On the battlefield at the North Territory, the tides were constantly changing. Nash could feel his true energy rapidly depleting. Continuing to drag this out was not an option. He exchanged blow after blow with Ace, but the man seemed to grow stronger with each exchange.


    No matter how many times Nash severely wounded him, Ace miraculously recovered.


    Nash was growing increasingly displeased. When he saw the person in front of him once again restore his body which had been severed in half, he felt even more helpless. Despite the various abilities he tried to coordinate, even using the Nirvana Fire to freeze Ace, Ace was able to forcibly disperse the mes and heal himself. Ace smirked and taunted while pointing his sword at Nash, "What''s wrong? Tired already? What about that momentum from earlier?"


    "So this is the extent of the current spear owner''s power?" Ace mocked.


    "You!" Unable to tolerate Ace''s taunting, Nash raised the Shura Soul-Eating Spear above his head. Relying on the continuous supply of celestial and demonic energy within him, Nash pushed his power to its peak. Then, using the power of the pearls within his body, he infused both energies into the spear.


    Ace could not help but praise Nash upon seeing such power.


    "Not bad. You managed to cleverly bnce the two powers, but their temporarybination is far weakerpared to the pure strength of either one. You are somewhat-"


    Before Ace could finish what he was saying, he noticed something amiss. The spear''s once pitch-ck shaft was beginning to change into a ghostly purple hue intertwined with the gold of celestial power. A weapon infused with both demonic and celestial powers manifested before his eyes.


    "So, it''s not just a bnce. You''re a genius!" Aceughed maniacally and roared, "Then, I''ll use my full power too!"


    Ace plunged the sword into his left chest and instantly, all the blood within his body flowed into the sword. After he withdrew it, the once bone-white sword turnedpletely ck. Ace''s eyes also turnedpletely ck, and he looked as if he was in a different state. His jet-ck hair was now snow-white as well, and there was a ck skull-like shape on the pallid skin of his face.


    "Cycle of Death, Second Stage."


    With that, Ace charged at Nash with the sword, his steps leaving behind waves of mournful cries.


    Nash enveloped the spear with celestial power while also continuously infusing it with demonic power. He was taking a gamble, but there was no time to think now.


    The terrifying dark tide surged toward him. Nash gripped the spear tightly with both hands, poised and ready to meet Ace''s attack head-on. "Here hees!"


    With Ace now within striking


    distance, Nash thrust the spear with


    all he got. At the critical moment, Ace altered the trajectory of his attack as he pulled back the sword thrust he was aiming toward Nash, narrowly evading the spear thrust. This left Nash vulnerable,pletely exposed.


    Without hesitation, Ace withdrew his sword and delivered a powerful vertical sh. The immense force struck the spear full-on, shattering it.


    Shock and panic spread across


    Nash''s face. Ase wasted no time after the devastating sh. Without letting Nash catch his breath, Ace raised his sword once more. A sliver of the sword form grazed Nash''s body, leaving a deep wound that blee nonstop. Ace followed up with another strike, then another. Heughed maniacally as he radiated boundless resentment.


    Nash slowly lost consciousness and crashed heavily onto the ground.