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.

realization of what was about

was nowhere

shore, sending water and debris flying in

was left behind as

"Move back!"

"Retreat, quickly!"

retreated further into the island. Those who could, flew in the sky, but such individuals numbered

Drip. Drip.

down from the sky,

your trump

hear the

sympathize with the death of his soldiers, he was shocked to

nothing

That…

long to be impressed as the sword slowly started to make

at the large sword that was headed his way, a wave of demonic energy burst forth from his body, enveloping half

which were crashing on the people came to a sudden stop, and the demons beneath suddenly

all happened within an instant, but the demons that stopped moving suddenly started to shrivel up like

Thump! Thump! Thump!

the ground, lifeless. In the meantime, the

glared at the approaching sword and concentrated all of

just as the sword was about a few inches away

Wooom!

around him shattered, and the sword hummed with a

"Uakh!"

back onto the ground. He let out several agonized shouts as his right hand continued

complexion paled by the second, and it became progressively worse by the second. But despite the change in his complexion, the

was that with each passing second, it slowed down even further, and it

"Haaa…haaa…"

hide the

"I,is this your st―"

"Boom."

voice drifted into his

those words, the world around him turned

***

Boom―!

his feet planted against the volcanic ground. Lowering his head, he

moved his hands behind his back. He

finally taking

to before, when he was just beating Ren up, he had finally started to throw attacks of his own. While they had no major effect on him, they still did hurt

Even so…

think for one second this was the full extent of

Swoosh―!

thrust his palm toward it. It was a quick and precise attack that left Ren with no room to dodge,

Swoosh―!

the drift of

standing a few meters away

know how to avoid

of dodging

you? Stalling for time? Just what