The thin rune chains were like strands of hair to the massive Manxter serpent, yet under the chains' restraint, the giant snake was pinned helplessly in place, unable to move.
"Charge!" Jackson roared, his longsword blazing with brilliant light.
On the other side, the grey-robed figure also threw back his cloak, revealing a half-orc's features, and began rapidly chanting a spell.
ROAR!! The remaining monsters sensed their progenitor was in danger and hurled themselves recklessly at Leilin and his group.
"Drop dead!" Leilin flung several fire-red Explosive Potions, incinerating the last few monsters to ash.
"For Manxter, the eyes are their weak point — more effective than even the heart!"
Leilin bellowed and began chanting as well.
As the mysterious, ancient incantation in the Ancient Byron Language continued to reverberate through the cave, a large mass of thick, black oil materialized around Leilin's body.
The black oil coiled around him, bubbling intermittently and producing the sound of something being corroded. As the incantation was recited further, the oil continued to shift shape, finally forming the likeness of a black lion's head.
"Go!" Leilin pointed with his hand.
The black lion's head let out a roar and flew toward the top of the bound giant serpent's head.
SPLAT! The lion's head sank its jaws directly into the Manxter's blazing red eyes.
HISSS!! The giant serpent thrashed its body in agony, emitting shrill cries of pain. Where its scales met the rune chains, wisps of red smoke kept rising.
"Hurry! I can't hold on much longer!" Meierfeile had completely abandoned his earlier image of a composed, wise scholar and was shouting frantically.
The black lion's head kept gnawing at the giant serpent's head before finally dissolving entirely into a pool of black oil that spread across the top of the serpent's skull, covering both its eyes.
"Now!" Leilin's eyes lit up. He drew out a test tube, its bright red liquid swirling with a dangerous glow.
It was an Explosive Potion, but noticeably larger than the ones he had used before.
Leilin's right arm muscles bulged as he hurled the potion vial straight onto the black oil.
BOOM!! A massive fireball erupted, engulfing the Manxter serpent's entire head and blazing furiously.
The giant serpent kept shaking its head like an enormous torch. Even the rune chains around it let out creaking sounds, as though they were at their breaking point.
"Abyssal corrosive oil from the depths, combined with an improved Explosive Potion computed and refined by the Chip — paired together, the attack must have reached a power of at least nine degrees!"
Blue light flickered in Leilin's eyes as he recorded the data from the explosion.
"Huff! Huff! That last blow has already shattered most of the Manxter's defenses. If we want to kill it, now's the time!"
Leilin gasped for breath, his face deathly pale, as though his spiritual power and mana had been completely drained. He stumbled back a few steps.
Where no one could see, hidden beneath his sleeve, another new Explosive Potion identical to the previous one had already appeared in his palm.
Leilin never placed all his hope in others, especially not at the critical moment.
Just then, the half-orc had finished his spell.
"Ancestral totem's power, manifest as frozen ice — grant me the might to slay the Manxter!"
The half-orc completed the spell and tapped the tip of Viscount Jackson's greatsword.
TSZZZ!!!
A layer of white ice crystals suddenly formed on the surface of Jackson's sword. The frost accumulated thicker and thicker until it completely encased the blade. The greatsword swelled in size, transforming into a colossal ice blade!
The half-orc had actually used an exceedingly rare weapon-enhancement spell!
"According to the Chip's scan, Viscount Jackson's greatsword now possesses the power of an elementary Magical Item!"
Leilin's eyes flashed with interest. "A rather impressive spell — it even seems to incorporate some enchantment techniques!"
Jackson had clearly worked with this half-orc many times before. He had been silently building up his strength, and once the longsword had been completely transformed into ice, he let out a thunderous shout, raised the greatsword, and brought it down on the Manxter's neck.
The blade, as if carved from enormous crystal, cut directly into the serpent's charred-black neck under the continuous eruption of Viscount Jackson's Great Knight strength.
SPLOOSH!!
Scalding blood gushed forth. A wide gash appeared beneath the Manxter's head, the cut going in over half a meter deep — white bone was even visible. The giant serpent roared mightily and slammed its head forward with full force.
BANG!!! Viscount Jackson was sent flying backward, a dent forming in the breastplate of his armor.
The ice greatsword clattered to the ground nearby, stuck straight into the earth, its blade buried halfway in.