Danmachi - Eldritch Apostle

The monster watched as the seemingly lifeless prey hovered above it, surrounded by an ominous aura. It had been confident that one energy ball would be enough to kill the intruder, but the adventurer—not an ordinary human—proved far more challenging to handle.

Goliath roared in frustration and charged at its flying prey. Towering high enough to reach Niall, it swung its massive arm toward him with deadly force. Niall, sensing the danger, dodged the attack with ease, the gust of displaced air ruffling his cloak.

More swings followed, each one slower and more reckless than the last. Niall evaded them all with fluid precision, his movements almost taunting. The beast's frustration mounted with each failed strike as its prey danced out of reach, moving with a speed that left Goliath bewildered.

Niall flew to a safer distance and hovered in place, studying the situation. After a moment, he spoke, his tone calm but with an undercurrent of menace.

"My gravitational ability might be strong enough to kill you... but I've been considering the possibilities my Eldritch Blast could bring."

Goliath's instincts flared, warning it of the danger ahead. Its glowing red eyes fixed on Niall, sensing that something ominous was about to unfold. In Niall's left hand, an energy ball began to shift and morph, changing shape and size.

As Niall considered his powers, he weighed their strengths and limitations. His gravitational ability, while formidable, was heavily dependent on his level, which could leave him vulnerable against much stronger foes. However, his Eldritch Blast had untapped potential—capable of harming even the most resilient enemies if utilized creatively.

He envisioned new forms and applications of the ability, channeling his imagination to refine its power. His focus sharpened as the energy ball in his left hand shrank and condensed into a glowing beam, its shifting colors reminiscent of an aurora. Moments later, an identical beam materialized in his right hand.

Goliath braced itself, its instincts screaming to prepare for the impending attack. Niall's red eyes glowed brighter as he raised both arms, the swirling energy in his palms intensifying.

"Eldritch Blast: First Form..." he intoned, his voice echoing with power.

The beams in his hands surged forward, transforming into a pair of concentrated rays of energy aimed directly at Goliath's heart.

"Arcane Ray: Singular Piercing Beam."

Goliath, despite its massive size, reacted with surprising speed, crossing its enormous arms in front of its chest to block the attack. The twin rays struck with precision, their force sending shockwaves rippling through the air. Though the beast's thick arms absorbed much of the impact, the sheer power of the blast scorched its flesh, leaving smoldering trails across its tough hide.

The attack faltered for a moment as the beams collided with the monster's defenses. But Niall's eyes narrowed, his focus unwavering. A smirk played on his lips as he watched the mighty Goliath struggle against his newly forged technique.

The beam tore through Goliath's hands, eliciting a shriek of agony from the monster as it burned through its thick flesh. The impact left scorch marks on its hands, reducing the skin to charred remains.

When the Arcane Ray struck Goliath's chest, aiming for where its heart should be, its sturdy hide proved formidable. The initial momentum of Niall's attack had already been weakened by Goliath's defensive stance, and the precision of the strike, while effective against slower targets, faltered against a monster of this caliber.

Niall had not been certain how his newly developed technique would fare against a Level 5 monster with high regenerative capabilities and immense power. Yet, the fact that it left a visible mark proved its potential.

As the beam's energy dissipated, leaving behind a burnt scar on Goliath's chest, the monster roared in fury. Its shriek echoed through the dungeon, filled with hatred for the persistent adventurer who dared to resist.

The holes in its hands began to close as Goliath's regeneration kicked in, the charred flesh mending rapidly. Its remarkable ability to heal only made the challenge more daunting.

Niall, observing his attack's limitations, took a step back to reassess. He knew that relying on precise strikes would be futile at his current level. His best option was to develop a wide-ranging attack powerful enough to sever a large portion of Goliath's body and expose its core.

Goliath, sensing its prey's hesitation, stepped back, preparing another energy attack. Niall's sharp mind worked quickly, crafting a new countermeasure to interrupt the monster's buildup. His red eyes glowed brighter as he focused.

"Eldritch Blast: Second Form..." he announced, his voice deepening ominously.

"Chaos Wave – Expanding Shockwave."

In the next moment, a surge of swirling, chaotic energy erupted from his hands. The energy rippled outward like a distortion in space, warping light and sound as it traveled swiftly toward Goliath.

The wave struck the monster's stomach, cutting deep into its body and revealing a glimpse of its core. The sheer force of the attack nearly sliced Goliath in half, but it lacked the power to finish the job.

The monster staggered, its torso nearly bisected, unable to emit a sound. Niall's gaze locked onto the exposed core, determination burning in his glowing eyes. He realized that with one more well-placed attack, he could kill the beast. However, Goliath's flesh began regenerating, closing the gaping wound as it prepared to retaliate.

Deciding to forgo energy attacks, the enraged monster charged at Niall with terrifying speed, its massive hands outstretched. Niall barely had time to react before Goliath struck, swatting him like a fly.

His body slammed into the ground with a sickening splatter of green blood. Goliath roared in triumph and stomped repeatedly on Niall's limp form, shaking the ground with each blow and causing minor tremors in the dungeon.

When the dust settled, Goliath stared at the mangled remains, convinced its prey had finally been destroyed. The dungeon itself seemed to share this belief, unaware of Niall's unique regenerative ability.

But Niall was far from finished. Within moments, his body reformed, standing once again before the stunned monster.

Goliath watched in disbelief as its prey refused to die, no matter how many times it was struck down. The creature prepared another charge, but Niall was ready this time. His voice deepened further as he chanted:

"Eldritch Blast: Third Form – Binding Spires, Tendrils of Power."

From his left hand, energy erupted and dispersed into several dark tendrils that lashed out with unnatural speed, ensnaring Goliath's legs. The tendrils coiled tightly around the monster's limbs, immobilizing it despite its struggles.

The beast roared in fury, stomping and thrashing, but the tendrils held firm. Niall gritted his teeth and summoned all his strength, pulling the massive creature off balance. With a thunderous crash, Goliath fell to the dungeon floor, the impact shaking the ground.

Niall seized the opportunity, channeling his power once more. His ominous voice echoed through the chamber:

"Eldritch Blast: Second Form – Chaos Wave!"

A swirling mass of energy struck Goliath's exposed belly, tearing through the flesh and revealing the monster's core once again. This time, Niall didn't hesitate.

"Eldritch Blast: Second Form – Chaos Wave!" he shouted again, unleashing another ferocious wave of energy. The attack hit the core directly, shattering it with a brilliant explosion. Goliath's body disintegrated into dust, leaving behind only a head-sized monster core.

Niall approached the core, picking it up and inspecting it. "This could make a nice decoration," he murmured, smirking slightly.

Satisfied, he turned to leave, muttering to himself, "Now that this is finished, I should head back to Rivira and ease Tsubaki's worries."

But before he could take another step, he suddenly froze. His body was paralyzed, his voice silenced. A dark green energy engulfed him, swallowing him whole like a massive wave.

A system message appeared in his mind:

You have leveled up +2.