Screech—
A sharp sound of clashing weapons rang out as Muria's Seven Sins Blade collided with Bane's bone sword. The edge of Muria's blade sliced through Bane's god-powered weapon with ease. Bane's sword, forcibly enhanced by divine power, was no match for Muria's personalized weapon.
Muria locked eyes with Bane, their golden-red gazes meeting. Simultaneously, they released their auras, and both of their bodies stiffened. A flicker of surprise appeared in Bane's eyes.
Not only did Bane's current form fail to overpower Muria physically, but when comparing the pressure from their divine auras, he found no advantage either.
Ten Thousand Dragons!
Tyrant's Fury!
The air around Muria and Bane seemed to solidify as they unleashed their sword techniques, slashing at each other.
Muria's blade sent out thousands of sword beams, which morphed into dragon shadows lunging at Bane, as if trying to tear his body apart. But Bane neither dodged nor defended. He firmly swung his bone sword at Muria.
Muria, too, showed no intention of dodging. After all, with the Holy Armor of Emperor's Abyss protecting him, he had more than enough defense. He could take a direct hit without fear.
The vicious sword slashed across Muria's chest, and he felt as if he had been struck by a giant hammer, sending him flying.
Splat!
Muria was knocked back, but Bane didn't emerge unscathed either. Countless sword beams had pierced Bane's avatar, leaving him battered and torn, barely resembling a human form. His head was also cleaved off by Muria's attack.
However, this didn't stop Bane. His nearly decapitated, headless body marched toward Muria, raising the bone sword for another strike. Meanwhile, the gruesome injuries on his body began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The severed head that had been flung into the air adjusted itself and opened its mouth, spitting out a scarlet divine ray at Muria. A faint stinging sensation spread across Muria's body.
Several ribs in Muria's chest had been fractured by the previous blow, but they quickly healed. He adjusted his stance, using his blade to block the bone sword, then drew his Demon Slayer Sword. In a swift motion, he shattered the divine ray and split Bane's head into two.
But once again, it was futile. Bane's body forced Muria back, caught the two halves of the head flying from the sky, and reattached them to his neck. In an instant, all his wounds healed.
"Not bad. I was wrong before—you're not just an ant!" Bane cracked his neck, smiling. Anyone who had ascended to godhood wasn't ordinary. Even those who had become gods by sheer luck were soon eliminated and replaced by stronger beings.
"You've earned my respect, so I'll take you a bit more seriously!" As soon as he finished speaking, a scarlet-golden divine ray descended from the sky, enveloping Bane's avatar.
Before Muria could act, the divine ray disappeared. The previously unarmored Bane, wielding only a hastily-formed bone sword, now stood transformed. He held a radiant, blood-red greatsword, and his body was encased in heavy, black armor.
"This fight just got a lot harder," Muria muttered under his breath. Bane's avatar had already been a challenge, and now it would be even tougher.
Boom—
Bane charged forward, disappearing in an instant, only to reappear directly in front of Muria, his sword slicing down with immense force. He hadn't used any spatial powers; it was the sheer physical might of his avatar that allowed him to move with such speed. To the onlookers, like the awestruck elf, it seemed like teleportation—their eyes simply couldn't track his movements.
Clang—
Muria raised his Demon Slayer Sword and his Seven Sins Blade to block Bane's incoming greatsword. As the three weapons collided, a shockwave rippled out, sending waves through the surrounding terrain as if it were the surface of a disturbed ocean.
...
"How many evil gods have descended their avatars so far?"
"This is the third, but it's just the beginning. The more time passes, the more frequently their avatars will appear."
"We can't let Muria hog all the fun of fighting these god avatars. That would be unfair to the other young Titans. Pass the word along—send the younger ones to the Synapse battlefield. They can't miss out on this opportunity to face gods."
"Won't the evil gods think we Titans are declaring war on them?"
"What's more important? Letting our youth train or worrying about what those gods think?"
"Of course, it's more important to give the young ones proper training. Let those gods think what they will; it's no big deal."
"So, whatever those evil gods think is irrelevant. As long as they behave as decent sparring partners, everything will be fine. If they step out of line, we'll replace them with someone else."
"Let's do it then. Also, inform Muria—he shouldn't be the only one reaping the benefits of all these god avatars. There are too many for him to handle alone."
Following the commands issued by the Epic Titans who were observing Muria's every move, the Titans' homeland was abuzz. All the spirits born from Titan blood communicated with their masters, passing on the commands of the Epics.
Upon hearing that they were being given a chance to fight god avatars, every Legendary Titan wasted no time returning home, using their spirits to teleport them to the Synapse battlefield.
...
"Master, following the decision of five Epic Titans, in the next ten days, 21 Legendary Titans will arrive at your battlefield. Please coordinate accordingly," Muria's spirit, Cassio, informed him just as he was in the midst of his duel with Bane. Momentarily distracted, Muria was caught off-guard and took a heavy blow from Bane's sword.
But while Muria's blood churned from the impact, he retaliated by driving his blade through Bane's body. The heavy armor that Bane wore might look imposing, but its defense couldn't compare to Muria's Holy Armor of Emperor's Abyss.
"Why are the Epic Ancestors sending so many Legendaries? I don't need any help right now," Muria asked Cassio, feeling somewhat frustrated.
"The Epic Titans believe it's wasteful for you to handle all these god avatars alone. They don't want you to monopolize the challenge. Also, three Legendary Titans are already teleporting to your location, so be prepared to welcome them."
...
Erathia World Cluster, Border
A tear opened in the void, and a golden dragon claw extended through it. Following the claw, a long, elegant, golden dragon bathed in radiant light emerged, weariness visible in its eyes.
"Erathia, I'm finally back!" The golden dragon gazed at the brilliant world cluster before it, speaking with a tone of nostalgia. "I wonder if Deimos has become the Dragon King yet? If he hasn't, I might lend him a hand. I've been gone for so many years—who knows how Atris is doing now? She should be married by now, and I should have a grandchild."
After briefly reflecting on the homesickness that filled her heart, the Dragon King recalled the trouble she had stirred up in the void. "I also need to figure out how to sell that secret technique I obtained from the void for a good price. And I need to shake off the mess I caused out there. I'm getting tired of being hunted every so often."
"Should I sell it to the Titans or the Seraphs?" Without much hesitation, the Dragon King decided on her buyers. After all, only those two races could withstand the retaliation of the power she had stolen.
"It doesn't really matter. The two have already formed an alliance. Maybe I'll just sell it to both of them at the same time! Wait, that's a bit too underhanded... I've already offended too many Epics in the void. I should behave now that I'm home."
Having made up her mind, the golden Dragon King sped toward the Erathia world at the center of the cluster. However, before she had flown a light year, a series of massive, glowing wheels appeared in her path, sealing off the space around her.
"What is this?" The Dragon King stared in confusion at the god-like figure that had materialized before her. When she had left this world, there had been no such being.
"A golden dragon?" Thirteen enormous, spinning wheels radiating space-warping power coalesced into a colossal humanoid form. After gazing silently at the Dragon King for a moment, the being spoke.
"What manner of being are you? Epic? Or god?" The Dragon King warily questioned the figure.
"I am the Star Guardian, protector of the world cluster! I defend against any invasion from foreign Epics."
"I'm no foreigner! I was born in the Erathia world as a golden dragon!"
"My apologies then, newly ascended Dragon King. May I have your name?" The Star Guardian quickly verified the truth of the Dragon King's claim.
"Alista Falganiro!"
"Congratulations, Dragon King Alista! May you ascend to eternity soon!" With that, the god-like Star Guardian slowly faded back into the void.
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