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.

as the realization of what was about to happen hit

the shore, but there was nowhere to go. The wave was too

crashed onto the shore, sending water and

was left behind as the house and

"Move back!"

"Retreat, quickly!"

could, flew in the sky, but such individuals numbered far less than those that couldn't, and the

Drip. Drip.

to pour down from the sky, and anguished cries

your trump

hear the anguished screams of

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

defeat him, he spared nothing

That…

long to be impressed as

around the sword distorted, and so did Prince Murdock's expression. Glaring at the large sword that was headed his way,

which were crashing on the people came to a sudden

the demons that stopped moving suddenly started to shrivel up like mummies before falling down

Thump! Thump! Thump!

the ground,

glared at the approaching sword and concentrated all of his power on his right

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

Wooom!

with the sword, the entire space around him

"Uakh!"

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

second. But despite the change in his

that with each passing second, it slowed

"Haaa…haaa…"

to hide

"I,is this your st―"

"Boom."

into his ears and his

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

***

Boom―!

hurled back, his feet planted against the volcanic ground.

hands behind his back. He

finally taking

throw attacks of

Even so…

didn't think for one second this was the full extent of his

Swoosh―!

thrust 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 attack had landed, he was disappointed to see that

Swoosh―!

like the drift of the

Ren standing a few meters away from him, and he smiled

how

dodging from Ren in this

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