Lucius's figure flickered continuously in the air. Using time magic acceleration, his speed even surpassed other speed-specialized magic users.
With another flicker, Charles caught up and appeared behind Lucius.
A whip kick swept over. Even though Lucius bent his arms to defend in time, his forearm was still broken and his whole body flew out.
Using a time sphere to block Charles for one breath, he successfully pulled away.
At this moment, Lucius was completely certain of his previous guess - Charles was indeed an anomaly in this world.
That anomaly was different from Asta's - it was simply incomprehensibly powerful. Lucius really couldn't imagine what it would take to obtain such powerful strength. This world shouldn't have such methods!
Most importantly, his plan had been disrupted completely, and he had to face an opponent of this level without even obtaining Lucifero's heart yet.
It was all because his foresight ability had been nullified by Asta's anti-magic in this world. Otherwise, how could such things happen?
Although the situation had spiraled out of control, Lucius wasn't affected by it and still maintained the qualified mindset of a strong person.
Bringing his hands together, Lucius directly created a massive time sphere, binding the approaching Charles within.
Charles released magic power to block the impact of time magic, but Lucius had already approached and slapped Charles's chest.
The soul magic was blocked by the magic armor covering Charles's chest - Dragon Flame Battle Garb's defense was comprehensive, able to block even soul magic.
Charles also seized this opportunity, striking back with a punch of blazing flames that burned through Lucius's shoulder and the magic wing behind him.
This punch had originally aimed for his heart, but Lucius was after all a magic user with foresight ability and still avoided vital points.
Just as Charles was about to deliver a finishing blow, a massive pressure suddenly fell down, directly smashing Charles downward.
Lucius frowned - what had hit Charles wasn't his magic.
There were only six people in this underground space, with Yami and Vangeance already bound.
Morris and Nacht had gone to fight elsewhere to avoid being caught in the aftermath of Lucius and Charles's battle.
So the one who ambushed Charles... was another intruder.
Charles extended both hands, directly tearing apart the invisible pressure on his body, then looked toward the additional person.
More accurately, that wasn't human. The black body and irregular wings, the sharp horns on his head, and the crack-like black markings on his face all indicated this was a devil from the underworld.
"Superior devil who controls Atmospheric Magic - Baal!"
Lucius immediately identified the devil - one of the highest-level devils representing the Tree of Qliphoth who governed a level of the underworld.
Even during battle, Lucius hadn't stopped accelerating the Tree of Qliphoth advent ritual. Now several gates of the underworld had opened, and even high-level devils like Baal had emerged.
What had just hit Charles was precisely his atmospheric magic.
Baal grinned, revealing sharp teeth, "How interesting. Just arriving in the present world and I encounter such fascinating humans.
Humans as powerful as you - your screams must be even more melodious!"
Asta's mother Richita had once told Liebe not to judge someone as bad just because they were a devil.
Liebe had indeed proven that statement, but he was a unique exception among devils.
What Liebe said about "devils being the worst scum" was the truth.
What emanated from Baal, mixed with his powerful magic power, was clearly malice that made people instinctively uncomfortable.
So while Baal was still raving like a maniac, Charles charged forward.
"This punch is for your ambush!"
Charles's punch directly exploded half of Baal's face, then punched a large hole in his chest.
"This punch is for interfering with my battle! And this punch is because you disgust me!"
Looking at Charles's arm that seemed to have thickened by a fraction, Baal only felt a bloody character appear above his head. Blood flowed down the strokes as if about to drip onto his head.
What was awakened was not only the emotion called fear that he had long forgotten, but also the survival instinct carved deep in his soul.
"Ahhhhh...!"
Baal howled as terrifying magic power surged backward.
A series of slashes capable of splitting mountains struck Charles, sending him flying directly. Baal released countless such attacks in an instant, with strikes hitting in all directions that completely tore open the already tottering castle.
Such attacks could be said to have no technical content whatsoever - just using powerful magic power to release the most basic magic.
After forcing Charles back, Baal covered his chest wound and gasped.
"Impossible impossible impossible! How could human magic hurt me!"
Arrogance seemed to be a common original sin of devils. Humans were just toys to them - in his perception, it was impossible for them to hurt him.
Charles had to question whether information flow existed within the underworld.
But thinking about how the devil race itself had no concept of companions, even devils who had possessed humans and seen human power probably wouldn't warn other devils to be careful!
Baal's eyes filled with dark threads stared fixedly at Charles as he reached out toward him.
Charles only felt a powerful force wrap around his entire body, making even breathing difficult.
Baal's magic was atmospheric magic, allowing free manipulation of air pressure. His previous attacks were slashes formed by high-intensity air pressure.
And atmospheric magic naturally had other uses, such as instantly increasing the air pressure around an opponent to unbearable levels, not only causing great damage to bones but also directly attacking soft organs.
Baal was also dissatisfied that he hadn't directly crushed this human who dared hurt him, but his smile became even more cruel.
"Cry out! Please me! No... persist a bit longer and let me enjoy it for more time!"
Charles snorted coldly as flames spiraled and coiled around his body.
Baal's expression changed. Under that kind of pressure, even flames should have been extinguished. He didn't know why he suddenly had an ominous feeling.
Sure enough, the next moment Charles's limbs that should have been restrained stretched out. And the flames exploded along with them.
Before Baal could react, Charles had already crashed into him like a fire meteor.
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"
Baal flew backward entirely, but his body strangely stopped. Immediately after, a transparent sphere enveloped him.
Lucius appeared behind him, his palm directly piercing through Baal's chest and pulling out his heart.
As his body began to collapse, Baal's pupils contracted to a line, "This is that lord's power. How could a mere human possibly...!"
That heart covered with black blood vessels actually began emitting white light in Lucius's palm. Black smoke peeled away from it, turning it into something resembling jade.
Lucius smiled, "This is the ability to purify even devil power. When it comes to magic, humans are more excellent!"
Charles watched this scene without saying anything, even after Lucius put away that heart that was completely unrecognizable and his magic power became stronger.
"The interloper has disappeared. Let us continue!"
When saying this, it felt like Lucius's confidence had increased considerably.
Just then, a huge voice came over.
"Captain Yami, we've come to rescue you!"
A giant fist composed of rock smashed open the ruins above as the Black Bulls base transformed into a giant and broke in. Standing on the bull's head was none other than Asta.
After defeating the Dark Triad and consecutively slaying several devils who had come to the present world through the gates of the underworld, then working with Nacht to defeat the Morris enhanced by Lucius, Asta had finally arrived at the final battlefield.
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