit her face directly. But thanks to the [Feather Robe Graria] that made her immune to weak attacks, a glowing light blocked the hit.
At the same time, the rebound force triggered the other girl's invisible protective aura again. But even with that, it couldn’t break through. The fist just stopped, stuck there in the air.
Violet glanced at the fist hovering just inches from her cheek. The white glow from her [Feather Robe Graria] and the strange ripple-like shield were clashing, neither able to overpower the other, and she smiled slightly at the sight.
Now she understood.
Even though Carinvega had partially awakened the essence of the [Wheel of Fate] inside her, giving her some kind of high-level divine power, her body was still based on that of a human princess. She hadn’t really gained much physical strength.
To put it simply, only her soul and spirit had temporarily leveled up. Her body, on the other hand, was still just a mortal, not even a mythical-level creature.
And now that all her offensive powers were sealed inside the [Iron Blood Arena], she was like a tiger without claws or fangs.
Almost completely harmless.
You could even say Violet was her natural counter.
Sure, Violet didn’t have any good way to break through that “ripple-like fate shield”, but the same was true for her opponent. It was an awkward situation, you can’t hurt me, and I can’t hurt you.
However, with the special passive of the [Eternal Scepter of the World's Heart], Violet had the upper hand.
As long as the fight kept going, she was guaranteed to win.
With that thought, the priestess once again swung her staff with a blank expression and attack the red-haired girl hard on her side, without the slightest hint of mercy, like she was playing bowling, sending her flying across the field again.
There was no need for useless talk. Against an opponent like this, arrogant, stubborn, and almost completely lacking in human feelings, the only way to deal with her was to show overwhelming strength.
Only by completely beating her down could Violet create the space for a proper conversation. Besides, everything outside had already been arranged. Even if she had to spend the next 24 hours stuck in here with this girl, it didn’t matter.
Violet watched as the red-haired girl was sent flying again like a cannonball, slamming into the soft but tough invisible "air wall" at the edge of the arena.
It looked like she was being pushed into a sponge, the wall had no clear shape, but it stopped her perfectly.
Although she didn’t have a scratch, she struggled to free herself, clearly in a helpless and awkward state...
The black-haired girl, who already had a good grasp of the situation, grinned.
Her smile didn’t match her usual holy and graceful appearance. In fact, it carried a strange sense of amusement.
With her white wings fluttering and a glowing halo behind her, she slowly walked toward her opponent step by step.
“No rush. We’ve got all the time in the world to play~”
…………………………………………
Meanwhile, outside the Academy City Sainz, in the Lannas province.
On the main road west of the city, still nearly a hundred kilometers from the Sainz City, a massive force of soldiers from the Austre Empire was marching in an overwhelming formation.
The towering [Graeme], several meters tall, made the ground shake with every step. Imperial soldiers wearing full mechanical armor and carrying magic mirrors marched in perfect order. They guarded a line of large magic-powered war machines that thundered down the road like giant metal beasts.
Ordinary travelers had already been pushed aside by the vanguard troops, forced to watch from the edges of the road, some even hiding behind trees far away.
Only a few daring ones peeked from the woods, nervously watching the army pass by, afraid that even a wrong glance might get them arrested on the spot.
As one of the world’s top military powers, it was normal for the Austre Empire to move troops within its borders. However, this road led directly toward the Sainz, and just ahead was the buffer zone set by an old agreement.
Ever since the ‘Unification War’ ended more than a hundred years ago, the Austre Empire had never openly marched its troops into this sensitive area.
Even though they were still technically outside the restricted zone, it was obvious, the Austre Empire wouldn’t send such a large force here for no reason.
At the same time, a towering, colorful storm could be seen swirling above the Sainz city, something everyone had noticed.
Now, with the Austre Empire’s army sweeping in like a tidal wave, it felt like a sign that something big was about to happen, a change that could shake the world.