After a brief flash of agony, Scaramouche was sent flying backward.
In Daigan’s vision, Scaramouche had been knocked into the air, entering a staggered state.
The greatest advantage of normal attacks was that regardless of how they landed, they always dealt damage; unless the target activated a shield or a forced movement skill, there was zero chance of missing.
With several invincibility frames available, combined with interruption resistance, he didn’t have to worry about being knocked around—otherwise, his mob-clearing efficiency would be drastically reduced.
*Whoosh!*
Scaramouche was launched back.
The searing pain across his face reminded him that his injuries were far from minor.
“Curse you…”
He tried to leap into the air, but the moment he raised his head, he discovered to his horror that Daigan’s figure was already right before him, moving in perfect relative trajectory.
The next instant, another cold glint struck down.
Forced into a corner, Scaramouche curled his body and raised his arms to block.
*Crack!*
Bright white energy burst forth alongside debris torn from his arms as he was smashed violently onto the ground.
“DAIGAN!!!”
A furious roar burst from Scaramouche’s lips, but what greeted him was another relentless slash in the very next instant.
Unwilling to take another hit, he immediately raised his arms and unleashed his elemental power to suppress his attacker.
“Annihilation!”
A blade of Electro tore through the air, aimed squarely at Daigan’s face.
Yet Daigan neither dodged nor flinched.
The Electro blade left a scorched mark across his face, but to Scaramouche’s terror, the next sword stroke descended without slowing down in the slightest.
*Sizzle!*
A massive volume of white energy sprayed outward.
Scaramouche twisted his body sideways, barely dodging a fatal blow.
A gruesome gash now severed his left arm and shoulder, where dark purple electrical currents mingled with white energy, leaking outward uncontrollably.
“Ugh…
Argh!
Get away from me!!!”
Having lost an arm, Scaramouche screamed to vent his elemental power.
An explosion of Anemo, Electro, and Pyro elemental energy detonated at his feet, sending Daigan spinning backward onto the ground.
Without giving Scaramouche a moment to rest, the ghost-like figure picked himself up the second Scaramouche stood, advancing on him once more with blade in hand.
“A monster!
You’re a monster!”
Clutching the wound leaking energy, Scaramouche lifted his feet, preparing to use his levitation ability.
*Whoosh!*
Daigan dashed forward instantly, landing another slash.
The streamers attached to Scaramouche’s hat were severed as he floated into mid-air, barely dodging the blade by a hair’s breadth.
At this moment, every trace of arrogance and contempt in his eyes had completely vanished.
Looking down at this monster, nothing remained in his eyes except deep, suffocating terror.
Staring into Daigan’s dark, abyssal eyes as that unwavering gaze pinned him down, Scaramouche felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
“Dottore!”
“Help me!”
Daigan’s field of view shifted.
In his vision, Scaramouche was now hovering in mid-air—the boss had entered its flying phase.
*This usually calls for a ranged weapon, but I can’t use a bow.*
Combat time did not count toward the normal flow of time in the real world.
Fortunately, the moment Scaramouche took to the air, an attack prompt popped up on his screen:
[Shouki no Kami Phase 2 Shield-Break Mechanics: Charge up using the Neo Akasha Terminal to break the shield]
[Note: Standard character attacks cannot damage the shield; you must engage the mechanics.
Hydro and Electro elements will be ineffective against subsequent Nirvana Engines]
[Pick up energy blocks dropped by Scaramouche’s skills (major skills drop large blocks) or destroy elemental components he deploys.
Collect 4 small blocks or 2 large blocks to reach full charge]
[With the Dendro Archon’s help, press T to aim and attack: Once fully charged, press T, and the Akasha Terminal imbued with Dendro energy will strike Scaramouche, significantly depleting his white shield]
“Cast skills…
Dendro Archon’s help?
Who’s the Dendro Archon?”
“Wait, he hasn’t cast any skills yet?” Daigan looked up at Scaramouche, who was floating motionless in the air.
“Did I move out of his aggro range?
That used to happen in the game sometimes.”
With that thought, Daigan dashed forward to draw closer to Scaramouche.
In Scaramouche’s eyes, the monster vanished again, closing the distance at an astonishing speed.
“He wants to jump up and attack me!”
“Electro…
Anemo blades!”
Realizing that Electro might be ineffective against Daigan, Scaramouche altered his attack strategy.
Clutching his wounded shoulder, he hurled over a dozen moon-shaped, teal-black Anemo blades toward Daigan.
*Crack!*
Unsurprisingly, an attack like this that didn’t cover the entire screen was easily dodged with two quick back-and-forth dashes.
Having dodged Scaramouche’s skill, Daigan immediately looked toward the spot where the attack had landed.
Sure enough, several purple energy blocks had been left behind.
Daigan quickly ran over to pick up the energy blocks highlighted by the system.
“What is he doing?”
*Boom!* The Anemo blades sliced through a stone pillar, smashing heavily into the ground.
Under Scaramouche’s bewildered gaze, Daigan stepped forward and kicked the remaining half of the broken pillar.
The massive stone pillar spun continuously in the air with unbelievable precision.
Immediately after, Daigan leapt into the air, executing a high kick straight upward.
*Clang!*
In Scaramouche’s vision, the gaze staring straight at him vanished.
In its place, the massive stone pillar filled his entire field of view, flying straight toward his face.
*BANG!*
The giant pillar smashed directly into Scaramouche’s face, pulverizing upon impact.
Debris exploded across his face, and his heavily wounded upper body was blasted backward violently.
Under the tremendous impact, bright white energy squirted out continuously from the gashes carved into his body.
After a brief moment of daze, a spray of silver blood erupted from his mouth.
The hand clutching his shoulder finally slumped limply.
After recoiling several meters through the air, his entire body went limp and fell toward the ground.
The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Daigan’s figure running toward him with a sword in hand.
…
[Shouki no Kami has entered a paralyzed state]
Just as Daigan raised his blade and rushed forward to unload his DPS, a familiar figure suddenly appeared on his UI.
The Doctor’s segment stepped in front of Scaramouche, a polite, benevolent smile gracing his lips.
“Mr.
Daigan, why don’t we stop here?”