The moment their swords collided, the world split apart.
Abyssal darkness and divine radiance collided violently, sending shockwaves across the ruined city. Entire skyscrapers crumbled from the sheer force of the impact. The sky cracked, swirling with celestial and abyssal energies as two opposing forces warred for dominance.
Ren gritted his teeth, forcing his blade forward, but the Executioner's overwhelming strength pushed him down.
He was losing ground.
His feet dug into the cracked pavement, struggling to hold his stance as the Executioner's colossal sword bore down on him. The celestial runes along its blade glowed with divine fire, pressing against Ren's own abyssal flames.
The pressure was unreal.
His body was breaking.
[WARNING: STRESS LEVELS REACHING CRITICAL LIMITS]
[SYSTEM UNABLE TO STABILIZE]
Ren's arms trembled, muscles screaming under the strain.
His new abyssal powers—the ones he had barely begun to understand—weren't enough.
Even after everything, even after touching the power of the Abyss, even after awakening Void Shift, Abyssal Phase, and Void Raze—
He was still losing.
The Executioner spoke, its voice unshaken, absolute.
"You are stubborn, but persistence alone is meaningless."
Ren let out a shaky laugh, his breath ragged.
"Yeah? I've been hearing that my whole life."
The Executioner twisted its blade, breaking Ren's stance.
Ren's eyes widened—
And then—
SLAM!
A brutal kick sent Ren flying.
His body crashed through concrete and steel, the impact sending him skidding across the battlefield like a ragdoll. He tumbled through debris, rolling lifelessly before coming to a stop.
[HP: 4/120]
[Status: Lethal Condition]
Ren gasped for air, his lungs burning, his vision swimming.
He struggled to push himself up, but his arms refused to respond.
His sword was still in his hand—but it felt so damn heavy.
The Executioner slowly approached.
Its wings of divine fire stretched wide, illuminating the battlefield in golden light.
It was like a god descending upon a fallen mortal.
"You were given a chance to surrender," the Executioner intoned. "You refused."
It lifted its blade.
"Now, you die."
Ren's breath was uneven.
His body wouldn't move.
His vision darkened.
This was it.
The end.
But something stirred within him.
A voice—not the Abyss this time, but something else.
Something older.
Something deeper.
A whisper echoed in his mind.
"Do you truly wish to live?"
Ren's fingers twitched.
"Do you truly wish to fight?"
His heart pounded.
"Then break your limits once more."
Ren's eyes snapped open.
His body reacted before his mind caught up.
[FORCED LIMIT BREAK ACTIVATED]
[WARNING: SYSTEM STABILITY AT 7%]
[OVERRIDE… SUCCESS]
The Executioner's sword descended.
Ren moved.
[NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: VOID OVERDRIVE]
Time slowed.
The world flickered, twisted, bent.
Ren's body became a blur of abyssal afterimages, his presence shifting in and out of reality itself.
The Executioner's sword missed.
Ren appeared beside it—mid-motion, mid-strike.
He unleashed everything.
[VOID RAZE – ASCENDED FORM]
His blade clashed against divine steel—
And for the first time, a full fracture split the Executioner's armor.
Golden energy poured from the wound.
The Executioner staggered back.
Ren landed, barely able to stand.
He had done it.
He had actually wounded it.
But—
[WARNING: ENERGY RESERVES DEPLETED]
[PHYSICAL INTEGRITY FAILING]
Ren's knees buckled.
He was out.
No more power.
No more chances.
No more tricks.
He had reached his limit.
And the Executioner was still standing.
Its golden eyes dimmed for a moment.
Then, it lifted its sword once more.
"…Your struggle is commendable," it said, voice almost… respectful.
"But all struggles must end."
It vanished.
Ren couldn't react.
His body was too slow.
Too weak.
He saw the sword coming.
[WARNING: NO EVASION POSSIBLE]
[FATAL STRIKE INCOMING]
Ren exhaled.
This was it.
And then—
A golden explosion erupted from above.
The Executioner's attack halted mid-swing as a blinding blast of celestial energy crashed down between them.
The force sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield, throwing Ren backward.
He barely remained conscious as he slammed into a pile of rubble.
His vision blurred.
Through the haze of dust and golden light—a familiar figure descended.
A voice, dripping with amusement, echoed through the air.
"That's enough, Executioner."
Ren's eyes widened.
Astaroth.