NOVEL WEB Chapter 218: Destroy The Cursed (35)
Aiden's entire body was taut with tension—every muscle coiled, every nerve alert.
The task ahead was monumental: to bring down not only the colossal scorpion beast but also the dark emissary who wielded the fateful yellow orb.
That orb was the lynchpin of their mission; only by securing it could they hope to make a meaningful impact on the battlefield. But obtaining it would not be simple.
The dark emissary was no mere obstacle—he was a powerhouse, and the scorpion beast beneath him was already a living nightmare.
When Aiden had felt his extra limbs mangled by a single, brutal kick, it had been proof of just how overwhelming the enemy's strength truly was.
"Let's get that yellow orb out of the way first," Aiden muttered to himself, pushing forward despite the pounding ache in his side.
Clara took to the sky beside him, her white combat suit gleaming as golden lines pulsed along its surface. The duo surged forward with blinding speed, heading straight for the looming threat.
Quint's gaze fell upon them, filled with cold disdain. He didn't even consider them serious adversaries—just a minor annoyance—but annoyance was enough.
He had made up his mind: these two would pay for the audacity of challenging him and for nearly destroying his pet.
"Crit– attack!" Quint commanded.
The scorpion beast shot forward like a missile, its massive body defying its size with terrifying speed.
Neither Aiden nor Clara were fully prepared for the sudden burst; their initial engagement had been a cautious exchange of blows, but now the battlefield blurred into chaos.
Aiden felt a tremendous force slam into him, lifting him off the ground.
The rush of wind distorted his vision for a fleeting moment, yet he regained control midair, landing deftly on his feet.
A groan escaped his lips as he pressed his hand against his aching side. The system notification flashed at the edge of his vision: -30 HP… 120/300 HP remaining.
Though only struck by one of the scorpion's pincers—and not its lethal tail—Aiden had taken a staggering blow.
Another hit of that magnitude would leave him crippled, unable to contribute to the fight. By sheer luck, he had switched to Emerald Vine Mode just in time.
Its defensive properties far surpassed those of his Dark Essence Mode, absorbing and mitigating the brunt of the attack. Still, the damage was significant, leaving him winded and strained.
The saving grace of this mode was its unique regenerative property: Aiden could slowly recover health by drawing on his energy reserves.
But those reserves were dwindling rapidly. Once they ran dry, even Emerald Vine Mode would be rendered useless, leaving him dangerously exposed.
Worse yet, over half of his energy had already been spent, forcing him to rely heavily on his skill, strategy, and precision to avoid further damage while striking back.
Every step forward now demanded calculation. Every move could be the difference between victory—or a fall that could cost them the entire battle.
All these thoughts flashed through Aiden's mind in a mere two seconds. The moment he steadied himself and rose to his feet, he dashed forward, determination burning in his eyes.
Emerald Vine Mode might not possess the raw offensive power of Dark Essence Mode, but it had its own unique capabilities—capabilities that could turn the tide if used correctly.
Raising both hands, Aiden's palms glowed with a soft, verdant light. The ground beneath him trembled as if responding to his will.
From the earth, thick vines erupted in violent spirals, shooting forward toward the monstrous scorpion beast.
The creature lashed out with its red and green tails—the red igniting flames, the green generating fierce winds that intensified the heat and chaos.
Aiden's vines instantly formed a protective barrier in front of him, shielding him from the dual assault.
Flames collided against the barrier with a deafening roar, and Aiden gritted his teeth, feeling the heat surge through his shield despite its strength.
He could feel the raw elemental power of the beast coursing through the air, each attack more punishing than the last.
Still, he pressed on, summoning additional vines from the depths of the earth, weaving them into dense layers of protection while calculating his next chance to strike.
The battlefield separated him momentarily from Clara, who was contending with the scorpion's lightning and icy-blue tails, their freezing aura attempting to slow her midair.
Aiden spared only a moment of worry; Clara was holding her own. She darted through the attacks with elegance, dodging the searing electricity, but he refused to let her steal the spotlight—even if neither of them had the luxury of glory right now.
His green aura intensified, the glow of his vines growing brighter and more concentrated. They wrapped around him ceaselessly, forming layer upon layer of armor.
Soon, the vines completely enveloped him, weaving into a massive, rounded structure that seemed to pulse with life—a giant, cocoon-like shell.
Quint's narrowed eyes followed the formation, suspicion flickering across his expression.
Clara's gaze shifted toward the massive mound of vines, her heart racing. What on earth is he planning now? she wondered, anxiety gnawing at her.
She forced herself to focus, maintaining strict concentration on her own battle, knowing that even a momentary lapse could mean disaster.
Inside the vine cocoon, Aiden's figure was hidden, yet the structure began to shift and writhe, subtly at first. Then, with a sudden surge of motion, the mass of vines extended outward like a massive, coiled spring.
With a mighty, fluid motion, it shaped into a colossal fist and shot forward like a living cannonball, slamming directly into the scorpion beast's head.
The impact reverberated across the battlefield, staggering the creature and forcing it to stumble backward, caught completely off guard by the unexpected strike.
The scorpion beast had been completely unprepared for the sudden strike. The massive vine punch slammed into its head with the force of a battering ram, throwing the creature backward two steps.
Its stagger halted the immediate assault, giving Aiden's vines the opening they needed. From the residual momentum, the green tendrils began twisting and weaving, slowly coalescing into a new, more defined shape.
At first, the form was vague, almost abstract—but as seconds passed, it began to resemble a humanoid figure, and then, unmistakably, a warrior.
Every vine tightened and hardened, forming not just a body, but intricate armor, etched with detail as if painstakingly sculpted. Within moments, the transformation completed.
Standing several meters away, Aiden's vine avatar towered like a legendary king of old—tall, imposing, and majestic, crowned with a regal headpiece woven entirely from living vines.
His long, flowing vine hair framed a stern, commanding visage, and the body, armored completely in thick, twisting green tendrils, radiated a sense of both beauty and raw power.
With a deliberate motion, Aiden stretched his hand outward.
More vines erupted from the ground, intertwining and forming a colossal greatblade. Its gleam caught the flickering light of the battle, dazzling in a way that almost seemed ceremonial.
Clara's eyes twitched involuntarily, her vision caught between awe and disbelief; it was almost too much to process, the sheer audacity and scale of it.
Yet, the scorpion beast, though staggered, recovered quickly and braced to continue its assault, unwilling to let the moment pass.
Clara's brow furrowed as she watched, silently questioning his flashiness in the midst of such chaos.
How could he risk being this ostentatious when the stakes are so high? she thought, a mix of irritation and admiration curling inside her.
The vine warrior finally spoke, his voice deep and resonant, echoing across the battlefield. "Let's settle this… right here, right now."
Aiden planted his feet firmly, stance wide and unwavering, as the massive vine blade rested at his side, ready.
Across from him, Quint sneered, his lips curling into a malicious grin. "You may have grown larger… but you will still fall. That is a fate you cannot escape."
Aiden's lips curved into a confident, almost taunting smile. His voice, calm and deliberate, cut through the tension:
"Why don't you find out for yourself… whether I am stronger… or weaker… in this form?"
To be continued…....
Author's Note:
Wow… Chapter 218 really escalated quickly! Aiden's transformation into the Vine King was a spectacle I've been itching to write for a while, and I hope it delivered that epic "wow" moment for all of you.
I want to hear your thoughts: what did you think of Aiden's Vine King form?
Do you think the sheer power and spectacle of his transformation fits his personality, or was it a little too over-the-top for the situation?
And what about Clara—how do you think she balances awe, concern, and practicality during moments like this?
Also, let's talk about Quint. Do you find him a compelling villain because of how strategic and ruthless he is, or does his sheer power make him feel almost invincible?
Would you like to see more of his inner thoughts in future chapters, or is it more interesting to watch the heroes react to him?
Another thing I want to ask: in high-stakes battles like this, do you prefer the heroes to rely on clever tactics, flashy transformations, or raw brute force?
How does that affect your reading experience—does it make it more exciting, or does it sometimes feel like too much?
Finally, I'd love to hear your predictions. With the Vine King form revealed and the scorpion beast still in play, how do you think the next clash will unfold?
Will Aiden's transformation be enough to turn the tide, or is Quint holding some secret advantage we haven't seen yet?
Drop your thoughts, theories, and reactions in the comments—I read every single one, and your insights always inspire me for the next chapter.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
That's the chapter, everyone!
If you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote with your Power Stones, drop a Golden Ticket, and leave a comment or review—it really helps the story grow and keeps me motivated to deliver more chapters for you all.
Your support means everything, so let me know what you think:
✨ Who's your favorite character so far?
✨ What do you think will happen next with Aiden and Clara?
✨ Any wild theories? I love reading them!
Stay tuned—the next chapter is coming soon.
– Ultra