Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] Chapter 176: Book 3: Chapter 29 (pt2)

Read chapter 176 of Aetherios System [Slow Build OP MC, Isekai LitRPG/Cultivation] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

Book 3: Chapter 29 (pt2) Chapter 29: Bear Boss (pt2) The chimera moved like a landslide of muscle. Alex ducked another sweep of vines with the help of another fast [Wave Shield] snapping into place, the thorns tearing a gougeline through the tree behind him instead. His lungs burned harder, and his skin was slick with sweat, muscles already shrieking from the [Demon Asura Style]. He darted to the beast’s flank, snapped his hand down, and shouted. “[Earth Bind]!” It wasn’t necessary to shout his spell when he cast it. No, it was simply a signal to the others. The ground cracked and thick bands of aether rose to clamp down on the monster’s limbs. For a second the beast’s weight held fast against Alex's spell as the vines writhed uselessly, the beast pinned. The three of them dashed forward with fists and weapons raised. Then the boss bellowed and purple aether flooded its body. The aether chains of Alex’s spell cracked and shattered . The spell had held for less than a second. Alex hissed in frustration and stumbled back as the raid team was forced to retreat once again. “Its already created a counter for that.” Holly yelled. “Fine! We have other means. Hey fucker, eat this!” He thrust out his palm, the aether pattern for [Wind Lance] already finalizing. The air split and a compressed spear of pressure crashing into its armored chest. It hit with a boom, only to ripple harmlessly against the bark-hard plating. Not even a dent left behind. “God fucking damn it!” He pulled a deep breath into aching lungs, forcing a surge of aether energy through his veins. Heat exploded in his fists as he dashed in close, ducking under tusks, and slammed a boosted punch directly into its ribs. The impact rang like a hammer striking steel. The chimera staggered, its hide cracked , if just barely creating a splinter running across the armored bark. But that was all, only a scratch at best. And then the boss swung back with a paw the size of his torso, catching him across the shoulder. Pain danced through his body, his vision flashed white as he went tumbling through brush and dirt. He only stopped when his back slammed into a boulder which knocked the wind from his chest. “Alex!” Holly called out. She rushed to cover him, her arms flashing with a stream of Wind-aspected cuts. Her blade screamed across the beast’s hide, sparks flying as if she were striking literal stone. Shallow scratches marred its armor from her effort, but nothing more. Ghrukk came in to assist, charging in with his halberd as a plume of shadow skittered along its edge. He swung down with the weight of an avalanche, shadow-fire exploding on impact. The ground rocked from the force, but when the smoke cleared, the chimera was still standing. The beast showing that it was barely singed. The orc spat to the side. “Its hide’s too damned thick!” “No shit,” Alex grunted, hauling himself up from the dirt. His arm throbbed like it had been wrenched out of socket. The beast swept its vines wide, forcing Holly to disengage and knocking Ghrukk backward. Alex clenched his fists, fire boiling under his skin, but he knew none of their strikes were enough. With its many adaptations, none of his spells or skills were sticking. He gritted his teeth. “Alright. Time to stop playing nice.” He opened up his artificial bodygate and began pulling in the energy from the second aethergem on his bracer. Energy howled through his body violently before he funneled it through his aether channels, forcing it to following the constructed pattern. His skin lit-up in a cloak of azure-blue light, his veins bulging under the strain of his [Vita-Surge Cloak]. The world in his vision sharpened instantly, his body feeling lighter and faster, stronger. He launched himself forward like a cannonball, fists alit with aether as he hammered at the beast’s cracked rib. The first blow dented its hide even deeper. The second split the bark-like plates wide open. By the third, the armor broke , purple blood sprayed hot across