"Damn, these lightning bolts are infused with Authority. Their offensive capability is way too strong."
Bell muttered under his breath as he dodged the barrage of lightning strikes.
Even though he could shatter these lightning bolts, the situation was clearly designed to force him to retreat. As long as he stayed, the lightning wouldn't stop, and Gugalanna wouldn't just sit idle, waiting for him to leave.
So, Bell made the decision to retreat for the time being.
Though he missed a great opportunity for a counterattack, clinging to it would only leave him vulnerable to Gugalanna's follow-up strike.
The moment Bell backed away, sections of the desert beneath Gugalanna began to show signs of melting. This caught Bell off guard for a moment before he quickly realized what was happening.
"So that's it—'Drought.' A calamity triggered by divine power. Ishtar brought Gugalanna to cause trouble for Gilgamesh and Enkidu, unleashing this disaster on the land. I never expected it could be wielded to such an extent."
This made Bell realize why there was so much desertification on this floor. It was Gugalanna's Authority that had brought the drought to this level.
"Interesting~ But don't mistake me for Gilgamesh or Enkidu. They're better suited for combat, while I'm just a half-baked fighter."
"But if you think you can play with me using your Authority, you're far too naive."
Bell wouldn't just stand by passively after an enemy activated their Authority. Wasn't that precisely what his own Authority was for?
The oppressive heat across the entire floor abruptly stopped, especially around Gugalanna, who had activated his Authority.
The sand around them, which had begun to melt, suddenly began to change form. It started solidifying, not as liquid, but as frozen solid matter.
Not only the sand that had melted, but the desert itself began to show signs of becoming damp, slowly freezing over.
"Moo!!"
Clearly, Gugalanna had noticed the change. No matter how much he used his Authority, the surrounding heat refused to return. Instead, an unusual cold began to settle in.
The more he used his Authority, the more intense the cold became.
What was once a desert floor was now transforming into a fully frozen environment.
But the more this happened, the more uneasy Gugalanna became.
His large ox eyes locked onto the human before him. His instincts told him that this man was the cause of it all.
Unfazed by Gugalanna's intense glare, Bell spoke freely about his Authority.
"Chaos is my Authority. I command all disorder in the world, transforming every structure of order into the chaos I desire.
"All causality, rules, and powers in the world are mine to command."
"But your little bit of chaos? It's far easier for me than you think."
It was because of the unique nature of "Chaos" that Bell could claim mastery over all the powers and rules in the world. His power could negate everything, plunging the world into utter chaos.
Thus, the moment Bell's power manifested, he gained the characteristics of "omniscience and omnipotence."
"If you want to oppose me, face me with pure strength."
"Or better yet, deny me the time to unleash 'Chaos' against your powers."
Gugalanna understood: his Authority was useless against this human. Continuing to use it would only waste his divine energy, with no effect.
But he wasn't ready to trust the human's words.
Earlier, while using his Authority and expending divine power, he had felt a slight drain on the human's energy. Though the amount was negligible compared to his own, it was still there.
So, the human's power was special. It could disrupt his Authority, but it too came with its own costs.
This realization made Gugalanna certain that continuing to use his power would ultimately drain his own reserves first.
That meant he didn't need to rely on his Authority anymore.
Gugalanna snorted, releasing two puffs of hot air. He wasn't about to refuse the challenge. In fact, he was eager to fight using pure strength.
But he still remembered the severe injury to his right front leg. Despite his efforts to heal it, the damage wasn't healing, and it only seemed to be worsening with time.
He didn't know what had caused this, but he understood that he couldn't afford to give this human any chance.
If the human managed to exploit even a single opportunity, he would never get another shot.
With this in mind, Gugalanna began scraping his injured front hoof against the ground.
"Adapting?"
Bell's eyes remained focused on that foreleg. It showed no signs of recovery, just as he had expected. Even when facing a god, this tactic worked.
As long as immortality wasn't involved, even a god could be injured. When struck by a fatal blow, death was inevitable.
Shattering atomic structures dealt irreversible damage to a god.
Or rather, any being with immortality could not withstand the collapse of its atomic structure.
But Gugalanna likely wouldn't give him another such opportunity.
Attacking a weakness was difficult, but a direct confrontation seemed unavoidable.
Perhaps it was an incredibly risky battle, but when facing a four-digit god, taking a little risk was only natural.
The man and the bull stood at that moment, both waiting for the other to make the first move.
"Moo!!!"
After a brief pause, Gugalanna suddenly charged forward, lowering his head. His horns were now aimed directly at Bell.
"Crackle!"
As Gugalanna charged, a massive surge of lightning crackled around his massive form.
These bolts of lightning would not only enhance Gugalanna's offense but also protect him from sudden attacks like the one Bell had previously launched.
"Is this the move?"
Bell knew Gugalanna wouldn't give him another chance to strike its weak point. This tactic was entirely within his expectations.
"I need to observe first."
A sudden attack was always a risky move. Bell wasn't planning to act the moment Gugalanna charged.
His gaze remained fixed on the front hoof.
That injured leg wouldn't stay vulnerable forever. Just one opportunity, and the next strike could decide the outcome.