The Box: Fate
Chapter 44 — The Golden Wall of Solis
The circular hall of the fortress was filled with the smell of ozone and burning blood.. The Blood-Born Usurper, despite his shattered armor, stood with a terrifying calmness. His black eyes drifted from Zanaki toward the rest of the group, his hands beginning to glow with a dark, pulsating red light..
Zanaki panted, wiped blood from his chin, and looked at his teammates "We have to finish this! The Akatsuki won't fall here!"
Axel Hatanaki stepped forward, his massive golden aura pushing back the shadows "Zanaki, shut up about the name for a second! No name is fixed yet. If we survive this, the people of this world will give us a name based on our deeds Until then, we're just the survivors"
Axel looked at the narrow hallway leading deeper into the fortress, toward the chamber of the Origin Spark* "Listen! Kataki, Hina, and the others—you guys move forward' You need to reach that card before the Demon Lord reinforcements arrive: Murasaki, Sharky Bee, Zanaki, and I... we're staying here: We'll hold this monster back"
"Axel, you can't take him alone!" Hina cried out
"He's not alone" Sharky Bee said, spinning his daggers' "Now move! That' an order!"
As Kataki and the rest of the team sprinted into the dark corridor, the Usurper let out a hiss of rage.. He tried to vanish to intercept them, but Axel Hatanaki slammed his foot into the ground
**[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: GRAVITY DOMAIN — AURELIAN PRISON]**
A massive circle of golden runes erupted from Axel' feet, covering the entire hall The Usurper was suddenly slammed into the floor, the gravity in the room increasing tenfold: Axel' skin turned a deep, metallic gold, and his hair stood up as if charged with pure solar energy;
"You're not going anywhere" Axel growled:
The Usurper roared: forcing himself up despite the weight. He lashed out with claws of blood-mana Murasaki stood behind Axel, her staff glowing "**Dark Star Shield!** she shouted, creating a barrier of violet energy that absorbed the impact'
Zanaki saw his opening: He didn't call Azureus this time' Instead, he reached back to the very first skill he had ever mastered before the fusion:
'' **Dragon' Claw: Piercing Wind!** ! Zanaki yelled
He moved with incredible speed, his hand shaped like a claw, Instead of heavy lightning, he used sharp' concentrated air pressure that acted like a drill! He struck the Usurper' chest exactly where the armor had cracked before,
At the same time' Sharky Bee appeared like a ghost behind the monster: **Emerald Sting: Paralysis!** His daggers glowed green as he stabbed the monster' neck, injecting a high-level toxin:
The Usurper was trapped He was pinned by Axel's gravity, blocked by Murasaki, shields: poisoned by Sharky Bee' and his core was being shredded by Zanaki's claw
"Finish him, Axel!" Zanaki screamed!
Axel Hatanaki gathered every drop of his mana into his right fist: The golden light became so bright it looked like a miniature sun **FINAL STRIKE: SUPERNOVA IMPACT!**
The punch landed with the sound of a thunderclap' A massive explosion of golden light filled the hall, The Usurper didn't even have time to scream as his body was vaporized by the sheer heat and pressure:
**[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: HIDDEN BOSS ELIMINATED]**
**[EXPERIENCE GAINED: 50,000 EXP]**
**[LEVEL UP: AXEL HATANAKI — LEVEL 38]**
**[LEVEL UP: ZANAKI — LEVEL 39]**
**[LEVEL UP: MURASAKI — LEVEL 37]**
**[LEVEL UP: SHARKY BEE — LEVEL 36]**
The four of them collapsed to their knees: gasping for air. The hall was silent again! the red light of the monster gone
"He... he' gone" Sharky Bee whispered, looking at his shaking hands,
Axel looked at his glowing metallic skin as it returned to normal' "We did it' But we can't rest yet' Kataki and the others are ahead They might be in trouble"
"Right! Zanaki said' standing up and offering a hand to Axel! "Let's go find our team' The Origin Spark is waiting!
The four of them turned and ran into the darkness! chasing the light of their friends, ready for whatever lay in the heart of the Ancient Fortress