What was it like to use space itself to attack?
While Damien was used to manipulating space or using spatial mana, he'd only recently begun utilizing space itself to his advantage. An example of this was his Dimensional Cage ability.
Dimensional Cage was a matter of imposing his will on a section of space and dominating it, forcing it to separate from the Real Plane and become his domain.
By dominating space, he could influence it through his will. This was the base concept of even mana usage. But only now that he could use laws did Damien have the ability to affect space on such a fundamental level.
This time, after dominating space, he didn't choose to section it off. Instead, he used it as a divine hammer to crash down on the Black Demon Lightning Sea!
Bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Turbulent waves of Black Demon Lightning tried to forcefully push through space and attack him, but how could it? It was fighting against the space it existed in!
Despite Black Demon Lightning's terrifying abilities and power, it couldn't survive in the void, at least, not without being actively guided. Even if it truly broke through the spatial suppression, the sea would only lose territory and weaken!
Damien thought himself stupid for not taking this route earlier, but it couldn't be helped. He didn't come here looking to quickly defeat the Black Demon Lightning, he came for a fight.
On that note…
His gaze panned a few thousand kilometers, landing on the figure of Atticus watching him with piercing eyes. In those eyes, Damien could clearly read astonishment and battle intent.
He immediately smiled in realization. Right, this Atticus character was supposedly a supreme genius. He was someone who shared Damien's sentiments of not easily finding worthy opponents.
Especially in a place like the Storm Heavens Mystic Realm which was clearly meant for 3rd class geniuses, Damien's presence was a mystery.
In truth, Atticus didn't come to this Mystic Realm willingly. His master forced him to escort his junior disciples, spouting nonsense about how he'd receive an incredible lucky chance if he went.
While Atticus was doubtful, he couldn't deny his master's words. In the end, not only did he find a perfect tempering area in the Black Demon Lightning Sea, but he also found the trace aura of…a lightning elemental!
The Demonic Lightning Snake was something of a protector. Its presence meant that the lightning elemental was nearby. But just as he entered combat, he was met with another surprise! A genius who could match, or even slightly outclass him!
The Fallen Star Holy Land wasn't nearly the strongest Holy Land, but it was definitely close enough to the universe's peak. As Atticus was its Holy Son, matching him wasn't something an ordinary person could do.
After thinking this far, he took a breath and spoke, "I am Atticus Flamesworth from Fallen Star Holy Land. Who might you be?"
His tone was that of making acquaintances, but Damien wasn't in any mood to talk at the moment. The fight against the Demonic Lightning Snake…had been too short!
He still hadn't completely understood his power. He needed challenges to bring that power out of him. If he formed a connection with Atticus before fighting him, it was doubtful whether the latter would truly put his life on the line.
If that was the case…
'Fight first, talk later!'
The Twin Moons vanished into Damien's subspace, replaced by Mirage. Without a single word, he charged at Atticus!
"Hey!" Atticus shouted. He raised his spear and blocked mirage, his muscles bulging as he forced out every ounce of his physical strength.
'His strength…fierce!' Atticus thought to himself. In a battle of physical strength alone, he could tell that he already lost!
Suddenly, Damien's figure disappeared. Atticus spread his awareness warily, but Damien's speed was too fast! He emerged at Atticus' side, slightly lower in the air, and punched upward!
His fist snaked through Atticus' defense and reached its target, but at the same time, Atticus' eyes hardened.
"Fine! If you wish to play, let's play!"
BZZT!
Golden lightning exploded out of his body and covered the surroundings, brightening the darkness like a second sun!
Damien's sword swung through the storm, spatial mana covering its blade. Using Dimensional Magic, Damien gracefully slashed through the lightning storm and divided it into pieces like nothing.
Atticus frowned. "Spatial Laws? I underestimated you."
He brandished his spear heroically, properly posturing himself. His battle intent soared to the sky in a single instant, his momentum bursting forth like a tidal wave!
"Lightning conflagration!"
With his shout, his spear thrust forward. Lightning danced on its surface like blistering flames, fanning out into the air as it left his spear tip!
"Burn!"
BOOOOM!
Damien was immediately caught in between tens of towering lightning pillars. These pillars behaved and spread like flames, climbing up his body and attempting to turn him to cinders!
His eyes hardened. The law fluctuations of this attack were clearly different from anything he'd felt before. This was a level of comprehension that he was still too far away from reaching!
He'd confirmed it! While his raw power was amazing, he wasn't nearly as refined as these peak geniuses! Against them, he'd be forced to throw away any sort of comprehension in exchange for pure brute force. Only then could he win!
"Good! Good! Good!" He shouted wildly. This was what he wanted! This was exactly his ideal! While competing against these people and fighting in the war against the Nox, his strength would rise rapidly!
Rumble!
The stormy clouds above became restless. While he was submerged in revelry, Atticus already attacked again!
"Turn him to ash!" Atticus roared into the sky. His face was pale and his mana drained. He knew Damien was strong, so he had no intention of prolonging the battle. Therefore, made a risky decision.
He exerted his control into the sky, wrested control of the storm clouds, and summoned the ambient lightning essence to form Black Demon Lightning for his attack!
From the heavens, a ferocious black beam of light thicker than any tree trunk barreled towards the ground. It was set to strike precisely on Damien's location.
Facing a strike from such a concentrated blast of Black Demon Lightning, even Damien would sweat. A single mistake could leave him dead!
Even being crippled didn't faze him. Transcendent Regeneration made his body almost unkillable as long as he had a single breath of life left. But Damien wasn't invincible yet. If he met a force that could injure him faster than Transcendent Regeneration could heal, he'd be just like anyone else.
His gaze met the lightning head-on. His posture stood straight like a sword. In his current situation, his gait was like defiance of the Heavens.
Damien's body began to rapidly change. His draconic features burst through his skin, demonic runes etching themselves onto his scales. His long white hair flowed down his back gracefully, and with his demonic black sclera and purple irises, he truly looked like a Demon God.
The blood runes morphed into their defensive form, giving Damien a huge boost. At the same time, the greenish-white light of [Heal] covered him from head to toe.
Mirage rested calmly in his hand, completing his look. In this state, the power coursing through his body was unholy. This was the greatest amount of strength he could muster.
To use his full power to confront Atticus' full power…
Only this could bring their battle to a proper conclusion.
