Chapter 20:
Brought into my Unfinished Game World
— Alpha, I have a plan, Dave said urgently.
But before Alpha could respond, the demon's attention turned toward Suzaku with cruel amusement.
— Your flames are impressive, little mage, but ultimately pointless against me. Did you think we would send someone to capture a life bender without proper preparation?
The demon tapped its chest plate with the tip of its spear, producing a metallic ring.
— I had my very own body modified specifically to face you, Suzaku of the Southern Skies Guild. Complete immunity to fire damage, and eighty-five percent resistance to all forms of magic.
Suzaku's flames flickered with frustration, but she said nothing.
— The only reason I sustained any damage at all from your attack is puzzling, continued the demon. Your spells are not pure fire somehow. There is something else mixed in that I do not quite understand.
Dave floated closer, listening intently. Even the demon couldn't fully comprehend Suzaku's abilities.
— But what I do understand is your greatest weakness, the demon said with satisfaction. You will not use your full power here, will you? Not on this fragile little ship, floating so high above the ground.
The demon gestured around at the aeronef's wooden structure.
— One of your truly devastating spells would turn this vessel into splinters and ash. And even if you could somehow survive the fall, your precious friends would not be so fortunate. So you hold yourself back, limiting yourself to parlor tricks that barely warm my armor.
Suzaku's eyes burned with rage, but she remained silent. The demon had perfectly analyzed her tactical dilemma.
— You see, life bender? the demon turned back to Alpha. This is what true preparation looks like. We have studied our targets, modified ourselves to counter their abilities, and trapped them in situations where their greatest strengths become liabilities. Your resistance is admirable but futile.
Alpha gripped his sword tighter, his mind racing. Dave floated beside him, still trying to get his attention to share his plan.
— Alpha, listen to me, Dave said more urgently. I think I know how we can—
— Enough talking, interrupted the demon, raising its spear. Time to end this charade. You will come with me willingly, or I will break every bone in your companions' bodies until you agree.
The armored figure took a step forward, its weapon gleaming in the afternoon light.
Dave began explaining his plan rapidly as the demon thrust its spear toward Alpha in a series of quick, precise strikes. Alpha's enhanced agility and reflexes from his week of training allowed him to barely dodge each attack, weaving between the deadly thrusts with desperate grace.
— Is this all you can do, life bender? the demon taunted as its spear whistled through the air. Dance around like a frightened rabbit? Perhaps you should try hitting back, though I doubt you could dish out any damage worth my concern.
Alpha continued his evasive movements, his breathing becoming labored as he focused on Dave's urgent words while avoiding the lethal weapon. The demon's mockery continued with each missed strike.
— Your dodging skills are admirable, but ultimately pointless. You cannot run forever on this small vessel. Eventually you will tire, make a mistake, and then—
When Dave finally finished his explanation, Alpha nodded slightly in understanding and caught Suzaku's eye across the deck. She saw the subtle change in his expression and immediately understood that he had formulated a plan. Her flames steadied as she prepared to wait for his signal, her body tense and ready to act.
The demon noticed the silent exchange and let out a harsh laugh.
— More scheming? How predictable. Whatever you are planning will fail just as surely as your pathetic attacks did.
Alpha dodged another thrust and prepared to put Dave's plan into motion.
Alpha swiftly took several steps back, creating distance between himself and the demon. He raised both hands as if preparing to cast multiple spells simultaneously.
The demon's glowing eye slits narrowed as it watched Alpha's movements.
— I will not repeat the same mistakes, life bender. No more of your annoying status spells.
The demon readied its spear and hurled it directly toward Alpha with tremendous force. But Alpha had been waiting for exactly this reaction. He trusted that his opponent wouldn't allow him to cast debilitating magic freely. Already prepared to dodge, Alpha sidestepped at the last moment. The spear flew past him and continued its trajectory away from the ship.
Their plan was simple but risky - lure both the demon and his weapon into the air, off the ship, so Suzaku could unleash her most devastating spells without worrying about destroying their vessel or harming her allies.
But as the spear sailed past Alpha, the demon didn't wait for his weapon to reach its destination. Instead, he dashed immediately, appearing right beside Alpha in an instant.
— Your plan was far too obvious, the demon said, grabbing his spear mid-flight and spinning to deliver a devastating slash toward Alpha's chest.
But Dave had been waiting for this moment too. The instant the demon materialized next to Alpha, Dave opened the creature's armor data panel. To his relief, there were no code restrictions protecting it - he could manipulate its values freely.
Dave's eyes quickly scanned the demon's stats. The armor and physical resistance values were significantly lower than its magical resistance. Without hesitation, Dave swapped the values as fast as his hands could move, transferring the demon's 85% magic resistance and the fire's nullification property into its physical defense stats.
— Now, Alpha! Dave shouted.
Alpha immediately raised his hand and cast a low-level wind spell directly at the demon.
— [wind_push_2]!
The spell that should have done virtually nothing to such a heavily armored opponent instead sent the demon flying backward with tremendous force. The creature's glittering red eyes widened in shock as his body was launched off the aeronef, tumbling through the empty air.
Suzaku didn't need any signal from Alpha. She understood the plan perfectly and had been preparing her most devastating attack. As the demon fell away from their ship, she unleashed everything she had been holding back.
— [crimson_apocalypse_10]!
The explosion that followed was beyond anything Alpha had ever witnessed. A massive sphere of blue and crimson flames erupted around the falling demon, so intense that the shockwave nearly tore their aeronef apart. The ship groaned and tilted dangerously as the blast wave struck them, and Alpha had to grab the railing to avoid being thrown overboard himself.
When the flames finally cleared, there was nothing left but an empty clear sky.
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