With each moment that went by, the presence of Holy Elementals in the surroundings grew, and Neo was weakened further.


    The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath them seemed to tremble under the immense power of their sh.


    "You''re pushing yourself too far, Apollo," Neo said. "This will kill you, not me."


    "If that''s what it takes to stop you, then so be it!" Apollo roared.


    "Then let''s finish this."


    Neo jumped back, creating arge gap between him and Apollo.


    The ground cracked beneath his feet, sending small rocks scattering into the air.


    Watching Neo''s determined gaze, Apollo gritted his teeth and his hands trembled.


    "Why don''t you stop!? You can''t stop a sun, not after I''ve used Divine Transformation!"


    "I can."


    He sheathed his sword.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Darkness enveloped the sheath.


    The rings surrounding his heart began to hum and red lightning flickered erratically around his de.


    Divine Swordsmanship First Stance—


    "How!? What makes you think you can win!?"


    "I just need to cut the sun."


    Issen


    The sword left the scabbard with a sh.


    Neo''s sh was instantaneous.


    The de, cloaked in Death and Darkness, stretched impossibly long. Read exclusive chapters at empire


    Instead of striking Apollo, the de aimed higher—towards the Sunshine zing in the sky.


    The elongated de was mere moments from cleaving the Sunshine when suddenly, Neo froze.


    ....?


    His hands were cut from the shoulders and they fell to the ground with a dull thud.


    A man appeared in the middle of the battlefield with a flicker of movement so fast it was almost imperceptible.


    The stranger had blonde hair, a bushy beard, and wore a dirty, tattered robe that gave him the appearance of a wanderer.


    Despite his unkempt appearance, his presence radiated authority.


    "You pushed yourself quite far," the man said to Apollo, cing a hand over his head.


    Green spores fell from his fingers, glowing faintly as they touched Apollo.


    Apollo''s wounds began to heal.


    The cracks on his skin faded, and life returned to his weary eyes.


    "Zeus…?" Apollo whispered with a trembling voice.


    "Sorry for beingte," Zeus said softly and patted Apollo''s head. "Give me five seconds. I''ll wrap things here quickly and get you treated."


    Zeus turned to face Neo.


    Neo''s hand had regenerated and he was holding his sword.


    "Hmm… I''m sure my attack was fused with concentrated holy life," Zeus said curiously. "Not only did you deflect it, but you even healed the injuries."


    Zeus had aimed to behead Neo,.


    But Neo had dodged at thest moment, sacrificing his hands in exchange.


    ".…"


    Neo remained silent.


    His grip tightened on his de.


    "I would''ve loved to fight you properly. But I need to go back and get our youngest healed since he seems to be injured quite badly in his battle with you."


    Partial Divine Transformation.


    Golden sigils of lightning ignited on Zeus'' arms.


    "I''ll end it painlessly," Zeus said, flicking a finger toward Neo.


    A burst of energy surged forward.


    The golden bolt of lightning was too fast for Neo to react.


    It pierced his chest effortlessly, tearing through him and leaving a gaping hole where his heart had been.


    "This much should be enough. After all, you can''t heal what isn''t alive," Zeus said as he stared at Neo''s unmoving corpse.


    Neo''s lifeless body stood still, his eyes staring nkly ahead as though he had yet to realize his death.


    The battlefield fell silent as Zeus was about to turn away.


    The battle ended exactly at the fifth second—


    "Why are you acting like you won?" Neo''s voice broke the silence.


    One and a half rings of highlypressed Death Elementals floated in the center of the gaping hole in his chest.


    Half of the ring transformed into red lightning, crackling fiercely around his body.


    "How are you moving when you are dead?" Zeus asked, holding his chin. "Ah, I see. You are controlling Death itself and dying the Underworld''s pull."


    His tone was calm, almost amused.


    "Is this what a Death element user can do? Fascinating."


    Zeus analyzed Neo''s ability within a second.


    Neo''s expression darkened as he activated the third stage of his blessing.


    The aura around him grew oppressive, and the ground beneath his feet cracked.


    The hole in his chest began to heal.


    Bones, heart, muscles, nerves, and finally the skin—everything regrew rapidly, leaving no trace of the fatal wound.


    Pseudo Resurrection.


    While Death stopped Neo from dying, the third stage healed all his injuries.


    Both ability when used together allowed Neo to resurrect himself.


    "You can use Life elemental too? No... that doesn''t look like it''s your doing," Zeus mused. "As I thought, someone else is healing you."


    Neo''s grip on his sword tightened.


    "Are you going to keep talking?"


    With a swift motion, Neo sheathed his de.


    The wind picked up around him and he exhaled lightly.


    Divine Swordsmanship First Stance: Issen.


    His sword shed like a streak of light, slicing through the dense air with blinding speed.


    "I''ve seen that move already," Zeus said.


    With a casual flick of his hand, he caught Neo''s de between his fingers.


    "And I can counter anything once I see it."


    Neo''s expression hardened.


    Before he could pull back his sword, lightning surged around Zeus, forming a de of pure energy.


    "Coincidentally, I can also copy anything I see once."


    The air screamed as Zeus swung his lightning sword.


    Divine Swordsmanship, Modified First Stance: Issen.


    Zeus''s de moved at a speed invisible to the naked eye.


    Blood sprayed as the de cut cleanly through Neo''s neck.


    Neo retreated swiftly.


    He held his head with one hand to stop it from toppling off.


    Blood trickled down his neck. The crimson color disappeared in his ck clothes.


    ''He countered the first stance and used it after seeing it once,'' Neo thought grimly, in disbelief.


    The embers of golden lightning lingered in the gaping wound.


    It sizzled ominously.


    …!?


    An invisible rm rang in Neo''s mind.


    His senses screamed in warning as he noticed the lightning moving unnaturally within his body.


    ''He left lightning elementals in my body when he attacked. This isn''t how the first stance works. Did he modify the first stance in that short moment?''


    The golden lightning burrowed deeper, spreading through Neo''s body like invasive roots.


    His muscles twitched uncontrobly, and a searing pain coursed through him.


    He was paralyzed.


    Unable to resist, Neo copsed to his knees.


    Zeus approached him.


    He ced the edge of his lightning de against Neo''s neck.


    "That was a nice sword technique. Thanks for it."


    Neo clenched his teeth but said nothing.


    "…"


    "Anyst words?" Zeus asked.


    When Neo remained silent, Zeus tilted his head slightly. He raised his de, preparing to finish the fight.


    Suddenly, Neo''s shadows moved.


    Dark tendrils stretched out from the ground, slithering like vipers through the ashen wastnd.


    The ckness spread unnaturally fast, racing toward Apollo, who stood some distance away.


    Apollo''s face twisted in surprise and fatigue.


    Having overworked himself in the earlier skirmish, hecked the strength to evade.


    ''...!?''


    ''He is trying to attack Apollo…''


    Zeus''s thoughts came to a screeching halt as his gaze shifted to Neo''s face.


    Neo looked just as surprised.


    His brows were furrowed, and he stared at his own shadows in confusion.


    It wasn''t an act—it was genuine.


    He hadn''tmanded the shadows to attack.