Cain and Meylin surged forward at shocking speeds, defying conventional limits. Cain moved first, each stride brutally tearing through the fabric of space itself, leaving behind rippling distortions that stretched and cracked under the immense force of his advance.
Meylin moved in tandem, yet her approach was entirely different; space held no meaning for her. She assumed an ethereal form, shimmering like a mirage, effortlessly phasing between dimensions. Reality seemed to ripple gently around her ghostly presence as she glided through barriers no physical entity could bypass.
The Beast Godâs eyes sharpened dramatically, shifting from normal irises into blade-like slits. Each eye moved independently, meticulously tracking the intricate and lightning-fast maneuvers of the Depravita and the Neo-Demon. The precision of Luciusâ observation was terrifyingâhe anticipated their movements with chilling certainty.
Just as Cain and Meylin closed in, ready to strike, Lucius unleashed his own move.
"ZNNNNNNNN!"
A peculiar sound echoed sharply and in that instant, all the vibrant colors of reality faded, consumed by an eerie, monochrome gray. The world felt suspended, trapped within an unnatural void, leaving both Meylin and Cain momentarily bewildered. Before their minds fully processed the strange phenomenon, Lucius was already upon them.
Somehow, impossibly, the Beast God had moved faster than their minds could perceive, appearing before them with ruthless aggression. Without hesitation or mercy, Lucius launched a savage attack targeting Meylin. His monstrous claw aimed directly for the Depravitaâs head, intending to destroy her brain.
Even though such a strike wouldnât be fatal to Meylin due to her extraordinary physique, the damage would temporarily paralyze herâa potentially fatal consequence in a battle of this magnitude.
"THUMP!"
At the brink of disaster, a heartbeat more powerful than a cataclysmic storm thundered through the void. Cain acted swiftly, his reaction nearly instantaneous, pulling Meylin behind him protectively. He then responded to Luciusâ attack with his own sword strike, the weapon blazing with raw destructive energy.
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!"
A deafening explosion erupted flooding the battlefield with silver and dark energies as sword met claw. The collision rippled outward, shaking the foundations of the universe itself. Cain and Lucius stood locked in a fierce stalemate, neither warrior able to immediately overpower the other.
Surprise flickered through Cainâs eyes. His physical strength alone typically overwhelmed any Prima Deity, especially when augmented by his potent red flames and destructive aura. Yet Lucius withstood him effortlessly.
A chilling realization dawned on Cain: Lucius had somehow attained the power of a Half-Step Arch-Deity.
The thought sent alarm bells ringing in Cainâs mind. Even with the energy drained from his kingdomâs inhabitants and the improvement of Origin Power, Lucius should not have reached such a profound level of strength. Clearly, an unknown force had intervened to push Lucius far beyond his expected limits. Yet this revelation did not alter Cainâs resolve.
Meylin didnât remain idle. Seizing the advantage created by Cainâs stalemate with Lucius, she swiftly reappeared above them. Her twin swords, Abyss and Hell, radiated with the golden brilliance of her Pride, channeling overwhelming energies from the surrounding cosmos.
In a single breath, she unleashed two devastating arcs of energy in the form of an enormous âX,â slicing through space as they converged mercilessly on Lucius.
The Beast Godâs confident smirk faded abruptly, replaced by a deep, frustrated scowl. The realization hit him hardâCain and Meylin posed a legitimate threat from the very beginning, placing his life in imminent danger. Unable to escape Cainâs hold, dodging Meylinâs attack seemed impossible.
But just as Meylinâs attack neared him, Luciusâ eyes flashed again, returning reality briefly to that unsettling gray void. When color returned to the world, Lucius had vanished, and Meylinâs potent arcs collided harmlessly with the empty air, ultimately slamming into the Divine Kingdom below, causing the massive structure to tremble violently.
Confusion briefly clouded Cain and Meylinâs faces. But then, Cainâs eyes widened, sensing Luciusâ menacing presence directly behind him. Luciusâ claws lunged forward with lethal intent, their edges glittering ominously.
Cain couldnât evade. Blocking seemed equally impossible. Yet, even confronted by imminent danger, his heart held neither panic nor fear. Calmly, Cain activated one of the Unified Blood Elemental Forgeâs abilities.
A magnificent force erupted from Cainâs body, forming a radiant force field of ancestral power forged from dozens of Third Realm Bloodlines. Luciusâ claws collided against this formidable defense with a resounding blast, sending shockwaves echoing through the battlefield.
Although the claws pierced the barrier, their destructive force was significantly reduced. They barely penetrated twenty centimeters into Cainâs dense flesh, failing even to breach his muscles, let alone touch bone.
Frustration flashed briefly in Luciusâ eyesâa critical mistake. That fleeting moment of rage provided Meylin the perfect opportunity. Capitalizing on Luciusâ momentary lapse, Meylin instantly teleported right behind him, her swords already blazing fiercely with lethal intent.
Lucius, caught off guard by the Depravitaâs unique teleportation, desperately tried once more to invoke his mysterious gray worldâbut he was too slow. Meylinâs swords slammed mercilessly into Luciusâ exposed back, shredding through flesh, tearing muscle, and violently striking bone in less than a heartbeat.
Agonizing pain surged through Lucius, momentarily stunning him. But he refused to yield. Instead of retreating into the gray void again, he released a devastating gravitational pulse directly at Meylin, blasting her away violently and shattering several of her bones.
Cain was also caught in the powerful gravitational surge, nearly overwhelmed by its tremendous force. But the Neo-Demon resisted defiantly, summoning another hidden strength of his Primordial Genesis Body.
"Gravitational Suppression Field!" Cain roared defiantly, unleashing his own potent gravitational wave. The two colossal forces collided spectacularly, shaking the entire Divine Kingdom, fracturing the realm with relentless tremors. Yet Cainâs gravitational field began to falter beneath Luciusâ overpowering might.
Refusing defeat, Cain activated his ultimate physical techniqueâ"World Breaker Limbs!" His muscles expanded dramatically, veins bulging with overwhelming power. His limbs pierced deeply into the fabric of space itself, anchoring him solidly against Luciusâ onslaught.
With unyielding resolve, Cain lifted Sky Devourer, his mighty sword. It radiated a terrifying intensity as Cain channeled every ounce of his strength into the strike. The blade gleamed ominously, poised to deliver a blow strong enough to shatter worlds.