The Author's POV

Ren's body… it was a complete mess. There were far too many distinct powers, and the demonic laws and Akashic laws were exhibiting signs of repulsion toward one another.

Ren was unfamiliar, yet familiar, with the Akashic Laws.

They… they were the laws that had been binding at this body for the past few centuries. He never wielded them before, but the moment he used them, it felt as though it was second nature to him.

Not to mention the golden runes and words that were circling around his body...

With just one look, it seemed as though he could decipher their meaning with just a look, and as he stared at his hands, which were coated in a white substance, he turned his attention back toward Waylan and pressed his palm forward.

Boom―!

"Futile."

Waylan dislodged the palm with a swift whack, causing it to splinter and fly off into the horizon. Following that, he launched a counterattack by pressing his own palm down.

A gigantic hand suddenly materialized above Ren's head and made an attempt to squish him from on high. Ren took a measured look at the situation before removing his sword from its sheath.

He merely pressed the tip of his sword up, and the palm came to rest directly above him.

WOOOONG―! From the intersection of the two forces, where they met in the middle, a tremendous wind erupted. It was powerful enough to push the two back a few meters in response.

Waylan's eyes shone.

'He's different from before.'

Waylan thought, regaining his footing.

The degree of control over the power that he displayed wasn't the same as the one he showed before. There was something completely different about him for some unexplained reason, and the manner in which he carried himself was even more unsettling.

"Are you really the same, Ren?"

The surprised Waylan asked.

The more he examined him, the more convinced he became that there was something peculiar about him. It appeared as though he was going up against a completely different entity than before.

But how was that possible?

"You give off a different feeling from before…"

Waylan squinted his eyes.

"I'm not sure what it is, but it now explains to me why you were so confident a little earlier. Was this power of yours what gave you the confidence to challenge me?"

Swoosh―!

A splintering occurred in the space around Ren, and an invisible shot toward his leg.

taken aback by the sudden attack, attempted to evade it but was just a fraction of

way through his leg,

leg, Ren showed

even

body suddenly erupted, covering his entire leg

was covered, he flapped his wings once

a single

"Better."

his own fist, which caused the air

'Dangerous.'

thought at the sight

was able to sense that Waylan

crossed his arms in front of

Boom―!

roar filled the area as though an explosion had occurred. As a result of the impact, Ren rolled away like a ball and flew for several hundred meters

initial target of the attack, Ren's crossed wrists were severely trembling as a result of the blow. He had done this to prevent the

the pain in his body, his eyes turned somewhat

much weaker than

faced off against a Protector before, and he didn't know very much about them

he deemed the current fight just as troublesome as the ones he had with Jezebeth

on what he was able to observe. It was endowed with the laws, and his control and influence over them were astounding, to say

long time since Ren had perceived a threat from a person or entity that

Crack! Crack!

shattered wrist began to mend as a shadowy glow began to form around

all of the powers that his body possessed, if one had

took his wrist no more than a couple of seconds to return to its normal state, but by the time

"Healed enough?"

to be tearing itself apart, and it

tapped his sword, there was a faint clicking sound

Click―!

twisted just before Ren felt his sword make contact with

surprise, he felt his sword make contact

'I missed?'

such an unfamiliar feeling—only Jezebeth had

a chance to respond, Waylan aimed a kick toward his

avoid it by a narrow margin as his body similarly twisted and an opening appeared. He tried to capitalize on the opportunity to launch his own attack and counterattack. Reaching down with

time, looking up, Ren's gaze fixed on

That was his target.

Bang—!

was about to press the hilt of the sword, and after the

view shortly after that and reappeared

with his free hand

around Ren began to warp. A gigantic projection of a hand materialized right beneath where he was standing, and it gripped him in