“PURE DEFENSE!”
The Hatred Demon’s voice thundered across the battlefield, its words carrying a weight that shook the very fabric of the [Hatred Domain].
It wasn’t just announcing its next move, it was declaring the final phase of the battle.
And then, “SWORD OF HATRED!”
A surge of crimson energy erupted from its towering form as both of its remaining [Forbidden Skills] activated at once.
These weren’t ordinary abilities.
These were skills capable of rivaling gods, feared across the [25 Worlds] and beyond.
The sky itself darkened, as if recoiling from the sheer presence of these two final powers.
Alex’s eyes narrowed as the overwhelming aura intensified, swirling around the Hatred Demon like a storm.
He could feel the shift in the air, the battlefield itself trembling beneath the weight of what was coming.
It began.
The first skill, [Pure Defense], materialized before his eyes.
The Hatred Demon’s entire form became enveloped in an armor, not made of metal, nor any material known to man, but of pure, transparent crimson energy.
It pulsed ominously, shifting and flowing like a living force, reinforcing the demon’s monstrous body with an unbreakable barrier.
Alex’s instincts immediately screamed at him.
“That’s not just armor… it’s something more.”
It wasn’t something that could be chipped away easily.
If the skill was called [Pure Defense], then it likely meant exactly that, an impenetrable force.
Without breaking through it, he wouldn’t even be able to touch the Hatred Demon.
Alex exhaled sharply, gripping his claws.
He had no idea how strong this barrier actually was.
He couldn’t see its description, meaning he would have to test its limits himself.
And then, the final skill.
The Hatred Demon’s laughter rumbled like distant thunder, its massive form standing tall amidst the chaos.
“Now comes the strongest one,” it sneered, pressing two of its massive hands against its chest.
Its grotesque, ever-spinning ritual circle, embedded deep within its torso, began glowing with blinding intensity.
Alex clenched his fists.
He had a terrible feeling about this.
FWISH! BOOM!
A sudden burst of energy erupted from the ritual circle, forcing Alex to shield his eyes for a brief moment.
Something began to emerge.
At first, it was just a sliver of a shape, barely visible as it pushed its way through the swirling vortex of crimson energy.
Then it grew.
Slowly, methodically, the Hatred Demon pulled it further and further, as if extracting something from the depths of its own existence.
A weapon.
The more of it that emerged, the more Alex could feel the weight of its presence.
It wasn’t just some ordinary blade.
Then, with a final, brutal yank, FWOOOSH!
The Hatred Demon tore it free.
A massive, crimson-black greatsword.
Its entire surface pulsed, vibrating with an immense energy that sent waves of power cascading through the battlefield.
It was as if the blade itself was alive, feeding on the very essence of hatred that surrounded them.
The sword was monstrous in size, 500 meters long, nearly half the height of the Hatred Demon itself.
Alex’s breath hitched slightly as his gaze locked onto it.
There was no point in trying to dodge that thing.
No point in trying to counter it normally.
This weapon wasn’t just a tool, it was the embodiment of the Hatred Demon’s very core, drawn from its own heart.
The demon lifted the sword high above its head, gripping it with two of its colossal hands.
Its other two arms, for the first time in the entire fight, remained idle.
It was focusing everything on this one weapon.
Alex immediately noted that detail.
“It needs two hands to wield it.”
Which meant, “It can’t use those hands to cast skills.”
This was vital information.
If the Hatred Demon had to dedicate two hands just to using that sword, then it had just sacrificed a major part of its combat versatility.
But that hardly meant this fight had gotten easier.
The Hatred Demon’s many mouths curled into a grin.
“Good luck, child,” it spoke, its voice unnervingly neutral.
“None of your fancy tricks will work against this.”
Then, snap.
A simple snap of its fingers, and suddenly, Alex’s vision flickered with a new notification.
[Sword of Hatred (Forbidden Skill)]
[Effect: The Hatred Demon, in its ultimate form (Pure Hatred), pulls out a sword from its chest, fueled by its new heart. It is strong enough to cut through immortality.]
[Also…]
Alex’s eyes flickered over the text.
Then, nothing: the final portion of the description was abruptly cut off.
The Hatred Demon had deliberately hidden part of the skill’s true effect.
But that last part he could see…
“Strong enough to cut through immortality.”
A drop of sweat rolled down Alex’s forehead.
That wording, it wasn’t just about damage.
It meant that even abilities like [Destiny Shift] might not work against this attack.
“If even my revives won’t work against that thing…”
He didn’t finish the thought. He couldn’t afford to let doubt creep in now.
Instead, he took a deep breath, straightening his posture.
He pointed his claws toward the demon.
“Doesn’t matter if you got a new weapon or defense or whatever,” he growled, his voice low and steady. You will still die.”
The Hatred Demon’s laughter filled the air once more, the mouths in its grotesque, hollowed face twisting with amusement.
But Alex wasn’t paying attention to that anymore.
He was watching its movements. He noticed something.
The demon was still holding the [Sword of Hatred] above its head.
It hadn’t swung yet.
“It’s charging something.”
Then, just as he realized…
BOOM!
“CHARGED… HATRED!”
The demon suddenly roared, its voice shaking the battlefield as the massive sword pulsed with an even greater surge of power.
The sheer force of it sent a shockwave ripping through the ground, shattering what little remained of the terrain beneath them.
Alex’s instincts screamed at him.
[Destiny Shift will not save you from that. Find another way.]
Alex’s pupils shrank.
His very instincts, his own power, were telling him that no matter how many destiny points he had, this attack would be fatal.
He had to find another way.
But he had prepared for this. He had his own trump cards.
The Hatred Demon wasn’t the only one who had been planning for this final moment.
“Goodbye, child,” the demon said with a twisted certainty, “You will be able to see the destruction of these worlds through my eyes, though, so do not be too sad by your death.”
Alex’s fists clenched so tightly his claws dug into his own palms.
His rage burned inside him, threatening to explode.
[Host, I am still preparing it. I cannot help you yet. Defend yourself.]
The Crown of Calamity’s voice rang in his mind.
[But I believe in you.]
Alex’s crimson and golden aura erupted around him, swirling wildly.
The Hatred Demon, convinced that this was the end, continued speaking.
“You will be the only one to witness it,” it said, its tone almost mocking, “Be honored.”
Alex’s teeth ground together.
“You simply weren’t strong enough, child,” the demon continued, voice heavy with finality, “You couldn’t defeat me.”
BOOM!
The Sword of Hatred, charged to the brim with energy, came crashing down.
The [Hatred Domain] trembled, the crimson skies distorting as an unbearable force descended toward Alex.
BOOM!
The ground shattered apart.
The moment of truth had arrived.
Then, the battlefield exploded.