Alex didn’t waste a single moment.
The instant Veyrion and Nocturne stood before him, a surge of resolve flared in his chest.
Without hesitation, his gaze sharpened, and he activated his [Eyes of the Cursed Void].
The black, ethereal glow surged through his pupils as the invisible veil between him and his enemies tore apart for just a moment.
[Veyrion, God of Darkness]
[Rank: Universal]
[Health: ???]
[Attributes: ???]
[Skills: Sword of Darkness, Shadow Dash, ???…]
Even with his powerful eyes, he could only glimpse the skills that Veyrion had revealed through combat.
But among them, one stood out.
The moment his eyes landed on the phrase [Sword of Darkness], something in his chest tightened.
A sharp chill crawled across his back, instinct warning him before logic could process it.
“…Tch.”
He moved on to Nocturne without delay.
[Nocturne, Chosen One of Darkness]
[Rank: Universal]
[Health: ???]
[Attributes: ???]
[Skills: Sword of Darkness, Dark Fortress, ???…]
Only two known abilities again, but just like Veyrion, he wielded the [Sword of Darkness] as well.
Alex exhaled softly.
His thoughts sharpened, the pieces slowly clicking into place.
“I see no point in dragging this out,” he muttered, eyes narrowing as he glanced at Kaelios beside him, “Let’s end this before it escalates.”
Kaelios gave a subtle nod, his expression just as grim.
Across from them, Veyrion let out a low, mocking laugh.
He stepped forward, his presence dimming the air around him as he extended a hand.
“We’ll trap you in our domain, just like the last idiot who dared to challenge us.”
Darkness surged in his palm, and from nothingness, the [Sword of Darkness] materialized.
It didn’t shimmer or glow like most legendary weapons.
Instead, it devoured the light.
Everything around it grew duller, greyer, like it was draining the very essence of the world around it.
Nocturne followed suit, summoning his blade in silence.
With both swords out, the atmosphere twisted.
The ambient light seemed to recoil, and shadows lengthened unnaturally.
A sinister darkness slithered into the ground beneath them.
Alex’s brows furrowed.
His voice dropped as he muttered to Kaelios, “I think I understand now.”
“Understand what?” Kaelios asked, already summoning his dual [Destiny Blades].
The twin golden weapons shimmered with radiant brilliance, fighting against the darkness trying to consume the battlefield.
“It’s their domain. It probably activates once they absorb enough light from the area around us. I noticed it during the Chosen Round too. Nocturne’s sword, it was absorbing the light constantly.”
Kaelios gave a small hum in response.
“Makes sense…”
Veyrion and Nocturne glanced at one another, confusion flickering across their expressions.
They didn’t speak, but the message was clear in their narrowed eyes.
How the hell did he figure that out so quickly?
Regardless, that didn’t stop them.
“Then let the strongest prevail,” Veyrion said in a half-mocking tone, bowing slightly, like a knight honoring an opponent before a duel.
The moment his head dipped, he vanished in a blur of speed.
FWISH!
The [Sword of Darkness] came crashing down with lethal intent.
CLANG!!
Kaelios met the strike head-on with both [Destiny Blades], locking the god in place as sparks exploded from their weapons.
The echo of that first clash rang through the darkening field.
Their duel erupted into a storm of slashes, each one threatening to tear the space apart.
Meanwhile, Alex stood perfectly still, eyes scanning every detail.
Something wasn’t right. Nocturne hadn’t moved.
He remained exactly where he was, arms folded, eyes focused solely on Alex.
Why wasn’t he helping Veyrion? Why was he just watching?
Alex didn’t like it, and he acted immediately.
In one fluid motion, he activated [Celestial Judgment].
Twelve holy blades burst from the heavens, encircling him like divine sentinels.
A holy light clashed against the pressing darkness, resisting its suffocating grip.
At the same time, he activated [Bleeding Dragon Claws], transforming his left arm into jagged, blood-red claws capable of tearing through nearly anything.
And finally, ten colorful spheres of radiant energy spiraled out from his body, the manifestation of [Universal Orbs], hovering with unstable power as they pulsed like small stars.
Nocturne smiled then. Not a friendly smile. It was sharp, cold.
“You’re throwing out everything right from the start, huh?”
“I have to,” Alex replied, his voice calm but heavy, “I’m not giving you the chance to overwhelm me later. I’m ending this now.”
“…Heh.”
Still, Nocturne didn’t move.
He just kept watching.
Alex could feel the trap closing.
Something was wrong, but he didn’t yet know what.
Then Veyrion let out a sudden, deep laugh as he swung again, eyes gleaming with arrogance.
“You’ve already lost.”
Kaelios didn’t even flinch.
He raised his blades to counter.
FWAM!!
A horrifying sound followed.
The golden [Destiny Blades] cracked.
Then, in one clean motion, Veyrion’s sword cut them both in half.
Golden energy burst outward, only to be pulled into the [Sword of Darkness], vanishing into its void-like core.
“What—?!”
Kaelios’ eyes widened, but before he could react, SWIPE!
The blade slashed again, and Kaelios’ head was severed from his shoulders.
His body collapsed. His head hit the ground.
“You’ve been marked,” Veyron whispered.
Alex froze.
Veyrion casually walked over and kicked the severed head across the dirt like a discarded toy.
“You control the light. All your abilities carry that golden hue. And we,” he lifted his sword, which pulsed with absorbed light, “we devour the light.”
Alex didn’t hesitate.
His arm shot forward, ordering all twelve [Celestial Judgment] blades to strike in unison.
They flew like meteors, guided by his will, each one targeting a vital point on Nocturne and Veyrion.
But…
CLANG! FWISH! SLASH!
One by one, the blades touched the [Sword of Darkness], and each time, the golden light that made them up was drained.
Their brilliance faded, siphoned into the twin void-swords.
Every single blade was rendered useless.
And the battlefield, it was even darker now.
So dark it felt like they stood on the edge of some abyss.
The battle had only begun seconds ago, but Alex already felt something ominous clawing at his senses.
If this continued, he wouldn’t survive.
Just then, a thread of golden light sparked in the gloom.
Kaelios’ body twitched.
Destiny Shift!
The golden thread connected his severed head to his body, and within a heartbeat, his head reattached.
He staggered back beside Alex, breathing heavily.
“…You good?” Alex asked quickly.
Kaelios didn’t answer immediately.
His golden eyes narrowed as he steadied himself.
Veyrion tilted his head with genuine curiosity.
“Interesting. You can come back. Hm…”
He didn’t finish the thought, but the conclusion was clear.
He understood something deeper now.
“Anyway,” Veyrion continued casually, “One more minute and it’ll all be over.”
Everything centered around those swords.
Alex could feel it. He could remember it.
The last time he saw the [God of Darkness] in his past life, Veyrion had floated in the sky like some unstoppable force.
He had swung that same sword once and obliterated entire armies.
That future couldn’t happen again.
Alex clenched his fists, stepping forward.
“Kaelios,” he said, voice low but firm, “They’re going to unleash something soon. A skill or domain, or both. Something powerful.”
Kaelios nodded grimly.
“Doesn’t matter. None of my abilities are useful here. Everything I have uses golden light, and they’re just going to absorb it.”
Alex looked over his shoulder at him, eyes sharp.
“Then use the one thing you’ve been saving.”
Kaelios’ expression shifted.
“…Are you serious?”
“I am.”
Kaelios hesitated.
His voice dropped.
“It could backfire. I only have 212 DP left. We might not get another chance to use it. If we do this, we’re putting everything on the line.”
“I know,” Alex said, “Trust me. Use it.”
A long silence stretched between them.
Then Kaelios looked down at his hand, clenched it, and took a step forward.
“So be it.”
Golden lines began tracing up his arms.
His body shimmered with divine energy, bright enough to push back the devouring gloom, if only for a moment.
Alex narrowed his eyes at Veyrion and Nocturne, feeling the tension spike.
It was time.
Kaelios raised his voice, loud and clear, as the sky responded to his call.
“SCALES OF DESTINY!!”
A golden pulse rippled across the dark battlefield like a tidal wave as the [God of Destiny] used the skill he needed to unleash his [Domain].
This was it.
Their final gambit, before the God of Darkness unleashed whatever power he was truly hiding.