"This Locke… he's terrifying."
Muya struggled to withstand the relentless barrage.
With the gap between them nearly double, Muya had virtually no room to counterattack. The only reason he hadn't already fallen was because his clone possessed roughly eighty percent of a Paragon's Will amplification.
Even so, something puzzled him.
They had fought to this point—yet Locke still hadn't used Will.
That realization struck harder than any blow.
Locke was leaving him an out.
Even without Will, Locke already held the advantage. If Locke unleashed Will as well, Muya would have no means of resistance.
But how could Locke be this strong?
Had he already fused six Profound Mysteries?
Was this the power of complete fusion?
Muya calculated rapidly.
His lightning clone had fused four Profound Mysteries. With Will amplification layered on top, its combat output was comparable to someone who had fused six.
And yet—
Locke suppressed him without using Will.
Did that mean the final fusion of six Mysteries increased power dozens of times over?
The theory held.
Just then, faint strands of faith energy flowed into Muya. Using the recoil from Locke's palm, he retreated and raised his voice.
"Well done, Locke. Your strength is indeed above mine."
"I concede this title battle."
"The title of Legendary Shura… you deserve it."
Locke let out a quiet breath.
This was already his limit without Sovereign's Power or Sovereign Artifacts.
If Muya had suddenly resorted to either—
Locke would be forced to respond in kind.
And the moment he did—
The truth would surface.
He had no Will.
He was not a Sovereign's clone.
If Muya realized that—
Humiliation would follow.
A Sovereign's divine clone defeated by an ordinary Highgod?
The ridicule from other Sovereigns would be merciless.
Muya would never forget it.
And worse—
He might retaliate immediately, projecting his Sovereign form and striking with full Will.
Only Paragons could withstand the Will of a Sovereign projection.
Locke had no intention of testing whether a full set of Sovereign Artifacts could save him.
Against a Sovereign—
Caution was survival.
What Locke did not know—
Was that Muya's attack had already triggered the Overgod's judgment against the Azure Dragon Sovereign, Redding.
The oath Redding had sworn to protect Locke had cracked.
That crack would eventually lead to the birth of the Four Divine Beasts clan.
But Locke, unaware, simply smiled.
"Haha. Yamu, your strength is formidable as well. If not for the restriction on Sovereign Artifacts and Sovereign's Power, I might not have won."
He meant it.
But Muya heard it differently.
To him, it sounded like grace.
After all, neither had revealed their full hand.
Yet Muya was convinced—
Locke had not used Will because he did not need to.
And if Locke truly possessed a Sovereign clone—
Then judging from his fusion level, that clone must be at least a Mid-Sovereign—perhaps even a Chief Sovereign.
Otherwise, how could he have accumulated enough faith to fully fuse his Mysteries?
"A loss is a loss," Muya said calmly.
"I can accept that."
"Your strength surpasses mine. I acknowledge it."
Locke merely nodded.
The less said, the better.
If he denied Muya's assumption, that would only insult him.
A victor must appear strong—otherwise, the loser appears weaker still.
"Yamu," Locke said after a pause, "your strength has been witnessed and acknowledged. You possess Shura-level power."
"You founded Thunder Punishment Castle."
"Why not take 'Thunder Punishment' as your Shura title?"
"Thunder Punishment Shura. What do you think?"
Before this event, Locke had declared that Seven-Star Fiends must challenge a current Shura and receive recognition to ascend.
This duel could be considered Muya's evaluation.
As the reigning Shura, Locke now granted the title.
Muya considered briefly.
"Thunder Punishment Shura… I accept."
"Very well."
Then Muya added quietly,
"My purpose in coming here is fulfilled."
"Others will likely contact you soon."
"What will you choose?"
There was curiosity in his eyes.
If Locke truly had a Sovereign clone, then spreading faith across Hell—territory of Destruction Chief Sovereign Utred—was a dangerous gamble.
Locke laughed lightly.
"Don't worry. I know what everyone wants."
"I'm not the sort to monopolize."
"In fact, I'm quite willing to cooperate."
This was the truth.
The Sovereigns wanted faith harvested.
Locke wanted comprehension of the Fate Laws.
Their objectives did not conflict.
But Locke also knew—
To Sovereigns, he was nothing.
Approaching too eagerly might provoke irritation—or worse.
Fortunately, Fiend Castle had grown strong.
He had refined enough Sovereign's Power before they intervened.
And today's spectacle—five Sovereign emissaries using Sovereign's Power publicly—
Would only accelerate the Prefecture Lords' construction efforts.
After all—
Sovereign's Power was consumable.
But possessing it was deterrence.
"I may not use it," they thought.
"But I must have it."
"Then I'll take my leave," Muya said.
"If you have time, visit Muya Continent."
"I will."
With that—
Thunder Punishment Shura departed.
The title battle concluded.
The aftermath rippled across Hell.
Locke remained the unquestioned center of discussion.
His displayed strength stood in a tier of its own.
Below him—
Thunder Punishment Shura Yamu gained immense prestige.
He was the only one who had engaged Locke directly without Sovereign's Power or Artifacts and survived.
Then came the other challengers.
Jiro was dead, cast into spatial turbulence.
The remaining four gained fame nonetheless.
But beyond them—
The true topic was the Sovereigns.
Sovereign's Power.
Sovereign Artifacts.
Their appearance reignited awe across Hell.
And thus—
The eleven Sovereigns reaped their first wave of faith dividends from Fiend Castle.
Which only made them more interested.
The real game—
Was just beginning.
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