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

nowhere to go.

it crashed onto the shore,

swept, only disaster was left behind as the house

"Move back!"

"Retreat, quickly!"

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.

down from the sky, and anguished cries reverberated through

this your trump

island. He could hear the anguished screams of his soldiers and those from the three

his soldiers, he was shocked to find out that the human in front of

he spared nothing and even put his own

That…

found himself impressed by such ruthlessness. Not that he had very long

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

to a sudden stop, and

within 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 meantime, the power that surrounded Prince Murdock increased, and his body

Prince Murdock glared at the approaching sword

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

Wooom!

into contact with the sword, the entire space around him shattered, and the sword hummed with a deadly

"Uakh!"

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

the second. But despite the change in his complexion, the

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

"Haaa…haaa…"

but his face was unable to hide the hint of glee he felt as he raised

"I,is this your st―"

"Boom."

soft voice drifted into his ears and his expression

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

***

Boom―!

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

his back. He was

finally taking

started to throw attacks

Even so…

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

Swoosh―!

a quick and precise attack that left Ren

Swoosh―!

like the drift of

of Ren standing a few meters away from him, and

how

had been a lot of dodging from

Stalling for time? Just what