>>5358012>>5358024>>5358038If Gunpowder could push the monster's barrier back, then it's possible that he just needs a little nudge to break through, and you have just the right thing for it...
"CHARGE!" You signal for the black stallion to break through the sound barrier once again, instantly appearing in front of the entity as it could barely fortify it's shield in time.
As you finally saw a crack on it, you shoved the liquid trident at the barrier and let it splash over it's circular shape, letting them solidify into a ball of frost, finally revitalizing the undines to pierce the barrier with the three spikes of the trident onto the Merlina lookalike.
Once the trident penetrated through the amalgamation's chest, the barrier was dispersed as Gunpowder kicked it onto Grunbeld's jaw, impeding him from using his fire breath to incinerate Guts, though it did not stop the freak of nature to slash at the dragon's face while the temperature from the fire near him should be enough to boil his skin.
Not matter for how long he tried to melt the ice, the ball seemed like it had the temperature of absolute zero, blowing more flames only redirected them back to Grunbeld's throat as it kept the giant from losing his mouth to frostbite.
The entity is finally within your grasp, you see several souls escaping from it as you imbue it with Od, letting the amalgamation lose it's council of madness as the image of your master became less and less distorted.
Still not wanting to leave her vessel, the panicked entity used it's scythe to dig it's blade at your jugular, using it's phasing projectiles to off your head before it's body was frozen solid.
Using your soul double to catch the scythe, you kept your physical arms in place as you struggled to push her off. While the real Merlina is close to showing herself, it seems that she's slowly recuperating the Od she had at the peak of her powers, empowering her strength and magical prowess instead of diminishing it.
<span class="mu-i">"Vlad! Are you there? The transformed apostles are heading your way! Flora is already..."</span> A panicked Farnese informs you of the elder witch's fate. The timing couldn't be worse...
<span class="mu-i">"How are the others?"</span>
<span class="mu-i">"We are trying our best, but we're already exhausted from fighting the trolls at Qlipoth and Enoch. Serpico and Hyde are holding the line, but there's too many of them. Schierke decided to bring you two over here and attempt to calm Guts down. Please, hurry up!"</span>
Guts is close to defeating Grunbeld, but the trail of blood that drowns his feet shows that he might die if he keeps inching closer to the final blow, and the same goes for the entity. While you could drop her down and take leave, that would only mean having to fight her later as she grows stronger.
You have taken down a considerable number of apostles, but is it enough to make a dent in Griffith's new band of the falcon?
