The chamber shook as Zenith's full power manifested. His fifteen marks no longer just glowed—they burned like newborn stars, each one distorting reality in its own way.
"Let me show you damn peasant," Zenith's voice echoed with System-enhanced authority, "what true mastery of marks means."
[Warning: Power Levels Exceeding Measurable Limits
Local Reality Stability: Critical
System Authority: Maximum]
The first real blow felt like being hit by a planet. Kriel's void-enhanced body barely managed to absorb it, dark energy crackling where System power tried to impose its will. His body was covered in dark, pulsing veins, and a shadowy aura seemed to draw in the light around him, making him appear even more formidable.
"That's more like it," Kriel spat blood, his smile revealing teeth stained with void corruption. His deep, menacing voice sent a shiver down Zenith's spine. "Finally fighting seriously?"
Kriel's imposing stature and muscular build made him physically formidable, and his confidence and calmness in the face of overwhelming odds only added to his intimidating presence. His unpredictability made it difficult for Zenith to anticipate his actions, keeping him on edge.
"You should feel honored," Zenith moved like liquid light, each step leaving afterimages of pure power. "Few have pushed me to use even three marks at full strength. You've earned the right to witness all fifteen."
Their battle transcended normal combat. Where Zenith struck, reality itself parted. Where Kriel defended, void energy ate away at the System's laws. The ancient ruins around them began to crumble as their powers clashed.
[Combat Analysis:
Zenith: 15 Marks at 100% Synchronization
Kriel: Void Corruption 93%
Battlefield Integrity: Failing]
"Void Impact," Kriel channeled ancient knowledge into his fist, throwing a punch that distorted space itself. The attack carried the weight of chaos, a direct challenge to the System's order.
Zenith caught it with his bare hand, but for the first time, he grimaced. Where their powers met, neither chaos nor order could claim victory.
"Impressive," Zenith acknowledged, his marks pulsing brighter. "But futile. Mark of the Sovereign Sky!"
The air itself became a weapon. Countless blades of pressurized space rained down, each capable of cutting through mountains. Kriel's void energy writhed around him, creating zones of chaos where System laws couldn't fully penetrate.
"You're stronger than expected," Kriel grinned through the pain as several blades found their mark, drawing corrupted blood. "But something tells me you're not even the strongest out there."
Zenith paused, curiosity mixing with his usual arrogance. "Perceptive. Perhaps you should know what you're truly facing." He gestured, and his marks created a display of pure light.
"In this world, power has a hierarchy. We twelve Mark Kings stand at the peak of what mortals can achieve. But above us..." His eyes narrowed. "There exist beings who have transcended normal limits."The Ascendant Monarchs".Their power makes mine look like a candle before the sun."
[Information Update:
Power Hierarchy Revealed:
- Transcendent Beings: Beyond Mortal Reach
- 12 Mark Kings: Mortal Peak
System Authority Structure Identified]
"And you've made enemies of them all," Zenith continued. "The System has marked you. Every being connected to it will hunt you—Kings, Ascendants, even the dregs of society. Your bounty? Immeasurable. The reward? Anything the System can grant."
Zenith's marks flared again, preparing another devastating attack. "You see, Kriel, in this world, there are those who rule and those who are ruled. And you, Kriel, have just become the greatest threat to that order."
"I am not a threat," Kriel replied, his voice steady amidst the chaos. "I am the end of your world. And I will enjoy every moment of it."
Zenith chuckled, his voice dripping with amusement. "You're bold, I'll give you that. But boldness alone won't save you. You need power, and you need strategy. And right now, you have neither."
Kriel's smile grew wider. "You're wrong, Zenith. I have something you don't—freedom. The freedom to break free from the System's chains."
Zenith's expression turned cold. "Freedom is an illusion, Kriel. In this world, power is the only truth. And I will show you what true power looks like."
As they fought, time itself began to distort. Moments of slow motion allowed Kriel to dodge attacks with ease, while sudden bursts of speed made his counterattacks seem almost instantaneous.
"Temporal Shift," Kriel said, his voice echoing through the chaos. "You can't keep up with me, Zenith."
Zenith's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that." He activated a mark that manipulated gravity, sending Kriel floating into the air.
Kriel laughed, his void energy allowing him to break free. "Gravity's just a suggestion," he said, landing a blow that sent Zenith flying across the chamber.
The battle raged on, with reality itself becoming increasingly distorted. Illusions and hallucinations began to plague both combatants, making it difficult to discern reality from fantasy.
"You're seeing things," Zenith said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Your void sight can't save you from my illusions."
Kriel grinned. "I'm not seeing things. I'm seeing possibilities."
With a burst of void energy, Kriel created a causality loop, where his attacks landed before he even threw them. The aftermath of each blow was felt before the attack itself, leaving Zenith stumbling to keep up.
Zenith's expression turned serious. "You're pushing the limits of reality itself. But even that won't be enough."
Kriel's laughter grew louder, a sound that seemed to shake the very fabric of existence. "I'm not just pushing limits. I'm breaking them."
The chamber filled with deadly light as Zenith gathered his power. "Public Enemy Number One. How does it feel?"
Kriel stood straight, void corruption spreading further across his body. Blood ran from his wounds, but his smile grew wider, darker. "How does it feel?" He laughed, the sound distorting reality itself. "It feels perfect."
[Status Update:
Void Corruption: 94%
Ancient Knowledge: Expanding
Host Confidence: Maximum]
"I'll kill you all," Kriel's voice carried the weight of ancient defiance. "Kings, Ascendants, bounty hunters—every last one of you System slaves. I'll show you what true freedom looks like."
Void energy exploded around him, meeting Zenith's light in a clash that shook the foundations of reality. The real battle was just beginning.
"Death awaits you dog" said Zenith with distain.
Kriel's laughter grew louder. "I'll become God of this world you won't be able to stop me moron".
Zenith's eyes narrowed. "You're a demon Kriel. But I will be the one to put you down, u fucking mutt."
"I am not a demon," Kriel said, his voice calm. "I am the future. And you are just a relic of the past."
Zenith's expression turned cold. "We'll see about that. Mark of the Celestial Gate!!!"
The air itself seemed to tear apart as Zenith unleashed his immeasurable attack. Kriel met it with a wave of void energy, and the two forces clashed in a display of power that threatened to consume everything.
[Chapter End
Threat Level: Beyond Measurement
Reality Stability: 31%
The Hunt Begins...]