The battlefield felt heavier.
Every breath, every movement, carried a weight that threatened to crush anyone who dared step forward.
Rai's crimson eyes scanned the floating shards of the First Blade's weapon.
Each fragment hummed with lethal precision, circling him like predatory hawks.
---
Lucian leaned against a broken wall, grinning wildly.
"Hahaha! This is what I've been waiting for!"
---
Karn's eyes narrowed.
"…This is different from anything we've faced."
---
Ruun's gaze was analytical, calm yet tense.
"…He's reaching his limit. And so is Rai."
---
The First Blade moved first.
A whisper in the wind—
FLASH!
Fragments shot forward in a perfectly timed wave, fast enough to cut stone.
Rai's Dark Dominion flared instinctively.
The air around him thickened, slowing the blades slightly.
But not enough.
---
He leapt.
Shadow Step.
Disappeared.
---
The fragments struck the ground, exploding in a shower of splinters.
Several Shadow Order soldiers in the distance fell, unable to withstand the backlash.
---
The First Blade's eyes glinted.
"…Clever. But not enough."
---
He activated his ultimate technique.
The fragments began spinning rapidly, forming a massive, rotating sphere around him.
SHHHKKKK! SHHHKKKK!
A storm of razor edges, each infused with his aura, each capable of killing instantly.
---
Lucian's jaw dropped.
"…Whoa… that's insane!"
---
Karn muttered quietly.
"…That's a death trap…"
---
Ruun's expression darkened.
"…Even the strongest of our enemies… this is lethal."
---
Rai's lips pressed together.
"…System, activate."
---
The familiar holographic interface appeared before him.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Ultimate Combat Mode Activated
Resonance with Demon King Vessel: HIGH
Survivability: Absolute
Power Boost: +120%
---
Rai inhaled slowly.
The dark presence within him hummed.
KILL THEM.
He didn't argue.
---
Rai disappeared in an instant.
The First Blade's spinning fragment storm swept through his previous position.
CRASH! BOOM!
Wood, stone, and earth were ripped apart.
Rai reappeared above the First Blade.
His fist, powered by Dark Dominion and the vessel's awakening energy, smashed downward.
CRAAAACK!
The impact shook the ground. Fragments exploded outward like fireworks.
The First Blade was thrown back several meters, landing hard but still alive.
---
He rose, rage flaring in his eyes.
"…Impossible!"
---
Rai landed silently, aura radiating like a black sun.
"Your techniques… are weak."
---
The First Blade gritted his teeth, spinning his fragments into a second, even larger storm.
"…Then die."
---
The fragments shot outward.
Faster. Sharper. More numerous.
---
Rai's eyes glowed brighter.
Every movement was calculated.
Every step avoided danger.
Every punch countered multiple attacks.
---
Lucian shouted, cheering as always.
"Hahaha! Eat that, buddy!"
---
Karn muttered, slightly impressed.
"…He's evolving… again."
---
The First Blade's eyes widened as Rai stepped inside the storm.
He moved through the fragments as if they weren't there.
Each strike he delivered destroyed multiple shards at once.
The vortex of death began to collapse.
---
The First Blade staggered, his aura flickering.
"…No… I've never seen this…"
---
Rai's dark aura surged, spreading across the battlefield.
The vessel's power finally in sync with his consciousness.
---
"…This… ends now."
Rai's fist, black as the void itself, shot forward.
BOOOOM!
The force shattered the remaining fragments and struck the First Blade directly in the chest.
He screamed, thrown back violently.
The air burned from the collision of power.
---
The assassin hit the ground hard, motionless.
Silence.
---
Lucian jumped onto the nearest rubble, shouting.
"HAHAHAHA! That's what I'm talking about!"
---
Karn and Ruun looked at Rai carefully.
"…He's done it," Karn muttered.
"…The First Blade is finished." Ruun added quietly.
---
Rai's crimson eyes slowly returned to ice blue.
Dark Dominion receded.
The vessel inside him hummed calmly, resting.
---
He looked at the battlefield.
The Shadow Order soldiers scattered, their leader defeated.
The settlement was safe… for now.
---
Rai's voice was calm, commanding.
"…Prepare the perimeter. They will not stop here."
---
Lucian grinned wildly.
"Hahaha! And the fun's just getting started!"
---
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
Enemies Eliminated: 57
Leader Eliminated: First Blade of Shadow Order
Rank Experience Gained
Skill Upgraded: Dark Dominion Lv.3
New Ability Unlocked: Vessel Integration
---
The night was quiet again.
But Rai knew—this was only the beginning.