If Agnos's stone-carved mouth could still move, its corners would surely have curled into a smug smile.
The power of the "Edict" bestowed by her "master" was enough to crush any foolish ant who dared oppose her.
However, just as she was about to turn and deal with the immobilized little blonde girl, seeking a more suitable "new outfit" for herself—
Baroque, already fallen and rapidly losing the last of his life, suddenly erupted in a blinding radiance.
The light didn't come from his own Divine Power. It seemed more like the effect of a Magic Artifact activating passively.
At his chest, an inconspicuous Beast Tooth Necklace strung on a plain leather cord now shone like the Rising Sun. Then, with a sharp snap, it shattered, turning into flecks of golden light that sank into Baroque's body.
"Vmmm—!" A vast torrent of Life Energy burst inside him, like floodwaters breaking through a dam.
[Breath of Life]
This one-use Magic Artifact was a treasured keepsake Baroque had acquired in his younger years, during an adventure in which he'd narrowly escaped death.
The necklace bore the blessing of Lord of Dawn Randall. It could drag even a poor soul with one foot in the underworld back to life!
The dull light in Baroque's eyes blazed anew. His withered muscles rapidly filled out, and his failing vitality swiftly revived, like parched land refreshed by a long-awaited rain.
He sucked in a sharp breath. A growl like that of a wounded lone wolf forced its way from his throat, and he shakily rose to his feet once more.
The ghostly blue Soul Fire burning in Agnos's eye sockets contracted sharply. For the first time, an emotion akin to "shock" appeared on the stone statue's face.
"An artifact of [Breath of Life]?! In this age... someone of your caliber... can possess a treasure of this level?" She remembered clearly that in her era, such a powerful divine item, capable of reversing life and death in an instant, was enough to make even an Archmage covet it.
"Randall's Radiance shall never be extinguished!" Baroque's voice was hoarse, yet filled with the resolve of one who had survived death and the unyielding strength of his faith.
He pulled a Platinum Holy Emblem engraved with a Rising Sun from his chest and raised it high!
"I swear by the dawn: with justice as my shield, I shall protect the innocent!" He recited Randall's teachings, and the Holy Symbol in his hand blazed with a golden light purer and brighter than the Judgment Aura from before.
He channeled this Divine Power into himself and cast the most powerful defensive divine art he could currently command—[Shield of Defense].
A translucent, spherical shield made of countless golden runes instantly enveloped Baroque, like a divine Bulwark.
The Kite Shield before him was bathed in the sacred radiance, and the Rising Sun Emblem on its face shone brighter.
The shield not only greatly increased his defense, but also emanated an aura of solemn authority that repelled evil and upheld justice. Any malicious attack against him would be hindered and weakened by this holy Bulwark.
"I judge your evil! I decree your destruction!" Baroque roared, continuing to press the Holy Symbol against his chest.
The power of Lord of Dawn answered his call. Golden holy energy swiftly spread across the rugged Axe Blade like a living thing, and the ancient Dwarven Runes upon it lit up one by one, gleaming with Magic Break radiance.
The first halo was like the first ray of sunlight at dawn, pure and keen, circling around him.
This was [Judgment: Strike of Justice]. Randall's power honed his Senses and sharpened his attacks, bringing each strike closer to his enemy's weaknesses. His Attack Rolls gained a holy blessing!
Immediately afterward, a second halo came with a rumbling aura, its colorless flames clinging to his weapon as if alive.
This was [Judgment: Magic Break]. The deity infused his weapon with pure law, giving every successful hit a chance to dispel the target's magical effects outright.
With Dual Judgment upon him, Baroque's aura rose with every passing moment! He glared at Agnos and reached for the battle-axe at his waist with his other hand.
"Face your punishment, blasphemer!" At his sharp command, the battle-axe in his hand hummed and trembled.
"This is troublesome..." Agnos thought, realizing things had taken a bad turn.
This newly awakened stone body was nowhere near her peak. Not only were her Spell Slots stretched thin, but controlling her body was as stiff and clumsy as moving a newly made golem.
She had thought this would be an easy victory, but her opponent's unexpected trump card had turned the fight into a thorny problem.
Instinctively, she tried to gather the mana for [Shield Spell].
Baroque gave her no chance.
He knew all too well that against a spellcaster of this caliber, if he let her cast at her leisure, he would have no chance of winning.
He drove his legs into the ground and, with the golden [Shield of Defense] around him, charged Agnos again like an enraged warhammer boar.
His battle-axe, empowered by [Dual Judgment], was wreathed in golden holy flames and a Magic Break Aura.
Agnos hastily raised her stone arm to block.
"Clang—!!!"
A thunderous crash! Sparks flew everywhere!
Baroque's blow, fueled by fury, was far stronger than before.
The instant the Axe Blade struck her stone arm, the power of Judgment: Magic Break surged along its edge, directly unraveling the [Shield Spell] she had just formed.
[Shield Spell] had no effect!
"Crack!"
Baroque's axe had actually smashed Agnos's left stone arm clean off.
Fragments of stone flew in every direction, revealing the Metal Skeleton beneath, which glimmered with faint magic.
The pain—if a stone statue could feel pain at all—and the loss of power drew an enraged roar from Agnos.
Without a moment's hesitation, she swung her remaining right hand. A faint Spatial Ripple stirred in the air.
[Flash]
Her form blurred where she stood and vanished in an instant. The next moment, she had appeared on the other side of the cemetery, atop the crumbling Family Mausoleum.
She looked down at her broken left arm, then at Baroque below, battered but still brimming with fighting spirit. The ghostly blue Soul Fire in her eyes flickered violently.
"...You've exceeded my expectations." Agnos's voice was no longer calm. It carried barely restrained fury and the faintest trace of admiration.
"But," she continued, her voice turning cold and dangerous once more, "the game ends here! Now I'll show you that even a master of the arcane... can settle things with her fists!"
She raised her right hand high. An energy far more savage and primal than any of her previous spells began to gather and surge within her.
Fine, web-like cracks even began to spread across the surface of her battered stone body, as if the force might burst it apart at any moment.
This was her last trump card, the final spell this Imperfect Shell could channel.
"Battle-Mage Conversion."