In the Blink of an Eye, the Battle Began.
Nephilim raised his hand, forming a glowing black fireball in his palm. In an instant, he hurled it toward Elythion at an astonishing speed.
"Fast!" Elythion thought as he swiftly dodged, barely avoiding the attack. He felt the searing heat of the black flames pass by him, leaving a scorched mark on the ground.
But Nephilim gave him no time to breathe. More black fireballs followed in rapid succession, as if he were unleashing a barrage from hell itself!
Elythion leaped behind a massive rock, using it as cover. He could hear the continuous explosions striking its surface, turning parts of it into dust and debris.
"I can't stay here forever," he muttered to himself, narrowing his eyes.
He decided to change tactics. If he couldn't attack from a distance, he'd have to fight up close.
Like a lightning bolt, Elythion dashed forward, using body enhancement to increase his speed and strength, heading straight for Nephilim. His shining sword gleamed with sunlight, ready for a direct strike.
But Nephilim was prepared!
"You won't get close so easily!" he shouted, swinging his hand to conjure a black fire whip, which lashed the ground in front of Elythion, forcing him to halt abruptly.
But Elythion didn't back down! He jumped to the side, trying to evade, but Nephilim was faster, launching black magical arrows at him!
At the last moment, Elythion stopped and swiftly raised his hand:
"Absolute Defense!"
Instantly, a transparent light shield appeared in front of him, blocking the magical arrows one by one. But they were powerful enough to send sparks flying around him.
"He's strong..." Elythion thought. "But I won't let him overpower me!"
He moved again, this time using short-range teleportation to appear suddenly behind Nephilim!
But the sorcerer anticipated it!
Nephilim reacted instantly, teleporting away just a few meters, then slammed his staff into the ground. The earth beneath them cracked open, and from within, undead warriors emerged—skeletons wielding swords and bows.
Elythion furrowed his brows as he watched the creatures advance toward him.
"If you think this will stop me, you're mistaken!"
"Solar Strike!"
Elythion raised his hand toward the sky, summoning small orbs of light around him. Then, like swarms of burning stars, they shot toward the undead.
"Light Explosion!"
Suddenly, the light orbs exploded on impact, reducing everything they touched to ash!
But Nephilim wasn't done yet. He struck his staff against the ground once more, summoning floating magical swords that surrounded Elythion from every direction, glowing with a dark shimmer, ready to tear him apart.
But Elythion was ready.
With a swift motion of his hand, whirling wind whips appeared around him, spinning violently and knocking the swords away before they could reach him.
Then, he leaped into the air, using body enhancement to boost his speed, and descended rapidly, his sword glowing like a sun in the middle of the night, prepared to deliver a devastating strike.
But Nephilim smirked…
And suddenly, he vanished!
Elythion landed on the ground, but his opponent was nowhere to be seen. Then, before he could react, he felt a surge of dark energy behind him. He turned quickly, but it was too late—
"Teleportation!"
Nephilim had reappeared right behind him, his staff aimed directly at Elythion's chest, launching a powerful black fireball at point-blank range!
But Elythion wasn't a fool!
In a split second, he used "State Reversal", canceling any magical effects placed on him, then activated "Teleportation" at the last possible moment, barely avoiding the attack!
The fireball exploded into the ground, leaving a deep crater, but Elythion had already reappeared a short distance away, locking eyes with Nephilim.
For a brief moment, both stood there, breathing heavily, studying each other.
"You've grown much stronger, Nephilim."
"And you're still as stubborn as ever, Elythion."
A Moment of Calm Before the Storm.
Elythion stood still, his breath heavy after the fierce battle, while Nephilim stared at him with a wicked smile. But suddenly, Nephilim raised his hand and began whispering ancient words—a strange language filled with dark energy, its sound sending chills through the air.
The ground trembled.
The earth cracked beneath their feet, and black shadows began rising, like hands reaching out to grasp anything in their path.
Then—
A massive black gate burst open in the ground, as if the world itself had split in two!
A raging wind surged from within, dark as a starless night, accompanied by incomprehensible whispers—like the anguished wails of tortured souls.
Then, a colossal figure began to emerge from the gate…
Something never seen before.
A black angel, taller than mountains, clad in dark, ominous armor, his wings inverted downward—as if symbolizing his fall from grace.
He wielded a massive scythe, its handle crafted from a giant human bone, its blade black as an endless night.
And he smiled… a cold, merciless smile.
Elythion gazed at the dark entity before him, sensing an evil power unlike anything he had felt before. But instead of retreating, he closed his eyes and called upon the power of the Sun Goddess.
He raised his sword high and spoke with unwavering strength:
"Sun Goddess, grant me your power, as you always have!"
Suddenly, the heavens opened.
A golden radiance filled the sky, like a dawn dispelling eternal darkness.
Then, just as the earth had split for the darkness, the sky parted for the light.
From it descended another angel—but he was entirely different.
He was radiant, pure white, his armor adorned with golden and silver threads, his glow soothing to the eyes, yet a deep sorrow lingered in his expression.
A single tear beneath each eye, as if carrying a painful memory wherever he went.
His massive white wings stretched across the sky, as though they could cover the entire world.
In his hand, he wielded a brilliant golden sword, its radiance stronger than the sun itself.
The air grew heavy.
The ground still trembled, the sky still shone brightly, and the two mighty angels stood there—one evoking terror, the other commanding awe.
Elythion tightened his grip around his sword, then shouted with a voice that shook the very earth:
"One of us will fall upon this land today, Nephilim!"
Nephilim let out an eerie laugh, then turned to the black angel and said:
"Let us begin the hell, my dear."