[ You have reached Rank B ]
[ All your stats have increased ]
[ Your life dimension level has increased ]
[ The Fallen limit has been upgraded from 50 to 300 ]
[ Skill: Fallen Will is now available again ]
"I finally did it." A relieved smile appeared on Danielâs face.
He had a feeling that he would reach Rank B during the fight with Velmiran, but it was still uncertainâhe wasnât completely sure.
And honestly, if he hadnât reached Rank B, there was no way he couldâve defeated the Noble Demon.
But he had done it! He had broken through to Rank B.
And on top of that, there was one more pleasant surpriseâhis most powerful skill, Fallen Will, had become available again.
"Whatâs with that stupid grin on your face? You really think getting a bit stronger means you can beat me?" Velmiran growled, angered by the smirk on Danielâs face.
How dare this ant smirk like that while on the verge of death? Just because he got a bit stronger? Ridiculous!
"Haha! Trash demon, you shouldâve killed me when you had the chance!" Daniel laughed and stood up.
As he rose, all of his injuries and wounds healed instantly. Without giving the demon a chance to react, he struck his stomach and forced him back several steps.
"Huh?" But then, Daniel noticed something that made him frown deeply.
Fine cracks had appeared across his body. Looking more closely, he saw that it wasnât just his bodyâcracks had also formed on his soul.
âDamn it. Even though Iâve become much stronger by reaching Rank B, my body still canât handle the power I gained through Self-Transcendence. If this keeps up, Iâll fall apart.â
It wasnât hard to guess what was happening.
"Looks like that little skill of yours that made you stronger is also tearing your body apart, hahaha." Naturally, Velmiran had noticed the cracks too.
That brought a smile of joy to his face. Even if he did nothing now, this kid would die on his own.
"Shut up!" The leader of the Faith of Eternity growled and stretched his hand out. The Heavens Honor sword flew back into his grip.
He had to kill this bastardâfast.
Daniel stepped forward and activated:
[ Strike of Destruction ]
A deadly black aura engulfed Heavens Honor.
He infused it with Death Aura and traces of Eternityâs Aura, reinforcing the blade. Then, at blinding speed, he rushed toward Velmiran.
His blade clashed with Velmiranâs Eternal Blood-Fists. Black and red sparks flew everywhere.
Velmiran stepped back, but responded with:
[ Hellblood Blades ]
Sharp red blades formed from blood rained toward Daniel like a poisonous storm. He spun his sword, deflecting several of them.
But one blade struck his arm, opening a deep wound. Blood spilled to the ground. Pain like a hot needle pierced through him, but Mana Healing closed the wound.
"You think you can kill me with a fancy sword?" Velmiran growled and unleashed:
[ Bloody Death Roar ]
A wave of blood and darkness exploded outward. The blast shook Danielâs mind, but with iron will, he focused and activated:
[ Shadow Weapons ]
Black blades rose from Velmiranâs shadow and lunged at him.
One of the blades hit his sideâblack blood splattered. Velmiran screamed in rage, his eyes glowing even redder.
"You... how dare you wound me?!"
Daniel took a deep breath. The fight was no longer one-sidedâhe could now land attacks and counterattacks.
Still, it wasnât enough. It was time to try something new.
He combined his understanding of the Law of Death with Strike of Destruction.
Suddenly, his swordâs aura shiftedâDeath itself seemed to live inside the blade.
Even Velmiran felt a chill of fear for a moment.
[ You have successfully created a new skill ]
[ Please name your new skill ]
He named it:
[ Deathbringer Strike ]
[ Confirmed ]
[ Name: Deathbringer Strike ]
[ Rank: SS ]
[ Description: A terrifying and destructive strike forged from the powers of Destruction and Death. It annihilates anything in its path. ]
With a swift motion, he swung the blade at Velmiran. The strike was so powerful it split the ground beneath them. A wave of death energy slammed into the demon. Velmiran blocked with Blood Shield, but the shield cracked and he was thrown back.
"W-What... is this?!" For the first time, the Noble Demonâs voice held fear.
"This is my power, demon. Get ready." Daniel said quietly, but with unwavering resolve, and charged again.
Sword and fist collided in a storm of insane speed. Each strike shook the battlefield.
Velmiran grew angrier. "Youâre just a worthless human! You shouldnât be able to fight me as an equal!"
The Noble Demon, furious and bleeding, suddenly stopped. His eyes glowed darker, and his aura thickened.
"Enough! No more playing!" He activated:
[ Bloodline Sacrifice ]
Blood gushed from his body, as if the entire demon bloodline was burning inside him. His aura surged to the peak of A-Rank, a force that darkened the sky and shook the earth.
"Now you die, insect!" he roared and charged at Daniel with blinding speed.
His Eternal Blood-Fists slammed into Danielâs chest. Bones shattered, blood exploded from his mouth, and he was hurled to the ground.
The pain was unbearableâlike his body was breaking apart. He activated Mana Healing, but the wounds closed slowly.
Velmiran followed up with Hellblood Blades, which tore into his skin and opened deep cuts. Daniel screamed, but countered with Deathbringer Strike.
The blade struck Velmiranâs arm, but the demon didnât even flinch.
"Is that all youâve got?" Velmiran laughed and punched Danielâs face again. His cheekbone shattered, blood splattered on the ground, and his vision blurred.
Suddenly, fine cracks reappeared across Danielâs bodyâa lingering effect from Self-Transcendence, which had pushed him to the edge of his limits.
The cracks worsened across his entire body, with no signs of stopping.
His very existence was falling apart.
If this kept going, Velmiran wouldnât need to finish himâheâd explode on his own.
Daniel took a deep breath and activated:
[ Fallen Will ]
He didnât want to use this skill now. He had hoped to save it.
He didnât know why, but his intuition told him something far worse was coming soon.
Still, right nowâhe had no other choice.
The sky split open, as if divinity itself had collapsed.
Golden and black light burst from his body. His white hair grew longer, flowing like silver flames down to his waist.
His eyes turned completely goldenâshining with the light of stars and death itself. His aura became so massive that the earth cracked beneath him.
His behavior changed. It was as if a divine being had taken over.
"I have returned once again... it feels good," his voice echoed, divine and endless.
He ignored the battlefield entirely and simply stared at his hands. A terrifying smile spread across his face.
Then he turned and looked directly at the Noble Demon.
"Sinner... your time of judgment has come," he said, quietly but with overwhelming presence.
Velmiran froze. His instincts screamed: Run!
Every cell in his body trembled with fear.
Heâa Noble Demon, superior to most beingsâwas now stepping back like a helpless child.
"W-What are you...?" his voice trembled. A blade of regret pierced his heart.
Why did I fight this being...? It was as if some higher force was forcing this realization into him.
He wanted to runâno, he had to run! If he didnât escape now, he would absolutely die!
He turned to flee at full speed.
The Fallen Priest moved his finger. The space sealed shutâan invisible wall locked Velmiran in place.
He took a stepâand in a split-second, appeared right in front of him.
"You called yourself a god? Now kneel before the true will of the Almighty."
With one hand, he gripped Velmiranâs very being.
The demon screamed, but his body disintegrated in the golden-black lightâevery atom of him annihilated in eternity.
In his final moment, Velmiran only felt fear... and regret. His eyes, full of silent pleading, went dark.
"Another infidel who stood against the true path has been punished. May the Merciful God forgive them."