"Ahhhhhhh! Awoooo!"

Far across from Lu Ce, Sun was violently devouring power that didn't belong to him, transforming his own flesh and his very life form, letting out agonized howls.

Those howls seemed to carry a few notes of joyful laughter mixed within. Perhaps for him, this feeling was a mix of pain and pleasure.

Lu Ce watched him coldly, also feeling somewhat puzzled.

— Shouldn't this be a state of extreme pain right now?

It wasn't because he couldn't feel pain himself, but rather because he currently felt his entire body enveloped by a warm energy, exceptionally comfortable.

Those unknown energies, emerging from within his own body, were gently entering his flesh, even repairing most of his injuries.

It was just like that very familiar feeling from before, the restorative reward of a Perfect Clearance.

The growth of this energy felt extremely natural, like reclaiming something that was originally his own, which even surprised Lu Ce himself.

Moreover, after absorbing energy for so long, he discovered his Agony Value hadn't increased at all, completely unchanged, still at zero.

Yes, zero!

Previously inside that black box, his Agony Value had increased by who knows how much, but now not a single point remained.

Summarizing the two experiences of letting Agony possess him, he could also realize that the timing of Agony's arrival and the amount of power that could be used were likely related to his remaining Agony Value.

If the Agony Value returned to zero, the other would leave, unable to continue existing within his body.

And every time He left, Lu Ce's strength would receive a subtle, gradual increase, and a hidden power would be buried deep within him.

That was Agony's Divine Power, and also his own Divine Power.

Looking at it now, every previous allocation of his Agony Value points was a form of alternative Divine Power inheritance, just like what Pleasure gave to Xie Antong.

It's just that Agony's method of giving it to him was more gradual and also required his own pain to trigger, so his acquisition of power wasn't as extreme.

That meant he truly was this world's earliest "God's Apostle."

It's just that the god who chose him was a dead guy.

And, up until now, neither he nor the gods were very clear about what exactly Agony... this guy wanted to do...

Using this power belonging to Agony himself as the base, wrapping around other Divine Powers like Death's, made his aura both chaotic and remarkably balanced.

...

[Hmm?]

Within the starry sky, the gods watched the changes occurring on these two individuals, all feeling somewhat surprised.

Sun, this guy forcing his own ascension, stubbornly squeezing into the level of the gods, was already abnormal enough.

But "Sin" was even more peculiar.

It was just that the energy level wasn't sufficient. Otherwise, judging by the signs, this person could actually directly ascend to the level of a god.

Achieving Holiness on the spot?

[Did Agony invest so much capital in him?]

[This is no longer an Apostle, or being utilized... He's really given him everything.]

[Possession?... But it doesn't look like that either.]

[What exactly is the purpose... What's the point of completely paving the way for a human for no reason?]

"ROAR!"

The gods' surprise and doubt were interrupted by an explosive roar.

Sun was now covered in cracks all over his body. Even with his current physique, he was starting to be unable to bear it and had to act quickly.

Within his eyes filled with chaos, looking towards Lu Ce's direction, his pupils were unfocused, brimming with shock and incomprehension.

One could say his large eyes were filled with even larger confusion.

Sun: ?!

What's going on, bro?

On his side, feeling unprecedented power, he was originally feeling pretty good, but he also knew his physical body had an upper limit.

Only now did he truly understand why the gods didn't have specific physical bodies—because power of that degree could only be contained within an energy body.

Otherwise, it would require an immensely gigantic physical form; otherwise, it couldn't be borne.

Just like himself now—he had already reached his limit.

But looking at "Sin" in the distance, he appeared exceptionally relaxed and at ease, strengthening synchronously with him, yet without any issues!

Why?! Are you seriously cheating? Why does every version of me that meets you get the feeling you're cheating?

Lu Ce, sensing the other's shock, also felt a bit helpless. Well, this time, it really was cheating.

This counted as the biggest benefit Agony had given him.

After all, that was a true god. The information was simply too much higher and vaster than a human's, having laid such a foundation for him from the very beginning.

But setting aside the chaotic thoughts in his heart, Sun's Battle Intent hadn't diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, it grew even stronger, even more frenzied!

Two figures simultaneously charged towards each other again. This time, it was completely like lightning bolts colliding, two nascent deities wrestling for supremacy.

However, with just this exchange, Lu Ce could already confirm this battle was essentially over. Sun could no longer possibly be his opponent.

Although it still appeared evenly matched on the surface, the other was merely using power, whereas his own power had now completely become his own.

Sun, however, paid no heed. He had turned his body into a furnace, with War's Divine Power serving as the never-ceasing flames.

Continuously tempering himself, and tempering the external world.

No need to feel heartache over it either—it was all War's Divine Power. Just treat it as a one-time consumable item.

Watching from the sky, even War himself felt a bit of a twitch...

The two's stamina seemed infinite, continuously colliding. They fought until the live stream spectators fell silent, fought as if even the Great Dao itself was about to be worn away.

After who knows how long, the two figures slowly came to a stop.

Sun knelt on both knees, his pillar-like limbs supporting him on the ground, panting heavily, clearly having reached his limit.

Across from him, Lu Ce's face had completely turned golden. Holding the Extreme Path Battle Axe, he stood proudly and aloof.

One move short. In truth, by this point, victory and defeat were already decided.

Lu Ce spoke softly:

"What a pity..."

"The battle between us was never a fair one."