The Grand Hall of Judgment burned with divine energy. The Celestial Order had spoken, and their decree was absolute. The Executioner had been deployed.
Astaroth watched in disbelief as the massive golden rift swallowed the sky, opening the gates of divine judgment upon Earth.
This was too much.
Too soon.
Ren Kisaragi wasn't ready. He was barely at the beginning of his path, just starting to wield the power of the Abyss.
Sending the Executioner was overkill.
And Astaroth knew exactly why they were doing it.
They were afraid.
Afraid of what Ren could become.
Astaroth rose from his seat, his golden aura flaring dangerously.
The Council turned to him, unmoved.
"You overstep," the Central Seat warned, their voice heavy with divine power. "Your interference is no longer tolerated, Astaroth."
Astaroth scoffed, stepping forward.
"You're making a mistake."
The Executioner's holographic projection flickered into view before the council, showing the massive celestial warrior descending upon the ruined Earth.
Astaroth pointed at it, furious.
"You send that thing against a Level 2 mortal, and you call that justice?"
The cloaked figure of the Executioner's Summoner, a hooded entity wreathed in blinding celestial fire, spoke coldly.
"Justice is dictated by balance. The Forgotten One disrupts that balance."
Astaroth clenched his fists.
"And if he survives?"
Silence.
The Council did not answer.
Astaroth smirked darkly. "That's what scares you, isn't it?"
The flames around the chamber flared violently.
"Enough, Astaroth."
The Central Seat's voice rang out with divine finality. "If you intervene, you will be marked as a traitor to the Order."
Astaroth exhaled slowly, his golden eyes narrowing.
He turned toward the projection of Ren, watching as the battle below began.
Ren had seconds to live.
The Executioner's blade was already swinging down.
Astaroth clenched his jaw.
"This is a mistake."
But for now, he watched.
Because if Ren somehow survived this—
Then Astaroth had just found the greatest warrior the Order had ever created… and abandoned.
BOOOOOOOM!
Ren blinked away just as the Executioner's massive greatsword crashed down, obliterating the rooftop he had stood on less than a second ago.
The impact shattered the entire building, sending a shockwave that ripped through the cityscape.
Ren landed hard on a nearby rooftop, rolling to absorb the force.
His heart was pounding.
This wasn't a normal fight. This wasn't like the Abyssal Hounds or the Phantom of Astaroth.
This was something else entirely.
[Threat Level: SSS-Rank]
[Warning: This opponent surpasses all known power levels. Survival probability: .0001%.]
Ren's breath was ragged.
.0001%?
The system really knows how to boost confidence.
The Executioner turned to him, its featureless golden mask devoid of emotion.
It was huge—easily twice Astaroth's height, standing at nearly four meters tall.
Its massive wings of pure golden fire spread wide, illuminating the battlefield like a false dawn.
Its greatsword was larger than a car, engraved with celestial runes that pulsed with unreadable divine script.
Ren gritted his teeth.
His instincts were screaming.
This thing wasn't human.
It wasn't even a warrior.
It was a force of nature. A living execution.
The Executioner raised its sword again.
"You are an aberration."
Its voice was deep, emotionless, absolute.
"Your existence is a crime."
Ren exhaled sharply, forcing a grin.
"Yeah? Tell me something new."
The Executioner vanished.
Ren's eyes widened—
It's fast!
A fraction of a second later, a golden blade came screaming toward his head.
[Skill Activated: Blink Step!]
Ren teleported mid-motion, appearing above the Executioner, sword already swinging.
[Skill Activated: Phantom Blade!]
His first strike landed—
The afterimage strike followed.
Both attacks hit the Executioner's back.
And—
Nothing happened.
Ren's blade bounced off the armor like it was striking an unbreakable wall.
His heart skipped a beat.
Not even a scratch?!
The Executioner turned its head slightly.
"Ineffective."
It moved.
Ren barely had time to react before a golden hand wrapped around his throat.
The Executioner lifted him into the air as if he weighed nothing.
[HP: 95 → 48]
Pain exploded through his body.
Ren gagged, struggling as the massive grip crushed his windpipe.
The Executioner's golden eyes burned with divine judgment.
"You are nothing. You are not chosen. You are not meant to be."
Ren's vision blurred.
The celestial energy pouring from the Executioner's body was suffocating.
Every part of him screamed to give up, to surrender, to let it end.
But—
NO.
A memory flashed in his mind.
Alone. Forgotten. Left behind.
They had abandoned him.
And now, they wanted to erase him?
His rage ignited.
[Abyss Walker Effect Activated]
A pulse of void energy erupted from Ren's body.
For the first time—
The Executioner staggered.
Ren blinked out of its grip, reappearing several meters away, gasping for air.
The Executioner tilted its head.
"…Unexpected."
Ren wiped the blood from his lips, glaring up at the celestial enforcer.
"Yeah, well," he coughed, "I'm full of surprises."
He tightened his grip on his sword.
If his attacks couldn't break its armor—
Then he had to find another way.
His mind raced.
Think. Adapt. Survive.
His odds were .0001%.
But that was still more than zero.
The fight was far from over.