The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Chapter 355: Second Exchange

Ignis’s flames roared brighter as she launched herself at the void creature again, her fists wreathed in golden fire."[Solar Impact]!"

Her fist connected with the creature’s shifting form, and the impact sent a shockwave rippling through the crumbling ruins. The creature recoiled, its form flickering as the flames seared through its shadowy flesh. But it didn’t fall. It twisted, shadows coiling around its body, and retaliated with a wave of dense, black energy that slammed into Ignis’s chest, hurling her backward.

Ignis crashed into a crumbling pillar, the ancient stone cracking on impact. She pushed herself up, shaking debris from her shoulders, her golden eyes blazing with frustration.

"Tch! This thing just won’t stay down!"

Azrynn loosed another arrow from behind cover, the shaft glowing with faint elven light. It struck the creature’s flank, but the light flickered and died, absorbed by the shadows. Azrynn’s jaw tightened.

"Ignis, this is pointless! Our attacks aren’t doing enough damage! We’re just wasting time and energy!"

Ignis’s flames flared brighter, her voice sharp with defiance.

"Maybe, but I can feel it, Azrynn! It’s getting angry! Every time I hit it, I can feel its frustration building!"

She lunged forward again, her flames erupting in a wide arc.

"[Solar Flare]!"

A wave of superheated golden fire exploded from her palms, engulfing the creature’s form. The void creature screeched, its shadowy body writhing as the flames consumed its edges. For a moment, it seemed to be retreating.

Then the darkness surged.

A dense, suffocating wave of shadows erupted from the creature’s core, swallowing the flames and spreading outward in all directions. The air grew thick, heavy, pressing against Ignis’s senses like a physical weight. Her vision blurred. Her flames flickered, struggling to stay alight.

Ignis stumbled, her hand pressing against her temple. "What... what is this?"

Azrynn’s bow lowered as she swayed, her yellow eyes widening with alarm. "The darkness... it’s getting thicker! I can barely see!"

The void creature’s hollow gaze fixed on them, its form swelling as the shadows around it deepened. Its voice echoed, layered and distorted.

"...Your flames... are bright... but they cannot burn... what is already darkness..."

Ignis gritted her teeth, forcing her flames to burn brighter despite the oppressive weight pressing down on her. Her voice came out strained but defiant.

"Then I’ll just have to burn brighter!"Ignis forced her flames higher, the golden light pushing back against the encroaching darkness. But the void creature’s presence was suffocating, pressing against her senses like a vice.

Azrynn stumbled back, her bow trembling in her grip. "Ignis! We can’t stay here! We need to fall back!"

"No!" Ignis’s voice was fierce, unyielding. "If we run, it’ll just follow us! We have to finish this now!"

She planted her feet, flames gathering in her palms. Her golden eyes blazed with determination.

"[Solar Nova]!"

A massive sphere of golden fire erupted from her palms, expanding outward in all directions. The void creature screeched as the flames engulfed its form, its shadows hissing and cracking under the intensity of the heat.

But the creature didn’t retreat. It pressed forward, its form swelling, and a wave of dense, black energy erupted from its core, slamming into Ignis and hurling her backward.

Ignis crashed into the ground, skidding across the cracked stone. She pushed herself up, gasping, blood trickling from a cut on her forehead.

"Tch..."

Azrynn rushed to her side, her face pale with worry. "Ignis! Are you okay?"

Ignis’s flames flickered, dimmer than before. Her voice came out strained, but still defiant.

"I’m fine... Just... need a minute..."

The void creature advanced, its hollow gaze fixed on them. Its voice echoed, layered with cold certainty.

"...Your flames... are fading..."

The void creature’s hollow gaze fixed on her, certain of its victory. But Ignis met that gaze with a snarl, her claws scraping against the stone as she pushed herself up. Her voice came out cracked, but sharp as a blade.

"I’m not done yet."

She planted her feet, forcing her flames to burn brighter despite the oppressive weight pressing down on her. The golden light pushed back against the encroaching darkness, but the void creature’s presence was suffocating, relentless.

The void creature’s form swelled as it gathered its power, the darkness around it vibrating with barely contained energy. A low, guttural hum emanated from its core, and the ground beneath them trembled. The pressure in the air grew heavier, pressing down on Ignis and Azrynn like an invisible weight.

Ignis’s eyes narrowed. She could feel it, the creature was preparing something big.

"Az! Get ready to brace yourself!" Ignis called out, her voice sharp with urgency.

Azrynn’s face paled. Her grip on her bow tightened, her yellow eyes darting between the creature and Ignis.

"Brace myself?! I don’t have any defensive skill—!"

Before she could finish, the void creature unleashed its attack. A massive wave of condensed darkness erupted from its core, surging toward them like a tidal wave of shadow.

Ignis’s flames flared. She planted her feet and stepped in front of Azrynn, her body shifting as she activated her defensive skills. Her scales hardened, forming a thick, armored layer across her skin. Golden flames coiled around her body, shaping themselves into a blazing barrier that crackled with heat.

"[Cindercloak]!"

The wave of darkness slammed into Ignis’s barrier. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, and Ignis’s feet slid back, carving deep trenches into the cracked stone. Her flames flickered wildly, struggling against the immense pressure.

"Ghh—!" Ignis gritted her teeth, her muscles straining as she held the barrier. "Az! Now! I can’t hold this forever!"

Azrynn’s hands trembled. She was still shaken, still recovering from the sudden attack. But Ignis’s shout cut through her hesitation.

"I—I’m not ready—!"

"Too late!" Ignis snarled, her voice raw with effort. "I’m going in! Use your strongest attack! I’ll clear the way!"

Without waiting for a response, Ignis launched herself forward, her flames blazing like a falling star. She slammed into the void creature’s form, her fists wreathed in golden fire, driving it back with a series of rapid, devastating blows.

Azrynn stared after her, her mouth hanging open.

"She’s insane..." she breathed. Then she forced herself to focus, her hands steadying as she drew another arrow. She took a deep breath, and her yellow eyes sharpened as she began to chant, her voice low and resonant.

"By the light of the ancient moon... let my arrow pierce the heart of darkness..."

The arrow in her bow began to glow, faint at first, then brighter, pulsing with concentrated elven light. The runes along its shaft flared to life, and the air around it shimmered with power.