"Haa... haa... haa..."
Nothing echoed across the battlefield—where such a fierce struggle had just unfolded—save for the ragged rasp of my breathing and the howling wind.
"To dodge that... Impressive as always."
Asem spoke in a tone of mild admiration. Lowering the scythe in his grip, he relaxed his posture into an effortless stance.
In stark contrast, a massive slash ran diagonally across my face, and a cold, vile sweat drenched my body. The wound on my face hadn't reached the bone, so it wasn't as deep as it looked... but if my judgment had lapsed for even a fraction of a second, I would have died right there. Moving in that split second felt like a miracle even to me.
I couldn't read it... I couldn't react to Asem's movement at all! Is this a joke...?! This is my Reformer state—the very form that transformed the Transcendent Rizevim into a monster that couldn't even lay a finger on me...! And yet—.
Asem directed an analytical glare toward me before opening his mouth.
"You look surprised."
"How could I not be surprised...?! What kind of power-up is that...?!"
"I told you, didn't I? This is what you would call a Balance Breaker. Created by peering into the 'System' within the Heavens and referencing your past data, this is the Calamity Regen Stein: Sacred Gauntlet of Despair. A Sacred Gear tuned specifically to my strength—a divine artifact meant for me alone. Its ability is simple: it boosts my power."
Back in the Underworld, Asem had used that same black gauntlet. He had told me the exact same thing then, so I knew it bordered on a Balance Breaker and kept my guard up during this fight. But I never anticipated a jump in power like this...!
Its ability might be a simple stat boost, but its absolute simplicity made it all the harder to counter. So far, Asem hadn't revealed a single exploitable weakness. His magic was overwhelming, and his hand-to-hand combat was flawless. Even armed with a weapon, his mastery was absolute.
Then does that black gauntlet carry any drawbacks? Before donning that armor, Asem had sustained heavy damage from my strongest attack. Despite that, he was moving like this now. There had to be something—.
Right then, Asem spoke up again.
"I see. You are surprised, and you feel the pressure... yet you immediately shifted your focus to analyze the nature of this power. In extreme combat, that is the correct course of action. However, just as you are observing me... I am watching you as well."
In that instant, a sharp chill ran down my spine. Instinctively, I ducked—and the gleaming blade of his scythe sliced through the air right above my head.
"Evading it cleanly on your second attempt, I see."
Indeed, I dodged it without taking a scratch this time. But it wasn't because I saw Asem coming; it was pure, unadulterated instinct.
And through this exchange, I understood one thing clearly: there wouldn't be a third time.
"Damn it...!"
Putting all my strength into my legs, I launched myself upward at top speed.
Without a reliable countermeasure, facing him head-on in a clash of force offered zero chance of victory...! I needed to create distance and—.
"—Trying to catch me off guard again?"
"...?!"
At the sound of his voice right behind me, I turned to see Asem waiting with his butterfly wings fully unfurled.
"That's far too naive."
With those cold words, Asem grabbed my head and went into a steep dive! His grip was terrifyingly strong; I couldn't break free! Worse, the pressure crushing my body during the rapid descent was extraordinary...! Asem slammed me straight into the ground.
"Ghah...!"
Unable to even break my fall due to the sheer force, I collided back-first against the terrain. An agonizing pain shot through my body as my lungs were compressed, momentarily robbing me of breath.
Still, I somehow dragged myself back up and glared into the sky... but Asem was no longer there.
"Where are you looking?"
The moment I felt a tap on my shoulder from behind, an immense shockwave sent me flying. I caught a glimpse of it right before impact... Was that a kick?!
I bounced violently across the ground again and again. Just like when I was slammed down, the sheer force was impossible to resist, sending me tumbling across the wasteland. By the time the momentum finally faded and I tried to push myself into a defensive stance, it was already too late.
"Guh...!"
A spear out of nowhere pierced straight through my left shoulder.
A spear formed entirely from aura...! That bastard has no intention of giving me a chance to counter attack...!
"Precisely."
Closing the distance in a flash, Asem spoke as if reading my innermost thoughts. Getting cornered at close range right now was worst-case scenario...!
The second that realization hit me, a heavy, devastating blow slammed into my core.
Blown away by Asem's assault, I found myself buried under a pile of rubble inside the very pitch-black tower where we had first crossed fists.
"Cough, cough... Damn it... it hurts..."
My whole body throbbed with agony, heavy as lead. Damn it... How could the gap between us be this huge?! I'm being used as a complete punching bag.
Shoving aside the debris resting on top of me, I managed to stand. Right on cue, Asem glided through the hole in the wall I had just crashed through.
"Tch...!"
Clicking my tongue, I forced myself into motion. Honestly, if things kept going like this, I'd collapse before I could ever find a weakness to exploit. If so, my only option was to press forward.
While I wasn't holding back in the slightest, Asem was still fighting with effortless ease. Fighting him normally would never yield a win.
Which meant—.
"In a place as wide open as this, I can use this without holding back!"
Red particles gathered rapidly around my outstretched right hand, manifesting into the giant broadsword—Ignis. Because its immense power risked catching everyone nearby in the crossfire, my opportunities to draw it had been limited... but fortunately, only Asem and I were here. In this vast realm constructed by Asem, there was no risk of collateral damage.
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