GREED: ALL FOR WHAT?

The royal guard increased its efforts in subduing its opponent and is rewarded for it. The ground began to heat up and melt making it easier for Helios to be pushed back but it came at a cost. Its eyes and the other delicate organs in its head suffered each moment the deadlock continues. Helios held on no matter the struggle of the royal guard. He has already confirmed that the diamond carapace can resist almost all types of damage except for heat from light and fire.

Number 1 began to try other methods to get rid of Helios. Its large mandibles increased the frenzy of their snapping but they couldn't reach its target. Its horns were created for long reach but have become a disadvantage to it. Then it extended its first two front limbs to scratch at Helios. It resisted the pain it felt when they entered the domain and used the blades on them to cut at Helios's body.

The blades cut harmlessly against his armor making sparks fly. They couldn't get past his defense.

Helios said to number 1. "Give up. You tried your best."

It might be stronger than Helios but it can't use its strength properly. It will die as the domain continues to burn it and Helios doesn't want to kill it. It is not his mission.

Number 1 sighed and answered. "I can't give up. And I haven't tried my best."

It detached its horn after saying so. Helios was caught off guard. He had been resisting the full strength of the giant ant through the horn but all that strength suddenly disappeared. He stumbled forward with the loose horn tightly held in his hands. He would have been able to stop himself quickly by redirecting his momentum so he wouldn't fall down but he couldn't stop himself from leaning forward for now. The royal guard had its mandibles wide open for him in welcome. Those diamond cutters are rumored to be able to cut anything. He is not looking forward to testing the validity of that rumor.

'I didn't see that coming.' Helios thought to himself.

It was unexpected but he didn't panic. He did three things at the same time. First, he calmly made two artificial arms to perform the light resonance shift. Those two arms phased out and suddenly appeared in front of him. They griped the two mandibles and held them apart while he got his balance.

As it has been stated earlier, the royal guard is more powerful than him. The golden arms were crushed a split second later. It is enough time for the two other arms to finish the transformation he was doing with them while the first two tried to keep the mandibles away from him.

Two hammers smashed down on the ant's head. The hammers are weaker than what he used to smash Number 11 but they are easier to make and they succeeded in their current mission unlike the previous failure to kill Number 11. The force of the smash lowered the mandibles and allowed Helios to use the horn in his hands to knock aside the mandibles. He regained his balance and jumped back.

"I didn't know that you could do that." He said as he watched the ant warily.

Another two pairs of golden arms formed beside him with the destruction of the previous ones.

Number 1 replied. "It is possible if I am desperate. I was desperate."

Helios had to admit. "This has changed things."

"Yes, it has. You are no match for me and there's no horn to keep you away from me. One snap of my mandibles and I'll maim you."

"That won't happen. I am desperate too."

The sun stigmata on his back lit up. He began to glow brighter and taller. His height increased from 33 meters to 45 meters. He got stronger and so did his golden armor. He didn't want to use the Stigmata unless he absolutely needs to but he is desperate too.

"Second round I suppose. Unless you give up." He said to the giant ant.

The royal guard eyed him before stating stubbornly. "This has changed nothing."

The two of them rushed forward again.

The royal guard prepped its mandibles like giant shears while Helios prepped the detached horn like a club. His attack reached the ant first. The horn is longer than the mandibles. The addition of his arm makes him have a longer reach. The thick end of the horn slammed down on the head of the ant. It was dazed a little but it continued to try and maim Helios.

Helios's two artificial arms grabbed the mandibles and used them to pull the ant forward but sideways. He has enough strength now with the use of his stigmata. Plus he isn't pushing the ant back. He is actually assisting it in its forward momentum. So he succeeded in destabilizing the ant, just a little. The ant lurched to the left of Helios. It missed him and lunged past him.

It couldn't turn because Helios's artificial arms held it back and it wasn't able to resist as Helios rammed his real shoulders against the side of the ant slamming it against the wall. He tried to use the horn to break the relatively thin limbs in but failed as the ant freed itself. It turned its head and snapped at Helios with those deadly mandibles.

The diamond cutters were only able to reach a few centimeters away from his head because he stopped them. Helios's artificial arms appeared beside him. Two of them took turns punching the head of the ant and smashing it against the wall. The other two pinned the ant down by its thorax while Helios wielded the horn like a sword and pierced the thorax of the ant. He pushed the sharp horn through the carapace past the thorax and into the wall. The ant struggled throughout it all but it is an endeavour in futility.