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.

attack, attempted to evade it but was just a fraction of a second

all the way through his leg, causing a massive amount

at his leg, Ren showed no

couldn't even feel

the demonic energy that had been building up inside of his body suddenly erupted, covering his entire leg and erupting from his body in the

covered, he flapped his wings once and appeared

single

"Better."

attack. He then countered with a blow from his own fist, which caused the air around it to twist and turn like

'Dangerous.'

sight of the

power that 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 into that seemingly simple fist aimed

arms in front of

Boom―!

an explosion had occurred. As a result of the impact, Ren rolled away like a ball

the blow. He had done this to prevent the punch from reaching his main body, and

in his body, his eyes turned

not that much weaker

about them at all. At this point, all he was

little about them, he deemed the current

on what he was able to observe. It was endowed with the

a very long time since Ren had perceived a threat from a person or entity that was not the Demon

Crack! Crack!

shadowy

the powers that his body possessed, if one had proper control over the powers within it,

its normal

"Healed enough?"

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

Ren tapped his sword, there was a faint

Click―!

before Ren felt his sword make

to Ren's surprise, he felt his sword make contact with

'I missed?'

was such an unfamiliar feeling—only Jezebeth had ever done this

had a chance to respond, Waylan aimed a kick toward

He tried to capitalize on the opportunity

looking up, Ren's

That was his target.

Bang—!

moment when Ren's hand was about to press the hilt

after that and reappeared a couple of meters

with his free hand and extended it

of a hand materialized right beneath where he was standing, and it