NOVEL NEXT Chapter 482: Unlucky One
His massive head tilted slightly as he studied Arthur with the gaze of a predator who had finally cornered dangerous prey.
"You thought you were all powerful because you could command space, didn't you? What you failed to realise was that you remain a talented novice whose potential exceeds his current capabilities, trapped within the absolute territory of someone who has mastered domain creation."
The Winter Beast's smile revealed teeth like icicle daggers as he prepared to demonstrate exactly why domain-wielding creatures were considered existential threats to entire regions.
"Welcome to my world, young human. I do hope you enjoy your final moments."
Arthur stared at the Winter Beast with eyes that held depths of cold calculation that rivaled the supernatural frost surrounding them. His expression carried no fear or desperation, only the intensity of someone who had faced impossible odds before and emerged victorious.
"You think you are so strong, huh?" Arthur replied with quiet confidence that seemed to absorb the Winter Beast's intimidation attempts like a void consuming light.
The Winter Beast's response began with the patronising tone of someone addressing a particularly stubborn child who refused to acknowledge reality. "Strength is relative, little space wielder. Within my domain, I am—"
Without waiting for the Winter Beast to complete his boastful declaration or begin leveraging his domain advantages, Arthur activated the legendary skill he had just extracted from Neko's arsenal.
"Unlucky."
The word carried power that transcended normal magical incantations, invoking forces that operated beyond conventional elements. Arthur's will reached out to touch concepts that existed in the spaces between reality and possibility, marking his opponent for supernatural misfortune that would make victory significantly more achievable.
The Winter Beast suddenly found himself designated as the "Unlucky One" by forces he couldn't perceive or resist.
A dark halo materialised around his massive form, the ominous radiance spreading across his entire body like a dark mist. The cursed aura pulsed with malevolent energy that seemed to drain light from the surrounding ice formations, creating a visual effect that suggested his very existence had become offensive to natural order.
The Winter Beast frowned deeply as he felt his legendary strength beginning to weaken in ways that defied his understanding. His domain abilities remained active, but something fundamental about his physical capabilities was diminishing with each passing second.
"You..." The Winter Beast's voice carried shock and growing concern as he processed the implications of what Arthur had just accomplished.
"What are you? How can you have control over so many supreme laws?"
The question reflected genuine bewilderment from a creature whose millennia of existence had never encountered someone capable of wielding multiple fundamental forces simultaneously. Space manipulation was already extraordinary enough, but now Arthur had demonstrated command over luck.
Arthur's smile carried satisfaction as he watched the legendary creature struggle to comprehend the scope of abilities arrayed against him.
[The Winter Beast is afflicted with -30% Defence.]
The notification confirmed that Arthur's curse had achieved optimal effectiveness. The Winter Beast's defensive capabilities, whether mental or physical, had been reduced by thirty percent. A massive degradation that would make him significantly more vulnerable to sustained assault.
Feeling the curse's effects settling into his consciousness like poison, the Winter Beast recognised that Arthur represented an even greater threat than his initial assessment had suggested.
Immediately, driven by the urgency of eliminating such a dangerous opponent before the debuff could be fully exploited, the Winter Beast began launching attacks with unprecedented intensity.
His offensive constructs were faster, more numerous, and carried significantly more destructive power than anything he had employed during their previous exchanges.
Ice formations erupted from every surface, each one designed to overwhelm Arthur's defensive capabilities through sheer volume and power. The attacks came from multiple angles simultaneously, creating kill zones that would challenge even legendary-rank opponents with established domain abilities.
Arthur found himself having considerable difficulty defending against the escalated assault. His spatial manipulation was being pushed to its absolute limits as he calculated trajectories, anticipated patterns, and maintained protective barriers around both himself and the Cackle Queen simultaneously.
Ten seconds passed in desperate evasion, with Arthur teleporting constantly to avoid attacks that would have been instantly lethal if they had connected. The Unlucky debuff remained active with fifty seconds of duration remaining, a significant window of opportunity if he could find a way to exploit it effectively.
Arthur needed a momentary break in the Winter Beast's relentless offensive pressure, something that would create the opening necessary for a decisive counterattack.
"Break his momentum," Arthur commanded the Cackle Queen through their mental connection. With the thirty percent defensive debuff active, her psychological assault should prove slightly more effective than previously, even though she was also suffering from the domain's attribute reductions.
The Cackle Queen positioned herself carefully, waiting for Arthur's tactical signal while the Winter Beast prepared what appeared to be his most devastating attack yet. Energy was building around his massive form as he channelled power that would likely overwhelm Arthur's defensive capabilities entirely.
Arthur recognised the perfect moment for disruption—just as the Winter Beast committed fully to his charging sequence, leaving himself temporarily vulnerable to psychological interference.
"Now!" Arthur commanded internally.
The message wasn't directed solely at the Cackle Queen but also served as the predetermined signal for Aether, who had been waiting at the domain's periphery for exactly this moment.
The Cackle Queen activated her Nightmare talent with intensity, her psychological assault striking the Winter Beast's consciousness with visions designed to shatter his concentration. The thirty percent defensive reduction made her mental attack significantly more effective, penetrating his legendary mental defences more than before.
The Winter Beast's carefully prepared spell collapsed as his focus shattered under the psychological bombardment. The massive energy construct he had been building dissipated harmlessly, leaving him momentarily stunned and vulnerable.
Arthur teleported immediately, appearing directly in front of the disoriented Winter Beast with his Chaos Katana already positioned for a devastating strike. Simultaneously, Aether materialised above the creature's head, his Dimensional Slash technique already in motion and primed for maximum damage.