Against The True Gods

Caine remained unfazed, his palms converging toward one another with an almost serene swiftness as his spell activated.

[Blight Art: Incineration]

From the heavens above, a grand and majestic pillar of flames descended, engulfing the earth, sky, and all that lay between in its infernal heat. The blinding light of the flames consumed everything, and in an instant, Adari and his summons were reduced to nothing but ashes.

Caine, drained and battered, fell from the skies, landing heavily on the charred ground below. On his knees, his breath came in ragged gasps, his face scrunched into a deep frown.

'Why can't I heal?'

His silver blood pooled beneath him, seeping from the myriad wounds that marred his frame. Though his Blood Qi desperately worked to repair the damage, its efforts proved futile, leaving him in a dire state.

His mind churned with ideas on how to resolve the situation when suddenly, a shadow loomed above him. Adari appeared once more, his body completely intact as if nothing had happened.

Behind him, a magnificent formation circle of black and golden runes rapidly materialized.

Death Qi surged into it, condensing into a spell that activated before Caine could react.

[Wraith Command: Deathly Karma.]

Caine's eyes widened, and a roar of pain tore from his lips as the effects of the spell struck him with devastating force. Every wound he'd ever sustained since the beginning of this life reopened simultaneously, throwing him into a state of unimaginable agony.

But Adari wasn't done.

The formation circle behind him shattered and split into two parts. One half shot into the skies, fusing with the storm clouds above, while the other merged with Adari himself. His summons reappeared, only to instantly fuse into his body, further amplifying his already terrifying strength.

"…We summoners stand atop the world. None can stand above or across from us." Adari's voice echoed with malevolent pride as his bony jaw twisted into a menacing grin. "…As I said, you will become one of my sons."

In a blur, Adari vanished, leaving countless afterimages in his wake, only to reappear directly in front of Caine. His fist plunged into Caine's gut, expelling all air from his lungs and propelling him high into the air.

Golden runes flashed around Adari as chains materialized from thin air, wrapping around Caine's ascending body. Bound tightly, Caine could only watch as Adari's blade, brimming with chaotic Death Qi, swung upward with devastating force.
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SHURR!

The sickening sound of breaking bones and tearing flesh echoed as Caine's left arm was gruesomely severed, the silver blood staining the already blackened earth below.

The golden chains binding him glowed ominously before exploding into a violent blast of pure destructive energy.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

Amidst the swirling cloud of chaos, Adari's laughter thundered across the charred lands, blanketing the scene in untamed malevolence.

As the dust began to settle, Caine emerged, standing amidst the destruction. His body was littered with countless wounds, his silver blood dripping from his broken frame. Yet his gaze was calm, almost apathetic.

He looked to the heavens where the storm clouds churned, fused with Adari's formation circle. Within them, arcs of thick tribulation lightning rolled, crackling with ominous energy, ready to strike at a moment's notice.

'A death, karma, and tribulation affinity. Interesting.'

Lowering his gaze, he examined his own broken body.

'So that's why my wounds won't close.'

Without hesitation, he sutured every single wound using the qi from his stars, solidifying the sutures with his True Will. Flames surged over the gaping wound on his left shoulder, halting the bleeding. Though it wouldn't completely stop the damage, it would keep things from worsening for now.

As for his severed arm, he'd deal with it later.

A spear materialized in Caine's hand, and the chaotic qi swirling around him instantly dispersed. His calm gaze met Adari's mocking one.

"Do you submit?" Adari taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "If you do, I might be inclined to let your mind survive the transition. It would be a waste to ruin such a potent Dao Heart."

Caine swung his spear at the air, prompting Adari to laugh as he summoned a shield of qi in front of him. But his laughter stopped abruptly, his heart clenching in shock as a shadow appeared behind him.

Reacting instinctively, Adari turned, his blade already moving in a vicious lateral arc. Yet Caine weaved under the strike, closing the distance with uncanny speed. His spear tore upward in a deceptively simple yet deathly arc.

Just as Adari prepared to adjust his stance, a sharp pulse of pain shot through his back.

Turning, he realized with alarm that Caine's initial figure had not moved—it had landed its strike.

'…Clones? But—'

Before the thought could finish, Caine's blade cleaved through Adari's armor. Seizing the opportunity, Caine's hand shot forward, grabbing the wraith's spine and violently tearing it out.

CRACK!

Flames erupted from Caine's hand, incinerating Adari's body to ash. He gazed at the remnants with narrowed eyes.

'So, he can't die through physical attacks. I have to destroy his soul.'

He frowned. 'Tricky. Tricky. Tricky.'

The two bodies of Caine exploded into mists of silver runes and reassembled meters away, narrowly avoiding an attack from Adari, who had already reformed his body.

'Or I could shatter his Will. But his Will seems more…mature than mine. Though fundamentally weaker, it feels superficially stronger. The issue remains the same.'

'I can't win.'

Adari felt a shiver run down his spine as Caine's lips curved into a mad grin. His aura shifted, soaring toward the heavens.

"…[Star Ring Circle: Totality]…"

Caine's wings erupted from his back, brilliant runes of every color blooming across his body in a stunning tapestry of complexity. Tendrils of thick qi condensed and extended from his left shoulder, forming an energy arm to temporarily replace his severed limb.

His hair ignited into a mane of multicolored flames, and his muscles bulged before tightening under the strain of his qi.

Nine rings appeared behind him, their overlapping forms housing countless stars.

The power of these stars surged into his rings and then into his Dao Heart, forming a seamless, perfect loop.

"…[Nameless Foundation]…"

The strength of all his summons flowed through his Sovereign Ring, merging with him.

BOOOOM!

Caine's aura towered into the skies, shattering the tribulation clouds above and casting an oppressive force over the battlefield.

He smiled, his voice calm. "Let's see if this is enough."

With a twitch of his wings, Caine vanished, leaving the ground where he'd stood exploding into a rain of dust and debris.

BOOOM!