Breath of Life

Agnos's stone-carved lips, if they could still move, would surely be curled into a triumphant arc right now.

The power of the "Commandment" bestowed by her "Master" was enough to crush any ant who dared to overestimate itself.

However, just as she was about to turn and deal with the blonde little girl who was frozen in place, looking for a more suitable "New Clothes" for herself--

Baroque, who had already fallen and was rapidly losing his life force, suddenly burst with a dazzling, blinding light.

The light did not come from his own Judgment Divine Power, but rather seemed to be an effect triggered passively by a Magic Artifact.

On his chest, a seemingly unremarkable Beast Tooth Necklace, strung with a simple leather cord, was now shining as brightly as the Rising Sun. With a "snap," it shattered, turning into specks of golden dust that merged into Baroque's body.

"Buzz--!" A torrent of Life Energy exploded within him like a breached dam.

[Breath of Life].

This one-time use Magic Artifact was a trump card Baroque had acquired in his early days during a perilous adventure.

The necklace bore the blessing of Randall, the Lord of Dawn, and could yank a hapless soul who had one foot in the Underworld back to this world!

Baroque's dimming eyes reignited with light, his withered muscles rapidly filled out, and his fading life force surged back as if parched land had received a timely rain.

He took a deep breath, a guttural roar like that of a wounded Lone Wolf escaping his throat, and shakily, he stood up again.

Agnos's eye sockets, burning with ethereal blue Soul Fire, constricted sharply. For the first time, her stone face displayed an emotion akin to "shock."

"A [Breath of Life] Magic Artifact?! In this era... someone of your caliber... can possess a Treasure of this magnitude?" She remembered clearly that in her time, such a powerful Divine Art item, capable of instantly reversing death, was something even an Archmage would covet.

"Randall's Radiance shall never fade!" Baroque's voice was hoarse, yet filled with the resolve and unwavering faith of a survivor.

He pulled out a Platinum Holy Emblem from his chest, engraved with a rising sun, and raised it high!

"I swear in the Dawn, with Justice as my shield, I shall protect the innocent!" he chanted Randall's Doctrine. The Holy Emblem in his hand erupted with a purer, more dazzling golden light than his previous magic aura.

He channeled this Divine Power into himself, casting the strongest defensive Divine Art he could currently master--[Shield of Defense].

A translucent spherical shield, composed of countless golden runes, instantly enveloped Baroque like a Deity's Aegis.

The Kite Shield in front of him also bathed in this holy radiance, its Rising Sun Emblem becoming even brighter.

This shield not only greatly enhanced his defense but also exuded a majestic aura that repelled evil and protected justice. Any malicious attack against him would be hindered and weakened by this divine barrier.

"I judge your evil, I declare your doom!" Baroque roared in a low voice, pressing the Holy Emblem further against his chest.

The Divine Power of the Lord of Dawn responded to his call. Golden Divine Power swiftly covered the rugged Axe Surface like a living entity, and ancient Dwarven Runes lit up one by one, shimmering with a faint magic-breaking glow.

The first halo, pure and sharp like the first ray of sunlight at dawn, encircled him.

This was [Judgment: Righteous Strike]. Randall's Divine Power sharpened his senses and honed his attacks, making each strike closer to exploiting the enemy's Weakness, granting his Attack Roll a divine blessing!

Following closely, the second halo arrived with a roaring aura. Colorless flames, like living things, attached themselves to his Weapon.

This was [Judgment: Magic Break]. The Deity infused his Weapon with pure Law, giving each successful hit a chance to directly dispel magical effects on the target.

With Dual Judgment upon him, Baroque's momentum surged! He glared at Agnos and fiercely grabbed the battle axe at his waist.

"Receive your judgment, blasphemer!" As he shouted, the battle axe in his hand vibrated with a hum.

"This is troublesome..." Agnos inwardly cursed.

This newly awakened stone body of hers was leagues away from its peak condition. Not only were her Spell Slots stretched thin, but her control over her body was as stiff and clumsy as a newborn golem.

What she thought would be a crushing victory had instantly become thorny due to the opponent's unexpected trump card.

She instinctively tried to condense a sliver of mana for a [Shield Spell].

However, Baroque gave her no such opportunity.

He knew well that against a Caster of this level, if she were allowed to cast undisturbed, he would have no chance of winning.

He forcefully pushed off with his legs, and under the golden [Shield of Defense], he charged at Agnos once more, like an enraged Warhammer Boar.

His battle axe, empowered by [Dual Judgment], was entwined with golden holy flames and a magic-breaking aura.

Agnos hastily raised her stone arm to block.

"Clang--!!!"

A loud noise! Sparks flew!

Baroque's vengeful strike carried far more power than before.

The moment the axe blade met her stone arm, the Judgment: Magic Break power surged along the blade, directly disintegrating the [Shield Spell] she had just formed.

The [Shield Spell] was useless!

"Crack!"

Agnos's left stone arm was actually broken in half by Baroque's axe.

Shattered stone fragments scattered, revealing a Metal Skeleton within, faintly glowing with a magic aura.

The Agony (if stone statues could feel pain) and the loss of strength caused Agnos to let out an enraged roar.

Without a moment's hesitation, she swung her remaining right hand, causing a faint Spatial Ripple to distort the air.

[Blink].

Her figure flickered and vanished from the spot, reappearing the next moment atop the dilapidated Family Mausoleum on the other side of the Graveyard.

She looked down at her severed left arm, then at Baroque below, who, though battered, was still brimming with fighting spirit. The spectral Soul Fire in her eyes pulsed intensely.

"...You've exceeded my imagination." Agnos's voice was no longer calm, carrying suppressed rage mixed with a barely perceptible hint of admiration.

"But," she shifted her tone, her voice turning cold and dangerous once more, "the game ends here! Next, I'll show you that the master of Arcane... can also speak with her Fist!"

She raised her right hand high, and an energy far more violent and primal than any spell before began to gather and surge within her.

Fine, web-like cracks even started to appear on the surface of her ruined Stone Statue body, as if it might explode from the power at any moment.

This was her final trump card, the last spell her Imperfect Shell could unleash.

"Battle-Mage Conversion."