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"Game over."

As Xia Lun's voice fell, his previously restrained aura suddenly erupted.

Instantly, the heavens and earth shifted. The overwhelming pressure dispersed all visible clouds in the sky, leaving behind a vast expanse of blue with only a blazing sun hanging high above.

Normally, when on the ground, Xia Lun naturally suppressed his aura to avoid frightening others. But now, it was as if he had fully flexed his muscles.

Katheon's expression swiftly changed from calm to deathly pale.

This guy… is he even a living being? He’s practically a natural disaster.

Clearly, Xia Lun’s aura completely overwhelmed his in a crushing victory.

Aura doesn’t equate to actual strength… There’s still a chance I can win. Katheon could only console himself with this thought.

Maybe he’s just strong in presence…

Aura is like a warrior’s muscles—while intimidating, a heavily muscled brute doesn’t necessarily guarantee victory over a nimble, smaller opponent.

Combat experience, unconventional tactics, even the elusive factor of luck—all could tip the scales of victory…

Xia Lun’s figure suddenly vanished before Katheon’s eyes.

I can track him!

Katheon could still perceive Xia Lun’s movements!

A cold smirk curled on Katheon’s lips. Having lived this long, he had weathered countless battles and faced innumerable life-or-death crises. He was confident his experience could bridge the gap in strength…

Xia Lun appeared behind him.

Of course. Most would strike from the undefended rear…

Just as Katheon prepared to counterattack with a surprise move, a steel-like fist smashed into his face, sending him flying nearly a kilometer away.

A miscalculation. The shadow behind him was merely an illusion! Katheon hadn’t expected his opponent to attack head-on.

Agony surged through him, briefly robbing him of consciousness. But he quickly regained his senses, gripping his staff tightly as he warily scanned his surroundings.

Xia Lun disappeared again.

Katheon’s eyelids twitched—an instinctive warning of imminent danger.

From above?

He thrust his staff upward, summoning a roaring tornado nearly twenty meters in diameter. His goal wasn’t to deal damage but to force Xia Lun back and regain control of the battle’s tempo.

Yet the sky above remained empty. No trace of anyone.

Katheon froze for a split second.

Xia Lun’s fist arrived right on schedule—once again striking Katheon square in the face. Stars exploded in his vision, followed by searing pain and a crimson haze.

"Damn you! Enough of this mockery!"

Twice now, Xia Lun had toyed with him. Katheon’s fury erupted.

Power surged from his core as he raised his staff high. Holy light coalesced into a spear, hurtling toward Xia Lun with lethal intent.

But compared to before, its speed and force had multiplied a hundredfold.

Whoosh—

Under the terrifying assault, a hair-thin black line split the air at the spear’s tip—a rift in space itself.

"Boy, do you have any way to withstand this?" Katheon laughed wildly. An attack capable of tearing space apart was unstoppable.

Xia Lun instinctively tried to evade, only for a magic circle to flare beneath his feet. The air around him thickened, solidifying into an inescapable prison.

"Too naive, boy. Face judgment." Katheon’s staff gleamed faintly. He had laid this trap long ago, waiting for Xia Lun to step into it.

Hmm… Given how much effort he put into this setup, breaking free outright would be disrespectful. Xia Lun mused inwardly.

The holy spear tore through space, arriving before him in an instant.

Xia Lun drew back his fist and punched.

Crack—!

A screech like nails on slate echoed as the space before him collapsed, forming a pitch-black void.

Air rushed into the rupture, howling like a gale.

The holy spear plunged into the abyss—swallowed whole without a trace.

Moments later, the void sealed shut.

Silence returned as if nothing had happened.

Katheon stared dumbfounded at the scene before him. Xia Lun’s face remained calm, even amused, his gaze devoid of malice—as though they had merely sparred as friends.

"No… Impossible! What did you do? How can this be?! Who… Who are you?!"

Katheon’s voice broke into a scream. The sight before him shattered his understanding of reality, making the world itself feel unreal.

From childhood, he had trained diligently in the Grand Cathedral, devoting his life to honing his power and faith.

Once hailed as a peerless genius, his qualifications even placed him within reach of the papal throne. Yet he had refused, choosing to remain in his position to pursue greater strength.

The heavens had not betrayed his efforts. Few could withstand the faith-energy he now wielded—any other bishop of his rank would have exploded under the weight of Abandes’ collective devotion.

By all accounts, Katheon had reached the pinnacle of human potential. His current strength might even rival the legendary heroes of a thousand years past.

Yet now, all his pride lay in ruins, obliterated by this man who defied reason.

"Who are you? Answer me!" Katheon pointed a trembling finger, his courage to fight further utterly spent.

"I am Xia Lun." Xia Lun regarded the old man with pity.

"Xia Lun… the Hero?" The old man muttered the name, disbelief dawning in his voice.

Xia Lun replied simply, "Yes."

"No! It can’t be! If you’re the Hero, then what was the point of all my atrocities? I discarded my humanity, slaughtered countless—all to resurrect the Hero! All to save the world, for its future! You can’t be him! Impossible!" Tears streamed down Katheon’s face, his laughter turning deranged. "I’m so tired… Why did I do those things? I don’t even know anymore, hahaha…"

"I see."

Xia Lun raised his right hand. A sword of glacial crystal materialized in his grip.

"Rest now."