The Fifth Demon God couldn’t believe it. The void fragment he had paid a hefty price for had just saved his life!
He had been so close to achieving his lifelong goal of dying, yet he had failed.
His face darkened.
“I only had one chance to be killed by the Progenitor of Ghosts. That chance is gone now, forever.”
On the battlefield, the Progenitor of Ghosts and the void fiend were locked in a brutal battle, their attacks shaking the very foundations of the Demon Emperor’s Hall.
Mike, however, was sipping coffee and chatting with Shadow Three and the Fifth Demon God, as if this wasn’t a life-or-death situation.
“You called the Fifth Demon God ‘Older Brother’ earlier,” Mike said, looking at Shadow Three. “Is he older than you?”
Shadow Three chuckled awkwardly, offering no explanation.
The Fifth Demon God, however, was intrigued.
He loved stirring up trouble.
If someone decided to kill him out of annoyance, that would be a dream come true!
“Thor, you’re not familiar with Shadow Three’s origins, are you?” the Fifth Demon God said with a sneer. “I can’t fathom why Shadow Nine would entrust your safety to him.”
Mike remained unfazed.
The Ninth Demon God had said something similar.
Did they think such a clumsy attempt at sowing discord would work on him?
Fat chance!
“There are two types of Demon Gods in the Abyss,” the Fifth Demon God continued, his voice a low drawl. “You know that, right?”
Mike nodded. Exiled Demon Gods and Primordial Demon Gods.
Exiled Demon Gods were fragments of the Supreme Demon God, while Primordial Demon Gods were beings favored by the Abyss itself.
“In the beginning, when the Abyss was first born, there was a lucky fellow…”
“Enough.”
Shadow Three’s voice, cold and sharp, cut through the Fifth Demon God’s rambling.
He looked at the Fifth Demon God, his gaze unwavering. “My story is worth 99.99 million Lord merits on the Mystic Market. It would be a waste to simply give it away.”
“Heh,” the Fifth Demon God scoffed. “Your human currency is worthless in the Abyss.”
As if he, a Demon God, had any use for Lord merits!
“Trust me,” Shadow Three said, his voice serious. “If you want to deal with Thor, you’ll need a lot of Lord merits.”
The Fifth Demon God still seemed unconvinced.
Thor’s greed was legendary throughout the Abyss.
Then, a thought struck him. He turned to Thor, his eyes gleaming.
“How much would it take for you to kill me? Just use your lightning, end my suffering!”
“It’s not about the money…” Mike said, then, after a moment’s thought, offered a price. “How about 2 to the power of 30 squared Lord merits?”
The Fifth Demon God: “…”
“What even is that number? You might as well just kill me!”
Coming from anyone else, that statement would have sounded defiant.
But from the Fifth Demon God, it just sounded… weird.
Ending their idle chatter, Mike turned his attention back to the battlefield.
The Progenitor of Ghosts had gained the upper hand, relentlessly pressing its attack against the void fiend. Victory was imminent.
It seemed strange that there was such a disparity in power between two level 1,000 beings.
“Although the Progenitor of Ghosts has been demonized,” Shadow Three explained from behind Mike, “it’s still the Progenitor of its race, recognized by the laws of truth. The void fiend, however, is rejected by those laws, unable to fully utilize its power.”
He paused, then added, “But even for the Progenitor of Ghosts, achieving complete victory will come at a price… his level will drop to 999.”
Mike’s eyes lit up. “Shadow Three, I’m counting on you! Do you need to break through to fight the Progenitor of Ghosts?”
Shadow Three was currently only level 989. Facing a level 999 Progenitor of Ghosts was a significant challenge.
Under Shadow Nine’s restrictions, the top three Guardian Shadows couldn’t easily break through.
However, Mike suspected he held the key to removing those restrictions: the Shadow Sigil! This artifact, revered within the Guardian Shadow, was rumored to grant its wielder control over all shadows…
In reality, it had only one purpose:
To unlock the seals on the top three Guardian Shadows, allowing them to surpass level 990.
Shadow Three shook his head, declining Mike’s offer. “Fourth Bro, just you wait. I can handle the Progenitor of Ghosts without breaking through!”
Level 989 versus level 999?
Did he think he was a potential Supreme Being?
The Fifth Demon God didn’t believe it.
“Thor, I bet Shadow Three can’t do it. Care to wager?”
Mike, having unwavering faith in Shadow Three, was all in. “What are you betting?”
“My life!” the Fifth Demon God declared. “If Shadow Three wins, you can have my life. Please
kill me!”
“Get lost!”
…
The Demon Emperor’s Hall was a scene of utter devastation. The floor was cratered, littered with fragments of shattered laws.
The Progenitor of Ghosts had emerged victorious, but at a heavy price. It had fallen from level
1,000 to level 999.
For a level 1,000 being, this was a grievous injury.
But not necessarily a bad thing.
The Progenitor of Ghosts, previously muddled and disoriented, had regained some clarity due
to its injuries.
It focused its gaze on the potential Supreme Being, a weakling not even at level 500.
And he possessed the Supreme Mark… If it could kill him… it could regain its lost power…
As the Progenitor of Ghosts prepared to attack, a hulking figure, adorned with bone ornaments, stepped out from behind the potential Supreme Being.
A level 989 demon creature?
Pathetic.
The Progenitor of Ghosts ignored the newcomer, its gaze fixed on its true prey. It roared,
charging towards the potential Supreme Being.
The demon creature spread its arms, intercepting the Progenitor of Ghosts’ charge.
The Progenitor of Ghosts, refusing to deviate from its course, collided with the demon
creature.
Shadow Three wrapped his arms around the Progenitor of Ghosts, locking it in a deadly
embrace.
*Crackle*
A tiny spark of electricity appeared on Shadow Three’s body.
Then, a bolt of white lightning arced from Shadow Three to the Progenitor of Ghosts.
In that instant, the Progenitor of Ghosts seemed to see the Grim Reaper. This was the most terrifying attack it had ever faced, the closest it had ever come to oblivion.
It struggled to escape, but Shadow Three’s grip was unyielding.
As the lightning erupted, Mike stared in disbelief.
How had Shadow Three learned that skill?
Wait…
He quickly assessed the situation.
The white lightning was indiscriminate, affecting both Shadow Three and the Progenitor of
Ghosts.
However, Shadow Three had prepared for this, utilizing some unknown method to negate most of the lightning’s effects. The Progenitor of Ghosts, on the other hand, took the full brunt of the attack, its level plummeting rapidly.
Another question arose in Mike’s mind:
Where did that Lightning skill come from?
Apollo had taught him that skill, and he had used it against the Supreme Demon God.
That time, when Apollo had unleashed Lightning Burst upon the Tower of Truth, Shadow Three had been standing at the base, nearly getting obliterated.
“I see…” Shadow Three had been holding onto that skill ever since, waiting for the perfect moment.
Under the onslaught of Lightning Burst, the Progenitor of Ghosts’ level plummeted, reaching
level 990.
*BOOM*
Shadow Three detonated the remaining energy within Lightning Burst, blasting the Progenitor of Ghosts down to level 989. He was sent flying, crashing into the ground, creating
a massive crater. He was spent.
He had done his part. Now, it was Thor’s turn.
Mike, ready and waiting, unleashed his attack. “All Things Grow: Chaotic Lightning!”
The Progenitor of Ghosts, still reeling from Chaotic Lightning.
A wind arrow followed closely behind.
Joseph, seizing the opportunity, joined the assault.
The wind arrow struck the Progenitor of Ghosts, failing to even scratch its defenses.
Joseph: “…”
“Kill!”
After unleashing Chaotic Lightning, Mike switched weapons.
He raised his shield with his left hand, his right hand gripping the Thunderclap Hammer.
A crimson wind, carrying the scent of the sea, swept through the hall. Vladimir and the Poseidon Puppet materialized, flanking the Progenitor of Ghosts,
unleashing blood magic to weaken their foe.
A river of blood surged forward, shielding Mike from the Progenitor of Ghosts’ counterattack.
Under Dracula’s protection, Mike unleashed a relentless assault.
He bombarded the Progenitor of Ghosts with every skill at his disposal.
In that moment, Mike showcased his exceptional combat prowess, guided by the Eye of Truth
and fueled by his innate talent.
With shield and hammer in hand, he was unstoppable.
The battle was a spectacle of raw power and skill.
The two figures from the Supreme Abyssal watched in astonishment.
They hadn’t expected the level 1,000 Progenitor of Ghosts to be so thoroughly outmatched.
From the very beginning, it had been on the back foot, plagued by unexpected setbacks. Now,
it was being relentlessly pressured, on the verge of defeat.
The potential Supreme Being they had initially underestimated was now a force to be
reckoned with.
The Fifth and Ninth Demon Gods, however, remained calm.
A human potential Supreme Being?
They had seen it all before.
They exchanged amused glances.
These bumpkins from the Supreme Abyssal were clearly out of their depth.
Which Demon God hadn’t been beaten by a Supreme Being?
This was nothing new.
“You’re lucky you’re facing Thor,” the Fifth Demon God said to the black mist figures. “If
Ares were here, he’d kill you all.”
The Ninth Demon God nodded in agreement.
“If Morpheus were here, you’d probably switch sides on the spot.”
“If Apollo…”
They both fell silent, unwilling to finish that sentence.
As Demon Gods, the most powerful beings in the Abyss, they understood one thing: Apollo
was watching.
His gaze never left the Ninth Abyss.
To break the awkward silence, the Fifth Demon God changed the subject. “So, be grateful you’re facing Thor. He’s not even level 500 yet. He’s a weakling.”
Mike, in the midst of battle, overheard the Demon God’s taunts. “Say that again, I dare you.”
“Thor, besides your fancy lightning, what else do you have to offer? And is your lightning really as powerful as they say? I’m not convinced. Why don’t you try zapping me?” The Fifth Demon God laughed, unafraid of provoking Thor. He was the only being in the world no one dared to kill.
“I won’t waste my lightning on you, but I’ll show you its power!” Under Mike’s relentless assault, the Progenitor of Ghosts faltered, its strength waning.
It had endured three grueling battles in a short span of time. It was a miracle it was still
standing.
Mike blocked an attack with his shield, creating an opening in the Progenitor of Ghosts’ defenses.
He seized the opportunity, bringing his hammer down with crushing force.
“Void Tremor!” Lightning surged through the Thunderclap Hammer, channeling into the Progenitor of
Ghosts’ body through Thunderclap Strike.
*BOOM*
The last vestiges of the Progenitor of Ghosts’ source were obliterated.
For a fleeting moment, its eyes cleared, locking onto Mike.
This was its final moment, its chance to utter its last words.
It was dead, slain by the Thunderclap Hammer. “Human potential Supreme Being… you are pathetic…” “You cannot escape your fate… Supreme Beings… are destined to die!”
In its final moments, the Progenitor of Ghosts wasn’t exactly broken, but it was definitely
pissed.
“I’ll be waiting for you in hell, Thor! This is the fate of all Supreme Beings! You… are no
different…”
Mike shrugged off the dying curse.
Even if it came from the Progenitor of its race.
Even if it had once reached level 1,000, becoming the Supreme Being of the ghost race.
Only the strong survived.
The Progenitor of Ghosts had fallen to the Thunderclap Hammer.
The hammer itself was undamaged, but Thor’s shield was charred black, the bat insignia
nearly gone. Dracula, within the shield, had died and revived countless times during the
battle.
Even in its weakened state, a level 989 Progenitor of Ghosts was a formidable opponent.
But none of this would have been possible without Shadow Three weakening it to level 989.
Mike gave Shadow Three a thumbs-up.
“Good job.”
Shadow Three, covered in soot, lay groaning at the bottom of the crater, barely conscious.
Using Lightning Burst had been a double-edged sword.
It was a miracle he was still alive.
“Shadow Three, I’ve come up with the perfect online alias for you,” Mike said as he wiped the
blood from his forehead. “You’re such a straightforward guy. I think ‘Boom2gether’ suits you perfectly.” Shadow Three, swaying unsteadily, spat out a mouthful of blood, a weak smile spreading
across his face.
“Deal.”