Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

That creature was incredibly powerful; William was terrified to face it.

"Do you think we can win?" William asked Asura.

Asura could sense the power of their adversaries far better than William himself. So, it was a good idea to ask for his opinion, which was quite valuable in such situations.

"I think you can win, but William, some of you might die in this battle. Actually, I think many will die..."

That wasn't a good sign. But there was nothing they could do. It was impossible to run from that creature, and running blindly could attract even more elementals.

The best option was to fight. This time, Seraphina took command of the battle, as she was the highest-level person there. The first thing she did was summon a water elemental using her magic!

The elemental she summoned had a different appearance from those they had encountered near the volcano. It was a unique type that mages could summon.

It wasn't an easy spell to cast, which once again reinforced the fact that Seraphina was a powerful mage.

The other sailors were somewhat reassured after seeing that powerful elemental fighting alongside them. Seraphina summoned that creature precisely to try and boost the group's morale.

"Let's attack carefully," she said. "And let's try to flank it and attack from behind."

All the sailors nodded in agreement, and then something surprising happened. The elemental spoke!

"Attacking from behind won't work," the elemental declared. "Be careful with that idiotic plan of yours."

Everyone was taken aback. Elementals didn't typically have the ability to speak or understand languages, but this one seemed far more intelligent than most.

This made things much more complicated. One of the biggest advantages humans had in battles like this was their ability to use their intelligence and strategize during combat to defeat magical beasts.

But an intelligent elemental that could understand everything they were saying was incredibly dangerous. If their chances of winning were already low, well, now they were even lower.

"Don't you think we can resolve this another way?" Seraphina attempted to negotiate, speaking to the elemental. "We're just here looking for something, and then we'll leave and never bother you again."

The elemental laughed. "Do you really think that will work? Why should I let you go? I have the advantage here."

Seraphina had no compelling arguments to sway the creature. In the end, the only option was to fight, and that's what she did.

"Water Cannon!" Seraphina shouted, creating the runes with her magic scepter and launching a powerful water spell.

While she did this, the other sailors advanced towards the elemental. Some used bows to attack from afar, while others closed in for melee combat. Captain Hemlock was among those who charged forward.

As before, he used one of his sword techniques to attack the elemental. His movements were graceful, precise, and swift. It was indeed a powerful attack.

William was about to act as well, considering the best way to engage the creature.

'Should I use my enhancement spells now or wait a bit?' he wondered.

He would undoubtedly need his spells to participate in this fight, given the elemental's high level. But was it wise to use them right away? The spells didn't last forever. If they wore off mid-battle, he would be in trouble.

But before he could make a decision, the elemental acted.

The elemental, instead of defending, opted to absorb the full brunt of their attacks, leaving itself vulnerable but ready to unleash a devastating counterstrike!

Seraphina's magic, Hemlock's sword technique, and the combined assault of the sailors struck the elemental, inflicting significant damage. The creature roared in pain, but it didn't deter its retaliation.

It unleashed an area-of-effect attack, targeting the sailors and Captain Hemlock at close range.

"Magma Burst!" the elemental bellowed.

Scalding magma erupted from its body, engulfing the sailors and the captain. The sailors, with their lower levels, bore the brunt of the attack. Their faces and bodies were horrifically burned and melted by the searing magma.

"Agggr!" Their screams of agony echoed through the air.

Their cries were abruptly cut short as they collapsed, lifeless, onto the ground.

Hemlock was also caught in the blast but managed to partially evade it. The magma seared his left arm and shoulder, his flesh bubbling and melting.

The pain was nearly unbearable, but Hemlock gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out. He remained focused on the battle, his resolve unwavering.

"Captain!" William shouted in anguish.

Witnessing the gruesome deaths of his crew was devastating, especially for Hemlock, who had sailed with them for years. His heart ached with grief and guilt.

"Get back, William!" Hemlock roared, his voice strained. "We'll buy you time to escape!"

Seraphina, still reeling from the sight of the fallen sailors, echoed Hemlock's command. "That's right! We'll hold it off. Flee, William, please!"

Seraphina's water elemental lunged at their foe, pummeling it with powerful blows. The elemental was still recovering from its Magma Burst, creating the perfect opportunity to attack.

Seraphina also unleashed another spell, this time a massive wave of water that slammed into the elemental with tremendous force, sending it flying backward.

Hemlock, though severely injured, pressed the attack, his sword flashing. His movements were slower and weaker than before, hampered by his burns, but his determination was unwavering.

Of course, William wasn't going to stand idly by and watch his companions die so he could escape. That wasn't his style.

"Enhanced Strength! Swiftfoot!"

His body enhancement spells significantly boosted his strength, agility, and speed. He received 40 extra strength points, 35 agility points, and a 15% increase in movement speed!

That was the limit of his spells' power. William had mastered them completely. To improve further, he would need to seek higher-ranked abilities.

"No!" Hemlock commanded. "I know what you're thinking, but it's futile! This creature is too powerful! We'll die in vain while you escape!"

William was fed up with the captain's defeatist attitude. "No, Captain. You don't know a damn thing! You don't know me or what I'm capable of, and I won't let you two die here today!"

If William wanted to win this fight, he would have to use everything at his disposal. Asura already understood his intentions.

"You're going to use the Stage 1 Demonic Transformation and your special summoned hero ability?" he questioned.

"Exactly," William confirmed.

"You know you'll have to finish the fight in a few minutes, or you'll be screwed afterward."

"Yes, I know."

"And you're going to try anyway?"

"I am."

Asura laughed, a hint of pride in his voice. "That's the spirit! Let's do this, damn it! I'll help you channel all the demonic energy. The rest is up to you."

This would be the first time William unleashed all his demonic energy at once. Asura helped him channel it, and after a few seconds, a dark energy began to emanate from William's body.

His hair whipped around as if caught in a fierce wind, and his eyes turned crimson. Black veins appeared across his body.

[Stage 1 Demonic Transformation activated]

[+80 to all attributes until the transformation ends]

[+100% healing speed]

[Special abilities unlocked]

[Duration: 5 minutes]

Multiple notifications appeared before William. He thought it was the end, but it was just the beginning.

[Hero's Limit (S-Rank): Temporarily enhances all attributes by 50% for 1 minute. Significant physical strain will follow.]

He activated his other ability, further amplifying the attributes already boosted by the Demonic Transformation!
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With all those buffs active, something even stranger occurred.

[Your body has reached a high power level]

[Demonic Serpent Bloodline activated]

[+20 to all attributes permanently]

[Enhanced regeneration, able to recreate lost limbs over time]

[Enhanced vision]

[More abilities will be unlocked over time]

William felt an incredible surge of power. His pupils changed shape, becoming serpentine.

The elemental was terrified. So were Hemlock and Seraphina.