The Battle Coliseum was silent—unnaturally so.
Not even the wind dared to move.
On one side stood Raizel Nocthym, his aura forming a crimson-black halo behind him, his demonic wings semi-manifested and dripping abyssal flames.
On the other, Asura, loose robes fluttering casually, sword still sheathed, eyes half-closed as if this was just another nap interrupted.
The academy's elite students sat in the viewing stands—sect heirs, princesses, war prodigies, and clan monsters—all gathered to witness this clash.
"Is Asura really going to take this seriously?"
"I heard Raizel devoured a demonic dragon when he was 12…"
"That guy isn't just strong. He's built to kill people like Asura…"
Round One: Raizel Strikes First
BOOM!!!
Raizel vanished from sight, leaving a crater behind. A split second later, he appeared before Asura—fist engulfed in demon fire, eyes burning with vengeance.
"Abyssal Flame Fist: Nine Suns Devourer!"
A pillar of infernal flame erupted from the strike.
The coliseum shook.
The sky above darkened.
But—
Asura hadn't moved. The fire parted around him.
Raizel's fist? Inches from his face… frozen mid-air.
His arm trembled. His knees buckled.
"W-What… is this pressure…?"
Asura smiled lazily, lifting one finger and flicking Raizel's chest lightly.
CRACK!
Raizel was sent flying back like a meteor, skidding across the arena with smoke trailing from his body.
Round Two: Demon Monarch Awakens
Raizel growled, standing with blood dripping from his lips.
"I underestimated you…"
"No more."
He bit into his own palm—drawing an ancient demonic rune in the air with his blood. The mark glowed violently.
"Demon Monarch Form – Abyss Phoenix Ascension!"
His body transformed.
Wings of molten fire spread wide.
Horns curled from his forehead.
His qi erupted, reaching Saint-Level peak instantly.
"Die, reincarnated worm!"
He raised his hand, summoning an infernal greatsword made of soul-forged hellflames.
"Abyssal Phoenix Descent!"
He slashed down—an infernal phoenix made of demon essence dove toward Asura with a scream that shattered glass.
Heaven's End: First Unveiling (Partial)
Asura finally opened his eyes—calm, radiant, glowing gold with threads of divine and demonic power intertwining.
He raised his hand, and the wind stopped.
"You want flames?"
He stepped forward.
"Heaven's End: Lotus Sword of Annihilation."
A single sword slash.
Silent.
Elegant.
The infernal phoenix?
Shattered into lotus petals.
Raizel? Slammed into the wall of the arena, coughing up black blood.
Asura didn't move after that one attack. He simply stared down.
"You call that demon fire? Cute."
"Wanna try again?"
Audience Reaction
The students were stunned. Even core elders watching from afar widened their eyes.
"He didn't use even 1% of his real strength…"
"Was that a piece of the Heaven's End technique? The evolving martial art?"
"How did it devour that phoenix so easily?!"
In the VIP stands, several royal heirs and powerful clans whispered:
"We can't let him continue to grow…"
Raizel's Final Move – Bloodline Awakening
Raizel stood again, shaking, furious.
"I… am a prince of the Demonfang Kingdom…!"
He stabbed his own chest, activating his Abyss Phoenix Core.
His entire body burst into black-red flames—his true demonic form awakened.
"Let me show you what it means to hate so deeply that your blood burns reality!"
He pointed at Asura.
"I'll kill you. Even if it costs my life!"
Asura… Gets Serious
Asura exhaled.
The air twisted.
His Supreme Martial Eyes flickered.
"Your flames… burn the world."
"Mine… rewrite it."
He stepped forward—and the entire arena froze.
Everyone—everyone—felt it.
He wasn't joking anymore.
He raised his hand—
"Heaven's End: Third Seal – Lotus Beyond Eternity."
With that one palm strike…
Raizel… Fell
Not just physically. But spiritually.
The black-red flames were devoured by lotus light.
His demonic body cracked—he coughed blood and qi.
He dropped to his knees. Trembling.
And for the first time in decades…
"I… I surrender…"
Aftermath
Asura walked away, hands behind his head again.
"Told you not to mess with me."
In the crowd, noble heirs, future clan leaders, and even demon envoys were silent.
One thought echoed in their minds:
"He's no longer just a student… He's a monster in human skin."
End of Chapter 87
In Chapter 88, rumors of this battle will spread like wildfire. The Demonfang Kingdom will be furious. The other kingdoms will start making moves. And Raizel… won't leave the academy. No—he'll stay, swearing loyalty to Asura.
Because he's seen it.
The truth behind those eyes.
And he knows—
"That man… isn't just strong. He's the final path."