Chapter 62: Thunder Explosion
Vesperin's face twisted with rage as Zeus's mocking words cut deep into his pride. His eyes burned with fury, and his voice quivered with barely contained anger as he spat, "You're finished! You have no idea what you've just done!"
Zeus's smirk only widened, his expression calm and almost mocking. "Really?" he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And you think that puppet of yours, the one that's already been beaten, can somehow take me down now?"
Vesperin's lips curled into a sinister smile, his eyes narrowing with malevolent intent. "You haven't seen everything it can do," he hissed, his voice cold and venomous.
With a sharp command, Vesperin sent his corpse puppet hurtling toward Zeus. The creature lunged forward, its grotesque limbs moving with terrifying speed and precision.
Zeus didn't flinch. Instead, he watched the puppet's approach with a confident smirk, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Come on, then," he murmured, almost to himself, as if daring the puppet to prove him wrong.
The two collided in a powerful exchange of blows. Their fists met with a force that sent shockwaves through the air, both combatants pushed back by the impact.
For a brief moment, Zeus's expression shifted from confident to surprised. This thing's gotten stronger, he realized, his eyes narrowing as he reassessed the puppet.
On the other side, Vesperin's eyes widened slightly, betraying his own shock. How can this be? he thought, stunned by the realization that Zeus, despite the enhancements, was still holding his ground. He hadn't expected the commoner to be this strong.
Zeus let out a laugh, his voice brimming with excitement. "I have to admit, I didn't expect your corpse puppet to get this strong," he said, his eyes gleaming with a mix of anticipation and challenge. "Now, let's see what else it's got!"
With a determined grin, Zeus charged toward Vesperin, eager to push the limits of their battle. The thrill of combat surged through him, and he was ready to test his own abilities to the fullest.
Vesperin's expression darkened, a deep frown settling on his face as he quickly commanded his puppet. "Don't let him get close! Stop him!" he barked, his tone laced with urgency.
The corpse puppet moved with deadly precision, instantly reacting to Vesperin's command. It rushed to intercept Zeus, and when the two forces collided, the impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
Zeus's strikes were relentless, each one fueled by the power of his thunder-infused body. The air around him crackled with the raw energy of lightning, making his every movement a deadly dance.
"Come on, show me what you've got!" Zeus shouted, his voice brimming with adrenaline as he pressed his attack. Every punch, every kick was charged with purpose, and his eyes gleamed with the thrill of the fight.
Vesperin watched, his frustration mounting as he struggled to comprehend how this commoner was holding his ground. "How is he keeping up?" he thought, disbelief creeping into his expression.
Then, with a confident smirk, Zeus suddenly paused, locking eyes with Vesperin. "Think you can handle this?" he taunted, his tone laced with challenge. In one swift motion, his right hand became enveloped in crackling thunder, the energy swirling around his fist.
Before Vesperin could react, Zeus launched a powerful strike at the corpse puppet. The moment his thunder-coated fist connected, the puppet's body jerked violently, its movements becoming erratic.
Vesperin's eyes widened in shock, his mind racing. "He's a thunder element warrior?" The realization hit him hard, throwing his calculations into disarray. This was a development he hadn't anticipated.
Before Vesperin could issue another command, the corpse puppet began to convulse, and then, without warning, it exploded. The blast was deafening, and when the dust settled, a gaping hole was left in the puppet's stomach, the damage irreparable.
Vesperin stared in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock as the situation spiraled out of his control. "What... what the hell? How could this happen?" he stammered, his voice trembling.
The confidence he once exuded crumbled, replaced by the crushing realization that he had gravely underestimated his opponent.
Zeus's lips curled into a mocking smirk, his eyes dancing with amusement. "What do you mean, 'How could this happen'?" he repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Of course, it can happen—I am the mighty Zeus!" His voice boomed with unwavering confidence, and he threw his head back in a hearty laugh, the sound echoing menacingly through the cavern.
Vesperin's expression twisted with a mixture of frustration and fear. "Damn you!" he spat, desperation creeping into his voice. His hands moved frantically as he attempted to channel his energy into the battered corpse puppet, trying to heal it before it was too late.
But before Vesperin could complete the spell, a second explosion of thunder roared through the air, the sound reverberating off the cavern walls. The corpse puppet's right hand was obliterated in the blast, the remnants scattering like ash in the wind.
Vesperin's eyes widened even further, shock and horror etched across his face. "No... how is this possible?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.
Zeus's laughter grew louder, more menacing, filling the cavern with a chilling resonance. He watched with a twisted sense of satisfaction as panic took hold of Vesperin's features.
"Did you really think that was my only trick?" Zeus taunted, his voice laced with a sinister delight. His eyes gleamed with the thrill of having the upper hand, every word delivered like a dagger aimed straight at the heart of Vesperin's crumbling confidence.
Vesperin's frown deepened, his arrogance giving way to a cold realization. He hadn't expected Zeus to be so cunning, so unpredictable. "This can't be happening," he muttered under his breath, his mind racing for a way out.
The full weight of his misjudgment settled over him like a dark cloud. Desperate, he barked out a command, "Retreat, now!" His voice wavered, betraying the fear he could no longer hide.
The corpse puppet, despite its battered and broken state, obeyed its master's command and turned to flee. But Zeus was already a step ahead, his eyes narrowing as he saw through Vesperin's ploy.
"Oh no, you don't!" Zeus exclaimed, his tone sharp and determined. In a flash of lightning, he moved with blinding speed, cutting off any chance of escape. But instead of pursuing the retreating puppet, Zeus shifted his focus directly to Vesperin.
Vesperin's eyes widened in sheer panic as he realized he was the true target all along. "No!" he shouted, his voice cracking with terror as Zeus closed in on him, the fear he'd tried so hard to conceal now fully exposed.