Against The True Gods

Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

A wave of fire, so large and grand it could only be called a world-sized tsunami of flames, erupted from Autumn just as Caine's body was split in half at the waist.

But Caine's True Will remained firm. A vast amount of qi burned from his bond space, surging into his time star. Instantly, his injuries rewound, leaving only scars to mark where his body had once been torn asunder.

His robes, already tattered, were shredded further, revealing the countless and endless scars covering his compressed, vascular, and refined frame.

Caine focused. A flame seemed to ignite within his gaze as he roared out, slamming his only palm onto his chest. Countless formation circles manifested around him, linking together to form the outline of a gigantic humanoid avatar.

Atmospheric qi gathered, condensing into a grand spear that the avatar gripped. Just as Caine swung, the avatar mirrored his movement, countering the tsunami of flames rushing toward them.

SHING!

The wave of flames was severed, then blown to pieces, but Caine immediately fell to one knee, coughing out blood as the immense strain on his body closed in on him.

Tightening his jaw, he steeled his mind and forced himself up. Looking ahead, he saw that Autumn wasn't in a much better state.

The two stared at one another for a few moments before they seemed to come to an unspoken agreement. Caine planted his blade in the ground beside him, and Autumn did the same.

Autumn tore off his already shredded robes, his gaze so focused it seemed as if Caine was the only thing in existence at that moment.

Autumn laughed loudly, the distance between them collapsing as if by will alone. In an instant, they were upon one another, and their battle resumed with renewed intensity.

BANG!

Both were true masters of martial combat, and their clash ascended into an entirely new strata of blood and violence.

Caine was cold, vicious, and calculating.

Each of his moves carried the essence of the roar of a dragon, the fury of a qilin, the cry of a phoenix, and the might of a white tiger.

He clawed forward, tearing mounds of flesh from his opponent. His palms came in rapid waves, aiming for Autumn's inner organs, while his elbows and knees flowed seamlessly into one another, breaking bone after bone.

Autumn, on the other hand, truly embodied his name. He moved as smooth as a breeze, almost uncatchable, his movements carrying the fluidity of water and the solidness of earth.

His punches aimed for Caine's vital points, each strike stacking upon the last to rapidly tear him apart. Exploiting Caine's missing arm, he constantly pushed him off balance, pivoting around him with unrelenting precision.

He was adaptable, reading and reacting to Caine's movements with terrifying speed. Yet, despite his skill, he couldn't fully end Caine with any single strike.

It was a battle between immortal regeneration and timeless skill.

BANG!

Caine weaved under a punch, spinning to grab Autumn's arm and hurling him over his shoulder, slamming him violently onto the ground.

BANG!

Autumn rolled away, narrowly dodging a crater-creating punch, then backflipped to avoid a kick that left the air sizzling.

Landing on his feet, he stepped forward, closing the gap between them. His palms layered strikes in rapid succession, hitting Caine from skewed angles and at speeds too fast to counter.

WHOOSH!

Flames erupted across Caine's body, blasting Autumn backward, but the flames were quickly extinguished and replaced by cold, frigid shards of ice that danced around Caine.

He thrust his palm forward, sending waves of compressed air toward Autumn, the waves followed closely by sharp shards of ice.

Autumn laughed, stomping the ground as gravity suddenly multiplied hundreds of times.

The shards of ice shattered under the immense weight, and he punched the air, sending a massive wave of compressed energy to meet Caine's.

WHOOSH!

Caine teleported past the wave, his frown deepening. This battle was going nowhere.

They were evenly matched.

He had no choice but to take things to the next level.

BOOOOOOM!

Caine's nine rings fully manifested behind him, his wings unfurling and taking space, shadowing the skies above. He took a step forward.

Autumn's smile froze. A deep, primal sense of danger overwhelmed him, but it was too late.

[Blight Art: Chain of The-Lo'ku]

From the ground, rune-covered chains seemingly made of vines appeared, wrapping around Autumn's hands and legs, forcing him to his knees.

Caine took another step forward.

[Blight Art: Seal of Anak'ym]

Countless runes manifested around Autumn, linking into a searing sealing formation that branded his skin and flesh.

Autumn screamed in agony, feeling his own qi tearing his body apart. It was futile.

Caine took another step forward.

[Blight Art: Lances of Jude]

From thin air, dozens of black spears, darker than the void itself, materialized and pierced Autumn, sundering his flesh and spilling his mighty blood.

[Blight Art: Blood of the Forsaken]

Autumn's leaking blood ignited, his aspects shuddering and cracking as his very existence began to erode.

Caine stood a mere step away.

Feeling death approaching, Autumn roared to the heavens, all his power erupting in a golden supernova that swallowed the world.

His binds shattered, and he stood, ancient and dark lightning crackling around his palms.

He charged forward, his gaze filled with demonic killing intent.

His palm pierced into Caine, grabbing his heart. With narrowed eyes, he roared, "SHATTER!"

His lightning-covered hand clenched, burning Caine's heart to ashes.

Silver blood splattered across Autumn, his chest heaving, bones creaking, and sweat pouring from his battered frame. Slowly, he looked up, meeting the gaze of the man he had killed.

What he saw shook him to his core.

Caine looked back at him, his gaze empty and apathetic.

"I cannot fall. Not here." Caine's voice was almost infernal, carrying a conviction that seemed to surpass anything True Will could ever birth.

These words were not born of mere thought.

They were the purest essence of his soul—his existence.

Autumn's heart palpitated. He trembled, tears streaming down his face as his life flashed before his eyes. Endless regret gnawed at his True Will.

Looking toward the skies above, he cried.

[Blight Art: Final Fantasy]

What happened next was beyond words, beyond comprehension, beyond perception.

BOOM!