The Author's POV

[Pillar of Envy]

WOOOM―!

The moment the gigantic sword appeared in the air, the structure of the Pillar shook. The waters crashed against each other, and waves the size of skyscrapers started to form.

Kracka! Kracka!

Lightning came pouring down from the sky, and the rain stopped moving.

"What's this?!"

Prince Murdock's expression changed dramatically at the sight of the sword, and his entire body started to morph at that moment. His wings expanded, his skin changed―scales forming on top of it, and his entire body became larger.

Long gone was the elegant demon from before as what replaced it was a hulking figure whose presence towered just like the sword in the sky.

Kracka.

A lightning came down, and Ren and Prince Murdock gazed at each other. The world was quiet at that moment, and just as everything seemed peaceful, Ren's mouth parted open.

"Fall."

.

.

.

"What's that!?"

It started with a distant rumble, barely noticeable at first.

But as it grew louder, those within the island realized that something was terribly wrong.

They looked out to sea and saw an enormous wall of water rising higher and higher, heading straight towards them.

At that moment, silence swept over the entire world. All of those within the pillar were unable to stop themselves from looking at the commotion, and their gazes paused on the large wall of water that surrounded the entire island.

They also noticed the two that were responsible for all of this, and their body stiffened right then.

WOOOM―!

Suddenly, a massive sword projection materialized in the sky, glowing with an eerie, pulsating light. It hung there, suspended for a few moments, before starting to descend towards the earth with terrifying speed.

The sword was enormous, easily as long as a city block, and it blazed with an otherworldly energy that made the air around it crackle with electricity.

As it fell, it sliced through clouds and stars alike, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Everyone halted their breaths as they looked at the sky, which had become empty almost instantly. Prince Murdock had not attacked yet, but his aura had already pressed on everyone's heart like a mountain.

Rumble! Rumble!

When the sword started to fall, the entire Pillar shook, and the waves came hurling toward the land like enormous tsunamis.

in as the realization of what was about to

shore, but there was nowhere

shore, sending water and debris

was left behind as the

"Move back!"

"Retreat, quickly!"

whatever they were doing, everyone retreated further into the island. Those who could, flew in the sky, but such individuals numbered far less than those that couldn't, and the

Drip. Drip.

sky, and anguished cries reverberated

this your

Murdock shouted, turning his gaze away from the island. He could hear

one to sympathize with the death of his soldiers, he was shocked to find out that the human in front of him was even

him, he spared nothing and even put his own

That…

had very long to be impressed as the sword slowly started to make its

large sword that

to a sudden stop, and the demons beneath suddenly

an instant, but the demons that stopped moving suddenly started to shrivel up like mummies before falling down

Thump! Thump! Thump!

ground, lifeless. In

the approaching sword

just as the sword was about a few inches away from his face, he brought his hand forward, and his hand

Wooom!

contact with the sword, the entire space around him shattered, and the

"Uakh!"

body was pushed back onto the ground. He let out several agonized shouts as his right hand

and it became progressively worse by the second. But despite the change

it slowed down even further,

"Haaa…haaa…"

unable to hide the hint of glee he felt as

"I,is this your st―"

"Boom."

voice drifted into his

could understand the meaning of those words, the world around him turned white, and a defeating explosion reverberated throughout the

***

Boom―!

hurled back, his feet planted against the volcanic ground. Lowering his head, he looked up at

He was trying to hide the fact that they were

finally taking things

throw attacks of his own. While they had no major effect on him, they still did hurt quite a

Even so…

second this was the

Swoosh―!

his palm toward it. It was a quick and precise attack that left Ren with no room to dodge, but just as he thought the

Swoosh―!

disappeared like the drift of

a few meters away from him, and he smiled in

know how

of dodging from Ren in this fight

something, aren't you? Stalling for time? Just