At this point, neither side had any room to dodge or any angle to parry.

However, facing this torrential rain of light beams—powerful enough to melt Fine Steel and vaporize rock—Jon’s pupils showed not a ripple of emotion, only a near-ruthless focus.

In the instant before that destructive rain of light could consume him, the Golden Rock Crystal armor covering his body, along with the pair of massive Crystal Rock Dragon Wings on his back, abruptly erupted with a completely different kind of light—a sacred and searing, platinum-gold radiance!

[Sunfire Aura]! [Righteous Counterattack]!

VMMMM—!

A solid, pure Divine Barrier instantly manifested before him!

“SZZZZZZZZ—!!!”

A horrifying, grating sound of impact instantly exploded outward!

The crimson beams, filled with profanity and malice, were like filthy snow thrown into a searing furnace upon touching the Divine Barrier. They were silently devoured, dissolved, and converted by the pure power of light!

Platinum-gold ripples of Energy spread across the Light Wall. Not only was it not weakened, but after devouring a massive amount of foul energy, its radiance grew even more dazzling, even more intense!

It was as if a divine vessel, filled to the brim with destructive energy, was brewing a counterattack of unstoppable, thunderous power!

The shock and anger in the eyes on the Evil-Eyed Lizard’s back were instantly replaced by an instinctual fear of pure Divine Energy!

The very moment the torrential rain of crimson beams was completely devoured—

“Hah!”

Jon’s deep, sharp cry exploded like a dragon’s roar!

He jolted his arms forcefully!

VMMMM—!

The platinum-gold barrier, having absorbed a massive amount of foul energy and glowing too brightly to look at, shattered with a deafening roar!

But it did not dissipate. Instead, it transformed into an even more violent, more brilliant torrent of white-hot light. Like a celestial river bursting its banks, or a spear of judgment thrown by the Sun God, it surged ferociously back toward the Evil-Eyed Lizard just inches away!

“CHCHCHCH—!!!”

The holy torrent accurately pierced the gaps in the Evil-Eyed Lizard’s flared Scale Armor, punching through the crimson eyes on its back that had no time to close!

Filthy, dark-red ichor mixed with shattered eyeball tissue sizzled and sprayed wildly, like a wax membrane being seared by a red-hot iron!

“GAAAAH—!!!”

An unprecedented, piercing shriek, filled with a soul-tearing agony, erupted from the monster’s twisted maw!

Its reared-up body convulsed violently, shaking so much from the immense pain that it could barely maintain its balance.

And in that instant, as the foul creature suffered a heavy blow and was left wide open, Jon’s next attack arrived!

[Dragon Force Burst] + [Dragon Claw Swing]!

The uplifted [Broken Abyss], sheathed in thick Golden Rock Crystal and shaped like a giant stone pillar, swung down with a tremendous force capable of shaking mountains!

Simultaneously, the pair of massive Crystal Rock Dragon Wings on his back transformed instantly. Driven by their master’s will, they rapidly deformed, reassembled, and extended as if they were alive!

The jagged wing bones contracted and solidified, and the vast wing membranes curled inward and converged, instantly forming a peerlessly fearsome, giant dragon claw covered in thick, crystalline Scale Armor!

This giant claw, perfectly synchronized with Jon’s downward swing of [Broken Abyss], tore through the air in an instant, descending with a terrifying pressure that seemed to crush space itself, clawing viciously at the Evil-Eyed Lizard’s neck, which was exposed due to its agony!

If this strike landed true, the beast would be grievously wounded, if not killed outright!

However, the person hiding in the shadows would not just sit by and watch their plan fail.

Just as Jon’s blade was about to complete its swing, a foul beast resembling a Flayed Giant Dog, its aura no weaker than the Evil-Eyed Lizard’s, suddenly leaped out from behind a nearby building, its sword-sharp foreclaws lunging straight for him!

The situation was instantly reversed!

If Jon insisted on finishing his swing, he would have to tank the new enemy’s lunge. But if he abandoned the attack, he would then have to face a pincer attack from two enemies and be forced onto the defensive!

However, the enemy had underestimated Jon’s combat experience and determination.

Faced with such a situation…

‘Of course… it’s better to sever one finger than to injure all ten!’

Jon’s ice-blue eyes narrowed, his decision settling in his mind like a cold, unmoving boulder!

To abandon the attack would be to surrender the kill window he had worked so hard to create, and to instantly fall into the quagmire of a two-front assault!

The only way was to trade an injury for a kill, to first completely eliminate one of the threats!

The swing of his greatsword, [Broken Abyss], did not slow in the slightest. Instead, empowered by Dragon Force Burst, it carried the force of a landslide and descended even faster!

The Golden Rock Crystal-covered blade tore through the air, letting out a dull roar like rolling thunder as it chopped straight for the Evil-Eyed Lizard’s vulnerable, unprotected neck, exposed by its agony!

At the same time, the newly pounced Flayed Giant Dog was upon him!

Its gnarled, muscular body exuded a thick stench of sulfur. Dark red ichor flowed over its exposed tendons, and the ghostly green poison-fire burning on its four paws left strange afterimages as it moved at high speed.

Its savage, dark-red eyes were locked firmly on Jon’s undefended flank. Its foreclaws, as sharp as scimitars of Fine Steel, whistled through the air with enough force to pierce iron plate as they stabbed viciously forward!

“PFFTCH—!!!”

The muffled thud of a blade sinking into flesh and shattering bone and the piercing sound of a sharp weapon tearing through meat erupted at almost the exact same moment!

Jon’s [Broken Abyss] sliced through the Evil-Eyed Lizard’s thick neck without any resistance, like a hot knife through rotten wood!

Foul, dark-red blood, mixed with bone fragments and scales, shot into the sky like magma from an erupting volcano!

The lizard-like foul creature’s massive body suddenly stiffened. The remaining eyes on its back instantly dimmed and froze, and then its body collapsed with a thunderous crash, as if all its bones had been removed!

The ground groaned under its heavy body, sending dust and foul blood splashing everywhere.

However, Jon had also paid a price!

The Flayed Giant Dog’s claws slammed viciously into the Golden Rock Crystal armor covering his ribs!

“CLANG—CRACK!!!”

A piercing shriek of metal on metal and cracking rock rang out!

Even armor as thick as the Crystal Rock Armor could not withstand a full-force blow from an enemy of this caliber. Several hideous cracks were torn open in it.

The ghostly green poison-fire, like maggots clinging to bone, crazily seeped into the cracks, making a “TSSSSS” sound of corrosion!

“Ugh!”

Jon grunted, a flash of pain crossing his ice-blue eyes as his body was thrown sideways by the tremendous Impact!

The hooves of the Mechanical Warhorse beneath him scraped against the gravel, creating dazzling sparks and a piercing “SCREEE” sound. It was almost knocked over by the terrifying Impact!

A sharp, crushing pain radiated from his ribs, as if he’d been struck squarely by a Siege Hammer, and his insides churned violently.

The intense pain, mixed with the cold, burning sensation of the poison-fire’s corrosion, made his vision momentarily go black!

But his grip on his sword remained as steady as a rock!

He forcefully suppressed the brief moment of stun from killing the Evil-Eyed Lizard with his formidable willpower!

Having landed a successful blow, the Flayed Giant Dog’s savagery only intensified!

It unhesitatingly opened its great maw, which was dripping with corrosive slime, and lunged to bite down viciously on Jon’s exposed neck and shoulder!

In the nick of time!

The giant dragon claw in front of Jon, formed from his Crystal Rock Dragon Wings, suddenly changed, transforming into a thick, pillar-like dragon tail!

[Dragon Tail Sweep]!

“WHAM—!!!”

A dull thud of impact and the crack of breaking bones sounded at the same time. The Flayed Giant Dog was not a creature skilled in Defense, and it was sent flying by the blow, any thought of a follow-up attack gone.

After delivering the blow, Jon couldn’t help but let out a breath.

He didn’t bother checking the combat log. Instead, he mentally touched the [Blood of the Earth] hidden on his chest.

[Earthen Source]!

A warm, crystalline light spread from his chest, dispelling the foul fire that was trying to burrow into his bones. At the same time, the tears in his Crystal Rock Armor slowly began to mend.

[+1121 (Life Recovery) +290 (Magic Recovery)]!

[Abnormal Status “Profane Corruption” Purified]!

The Blood of the Earth itself had a [Life Value Recovery Bonus] effect. Combined with the [Sunlight Talisman] and the [Mark of Bountiful Echoes], this one cast of [Earthen Source] healed Jon directly back to his peak condition!

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