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.

evade it but was just a fraction of a second

blow went all the way through his leg, causing a

leg, Ren showed no change in

couldn't even

his body suddenly erupted, covering his

covered, he flapped his wings

single thrust with

"Better."

to avoid the slashing attack. He then countered with a blow from his own fist,

'Dangerous.'

the sight of the

that he could take lightly at any point. He was able

in

Boom―!

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

were severely trembling as a result of the blow. He had done this to prevent the punch from reaching

his body, his

much weaker than

had never faced off against a Protector before, and he didn't know very much about them at all. At this point, all he was

the current fight just as troublesome as the ones he had

fist did not appear to be a typical fist to him, based on what he was able to observe. It was endowed with the laws, and his control and influence over them were astounding,

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

Crack! Crack!

a shadowy glow began to

Ren's body was a chaotic mess because of all of the powers that his body possessed, if one had proper control over the powers within it,

seconds to return to its normal state, but by the time it did, Waylan had already moved ahead of

"Healed enough?"

the wind seemed to be tearing itself

there was a

Click―!

twisted just before Ren felt his sword make

he felt his sword make contact

'I missed?'

was such an unfamiliar feeling—only Jezebeth had ever done

to respond, Waylan

the opportunity to launch his own attack and counterattack. Reaching

time, looking up, Ren's gaze fixed

That was his target.

Bang—!

into 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 hand redirected itself away

that and reappeared a couple of meters

free hand and extended

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