Ignoring the standard rules of engagement, Ash advanced without warning. His sword crackled with mana as he poured his energy into it, his intent clear. This fight would end before it even began. Normally, he would have waited for the proper signal, but Asura did not deserve that courtesy. In Ash's eyes, he was nothing more than a stain on this world, unworthy of respect or restraint.
Ogres are less than mindless beasts, a burden upon the world. It was his responsibility, his duty, to purge this filth from the cathedral. With that conviction burning in his chest, he tightened his grip on his blade and lunged, his entire focus locked onto his target.
Asura had anticipated a fair start to the fight, leaving him entirely unprepared for Ash's sudden assault. Caught off guard, he barely had a moment to react before the blade drove into his chest with brutal precision. His gaze met Ash's, and what he saw was not just determination. It was pure, unrelenting hatred.
I know I'm obnoxious, but damn, do I really deserve this much hate? Asura asked himself. The fury in Ash's face was unrelenting. His brows furrowed, and his jaw clenched, hardening into a mask of malice.
The instant the blade pushed into Asura's chest, the mana within it detonated in a radiant golden explosion. Its flames roared around Asura, engulfing him in a searing inferno as the blast's force sent him hurtling backward. His body slammed against the floor, bouncing and skidding like a stone skipping across a lake. Each impact rattled his bones until he finally came to a jarring halt, the heat still licking at his skin.
For a brief moment, Asura lay still, processing what had just happened. Then, as he pushed himself up from the cold floor, one thought became crystal clear. Ash had grown far stronger. At least three times stronger than before. Oh-ho... So we're playing dirty now, huh?
Asura's fingers dug into the floor, his frustration bubbling over into pure rage. That was not acceptable. Underhanded tactics are my thing. If Ash wanted to toss out the rulebook, then Asura would gladly return the favor. With a deep growl, Asura tore massive chunks of rock from the floor, his strength effortlessly ripping them free.
"Take this, ya dick!" Asura roared as he clutched the boulders with his four arms. Wain, who had been watching in frozen horror, ran a hand through his hair in sheer panic. Oh… Mel is going to kill me. He watched with horrific fascination.
Ash, however, was unfazed. He knew Asura too well, this was his usual strategy. Without missing a beat, Ash uttered a powerful incantation. "Judex Divinum is my protector and my shield. Through Michael, the walls of heaven will not fall."
The ground pulsed as golden light erupted from the floor, forming a massive transparent wall that stretched from wall to wall. Only a small opening near the ceiling remained, leaving barely any weakness to exploit. To Asura's surprise, the wall developed into a stable structure in seconds. He watched in shock as the rocks he had hurled were neutralized entirely. The moment they struck the barrier, they shattered into dust and rubble. He's faster now, too...
The realization had barely settled before Asura sprang into action. Snarling, he lunged at the wall, fully expecting to break through with sheer force. His fist crashed against the barrier, yet it held firm. No cracks, no flicker of weakness. Whatever. I'll just punch it harder. Determined, Asura drew back both arms and struck again. Then again. Each blow landed with bone-rattling force, his fists pounding against the barrier in a relentless, rhythmic assault. The impact echoed through the room like the steady beat of a drum of war.
"So, you got stronger, huh? Asura smirked, his eyes meeting Ash's from his side of the barrier. His voice was a mix of amusement and suspicion. "How'd you manage that? No way it's just training." Asura tilted his head, almost accusing with his sneer. "A boost like that in such a short time? What are you, the protagonist of some cheesy hero story?" He let out a mocking laugh. "Hah! Yeah, right. You?" Another fist beat against the wall. "A main character? Impossible. Something about this doesn't add up…"
"Enough talking." Ash rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "I thought you liked fighting, not running your mouth. Looks like the big, bad demon can't break through the wall now."
He waved his sword in mockery. "So, tell me—what's your plan now?"
Asura's grin widened as he pulled back both fists. "Good luck, soy boy." He drove both fists forward with earth-shaking force. The impact rattled the room, widening Wain's eyes as the ground trembled beneath him. A spiderweb of cracks spread through the holy barrier, branching out like the roots of a massive tree.
Wain swallowed hard. A magma bear would not even leave a scratch on that wall, and yet Asura was tearing through it with brute strength alone. Asura pulled his arms back once more and delivered another devastating blow. Ash's cocky smirk faltered as a wave of panic settled in. He had been so confident in his newfound power, so sure he had surpassed the ogre, but reality was proving otherwise.
"Holy shit…" Ash muttered. Realizing his mistake in underestimating Asura, Ash dropped his taunts and swiftly began another incantation. He had intended to draw out the fight, to toy with the ogre a little longer. That luxury was gone. As the air thickened with divine energy, a circle of radiant runes flared to life around him. His sword pulsed with golden light, its glow intensifying as he murmured a sacred prayer.
At first, Asura thought nothing of another incantation. But as he studied Ash's expression, an unsettling feeling washed over him. The golden light of Judex Divinum was meant to signify purity and righteousness, yet behind Ash's eyes, something darker lurked.
Ash's voice rang through the chamber, steady and resolute. "Judex Divinum's righteousness shall always prevail. Through Michael, the wicked shall be vanquished."
With one final punch, Asura shattered the barrier. The once-imposing wall fractured like glass before crumbling into nothing. Wasting no time, he charged straight for Ash, ready to put an end to this. But Ash was prepared. He had learned from their last encounter. This time, he would not commit the same mistake. His grip tightened around his sword as his lips curled into a triumphant grin.
Asura's instincts screamed at him to brace for an explosion or a well-timed sword strike, but he was wrong. This is something else entirely. Ash raised his sword high above his head, and the mana surrounding it surged. The blade expanded, growing into a massive, translucent projection of itself, stretching so high it scraped the ceiling. The room darkened under its shadow.
"Fuck." Asura cursed. With a single, fluid motion, Ash brought the colossal blade down. Despite its size, the sword moved effortlessly, slicing through the air like a feather. The sheer force of the swing tore through the ceiling, leaving a jagged scar in its wake.
Asura's eyes widened. "You've definitely gotten stronger, soy boy. I'll give ya that much." Steeling himself, he caught the blade with all four arms. As soon as it struck, the overwhelming weight came crashing down, driving him to his knees. The earth beneath him groaned and split under the intense force.
The mana... it's manipulating the weight, he realized, staring up at the glowing blade pressing against his palms. But Asura refused to buckle. He planted his feet firmly, muscles straining as he pushed back against the weapon. Slowly, he began to rise, his strength overpowering even the divine magic infused within the sword. Ash's smug confidence dissolved into shock.
A deep, rumbling laugh echoed through the chamber. Asura's grin returned. Watching from the sidelines, Wain was utterly enthralled. This was better than any sparring match he had ever seen. If he had popcorn, he would be stuffing his face right now. This is insane. It's like watching a movie… except the monster was winning.
Ash's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword. If brute force were insufficient, he would overwhelm Asura with raw power. Pouring even more mana into the blade, the projected sword expanded once more, its weight doubling. This time, Asura faltered. The blade crushed down on him with renewed force. But compared to what he had endured in battle against the giants, this was nothing.
With a grunt, he shifted the sword onto his shoulder, freeing up two of his arms. A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes as he wound up his right fist. In a single, synchronized motion, he delivered a crushing blow that shattered the enormous blade, obliterating the projection with a deafening crack. The released mana burst into the air like shards of light, leaving nothing behind but Ash's original sword.
Asura let out a breath, rolling his shoulders. "Not bad." His smirk widened.
Asura tried to laugh, but Ash's unyielding expression left him smiling. I wonder why? Asura chuckled, but before he could gloat any further, Ash closed the distance with blinding speed, striking him with a flurry of slashes. With a crazed look in his eyes, Ash swung with everything he had.
Asura tried to block each blow, but Ash was faster than before. With every failed attempt to block the strikes, Asura's frustration mounted, his anger intensifying as each blow landed. First in the back, then the side, the chest, the back again, and then his right rib. Whenever Asura tried to block, Ash shifted his grip or changed the angle of his blade, making it nearly impossible to defend.
Ash's strikes rained relentlessly, and Asura groaned as the blade raked across his skin repeatedly. For a moment, Ash's eyes glimmered with hope as he watched the ogre struggle to respond to his attacks. Then, in a split-second, Asura's eyes fixed on the sword, and Ash immediately realized that Asura had predicted the gap in his defense. Shit, he thought, yanking at the blade in a panic, but it was already too late. The ogre had trapped it with his powerful arms, imprisoning the sword within the folds of his arms.
Without an ounce of hesitation, Asura's two right hands drove into Ash's gut, delivering a crushing blow. The impact was immediate, and before Ash could react, searing pain flooded his body. Blood poured from his mouth as the force of the strike ruptured his internal organs.
Doubling over in agony, Ash crumpled to the floor, clutching his stomach as blood pooled beneath him. Every pulse of pain served as a harsh reminder of his vulnerability. For the first time, he truly understood how fragile he was. The ogre could finish him off in an instant.
"A solid blow just connected!" Asura laughed, shouting out to an invisible crowd, "The crowd goes wild! Wooooohoooo! Asura! Asura!
Asura's laughter rang out, mocking Ash as he threw the priest's sword at him. The weapon clattered to the floor before Ash, its cold metal mocking him. He could only look up at Asura, stunned. "Why would you?" Ash gasped in pain.
"It's just getting good!" Asura roared. "Let's go another round!"
While Ash struggled to recover, Asura sat back, watching with amusement as Ash began healing his internal wounds with mana. The ogre scoffed. That's bullshit! Fight like a gladiator! TO THE DEATH!"
From the sidelines, Wain shouted in panic. "NO DEATH. ABSOLUTELY NO DEATH!" Frustrated but acknowledging the harsh truth, Ash knew he was still outmatched. He picked up his sword, running his hand along its blade before whispering a quick incantation. Their eyes met, both of them bracing for the next round.
Asura was not about to pull punches, even if his opponent was still nursing his wounds. The wind ruffled Asura's hair as he dashed forward, excitement boiling within him. This was the thrill he lived for, the pure exhilaration of battle.
But as Ash raised his sword, the flames around it burned wildly, unlike anything Asura had ever seen. There was something sinister in the golden fire, a cold chill in its embrace. The chaotic flames were still born from holy mana, yet they were anything but righteous. The fire did not want to be controlled. It resisted order. Asura's hesitation was brief but significant.
Ash swung the blade, unleashing waves of fire-infused slashes created from holy mana. Asura blocked the first one with his arms, but the searing pain made him regret it instantly. The force of the blast sent him flying into a wall, knocking the wind from his lungs. Asura struggled to regain his senses. His vision blurred, but he managed to lift his head just in time to see another fiery missile heading his way.
This time, it struck his face, and though the pain from the previous strikes had been intense, the whiplash from these new slashes felt even worse. His neck snapped back, and the muscle in his side strained from the brutal movement. The constant agony made it hard to turn his head, and each sharp pain from his neck pulsed in rhythm with his racing heartbeat.
Another fire blast struck his chest, the heat washing over him and leaving a scorch mark in its wake. "Fuck you," Asura grunted, barely dodging the next incoming slash, which tore through the wall where he'd been sitting moments ago.
The dizziness threatened to overwhelm him as he sluggishly dodged the remaining blasts. His stomach twisted with nausea, the relentless barrage of fire leaving him reeling. As the firestorms tore through the walls, explosions erupted one after another, shaking the very foundation of the room. With each new impact, the damage increased, creating gaping holes where walls once stood.
"Chill man, shit...." He laughed as he pulled himself to his feet. "It ain't that serious."
"How's that for being weak?"Ash smugly strolled over to Asura, his face lit up with a smug grin.
Asura raised an eyebrow, his expression playful. "Ehhhh, I'd rate you a solid three out of ten. But hey, look over there!" Asura pointed, his face twisted in horror. "It's Mel!"
With a dramatic flourish, Asura pointed behind Ash. It was the oldest trick in the book, but it worked. Ash spun around to check. "Ahahah! Made you look!"
Ash whirled back, only to be met with a rock slamming into his face. "Ugh!" Clutching his cheek, Ash's rage flared.
"You should probably get a handle on that power of yours, or someone might—" Asura teased,
"Shut up!" Ash snarled, his anger boiling over. The ogre had sensed the unstable mana within him, and it only fueled his rage. I am the one in control of this power, nobody else. His chest tightened with frustration, but Ash quickly regained his composure. With a sharp grimace, he gripped his sword and swung it, sending waves of fiery slashes flying toward Asura.
Asura's sheer defiance countered each strike, as massive rocks were torn free from the earth, exploding into clouds of dust and fire upon impact. With a chuckle, Asura tossed a rock into the air, watching it shatter spectacularly against Ash's fiery barrage. "Bullseye!"
The dust cloud quickly smothered Ash's vision. He knew the ogre was going to use this moment to attack. But still, he waited. His body tensed, and his heart pounded with anticipation as the silence stretched on, thick and suffocating. His eyes darted around, knowing Asura could strike at any moment, but nothing came.
The seconds felt like an eternity. As the dust finally settled, Ash's unease began to spike. The room had gone eerily quiet. But then, from beneath his feet, the ground started to crack. Before Ash could react, an arm shot upward from below, grabbing his ankle with crushing force.
Within moments, Ash sank into the earth, trapped halfway up to his waist. Panic surged as he struggled, but the tight space offered no freedom. His heart pounded in his chest as his eyes darted around, searching for any sign of Asura. He spotted the ogre emerging from a hole, a wild grin spreading across his face.
"Saw that in a show once. Always wanted to try it," Asura chuckled, tossing pebbles at Ash, each bouncing off his head with a mocking tap.
"Who's the idiot now, huh? Little guy stuck in a hole?" The ogre stood above, relishing in their difference in height. "Timmy in a well? Shorty!"
Fury surged within Ash as he writhed in his earthen prison, desperately trying to avoid the relentless barrage of pebbles. "I'LL KILL YOU!" he yelled, his voice filled with rage.
"Good luck, mole man, but, uh, last time I checked, you're stuck!" Asura taunted, his laughter echoing. Ash's face radiated with golden light like metal become molten, his mana crackling and swirling within him, intensifying until it blazed like an out-of-control fire.
Asura watched, intrigued. Maybe a lightbulb's a better comparison, he mused. Damn, he got so mad he literally exploded. With a thunderous roar, the surge of fury erupted from Ash, a wave of energy that tore through the air. As the dust settled, a massive crater marred the floor, and Ash stood at its center, his body shaking with barely contained rage. He lunged at Asura, his movements wild and erratic, swinging his sword with no rhythm or purpose.
His opponent remained unfazed, effortlessly sidestepping each wild swing. The chaotic flurry of strikes lacked any form of precision or control, making them almost comical to dodge. Asura let out a heavy sigh, his disappointment clear. His wild rage ruined the fight.
Asura moved with the speed and precision of a trained fighter, using Ash's fury against him. In the blink of an eye, he was behind him, his small form shadowing Ash. He barely had time to react before the ogre's four immensely dense arms wrapped around him, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. With a booming laugh, Asura hurled Ash down, slamming him into the earth with devastating force.
The impact resounded through the room with a sickening crack, sending a shiver down Wain's spine as he watched helplessly. Please don't kill him, he whispered in his mind.
Ash struggled to rise, blood spilling from his mouth as he groaned in agony. His body felt shattered, broken, and most of his bones were undoubtedly fractured. Yet, despite the pain, a twisted grin spread across his face. It can't end like this. Summoning the last of his strength, Ash staggered to his feet and launched a desperate punch at Asura's gut. It was laughable. The blow felt like a mere feather brushing against the ogre's massive frame, and it only made Asura chuckle in amusement.
The ogre shook his head, a distasteful bitterness in his mouth. "Pathetic."
Ash smirked. He uttered three words. "Michael's holy fist."
Like a dart striking a board, a massive armored fist burst through a portal and crashed into Asura, sending him hurtling across the room and smashing into another wall. Holy crap, man, how many times are you going to throw me into a wall...? He groaned as his body bounced from the stone.
Seething from another concussive blow, Asura steadily pushed himself to his feet and began to advance toward Ash, who was still struggling on the ground, trying to crawl away. His body began to heal thanks to an incantation, but Asura was not about to let him recover. Though eager to tear Ash apart, Asura held back, savoring every moment of the impending destruction. His bloodlust saturated the air, and Ash could only tremble in fear as the ogre closed in, like a beast stalking its wounded prey.
"This is it... I die here... Father, I'm sorry." Ash called out as he pulled himself by his hands.
Ash's face turned pale as he collapsed to the ground, his gaze locked on the ogre's face, which twisted into a wicked grin. The cruel, predatory look in Asura's eyes felt like something out of a nightmare, a longing to see Ash suffer, to torment him just as others had tormented his family. It was as if the devil himself stood before him, come to claim his soul.
His vision blurred, perhaps from the blood loss, but as Asura closed in, Ash swore he could see a red aura emanating from the ogre's body, a presence that could not be contained, driven by madness and rage. When he was lifted into the air, he braced himself, knowing only one thing: the worst was yet to come.
Then, from the shadows of the hallway, their worst fear emerged. The door burst open with a crash, and an ear-splitting chorus of furious shouting and screaming filled the room as Mel stormed in. Oh, dear God, please kill me, Ash thought in sheer dread as the real nightmare had yet to come.
"So, you want me to beat both of you? Is that what you're asking for?" Mel's voice dripped with fury. "I'll kill both of you morons and handle the mission myself." She gestured wildly with her hands, clearly showing her frustration as she spoke. "I'll pin it on Asura—he went rogue, and I had to take him down after Ash died." She screamed out at he boys, "Fighting! Huh!? Really? Before something this important? Oh, I'm going to kill you both."
Before anyone could even react to her arrival, Mel was already there. She grabbed Ash by the ear with a grip that made him wince in agony. His body, still battered and bruised from the fight, protested every movement. Her gaze darkened when she saw how badly he'd been hurt, and the fury in her eyes only intensified. "Ash… You used holy mana, didn't you?" He dared not respond.
In agony, Ash grimaced as Mel yanked him out of the room for healing, her voice carrying back to Asura and Wain. "I expect this from him, but you should've stopped, Ash." She pointed behind her, her eyes flashing with authority. "Get your asses ready, and let's go."
As Asura walked over to Wain, both of them exchanged a look. Neither could prevent themselves from bursting out laughing as they watched Ash being dragged out like a child. However, as Ash moved alongside Mel, his steps became more controlled, and the winces of pain faded. His body was healing staggeringly, resembling the monstrous creatures they had fought alongside Wain.
Asura kept his gaze fixed on the human, deep in thought. So you heal fast too, huh? Just who did you make a deal with? He pushed the thought aside and followed Mel out of the room, daring not to keep her waiting. Behind them, the training room began to mend itself, recovering from the destruction, a sight that always amazed Asura. If only we had this back home... he mused. We wouldn't have to fix the damage every time a natural disaster tore through the kingdom.
As they walked down the hall toward the main worship area, Asura's clothes began to reweave and repair themselves, its threads pulling themselves back into place. Although cut by his blade, Ash's fire had not left a mark on the seams. The damage from the blade seemed minimal compared to previous battles. No more fighting naked, Asura thought with a grin, feeling like his clothes had been upgraded.
"Are my clothes fixed? They'll always repair now?" Asura asked, looking at the seams of his shirt.
"It's reinforced with multiple enchantments now." Wain glanced at him, amused. "Captain decided to give you a heavy-duty set. It keeps us from going through thousands of clothes."
"As if y'all can't afford more." Asura quipped. "But... how come didn't they get ruined? Is it fireproof now?"
"Fire-resistant," Wain corrected. "I assume they got tired of you being naked every time you ran straight into the fire instead of away from it."