Gabriel focused his energy, summoning the Abyssal Element into a concentrated ball of darkness in his hands, and waited for the right moment. In his mind, a count was going on.
"Zero." With a calm voice, he finally reacted as the count reached the end and at the right moment.
With a swift motion, he hurled the sphere towards the Dragon's vulnerable underbelly, aiming for a critical hit. The barrier around him cast by Ezekiel broke once again, making the pressure descend again, which made Gabriel cough out black blood.
The sphere collided with the Dragon's exposed flesh, exploding upon impact. Dark tendrils spread throughout its body, disrupting its concentration and causing the fiery breath to dissipate harmlessly into the void.
Ezekiel seized the opportunity, capitalizing on the Dragon's momentary weakness. He unleashed a flurry of devastating blows, channeling his powers with unmatched precision. The Abyssal Dragon recoiled, its immense form quivering under the assault.
Gabriel watched with awe as Ezekiel's mastery over his powers reached its pinnacle. It was a sight to behold, a testament to his strength.
Inspired by Ezekiel's prowess, Gabriel's resolve solidified. He wiped the blood off his lips, fiercely resisting the pressure that made his bones feel as if they were going to crack. He knew that to become as powerful as Ezekiel, he had to push his own limits further.
The battle between Ezekiel and the Abyssal Dragon raged on, the clash of power echoing through the ethereal plane. Gabriel remained at the ready, prepared to lend his aid whenever needed. However, since the Abyssal Dragon was seriously harmed, it was clear that the battle was coming to an end.
As the fight entered its final stages, Ezekiel summoned a surge of immense energy, channeling it into a single, focused attack. The force of his strike pierced through the Dragon's defenses, piercing its chest with a burst of divine power.
Ezekiel made sure to avoid the heart of the Abyssal Dragon, since that was what they were after.
The Abyssal Dragon let out a resounding cry, its body convulsing in agony. It thrashed and writhed, its strength diminishing with each passing second.
Sensing the Dragon's imminent defeat, Gabriel surged forward, joining Ezekiel in a final onslaught. Their combined powers enveloped the wounded beast, tearing through its remaining defenses and delivering the decisive blow.
With a shuddering roar, the Abyssal Dragon finally died, its essence dissipating into the void. Its lifeless body floated in the endless space. The battle was won, but the toll it took on Ezekiel and Gabriel was evident.
Ezekiel was even more hurt, but Gabriel was also bleeding from his nose and ears.
They stood amidst the aftermath of the fierce clash, panting heavily as they caught their breath. Gabriel looked at Ezekiel, a newfound respect and admiration gleaming in his eyes.
However, Ezekiel appeared quite furious. He lightly tapped on the back of Gabriel, "You never listen, do you? Why are you trying to throw your life away even after my warning?"
Gabriel winced at the tap on his back, but he couldn't help but smile.
"I couldn't just stand by and watch you fight alone, knowing the risks involved," he replied, his voice filled with calmness. "I want to be of help, even if that means taking risks and pushing past the limits. Isn't that what the entire goal was? To surpass the limits by taking risks?"
Ezekiel's anger softened, replaced by a strange gaze. In the end, he could only shake his head.
"You're stubborn, just like my old man used to be," he muttered, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "But I can see that you're growing. Your instincts, your observations during the battle... they were impressive."
Gabriel's smile widened. To hear praise from Ezekiel. Fortunately, the man wasn't too angry.
Ezekiel's expression turned serious once more as he put a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "You have great potential. Just remember, you must always be cautious and make wise choices. I won't always be there to protect you. You don't have to be that hasty."
Gabriel nodded, his eyes reflecting on his actions. Even though he still believed that he was right, he also understood that it could've been risky.
Ezekiel flew toward the floating corpse of the Giant Dragon in the distance. It was time to take what he came here for.
Using his Sword, he made a cut in the chest of the Dragon's Giant Body. A fierce aura of abyss rushed out, which wasn't weaker from the Dragon's aura. It was the aura of the Dragon's heart. Even though the Dragon was killed, his heart was still alive.
Ezekiel carefully extracted the pulsating heart from the Dragon's chest, marveling at its sheer size and power. Gripping it tightly, he knew that possessing such a precious relic would come at a great cost, yet the potential rewards outweighed the risks in his mind.
The heart was huge. It was at least a hundred feet tall, and just as wide. Every time the heart pulsated, it felt a terrifying wave in the surroundings.
For the time being, Ezekiel kept the heart in a temporary space that only he had control of. The aura of the heart was powerful enough to bring a lot of unwanted attention.
Usually, most beings in the Abyss didn't care about battles. However, with the aura of the heart, it was clear that their greed was going to surpass anything. They were going to be taken over by instincts, which he didn't want to face, especially since it was the core of the Abyss.
It was much better to use it in the Outer Zone since the weak beings there weren't going to dare approach the heart, even after knowing how valuable it was. And even if they tried, they were going to be annihilated.
Therefore, the decision was made to relocate the heart, transporting it to a secluded area in the Outer Zone where it would be protected from both the power-hungry beings of the Abyss and the clueless ones in the lower realms.
