The only constant was that conical proboscis still dripping with Spiritual Energy, and a pair of eyes flashing with a crimson glow...
If those could even be called eyes.
Ron could feel that this creature was evaluating his worth in its own way, like a gourmet assessing an expensive dish.
This suffocating sense of oppression was even greater than what he experienced when facing the "Holy Disc".
Back then, at least he could find its weakness, but now... he was nearly on the brink of death before he could even react.
"... can’t... just... die here..."
Ron gritted his teeth, enduring indescribable pain, and began to reassemble his remaining Spiritual Power.
Accompanied by that instinct to survive, his mind gradually regained some clarity, quickly analyzing the current situation.
The enemy in front of him moved at a speed far beyond his reaction capability; pure defense was clearly ineffective.
But if he could anticipate the next attack, perhaps he could find a chance to counterattack.
First, he needed to understand this creature’s attack pattern.
The newly acquired "Hermit’s Knowledge" began to come into play.
He could sense that the energy within the hound was regrouping, clearly preparing for a second attack.
And this time, the energy was gathering faster and with more intensity than before.
It seemed the creature had confirmed Ron’s "deliciousness" and decided to intensify its hunting effort.
There wasn’t much time; action was needed immediately.
"Combine ’Super Magic Techniques’ with ’Flowing Shield Wall’... along with the defensive correction formed after the first hit due to the ’Eternal Engraving’ trait, plus the reinforcement of the spell structure by ’Micro-structure Adaptation’..."
Ron swiftly mobilized all available Spiritual Power to construct a brand-new defensive system.
Unlike the previous shield wall that solely relied on energy density, this time his defense system was designed to be more precise and complex.
It was as if dozens of miniature Energy Circuits were added on top of the original barrier, each layer absorbing part of the impact and redirecting it in another direction.
Energy flowed and interwove in his consciousness, forming an exquisitely delicate defensive network.
Almost simultaneously as he completed the final layer of defense, the Time Hound’s second attack was already upon him!
The horrifying proboscis stabbed forward even faster than the last time but encountered layer upon layer of energy ripples.
Each layer it pierced slowed it down, dispersing the energy further.
Although it could not be fully stopped, Ron at least gained precious reaction time.
Just as the proboscis was about to pierce his consciousness again, Ron decisively released his long-accumulated "Spiritual Shock"!
A pure spiritual shockwave erupted from his consciousness core, striking the Time Hound’s center akin to tangible lightning.
This attack did not rely on physical form; it acted directly on the existential essence.
Any being with a conscious structure could hardly evade it completely.
"Sss——"
An odd hiss emanated from the Time Hound.
It was not a sound in the usual sense but rather some frequency of energy fluctuation.
Its movements noticeably stalled, with the proboscis nearing Ron’s consciousness halting just millimeters away.
Its terrifying suction was still attempting to extract his Spiritual Energy.
"Now! The pocket watch!"
Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Ron decisively activated his strongest life-saving tool carried with him.
Space seemed to freeze around him for an instant, and the flow of time became viscous and slow.
With a subtle energy fluctuation, the gaping hole in his consciousness began to heal at a speed visible to the eye.
The shattered consciousness structure reformed, the forcibly extracted Spiritual Energy began to flow back, and the damaged Spiritual Power circuits gradually regained vitality.
Ron could feel his condition improving rapidly; his consciousness cleared, and his thoughts became more agile.
Though not fully restored to peak condition, it was sufficient for him to continue fighting.
Almost as soon as his recovery was complete, Ron immediately infused all his Spiritual Power into his strongest Attack Magic.
—Sound Wave Oscillation - Erosion State!
Invisible sound waves, like tangible blades, tore through space, striking directly at the Time Hound’s core.
The moment the sound waves contacted the Time Hound, the effect was immediate.
The constantly morphing entity suddenly froze, its form showing obvious distortion and fragmentation as if a mirror struck by a heavy hammer.
Several deep cracks spread from the point of contact outward, as if the entire creature was on the brink of collapse.
"Effective!"
Ron’s eyes lit up, and a glimmer of hope surged in his heart:
"Continue the attack, don’t give it a chance to recover!"
Just as he was preparing to launch a second wave of attacks, a bone-chilling scene occurred...
The Time Hound’s body, like a reversed playback, reassembled every shattered part at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Those profound cracks seemed never to have appeared, and the entire creature was almost instantly restored as if untouched!
"Damn it!" Ron’s pupils contracted abruptly, cold despair climbing his spine:
"It can also reset its state? And it seems to be an innate instinct, able to be used without any medium..."
This was the worst situation.
With the Silver Pocket Watch’s time abilities, he might barely manage to protect himself.
But if the opponent could also manipulate time, then his greatest advantage would be completely nullified.
The Time Hound seemed to be enraged by this attack.