The creatures were falling one after another. The Goblins had proven to be an initial challenge, but before Uriel's growing power they were little more than a persistent nuisance. A mist of orbs spread throughout the area, for the skill [Prince of Greed] activated for every enemy Uriel reaped. With every swing of his scythe, every evasive maneuver, every defeated foe, his abilities resonated with greater force; and his stats increased. But that bloody climax, far from marking an end, was only the prelude to what was to come.
A flash in the shape of a golden burst broke through the blue sky of that moment. Descending with the grace of something divine and celestial. A figure manifested as the light dissipated: it was an entity of undeniable beauty, its form resembled that of fairies from the tales of the story world called Renard, but of real stature, slender body and an almost divine aura. Each movement of its wings emitted glimmers of many varied colors, an aura of living energy floated around it as if it were part of the very air.
Then, it spoke with a voice as harmonious as a symphony of celestial strings, yet filled with venom.
"There you are... You are the corrupt being my Lord seeks to eradicate."
There were no formal introductions. Its words were both a sentence and a prelude to destruction.
[Stellar Spear] — Activated by Trex.
From the sky, it began to summon pillars of pure energy that descended violently, distorting the terrain, disintegrating what was left of the Goblins and forcing Uriel to dodge with a precision that bordered on instinctive.
He decided to scan it, and what he saw paralyzed him for an instant:
—It is without doubt the most formidable opponent I have ever faced. At first glance, impossible, even its rank is SS.
Despite the immense power displayed by that being, his reflexes kept him in motion.
//Notification
The effects of Accelerated Growth are active.//
Finally, it descended, materializing a sword of light from a dimensional space, Uriel understood that the true battle had just begun. He brandished his scythe with determination. The clash was brutal. Each strike from it was like receiving the weight of a mountain, and its speed left behind a trail of light that distorted reality itself.
Due to its stats and abilities, that being called Trex was dominating the battle. It managed to cut him several times with surgical precision, and at a critical moment even amputated his arms. However, he activated his intermediate regeneration and managed to recover them, although at a high cost of MP. That brief moment of distraction was lethal: Trex threw him through a mountain, leaving him badly wounded.
He was forced to activate his regeneration ability again to stay on his feet and his MP dropped once more, then he took the initiative and attacked, trying to replicate the combo that had defeated the Storm Gorilla, but it was completely useless: he couldn't reach him. His agility and perception were far too high.
[Prismatic Limitation] — Activated by Trex.
"What is this pressure I'm feeling, it's as if my body refuses to respond."
//Warning
Do you wish to activate the skill Struggle?
[Accept]//
//Notification
The passive skill Resistance to Altered States has been automatically activated.//
//Notification
The sabotage attempt over the movements of a story Cherubim Uriel has been successfully canceled.//
A somewhat surprised murmur was heard as he lowered his palm that had been pointing toward Uriel.
"What?... I can't manipulate you... how can you resist altered states?"
"Seems like I have a strong will, I won't be that easy."
—What did he mean by those last words... Could it be? I'll try.
[Predator]
To his surprise, it worked. His stats dropped. Trex's eyes widened in horror, and for the first time during the battle, he stepped back.
"Impossible! What is this?!"
Said Trex while staring at his hands with eyes filled with disbelief and confusion.
—Even nerfed by my skill, Trex still surpasses me.
He tried Poison Blade again, but his defense was too high. Yet he couldn't allow him to regain the initiative.
[Principle of Power].
His stats skyrocketed, and he recovered all his MP. Although his domain effect didn't work since Trex's rank was SS, higher than Uriel's.
Trex continued attacking using his sword techniques and pushing Uriel back, however, his face showed surprise at seeing that he could still keep up with the fight.
Since altered states had an effect on him, Uriel took the chance to use Intimidate, and to his surprise it worked. His stats dropped again and his movements were restricted. His frustration grew to the point of rage.
It seemed Trex's resistance to weakening states was practically null.
—Seems these abilities affect him a lot, he doesn't resist them at all, I should appreciate my Struggle skill more.
Uriel smiled nervously as he realized that his Struggle ability was actually very valuable and important, so much that not even someone with Trex's rank and stats possessed it.
An extremely enraged voice broke the silence of the moment.
"You shouldn't be able to do this! And you even mock me!"
Trex began to lose composure. His attacks, though still lethal, became erratic. Seeing this, Uriel took advantage of the openings in his attacks, and thanks to that, managed to cut him with Poison Blade.
Trex kept attacking while his eyes filled with disbelief and anger, and his movements became more desperate and careless. Uriel took advantage of each careless motion to keep slashing with his scythe, causing more and more wounds.
—I imagine he has never gone through a situation like this, I'm sure his ego is enormous for considering himself the favorite of this world's worthless god, perhaps he saw himself as a perfect and blessed being, something like a chosen one... it must be hard for him.
"This... this cannot be happening to me, to me, the Primordial Fairy of this world. The one who carries my Lord's justice. I must not allow this!"
After a while of launching attacks aimlessly and frustrated for not landing any, Trex screamed to the sky in despair:
"Chrom, my Lord! Grant me your light! Allow me to defeat this despicable being!"
Once again, a celestial ray of the same golden color from which he had first descended fell upon Trex. His body was wrapped in a new aura, even brighter, breaking all the debuff effects that Uriel had applied to him. His stats increased even further, and new abilities activated around him.
—So this is Chrom's power... this pressure is incredible.
"At this moment it's impossible to run."
Uriel lifted his gaze, smiled, and shouted with great strength:
"Come at me, Fairy! The grace of your worthless god won't save you from my scythe!... Know my power and show Chrom what awaits him!"
Trex, as if possessed by a state that drove him insane, charged at Uriel. His sword, now wrapped in blinding energy, cut through the air for hundreds of meters, destroying everything in its path. Everything happened in slow motion: his figure, his sword descending toward Uriel's neck, the destruction in its wake.
Then suddenly, just before the sword reached his neck... Trex's body darkened, and all his colored and glowing skill effects vanished. The sword fell from his hands and dissolved, disappearing into the ground. Trex collapsed, as blood poured from all his orifices. Absolute silence took over the battlefield.