BOOOOM!...
A fierce explosion reverberated as a powerful shockwave spread throughout the forest for roughly fifty kilometres!
At a distance, anyone would easily be able to see two blinding lights clashing against each other before subsequently becoming one.
A cloud of dust rose high into the sky; the dust cloud was so dense that even the glimmer of the sun couldn't be discerned from the ground.
However, within the cloud of dust, there were two existences at the centre of the explosion.
Strands of Grim's silky black hair swayed roughly in the wind as he narrowed his blue eyes towards the death king whose body was descending from the sky, a few meters away.
The death king's body was riddled with wounds, and even its exoskeleton, which was its pride of defence, was destroyed. Its right and left arms were completely obliterated and had disappeared without leaving behind any trace that could discern its previous existence.
Only half of its body remained intact.
Its deep red eyes had lost their previous glow; its two wings had practically become non-existent as they disappeared without a trace.
However, Grim's body wasn't in good condition either. His gold and silver armour now had cracks on the outer surface, while his right arm also had a gash wound from the claws of the death king.
The body of the death king crashed onto the ground with a thud. Leaving behind a large crater that was thirty centimetres wide in diameter.
Grim's four pairs of wings flap softly behind his back as he landed gently onto the ground a few meters away from the body of the death king.
"It's not moving; it should be dead," Grim mumbled to himself. He was still very wary of the death king's unique energy, which had the ability to suppress his own energy.
Had Grim released his full power in that previous attack just now, literally everything would be destroyed. However, because of the characteristics of the death king's aura, some of the force behind his attack was strangely suppressed to a certain extent.
However, in actuality, the energy used by the death king was a special energy found in the underworld. Just as the world of the living had mana, the underworld used an energy which can only be found in that world. And that was dark energy, an energy which contains purely negative or evil within it.
Mana was the purest form of energy, while miasma was the corrupt form. However, dark energy wasn't as corrupt as miasma, but it does contain a form of impurities. Due to the constant evil auras of souls circulating through the underworld. The mana of that place undergoes a mutation.
Dark energy had the ability to easily suppress or even completely consume all forms of energy. Grim's energy was spirit energy; their nature was completely different, but at the core, both were a type of energy. Thus, his spirit energy was being suppressed as their energies clashed together.
Grim's body was then shrouded by a faint light as his injuries started to heal. Once the light had receded and had disappeared completely, the figure of a handsome man with slightly long blonde hair could be seen standing there.
"Sigh, don't you think you went a bit overboard? You could have finished things quickly; instead, you toyed with him until you were forced to recklessly use more spiritual energy." Ethan's annoyed voice sounded inside the destroyed forest.
[Hmph, as I thought, you have no taste in artistry; it's that dull personality of yours why you have so much trouble finding a woman.] Grim mock. Hearing his insult, a vein bulged on Ethan's temple. "I'm the one not interested in finding a girlfriend, you know. It's the other way around." Ethan retorted back.
[That's exactly what a wussy would say.] Grim jeered.
"Enough, let's go and find that lich," Ethan said as he moved forward. He cautiously approached the body of the death king and held his sword at the ready; he was prepared to guard himself if necessary.
However, the red eyes of the death king were dull, like a bulb that was about to go out. However, "You.... Will suffer... H-Human." The death king muttered weakly.
"Is that so? From my point of view, that doesn't seem to be the case, though." Ethan replied. However, an eerie smile appeared on the death king's face as it responded to Ethan's words.
"Maybe not today, but... once you die and your soul will circulate to the underworld... what do you think will happen to you? Hahahaha.... you may have won this round, but I will be waiting for your visit. And as for that bastard who had manipulated me... do your best to kill him and send him down. After my loss, I need someone to take my anger out on." After saying that, the body of the death king became light particles and faded away.
Hearing the words of the death king, Ethan suddenly had a bad feeling. 'Did I not succeed in killing him?' He wondered.
[Tch, that bastard is still alive... his physical body was destroyed. However, his soul was still intact. If I'm not wrong, then he should be able to recover and acquire a new physical body within a few years.] Grim responded bitterly.
"... I see. That is a problem." Ethan muttered. He clenched his fist and thought of the death king's last words.
"I will be awaiting your visit." Ethan's golden eyes shone with determination. "... I need more strength; my current abilities aren't enough."
...
Meanwhile, Louisa continued to traverse another part of the forest. She didn't want to be dragged into Ethan's battle, so she took another route.
Louisa hated when outsiders interfered in her fights, so she also tried not to get involved in the fights of others unless they themselves asked her to.
Since Ethan hadn't asked for her help, she assumed he would be fine without her help anyway.
From a bystander's point of view, it seems as though Louisa was teleporting with every step she took, as not only would her silhouette suddenly vanish without a trace a split second, but she would also reappear a second later, appearing several feet ahead of her previous location.
Louisa could feel traces of magical energy within the atmosphere. However, some parts of the forest clearly had more energy than others, which means someone had used magic around these parts not too long ago.
Louisa continued on her path forward as she ignored the occasional sound of a beast in the distance. However...
Swoosh!
The sound of heavy wind resounded as, from the corner of her blue eyes, Louisa saw a flash of light that was closing in on her. If she were hit by this attack, then she would most likely lose her head.
The attack was coming at her at blinding speed; the feeling of danger assaulted her from the incoming attack.
Realising this, Louisa promptly lowered her centre of gravity; at the same time, the flash of light shot past her a hair's breadth away from piercing her head.
Bang!
When Louisa cautiously looked behind her, all she saw was a silver spear that was stuck into the ground while raising a small dust cloud.
"... This." Louisa panted heavily, her heartbeat vigorously in her chest. How long had it been since she last felt so close to death?
Honestly, she couldn't remember that there weren't that many existences out there who could trigger such feelings inside her.
"Th-That spear... isn't a spirit weapon?" Louisa tilted her head slightly in doubt. She couldn't sense any trace of spiritual energy coming from the spear; if anything... the spear seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary spear.
"Oh, I'm surprised you managed to evade that... and here I thought you wouldn't be able to move at such speed, while a surprise attack was aimed at your head while also travelling at such high speed." A rather indifferent voice sounded.
However, Louisa couldn't discern where the voice was coming from. It was as if whoever had just spoken was everywhere, as his voice kept echoing all around.
Louisa also didn't recognise the voice's owner. 'Whoever this is must be someone I've never met before. So far, I have already met all the important figures around the goddess of death, which means whoever this is isn't related to that goddess.' Louisa thought.
"Why don't you come out now? Are you going to attack me again while concealing yourself? If you are a warrior, then come and face me." She responded. "..." However, the figure didn't speak again after that... Louisa sighed as she realised it wasn't going to be easy.
"!?" Suddenly, the surroundings began to twist and turn as the entire geography of the forest changed drastically! 'Wh... What is this?' Louisa wondered; she quickly leapt into the air.
Stepping from one branch to another, she didn't understand what was happening. However, her instinct was telling her to leave this place as soon as possible.
As Louisa had just kicked off a rather large tree branch, another one with sharp edges came flying in her direction, attempting to pierce her body.
However, Louisa skilfully cut down the branch before it could reach her. She brandished her golden spear, destroying all obstacles that came her way!
"... I see. Your spearman ship is quite impressive. However, how exactly are you going to leave this forest? A place that stretches endlessly?" The voice inquired. "What?!" Louisa's eyes widened as she leapt high into the air. She weaved her way through the gaps between the branches until she was out of the forest and high into the air.
She now had a clear view of her surroundings. However, her pupils constricted as she saw the unfamiliar area around her.
The forest had stretched to the point where she couldn't even see what was left of the village anymore.
And even the areas where the kingdoms used to be were surrounded by thick trees that extended to the point that it would probably be impossible to see the top from the ground.
"Impossible! How did the entire forest stretch to such an extent?" Louisa doubted her eyes. However, before she could calmly assess the situation, many thorns and vines rose up from the forest, attacking her.
Louisa evaded the attack, cutting down the incoming attack with her golden spear!
Meanwhile, inside the forest... Louisa could be seen standing there; her blue eyes were slightly dull as though she was in a daze. Standing on top of a tree branch, a handsome pale skin man could be seen there.
From behind Louisa, his spear still pierced into the ground.
"Secret art, forest of illusions." He muttered to himself.