The Evolution of a Goblin to the Peak

Boom!!

The three figures streaked through the sky, leaving behind a trail of intricate energy patterns as they clashed with incredible force. Souta, Red Mist, and Paente moved with such velocity that their collisions echoed across the battlefield, their elemental energies—flame, plant, shadow, and light—illuminating the tumultuous skies.

Paente, now in complete control of his immense strength, attacked with precision and skill, making it difficult for Souta and Red Mist to gain any advantage. Their battle unfolded with ferocity, each blow resonating with deafening impact.

Within a thirty-kilometer radius, no civilians remained. The sheer intensity of the battle would have surely claimed their lives if not for Adel and Shen Yao's efforts to shield them from the overwhelming energy.

"This guy is strong," Red Mist remarked with a laugh.

"You need to take this seriously," Souta cautioned.

"I am," Red Mist retorted as she deftly evaded Paente's onslaught, retaliating with a barrage of flaming projectiles.

Paente, undeterred, transformed his hands into a massive shield, deflecting the fiery onslaught before launching a barrage of spikes towards his opponents.

Souta and Red Mist swiftly maneuvered to evade and counter the onslaught, their movements fluid and precise.

"I know what you are... You don't need to conceal it," Souta stated in a low voice, his focus unwavering as he deflected the incoming spikes.

Swoosh!!

Paente materialized behind Souta, his arm arcing towards him with lethal intent. Reacting swiftly, Souta slashed through the incoming spikes with his blades, while the spider limbs protruding from his back intercepted Paente's attack. With a swift motion, Souta retaliated, delivering a powerful kick to Paente's abdomen.

Bang!!

Paente ignored the pain and swung his hand at Souta once again. Souta retreated, and a flame burst out from below, swallowing Paente's body.

Souta raised his hand, touching his shoulder as he stared at Paente's body within the flames. He realized that the armor on his shoulder was gone, along with his skin. It seemed Paente had managed to land an attack without him noticing. It was a bit problematic if that were the case.

Beside him, Red Mist flew, her expression serious. The smile on her face was gone, replaced by a look that seemed to convey a desire for retribution.

"What do you know?" she asked sharply.

"Just a little bit," Souta shrugged.

Boom!!

The flames disappeared, revealing Paente's unharmed figure. Paente simply glanced at the two of them and asked, "What can you do? You can't even harm me, so why do you struggle?"

As Paente took a step forward, the air vibrated, enveloping the area in silence. It was as if time had stopped.

"The end is the outcome of all. It will bring you true salvation. It will wash away all of our sins," he declared loudly, his energy reaching another level, growing stronger with each passing moment.

Souta took a deep breath, heightening his senses to their maximum capabilities. The energy emanating from Paente was extremely dangerous. He needed to prepare himself for the worst.

Glancing at Red Mist, he said, "There's only a minute left. We need to destroy this guy's body at the same time the hydra destroys the tree."

"Okay... But don't call me that! Or else I'll kill you!" Red Mist shot him a glare.

"Fine... I'll do my best too," Souta replied, knowing that she didn't like being referred to by another title, the Witch Ember of Terror.

Red Mist slowly raised her hands as her red hair fluttered in the wind.

"Fiamma, take it up to the limit. We're going to kill this guy within a minute."

The temperature soared sharply as a massive surge of energy burst forth. More scales formed on her skin, and three horns emerged on her head, forming a circular pattern like a crown. The flaming dragon wings on her back fused seamlessly with her flesh, and three more tails protruded.

[Spirit Unified Form: Embers of Eternal Flame Spirit]!!

The heat became unbearable. The ground began to melt, along with the branches of the tree. All moisture in the air vanished in an instant. The heat wave carried an immense energy that incinerated everything it touched.

In the distance, Adel and Shen Yao's expressions changed upon sensing the energy fluctuations in the atmosphere. The entire area began to ignite as fire spread uncontrollably.

"Shit!!" Adel cursed.

This level of battle was not meant for civilians. The heat wave would instantly liquefy any ordinary person. If not for them, all the civilians present would have perished.

Red Mist resembled a sun, her energy levels skyrocketing.

"Not enough!"

She pressed both hands together, and when she parted them, a red flaming staff with a draconic design materialized.

Roar!!

A mighty roar reverberated the moment the staff manifested, akin to the bellow of a powerful dragon.

Souta narrowed his eyes as he created some distance. Being too close to her would subject him to her overwhelming aura. The temperature around her soared to several million degrees Celsius.

There was a reason why Red Mist was known as the Witch Ember of Terror.

That staff...

It was a soul weapon. Red Mist belonged to a certain species of humans called witches.

Her soul weapon was highly compatible with the spirit inside her body, resonating to further enhance her strength.

Bang!

Red Mist tapped the air with her staff, causing the temperature to plummet instantly. However, the destructive energy within the heat wave only intensified. Despite the lower temperature, the danger level increased significantly.

All of this occurred in just a second.

Paente was somewhat surprised by Red Mist's transformation. He narrowed his eyes and muttered, "A witch... It's my first time encountering one."

"A witch, you say...? Don't call me that!" Red Mist retorted as she aimed her staff at Paente.

A tremendous burst of flame erupted from her staff. Paente had no time to evade as the sea of flames engulfed his body once again.

Souta charged forward. His heightened senses located Paente's body within the flames. The four spider limbs on his back pointed forward and unleashed [Bestrou].

Boom!!

A massive explosion erupted.

Suddenly, hundreds of roots burst from the ground, hurtling towards Souta and Red Mist with formidable force.

Souta deftly slashed at the roots with his sword, cutting them down before turning his attention back to the explosion. Knowing Paente was still present, he readied himself for the next confrontation. With a swift kick, he propelled himself toward Paente's location, with Red Mist following suit after incinerating the roots.

Swoosh!!

Paente, amidst the dissipating smoke, began regenerating his body when Souta and Red Mist abruptly appeared. Their arrival sparked a fierce battle that dispelled the remaining smoke.

Red Mist confronted Paente head-on, unleashing her formidable firepower to continually burn his body, while Souta provided support from the sidelines.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Paente deftly evaded Red Mist's attacks, then countered with a powerful blow to her stomach. He recoiled upon realizing that his own fist was burning from the contact with her body. She was proving to be an immensely hazardous opponent. Paente acknowledged that without fusing with the tree, he wouldn't stand a chance against her.

"What an annoyance!"

As Paente prepared to pursue Red Mist, Souta intercepted his path, swiftly slashing at his chest and causing blood to spatter in the air.

Paente gritted his teeth and surged forward, deftly evading Souta's sword thrust. With a swift kick to Souta's stomach, he followed up with a barrage of punches.

Souta stepped back, quickly adapting his armor. Shifting to his [Jade Spider] form, he ensnared Paente with spider webs before reverting to his [Great Black Orc] form, slamming his weapon down on Paente.

Swoosh!

Paente broke free from the webbing and swiftly blocked Souta's attack. Before he could retaliate, he felt a searing pain in his side as Red Mist thrust her staff into him.

Boom!!

Paente was sent flying several kilometers away, crashing into the ground.

But Souta wasn't finished. He propelled himself into the air with a kick, then descended rapidly toward Paente's location. His body was covered in blood before his armor expanded and transformed into a massive gray form, adorned with spikes.

[Blood Armor: Stone Armadillo]!

A streak of gray light, crackling with lightning, streaked across the sky and crashed down on Paente like a meteor.

Boom!!