Perfect Avatar-Chapter 273: Challenge

The orb engulfed the Dragon King and began its disastrous work. A violent wind swept across the area, releasing destructive energy shaking the earth.

Fafnir’s head emerged from this hell, its color oscillating between red and black. He let out a huge roar, as his flesh slowly transformed into a gelatinous substance.

His eyes glowed brighter and brighter, his energy increased, in fact all the energy around him kept increasing exponentially, as his own body turned into fuel.

Zury felt her spell fade from him, and so she created another pentagram on the ground, rippling through Fafnir in the form of chains encircling his head, closing his jaw, but the beast forced his jaw open, and released a new beam aimed skyward, a final roar of despair, as his jaw began to reveal the structure of his bones.

Everyone watched this sinister spectacle, there was no way out, it was the death of a Player.

Lucca joined the rest of the army and after Rhea and Giudecca landed safely, she took her human form, then watched the show with trembling lips.

"... My God... What kind of attack is this?"

"Don’t be stupid, he’s a true Avatar... We shouldn’t be working with him." Giudecca groaned.

In front, Dora appeared next to Rhea, the General observed the masterpiece, with little reaction, then let the tip of her sword touch the cliff.

"How long will that last?"

"Until he’s reduced to wind."

"... And after that? Wasn’t his regeneration on another level?"

Dora tilted his head, massaging his left hand.

"I know many ways to deal with people with a high regeneration, but in his case, it’s over. I told you it was an overkill."

Rhea put her sword back in her scabbard, turning to her army.

"It’s not an overkill but a hunt, everyone has a chance to get a share of flesh. I admit your power is effective, but who knows if the next target would be the regenerating type?"

"Your first mistake is assuming that’s a complication. Mark my words, regeneration is the best counter against me and I’ve already found a way to neutralize it."

It only lasted a moment, and it was so faint that anyone could have missed this detail, but behind the red light, a smile was barely visible sideways on Rhea.

"Good, at least you’re not just a talker. If this is over here, let’s move on to the next target."

She looked behind Eva and noticed a strange expression on her face, the latter flinched when she was found out and closed her eyes.

"Of course, we have a very strict schedule now. Give me a second."

She clasped her hands and began a silent prayer. Meanwhile, Fafnir’s skull fell into the red orb. The orb continued to spin for several seconds, then slowly decreased in size.

Dora looked at the scene for a moment, then looked at Sigma in the sky. The Persona snapped his fingers, creating another hole above the orb, and from there, Omega descended.

"Hm? Isn’t it over? Why do you need another warrior?"

"Just an insurance, and also to absorb this energy. If there is a soul stone in him, there is a risk that it will shatter in this orb. I will just take it all at once."

"I don’t recall a soul stone shattering... but I was never interested in them anyway."

She looked again at Eva who had stood up.

"I’ve found the closest one exact location. Dora, could you call Sigma? I’ll share the coordinates."

Dora looked at Sigma, but before he could convey the message, Rhea put a hand on his shoulder.

"Wait, Eva, find the location of a second one too."

Eva raised an eyebrow.

"Second?"

"Yes, since fighting one Player at a time is a waste of ressources, let’s split up."

She placed her hand on her sword, her eyes turning to Dora.

"Your little speech caught my attention, I admit that I underestimated you, you are more interesting than anyone I have met, so why not a little challenge?"

Dora raised an eyebrow as well, Rhea’s face showed a little emotion, but that little bit was more than the entire army was used to seeing.

"A challenge? Against me? What do you have in mind?"

"It’s simple, let’s hunt the Players separately. You only need their soul stones, right? So there’s no need to let you do the kill."

She removed her sword, observing the blade carefully.

"It will make it even faster, and it will also keep some suspense on our attribute. Isn’t that to your advantage?"

This last note caused Dora to frown. One of his goals was to understand Rhea’s power, but it was unclear whether she had discovered his plan or was truly looking for a challenge.

However, this was no longer completely necessary.

Rhea Silva only has one skill, it was likely that it was what she had shown so far.

"What about your army? Are they just gonna stay on standby?"

"It’s a hunt, everyone is involved. The only rule is not to absorb a soul stone. It’s also not a competition for a prize, only a show to determine the strongest."

The knights’ weapons briefly glowed, Rhea’s message was conveyed perfectly, and they were now more galvanized for action.

Dora grimaced a little but although the offer was strange, there was too little reason to object.

If they continued to fight together, she would also learn more about his power.

"...Good for me then, let’s do this."

They turned to Eva insistently, the young girl, at first troubled, still began to locate the second player, and at the same time, the space turned yellow and space cracked around the orb of energy.

Using Aurum Serra, Omega absorbed Fafnir’s mass of energy, while Sigma did the same with the dragons’ soul stones.

In their world, Dora and Midgard looked at each other with big poker faces.

Apophis, sitting on the grass, moved a lock of her hair.

"Let me guess, they won?"

Midgard rolled her eyes and sat down as well.

"The population here is really going to become troublesome, now we have unwanted guests too."

Elizabeth and Peters were deeply shocked, the woman looked at the grass in disbelief.

"Already? Just like that? Fafnir... Is he dead? This Fafnir?"

Peters also fell on his butt, beads of sweat on his forehead.

"I... Maybe it was the right decision to die before... What the heck is going on?"

"Actually, it’s not much of an achievement." Apophis yawned. "A Player is weaker than a Player with the body of a Sin avatar. The power of an Avatar depends on the Sins and Pride is stronger than all Avatars. He had no chance."

Dora sat down in turn, crossing his arms.

"She didn’t do much, but if she truly understood my alter ego’s intentions, then she’s definitely dangerous."

He looked at the sky, then raised an eyebrow.

"...So, he will appear here?"

Midgard took her phone and started writing jumbled words to calm her mind.

"Sooner or later, I might summon him. You want to talk to him?"

"Hm... I want the opinion of a Player fresh out of the Rift... But he’d probably be like you and won’t’t remember what he did... Hm? Shit!"

He stood up abruptly, Elizabeth fell backwards with great terror.

"What??? What’s happening now???"

"I realized! I also have the power of the King of Dragons, and hundreds of his people! So... I should be an absolute monster now!"

He bit his nail with a loud moan.

"Damn... If only the world wasn’t so fucked up... It’s terrible not to enjoy it! I could have been invincible..."

"Is that your concern? You scared me, you little shit!"

Midgard laughed a little, she then looked at the sky with a little worry.

"You’re not wrong, if the plan continues you will truly become unstoppable...I wonder why Eva is trying so hard to achieve this."

They were silent for a second, thinking. It was their only power at that time.

From memory, they knew Eva had a plan, but it was hard to imagine that someone so seemingly wise would be foolish enough to empower someone she considered untrustworthy.

On the outside, Sigma created several holes on two sides, each leading to a different player.

Rhea and Dora stood side by side, ready to engage, with the entire army behind them.

The General removed her sword, observing the holes on the left side.

"Consider this training. If you believe you belong to Fenrir, this is the place and time to show your worth. You are free to follow whoever you want, but in the end, if you die, you die alone. I Put yourself on a pedestal, don’t disappoint me now."

"You know better than me why you wanted a challenge. For you, I’m a special opponent, for me, you’re another challenge."

"This is exactly why I don’t want you to disappoint me, I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t sure of the outcome."

She moved forward, toward the holes on the left, without looking behind her, Dora in turn moved towards the holes on the right side.

The knights followed Rhea, Zury and Marie followed Dora.

Eva remained there, watching the backs of the two Avatars.

Once again his expression changed into something that had once intrigued Rhea, a strange smile, a smile expressing deep melancholy.

"...If only it wasn’t for their execution."