Tang was still conscious.
But his chest ached with a wrenching pain.
It felt as though a sharp claw had closed around his heart, scraping it open, tearing it apart, trying to crush it.
Unbearable pain was more terrifying than death. It always made people want to destroy themselves, and for one moment, he wished he could simply die.
Even if his soul would wander adrift, even if devils would mock him.
But the thought ultimately passed in an instant. He knew he could not do that.
Not just because he instinctively wanted to live.
But because, through the haze, he could feel Shalti's tenderness-
He knew someone still cared about his life.
"Infernal Rebuke!"
Boom!
With Tang's low roar, mingled with foul incantations, scarlet flames erupted once more around the Beholder that had been slammed against the wall. They ate away at its monstrous bones, burning the several eyes gathering light.
"I will-I will make all of you die here!"
The searing pain in its eyes finally made the monster howl. The blazing fire lit up the dark tunnel once again.
Outside the mist, No. 17 saw the wall at the end of the tunnel, blocked by dry bones at some unknown point-the map in his program showed that beyond several hundred meters of wall lay the way out to Gold City.
Judging by the strength both sides currently possessed, they had no chance of smashing the Beholder apart.
So the roaring drill instantly changed direction. Even after crossing several hundred meters, its power had not diminished as it thundered into the wall of bones.
Even protected by necromancy, the bones could not withstand the impact of absolute strength.
Shattered bones broke apart in succession, and an enormous hole was blasted through the thick wall.
Then, like a tall