Gordiana’s released “Heavenly Cow of Benevolence,” a symbol of love, was not its lightweight, single-winged, or final form. It was what was considered the standard type. You might question why at this crucial juncture, but Gordiana now radiated an aura more powerful and fluid than ever before. In essence, she was terrifyingly perfected.
In contrast, Hao manifested his divine authority, “Rampage,” which Rukil described as the power to freely control one’s own muscles. Although the information was limited, she had mentioned that her outward appearance wouldn’t change much. However, Hao’s current form was drastically different from his usual self. While the shape itself had not changed significantly, his entire body was dyed an iron-black hue, and his features had taken on the appearance of an oni. He looked nothing like a human, nor even a fallen angel.
“Fooooo—!”
” Haaaaaa—!”
The breathing of both was deep, and although their voices weren’t that loud, the air and the very earth trembled with their exhalations. The transcendent beings, who exerted immense influence on their surroundings simply by existing, were no longer concerned with any consideration for those around them. To harbor even a shred of such trivial thoughts would result in being crushed by their opponent in an instant. Having faced each other in a life-or-death battle, they understood this deeply.
“Cough, even from this distance, my body won’t stop trembling…! What immense pressure, what overwhelming strength…! We haven’t even exchanged blows yet, and all of nature is screaming…!”
To protect the nature inhabiting this continent, Dahak and his companions watched the battle from afar. However, no matter how far they distanced themselves, they could not escape the constant pressure emanating from the front. While endeavoring to fulfill their duty, Dahak and his companions were simultaneously fighting against their own fear.
“Heehee…So that bastard Hao wasn’t even serious before. It’s infuriating…”
“Dahak, you don’t have time to be thinking about anything extra. To prevent this land from collapsing, mix the fixing plants quickly. Boga and I will create the optimal environment for their growth.”
“I know without you telling me! I’m already mixing them with my unique skill, ‘Seed of Life’! But hey, look at this! Pritia and that Hao guy, their appearances are as opposite as can be! Both exude an unfathomable power, but they look as different as a goddess and a demon, no, the embodiment of beauty and an ogre monster!?”
“No, they just look like oni to me. Gordiana’s epithet is ‘Pink Ogre,’ after all.”
“I…I thought so too…”
“Hah!? No, no, are your eyes rotten!? Look closer, they’re completely different! It’s true that Hao is an unparalleled handsome man, but even so, he’s on a different level than Pritia! Oh, and the super-species plants are ready, here!”
Mudo and Boga, who clearly expressed their emotions, seemed to be telling him to look again more closely. The three of them continued to argue about various things, but they began their work in the same atmosphere.
While their demeanor might seem foolish, there was a reason for it. The environment surrounding Dahak and the others was so harsh that if they didn’t engage in such banter, even a Dragon King would eventually break down mentally. Amidst beasts that could potentially destroy the world fighting without restraint, they, standing so close by, had to undertake repair work without any safety net—or rather, would you understand their feelings a little better if it were put like that? Whether engrossed in something or intoxicated, it would be utterly unbearable to face it sober.
—Zuuuuuuun!
“““Guh…!”””
Meanwhile, the battle between Gordiana and Hao finally began. Their weapons were their own bodies, and it was a pure close-combat battle, as if magic itself were impure. Having transformed into oni, the two embodied the pinnacle of their honed techniques, unleashing their entire bodies, which had been trained beyond their limits.
(I…I can’t see a thing…!)
The sound of tremendous collisions constantly echoed through the air. Sharp shockwaves that felt like they were slicing through skin also reached them. However, Dahak could not visually track the figures of Gordiana and Hao, who were presumably fighting. Mudopharac and Boga experienced the same. They could only imagine that they were engaging in hand-to-hand combat in various locations while moving at super-high speeds—
“Your single arm…! It doesn’t feel…! Like it’s yours!”
“And you…! You don’t feel…! Like a human at all!”
“Well…! I am, after all…! A goddess who rose from being human…!”
“What a coincidence…! I too, was once…! A human who only pursued strength…!”
Punching, kicking, throwing, grappling, countering—countless secret techniques were unleashed and passed in an instant. It was a dangerous exchange where a single mistake could lead to instant death. Yet, the two continued this exchange as if they were enjoying themselves. Those who had reached the ultimate martial arts and no longer needed to look further up were able to unleash their full power against each other without any restraint. For them, it was a joyous moment where their dreams, which were nothing more than fantasies, had come true.
“Can you take this too, my opponent! A sweet moment! Wouldn’t you agree!”
“Hao-chan! Your face! It’s smiling, you know!”
Hao’s divine authority, “Rampage,” was a simple and straightforward power that allowed him to control his muscle mass. If Hao wished, he could undoubtedly swell his muscles further and increase their size. However, Hao did not favor this. No matter how much his power increased, if his speed, necessary for executing techniques, did not keep up with his body, it would be utterly meaningless for someone aspiring to martial arts. That was why Hao used this power not to increase muscle mass, but to promote his own growth into a superior flesh with the same muscle mass.
Through relentless training, life-or-death battles with gods, and new explorations—repeated over and over, his body became imbued with the blessings of an evil god, and with each subsequent training session and perilous encounter, it continued to evolve. Hao’s body, though human, was chosen by the gods, and as he dedicated an eternity to his sublimation as a living being, his physique was no longer inferior even when compared to Adams, the highest of gods. The ultimate martial arts unleashed from a divine body could no longer be stopped, not even by other gods. At least, that had been the case until now.
“It is! My regret! That this body is! Artificial!”
“I regret! That you only have one arm!”
Meanwhile, Gordiana, who had deployed the standard form of “Heavenly Cow of Benevolence,” was also exhibiting a battle prowess that rivaled Hao in his manifested divine authority state once the fight began. She did not fall behind in power, speed, judgment, and above all, martial arts.
Ordinarily, one might think it would be better to use a developed form or the final form. However, Gordiana deliberately chose this type. The reason was simple and clear: this was the Gordia form that fit her body the best. While the final form and the single-winged form offered greater stat increases than the standard form, they also differed significantly from Gordiana’s normal appearance, hindering her martial arts, which she valued most, from being fully utilized. The single-winged form, in particular, was not developed long ago, and there had not been much time for adjustments. Of course, that was still the case. Therefore, Gordiana staked her victory on this form, which possessed the highest proficiency and reliability.
““Hmph…!””
It was the several thousandth clash of techniques since the battle began. Veins bulged from their fists, extending all the way to their upper arms. Indeed, their strength was equal.
“Hey, is the ground being ripped up by a single punch!? My plants can’t hold! Can you reinforce it with Mudo’s ice!?”
“I’m trying! But the ice is being peeled away as it’s being reinforced…!”
“My volcano, it blows up the moment I create it…”
…Perhaps the Dragon Kings, who were engaged in reinforcement work around them, would exhaust themselves faster than the two oni fighting energetically.
In the activity report, I have published the cover image for Volume 18.
