The Central Area of the Abyss was ten times the size of the outer zone and inner zone combined, to the extent that traveling from one end to another would've taken a month even for Ezekiel.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait for long as they found the first Dragon of the Abyss.
In the distance, towering above them, was a colossal creature—the Abyssal Dragon. Its scales shimmered with an iridescent glow, reflecting the chaotic energy of the Abyss itself. Its eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity, seemingly aware of Ezekiel and Gabriel's presence.
"This is the Abyssal Dragon. Although it's not the strongest species in the Abyss, when it comes to affinity with the element, no species can beat them," Ezekiel spoke with a calm tone, his voice barely audible above the dragon's low rumble.
"Its heart holds immense affinity with the Abyss, and by obtaining it, you will gain the same."
Gabriel couldn't tear his gaze away from the majestic creature before him. The sheer size and power emanating from the Abyssal Dragon were awe-inspiring.
He wondered how such a heart could possibly fit within his own body, but he trusted Ezekiel's guidance. After all, Ezekiel had brought him this far, guiding him in the path to becoming stronger.
With a wave of Ezekiel's hand, a surge of energy enveloped Gabriel, shielding him from the suffocating atmosphere. "Don't step out of the shield. You might die. Let me handle the battle."
He stepped forward, his eyes locked onto the Abyssal Dragon.
In the vast expanse of space, a celestial battle of unimaginable power was about to take place.
Ezekiel, a being of immense strength, stood before the Dragon of Abyss. Even Gabriel could feel that the Dragon of Abyss was strong and terrifying. He wasn't weaker than Ezekiel at all.
At the moment, before Gabriel were two of the strongest beings he had seen so far.
This monstrous creature wielded the true power of Abyss thanks to its affinity with its surroundings. On the other hand, Ezekiel also had his own control over the Element of Abyss that he had honed throughout the long years.
Ezekiel, adorned in dark armor that gleamed with ethereal light, summoned his pitch black sword, its blade shining with a terrifying glow.
Gabriel had never seen Ezekiel use this sword before, but he could feel the aura of this Sword. It was as if this Sword could slice through multiple worlds at the same time.
Ezekiel stood tall and became the Dragon of Abyss, not even trying to hide his presence since he knew that the Dragon had already sensed him. The only reason the Dragon didn't attack was because it felt that the person before him wasn't strong enough to face him.
However, as soon as Ezekiel brought out his Sword, even the Dragon felt a sense of unease, as if the person before him wasn't as simple as he thought.
The Dragon's dark scales reflected no light, and its eyes glowed with a sinister red hue, radiating pure malevolence.
The Dragon could feel the killing intent of the person before him. He let out a roar, as if warning the man before him against disrupting its rest. However, Ezekiel had no intention of listening.
As the battle commenced, Ezekiel charged forward with blinding speed, his sword slashing through the void of space. But the Dragon was no ordinary foe. It unleashed waves of darkness that swirled around Ezekiel, attempting to ensnare him within its clutches.
The darkness lashed out, its tendrils coiling around Ezekiel, threatening to suffocate his divine essence.
Undeterred, Ezekiel used his own ability, conjuring dark beams of light to counter the encroaching darkness. He countered Abyss with Abyss.
To Gabriel's surprise, Ezekiel's affinity with the Abyss was no weaker than the Dragon. It made him wonder if Ezekiel also had the heart of an Abyssal Dragon. Was it one of the reasons he was strong and survived for so long!
He didn't understand how that was possible though. He had Ezekiel to help him kill the Dragon to get the heart for him. But who helped Ezekiel? He was sure that Ezekiel at the start wasn't strong enough to kill a Dragon to get its heart. He was just a demon who could be trampled by the weakest gods.
He had always wondered how Ezekiel gained this much strength. It was always shrouded in mystery since Ezekiel didn't talk about it. But Gabriel was starting to feel that this wasn't as simple as he thought.
The clash of Ezekiel and the Dragon sent shockwaves rippling through space, creating celestial explosions that illuminated the battleground. Yet, the Dragon's mastery over Abyss seemed insurmountable. Its powers intensified, engulfing Ezekiel in a shroud of impenetrable shadows.
It was as if Ezekiel's skin was being cut a thousand times every moment.
Ezekiel fought valiantly against the all-consuming darkness of the Dragon. Even though they both used the Abyss to fight, they couldn't control the other's territory or domain. Both of their attacks were marked by them, which made it impossible for others to control them.
Ezekiel invoked ancient incantations, calling upon a strange force. This was also Gabriel's first time. He couldn't understand a single word of those incantations but what happened next stunned him.
A surge of divine energy coursed through Ezekiel's veins, dispelling the encroaching darkness and restoring his vision. He unleashed a barrage of holy projectiles at the Dragon, piercing its scaled hide with beams of pure light.
Just like the Abyssal Energy was the biggest threat to the Gods, the Divine Energy was also quite useful against the creatures of Abyss. Gabriel just couldn't understand how Ezekiel was able to use Divine Energy as well.
It appeared more than just using it. He could feel that Ezekiel was in a bad condition. It was as if he was also being harmed by the Divine Energy that he had summoned, like it was a poison that his body couldn't accommodate.
