VWUUSH!!!

The Prince of Darkness manifested fully—five meters of nightmare made flesh, its current degraded Tier 5 state still radiating power that dwarfed normal practitioners.

The Angel’s expression shifted from curiosity to alarm.

"Chaos Dweller!" he shouted, divine light flaring to combat intensity. "You’ve bonded with a Tier 5 corruption entity! This confirms your allegiance to—"

"Now!" Rey commanded.

He and the Prince attacked simultaneously, their coordination perfected through three years of shared existence.

"Chaos Art, Hollow Technique, Sequence #1: Death Dominion!"

"Chaos Art, Entropy Technique, Sequence #1: Final Decay!"

Two Sequence #1 techniques launched in perfect synchronization, their combined assault targeting the Angel from different vectors to prevent simple evasion.

The Angel responded with casual competence that demonstrated a vast experience gap.

"Order Art, Fortress Technique, Sequence #1: Absolute Sanctuary!"

Crystalline barriers materialized in spherical formation around his position, their structure representing perfect geometric order that corruption couldn’t easily penetrate.

Rey’s Death Dominion struck first—attempting to impose an anti-life state on everything within its area of effect. The technique was specifically designed to work against living targets, creating wrongness that would force them into suspended animation between existence and nonexistence.

The barrier absorbed it completely. Order principles rejecting Chaos assault at fundamental conceptual level.

The Prince’s Final Decay followed microseconds later—pure entropy attempting to accelerate degradation processes until the target dissolved into component elements.

Again the barrier held, its perfected structure resisting decay through Authority-enhanced stability.

"Insufficient," the Angel stated calmly. "Your coordination is admirable, but the power differential remains absolute."

He gestured, and the barrier exploded outward in a wave of ordered energy that struck both Rey and the Prince simultaneously.

Rey’s armor absorbed what it could, but the overflow still sent him flying backward into a corrupted wall with force that cracked stone. Blood filled his mouth, ribs definitely broken, vision swimming from impact trauma.

The Prince fared better—its Chaos Dweller physiology more resistant to Order Art assault—but still staggered from technique operating at scales it couldn’t fully counter.

The Angel advanced with measured pace that suggested complete confidence in outcome.

"Spirit Art, Tempest Technique, Sequence #1: Heaven’s Wrath!"

Lightning descended from nowhere—not from sky but manifesting directly from divine authority, striking the Prince with billions of volts channeled through purification principles specifically designed to annihilate corruption.

The Prince screamed—sound that made reality itself seem to fracture—as holy electricity tore through its anti-life coherence. Damage accumulated despite its enhanced resistance, mystical structure destabilizing under sustained divine assault.

Rey forced himself upright despite broken ribs, his Divine-grade armor already working to repair internal injuries while he prepared a desperate counter-attack.

"Chaos Art, Entropy Technique, Sequence #2: Reality Erosion!"

"Spirit Art, Inferno Technique, Sequence #2: Divine Conflagration!"

He combined techniques from both his Arts, attempting to create synergy that would exceed what either could achieve independently. Corruption energy interweaved with elemental fire, each amplifying the other through mystical resonance that approached Joint Art principles.

The combined assault struck the Angel’s position with force that cratered the cathedral floor.

And accomplished nothing.

The Angel emerged from the blast completely unharmed, his armor not even scratched.

"Competent attempt," he acknowledged. "You understand Joint Art principles even if execution remains crude. But the power differential cannot be overcome through technique alone."

He raised both hands, mystical energy coalescing in patterns that suggested he was preparing something far more devastating than previous attacks.

"Soul Art, Dominion Technique, Sequence #1: Consciousness Severance!"

The technique activated with force that bypassed physical defenses entirely, targeting Rey and the Prince’s consciousness directly.

Rey’s mind exploded with agony as divine power attempted to sever his awareness from his body.

The pain transcended physical sensation—this was an assault on fundamental identity, an attempt to delete his existence at conceptual level.

His Divine-grade armor couldn’t protect against this. Soul Art operated on principles that physical defense couldn’t address.

The Prince fared even worse—its consciousness already compromised by undead state making it especially vulnerable to techniques targeting awareness itself.

Both collapsed simultaneously, their coordination shattered as each struggled to maintain coherent thought against assault designed to erase consciousness.

The Angel approached their fallen forms with professional efficiency.

"You fought well," he stated without mockery. "Better than most would against an opponent of my caliber. But this ends now."

He began channeling mystical energy on scale that exceeded everything previous, his armor glowing with divine light that made the corrupted cathedral scream in rejection.

"Joint Art: Spirit Order Purification, Sequence #1: Divine Annihilation!"

The technique combined Spirit and Order Arts at the highest Sequence level, creating a synergistic effect that transcended what either Art could achieve independently.

Holy flames structured by perfect geometric order, purification enhanced by absolute authority, divine power channeled through principles that approached what only Archangels typically wielded.

Rey watched through vision blurred by pain and despair, his consciousness barely clinging to awareness after the Soul Art assault.

’This is it,’ he realized with cold finality. ’I can’t dodge. Can’t defend. Can’t escape. The technique operates at scales my armor can’t adapt to quickly enough.’

It was certain...

’I’m going to die here.’

The Prince stirred weakly beside him, its own consciousness similarly devastated but still attempting resistance.

’Master,’ it transmitted through their soul-bond, the communication barely coherent. ’I... apologize. I failed... to protect you...’

Rey wanted to respond, wanted to say something profound or meaningful in what might be his final moments.

But all he could think was—

’I couldn’t complete my revenge in the end. Everyone, I failed you... Ater... I’m sorry. I wasn’t strong enough. I couldn’t... find you...’

The Angel completed his technique preparation, divine light intensifying to levels that made physical reality seem dim by comparison.

"May the Five Ancients grant you peace in oblivion," he stated with genuine solemnity.

The Joint Art technique launched toward Rey and the Prince with force that promised absolute annihilation.

And Rey, broken and defeated, could only watch as divine judgment descended.

Once again, he would be executed.

Destroyed by a power much higher than he could ever comprehend or strive towards. In a way, this was a repeat of what happened in H’Trae.

He tried his hardest.

Only to inevitably fall at the hands of something too powerful.

’This sucks...’ A bitter smile formed on Rey’s face at that point.

’If only... If only I had access to my SSS Tier Skill from back then. If only such powers were effective against these entities... I could defeat these people in one fell swoop.’

As his eyes closed, Rey heard the diminishing beating of his heart.

And the rapid beating of something else.

Something darker... emanating from his body.

The Divine Grade Armor.

It was shifting yet again, but this time it resonated with something from the depths of his soul.

Something he never knew existed!

At that point between life and death, Rey quickly comprehended something.

The reason this armor constantly evolved, repairing itself and growing stronger, wasn’t tied to some innate power it had.

No, it reflected Rey’s truest desires.

His will to survive!

His intent to become powerful!

His thirst for even greater heights!

The armor had responded to all of those wishes.

And now, it was resonating once more.

Responding to a call at the core of Rey’s soul.

It was an irrational plea.

A nonsensical wish.

But... an answer arrived right on time.

It was—!!!