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.

who was taken aback by the sudden attack, attempted to evade it but was just

the way through his leg,

Ren showed no change

couldn't even feel

of his body suddenly erupted, covering his entire leg and erupting from his body in the form of scales that

he flapped his wings once and

made a single thrust with

"Better."

He then countered with a blow from his own fist, which

'Dangerous.'

sight of the

was hidden behind that punch was not something that he could take lightly at any point. He was able to sense that Waylan had packed a lot of power

crossed his arms in front

Boom―!

a result of the impact, Ren rolled away like a ball and flew for several

the 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 punch from reaching his main body, and while he did indeed

pain in his body, his eyes turned

not that much weaker than

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

about them, he deemed the current fight

fist did not appear to be a typical fist to him, based on what he was able to observe. It was

Ren had perceived a threat from a person

Crack! Crack!

a shadowy glow began to

was a chaotic mess because of all of the powers that his body

wrist no more than a couple of seconds to return to its

"Healed enough?"

his kick at his neck. During the kick, the wind seemed to be tearing itself apart, and it left a trail of white

sword, there was a faint clicking

Click―!

twisted just before Ren felt his sword make contact with it, as

he felt

'I missed?'

was such an unfamiliar feeling—only Jezebeth had ever

respond, Waylan aimed a kick toward his

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

looking up, Ren's gaze fixed on Waylan's

That was his target.

Bang—!

the air and kicked down. It was right at the moment when Ren's hand was about to press the hilt of the sword, and after the kick hit his hand in just the right spot, Ren's

from Ren's view shortly after that and reappeared a

his free hand and extended it in front

moment, the area around Ren began to warp. A gigantic projection of a hand materialized right beneath where