The Author's POV

"You're Ren?"

Waylan's eyes appeared to be squinting.

He examined Ren very carefully from top to bottom, and he had doubts about what he was saying. Even though he did look like Ren, the energy he was putting off was completely different... not to mention the fact that he appeared to be significantly stronger than he was before.

There was definitely something off about him. He just couldn't quite place his finger on it.

"I find that hard to believe."

"That's not something that I care about."

In response to Waylan's display of skepticism, Ren did not show any interest in defending himself.

In fact, he had no real interest in anything.

…He just wanted to get this done with already.

"What an annoying response."

The anger that was building up on Waylan's face manifested itself in the form of a rigid expression, and he rushed over to Ren. To protect himself, Ren quickly drew his sword from its sheath. At the same time, he directed the laws toward the body of the sword, covering it with them.

Only that…

The moment Waylan's hand came into contact with the sword, the laws shattered.

'This?'

Waylan smiled at it.

"Did you think you'd be able to control the laws better than me? Someone who's wielded them for centuries?"

Ren's brows furrowed slightly. This was proving to be more troublesome than he had anticipated.

Bang―!

Ren's body flew several meters back. When his body stabilized, Waylan appeared right behind him and pushed his only hand toward Ren's back. The space where his hand traveled fractured into several pieces.

"Whatever change you've gone through, it's far from enough."

As soon as the palm made contact with Ren's back, his body shot off into the distance once more.

While Ren's body was flailing about like a rag doll, there was no discernible expression on his face; however, there was noticeable blood streaking down the side of his mouth.

'Predictable.'

While in mid-air, Ren suddenly twisted his body and slashed behind him.

Clank―!

Waylan's body appeared as he blocked the attack, and Ren finally stabilized himself.

Extending his finger forward, the space around Waylan cracked apart, and golden streaks of tangible sword energy pierced at him like a porcupine.

They came at him in all directions and at speeds that left one unable to react.

Xiu! Xiu! Xiu!

However, just as they were about to pierce his body, they came to an abrupt halt.

Waylan broke into a grin as he took a closer look at the sword energies that surrounded him.

"How int―"

face froze into a stone-like expression as his head

across the area they were

to such an extent that one

Cr― Crack!

as soon as the large sword appeared above Ren's head, it

'It's that move again.'

body. His internal laws surged

time, Ren's cold gaze paused

been a while since I've fought someone of this level. It seems like

behind him continued to take shape and grow both more distinct and more

Shhhh―!

from its sheath as the second sword began to materialize

Pak! Pak! Pak! Pak!

blade that Ren held

the white film covering his main sword, a sudden thought

risky… If all goes

seconds, and he put them into

'Sounds good.'

Wasn't

of the sword was obscured by a dark film that emerged from

It was demonic energy.

of making its appearance, the white film began to wiggle, and a destructive power

'I,impossible!'

taking place with a horrified expression

took only a few

launch a counterattack shortly after when

for him

an obvious

Ren, and the barrier that had been forming in front of him

arched his back, he did not withhold anything. He clenched his fist tightly, gathered all the strength he could muster, and

"Don't push your luck."

Crack. Crack.

Everything shattered.

as he released his grip on his fist, the space around him began to shatter, and the background of his office became

paintings and pictures that were hung on the wall began to tremble, even if only very slightly, and

held nothing back. The sword behind him had only formed halfway, and he seemed to still be struggling

this, Waylan held his

I knew

sword, moved away from

began to warp, and the vacant gray pupils in his eyes concentrated on the punch that was drawing near. His expression remained unchanged despite the fact

"Move."

one word

the area around the fist and clamped onto it like a rope that pulled

Waylan saw this, his eyes widened, and just as he was about to take control of the laws, he

everything came to a

"A... ah... how?"

forehead, a ripple spread from the

"You fell for it."

him disappeared, and so did

'H,how.'

able to react. And in that brief moment, time seemed to have stopped. Locking his eyes against the emotionless looking Ren, Waylan watched as Ren's

"Boom."

reemerged far off

BANG―

"Huak."

out a pained

he slammed into the buildings in the distance, the surrounding area began to flicker,

"Fool."

murmured as he materialized directly in front of Waylan, who was pinned up against the wall of the building. Both his hair and the Akashic Laws on his body were a mess, and his