Chapter 340 : Dark Abyss Wooden Armor

On the fifth floor of the academy's central building, Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet were still attempting to attack Duke Remy. Despite sustaining numerous injuries, they pressed on with their assault. Ten ice weapons, a mix of swords and rapiers swirled around the pair, proving invaluable in parrying the attacks Duke Remy unleashed in return. Duke Remy was relentlessly attacking them using tree trunks that erupted from the surrounding walls and floors. While the ice weapons managed to block or slice through most of these wooden projectiles, a few strikes still found their mark, inflicting wounds on the duo. After a prolonged exchange of attacks, the three of them began to retreat, putting some distance between themselves.

"Lord Remy's tree-trunk attacks are incredibly fast. Even with the ice rapiers shielding us, we can't fully block them. What should we do, dear? We can't keep playing defense like this; it’s only a matter of time before we exhaust ourselves trying to fend off those attacks. Besides, it’s difficult to strike at Lord Remy because the surrounding tree trunks constantly get in the way whenever we try to close the distance," Duchess Arlet said.

"You're right; it’s a tough situation. Even when our attacks do land, they have no effect on him, just like the combined attack we launched earlier. It seems his strength and physical resilience have increased dramatically since he transformed into a demon," Duke Louis remarked.

"It certainly seems that way," Duchess Arlet agreed.

She then fell silent for a few moments. Duchess Arlet appeared deep in thought as she remained silent. After a moment, she spoke again.

"Dear, what would you think if I used the San Lucia family's forbidden technique again?" Duchess Arlet asked.

Duke Louis was immediately startled by her words.

"You would use the San Lucia family's forbidden technique again? No, I do not agree to that," Duke Louis said.

"Just as I thought. Rest assured, I was merely asking; I don't actually intend to use it again. However, I believe that without the San Lucia family's forbidden technique, we won't be able to defeat and kill Lord Remy. It is the most powerful technique our family possesses, even with the side effects that come with using it," Duchess Arlet said.

"You might be right. If we used the San Lucia family's forbidden technique, we might be able to kill Lord Remy. But I will not let you use that forbidden technique again. Nor will I use it myself. We will defeat and kill Lord Remy without resorting to the San Lucia family's forbidden technique. It may be difficult, but that doesn't mean it's impossible," Duke Louis said.

"Very well, if that is your decision," Duchess Arlet said.

Afterward, Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet refocused their attention on Duke Remy, preparing to attack him. Duke Remy noticed this and spoke to them.

"Are you two finished talking?" Duke Remy asked.

Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet remained silent upon hearing Duke Remy's words.

"If you still wish to talk, you had better finish what you have to say. Because once you are done, I will get serious about killing you, so serious that you won't be able to speak ever again," Duke Remy said.

"We are finished talking, Lord Remy. Please, feel free to get serious about killing us—that is, if you are actually capable of doing so," Duchess Arlet said.

Immediately, Duchess Arlet and Duke Louis dashed rapidly toward Duke Remy. Seeing this, Duke Remy commanded the twisting tree trunks surrounding him to attack the pair. The trunks lunged at them with great speed, but Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet deftly slashed through the attacking wood using their own weapons, alongside the floating ice sword and rapier that orbited them. However, they could not fend off every attack; some trunks managed to strike and wound them. Despite this, they did not cease their assault on the encroaching wood, determined to close the distance and strike Duke Remy himself.

Meanwhile, the tree trunks that had not joined the attack were seen enveloping Duke Remy’s entire body. These trunks differed in color from those attacking the duo; the ones wrapping around Duke Remy were pitch black.

~Tree of the dark abyss, shroud and protect my body, and grant me the power that flows from within you~

~Plant Magic: Dark Abyss Wooden Armor~

Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet, still busy hacking away at the attacking trunks, were startled to see Duke Remy’s body being encased in wood.

"What is Lord Remy doing?" Duchess Arlet asked.

"It looks like Lord Remy is doing something that could spell trouble for us. Dear, stop Lord Remy immediately. Use long-range magic to halt him," Duke Louis said.

"Understood," Duchess Arlet replied.

With that, she extended her right arm out to her side.

~O giant sword of ice, appear and lend me your power~

~Ice Magic: Create Magic Weapon: Giant Ice Sword of Ymir~

A massive ice sword suddenly materialized near her right hand. Duchess Arlet then pointed her right hand toward Duke Remy, who stood some distance ahead. As she thrust her hand forward, the giant ice sword she had conjured instantly shot toward him. Tree trunks surrounding Duke Remy attempted to intercept the massive blade, but they were instantly cleaved apart and shattered, unable to withstand or halt its momentum. The giant ice sword rapidly closed the distance to Duke Remy. Meanwhile, Duke Remy’s entire body was encased in pitch-black tree trunks; with his body fully enveloped in this way, he appeared to be clad in a suit of jet-black armor made of wood.

Just as the giant ice sword was about to strike him, Duke Remy swiftly caught it with both hands. He halted the massive blade by clapping his hands together around it. The sword stopped moving instantly upon being caught between his palms. Duchess Arlet was shocked to see Duke Remy successfully intercept the giant ice sword she had created.

"What?!?" Duchess Arlet exclaimed in surprise.

Duke Remy then began to exert pressure on the giant ice sword held between his palms. Moments later, the massive sword cracked and shattered under the force of his grip. Duchess Arlet was once again taken aback by the sight.

"How could he shatter that massive ice sword so easily?" Duchess Arlet asked in astonishment.

It was not just Duchess Arlet who was shocked by Duke Remy's actions; Duke Louis was equally stunned.

"It seems his power has surged after encasing his entire body in tree trunks. In his current form, Lord Remy looks like a tree monster. And it isn't just his appearance, his strength feels like that of a monster, too," Duke Louis remarked in amazement.

Meanwhile, having shattered the massive ice sword created by Duchess Arlet, Duke Remy immediately cast aside the shards of ice that still clung to his hands.

"You nearly killed me by hurling that ice sword just as I was preparing to use my own technique. Had I been even a fraction of a second slower, I would likely be dead by now. Fortunately, I managed to activate my technique while the sword was still hurtling toward me; that gave me just enough time to block and shatter it," Duke Remy said.

He then began to walk slowly toward Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet. Seeing him approach, the pair grew wary; they were acutely aware that the Duke Remy standing before them was not the same man he had been before. His appearance had changed drastically, as his entire body was now encased in pitch-black tree trunks. His current form seemed to validate Duke Louis’s earlier remark that he resembled a tree monster. Moreover, as he walked, the tree trunks emerging from the surrounding floors and walls appeared to shift and follow his movements. He truly looked like a tree monster.

After walking for a short while, Duke Remy came to a halt—stopping even though a considerable distance still separated him from Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet. Seeing him stop, the two lowered their guard slightly.

"Hmm... this distance should suffice," Duke Remy remarked.

Duke Louis and Duchess Arlet looked puzzled by his words. Suddenly, Duke Remy appeared to be preparing a thrusting attack with his right hand. Despite the significant distance between them, he readied his right hand, which held no weapon for a strike. He then unleashed a swift thrusting attack forward; as he did so, his right arm abruptly elongated and transformed into a tree trunk with a razor-sharp tip. Duke Remy’s elongated right arm shot rapidly toward Duchess Arlet. She had no time to react to the lightning-fast strike and took the hit head-on. She was impaled right between her chest and abdomen by Duke Remy’s right arm, which had transformed into a sharp, tree-like spike; the limb pierced clean through her body, emerging from the other side.

Duke Louis, too, had initially failed to react to Duke Remy’s swift attack. He only realized what was happening and was shocked when he saw Duke Remy’s arm right beside him. Turning his head, he was horrified to discover that Duchess Arlet had been impaled by that elongated limb.

"D-dear?!?" Duke Louis exclaimed in shock.

-To be continued