Drawing power directly from the source—opening a hole in oneself to connect to it.
This unprecedented insanity sent a chill down Odin's spine, despite the man's outwardly gentle and refined demeanor.
What consequences would this bring?
Imagine a water tank with a faucet at the bottom—opening it releases water.
The pressure of the water flowing from the faucet depends on the tank itself and the volume of water within.
When the volume of a water tank remains constant, the higher the water level—meaning when the tank is at its fullest—the greater the water pressure will be when the tap is opened.
If the tank is enlarged and filled to capacity while the tap's specifications remain unchanged, the water pressure will increase even further when opened.
However, there are limits to this scenario.
The tap may not withstand excessive water pressure and could break.
It's like a dam that has accumulated water to its limit and begins to leak through a crack. Eventually, the crack can no longer hold back the pressure, causing the dam to rupture completely.
Similarly, directly connecting to the source of all creation and opening a hole in one's body to endlessly draw upon infinite power carries such dangers.
The hole will be eroded and expanded, increasing the pressure of the outflow. If not careful, it could lead to a sudden collapse, like a dam bursting, and the person would be utterly consumed.
This is why Odin was so shocked by King Solomon's actions.
Of course, even if the collapse isn't immediate, and one can temporarily wield limitless power from the source, it doesn't make one invincible.
The limitations of the human vessel remain—it cannot instantly release enough power to obliterate a chief god.
Attempting to unleash such force in one go would cause the energy pressure to first shatter the vessel itself, destroying it.
Though unable to instantly release power capable of slaying a chief god, the output is still enough to rival one.
And not just any chief god—even Odin felt that King Solomon was unfathomable, to the point where he lacked confidence in defeating him.
"This is—!!!"
"Lord Zeus, do you understand what's happening?"
Hermes asked with a deep frown.
After noticing Odin's reaction, Zeus also fixed his gaze intently on King Solomon in the arena. Soon, he seemed to grasp the situation and, like Odin, stood up in astonishment.
"Keep watching, and you'll see. This human is truly extraordinary—daring to attempt something even the gods wouldn't."
Zeus spoke in awe before slowly sitting back down.
This match promised to be even more thrilling than the first.
On the other side, Beelzebub clearly had some hidden trump card, or else he wouldn't remain so composed while surrounded by the Seventy-Two Demon Gods.
"Well then, esteemed ones, what do you think now about King Solomon's qualifications to command the Seventy-Two Demon Gods?"
Zeus' voice was quiet, yet it reached every ear clearly.
The gods who had been full of objections earlier now hesitated, some falling completely silent.
"Let the final battle between man and god continue."
With those words, Zeus let out a laugh that sent chills down the spine—a sound unbefitting of a god, more like a sinister cackle rising from the depths of hell.
As the laughter faded, the oppressive magical energy enveloping the coliseum dissipated.
On the arena floor, with Zeus' declaration of the duel's legitimacy, the Seventy-Two Demon Gods surrounding [Lord of the Flies] Beelzebub radiated murderous intent, barely restraining their urge to tear him apart in an instant.
No—an instant would be too merciful. They wanted him to suffer cruelty and agony in full.
First, gouge out his eyes—so Baal extended his sharp claws to pluck out his eyeballs.
In response, Beelzebub, who remained eerily calm, lightly tapped the staff in his hand, which was embedded with what appeared to be a crystal ball.
In an instant, Baal's hand, which was about to pierce Beelzebub's eyes, twisted unnaturally.
It was as if he had struck an indestructible wall—the rebounding force snapped his hand and sent him flying back dozens of meters.
Pupils contracting, the others who hadn't yet attacked were also repelled in an instant.
"What... what just happened?"
"The Seventy-Two Demon Gods were all repelled?"
"Seventy-two of them can't even take on one person?"
The divine side began to murmur with sarcasm again.
But more people were puzzled—how had Beelzebub managed to repel all Seventy-Two Demon Gods?
Upon closer inspection, countless fissures radiated from the ground around Beelzebub.
Each fissure corresponded to one of the Demon Gods?
"Sister Brunhilde, what's going on? I can't sense any magical attack from Beelzebub at all," Göll asked, bewildered.
"It's not magic—it's pure physical vibration!" Brunhilde replied in a low voice.
She hadn't expected Beelzebub to be capable of this, let alone to control it with such precision.
Suddenly, Beelzebub on the battlefield finally launched his real attack.
After repelling the Seventy-Two Demon Gods, he leaped toward King Solomon.
His speed was akin to teleportation—in an instant, he was right in front of King Solomon, slashing down with a hand chop.
King Solomon, seemingly unable to react, stood there foolishly as the hand chop descended upon him—until it struck the ground.
Only when the hand chop hit the ground did the crowd realize the horror of that strike.
The solid ground was sliced through as effortlessly as tofu.
Had it landed on a person, it would have surely split them in half.
"Huh?"
"What just happened?"
"He should have been able to reach King Solomon with that strike..."
"Why did he miss? It's like he misjudged the distance."
Everyone was stunned and confused.
They had clearly seen Beelzebub's hand descend within striking range, yet at the moment of impact, it somehow fell short.
It was as if Beelzebub's arm had shortened—yet visually, it hadn't changed at all.
Beelzebub, having missed his attack, quickly leaped back, but something bizarre happened again.
Though he appeared to have jumped back a considerable distance, he landed right where he had started, as if space itself had shifted him.
Yet, if it were teleportation, there would have been a visual stutter—but the scene looked unnaturally seamless.
So, as Beelzebub landed in a half-kneeling position, King Solomon reached out toward him, and Beelzebub immediately thrust his staff forward in retaliation.
"Boom—!"
In an instant, Beelzebub was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the arena's edge.
This scene left most spectators baffled.
Beelzebub had clearly struck with full force—it should have been King Solomon who was sent flying. Yet, it was Beelzebub himself who was repelled.
This was eerily similar to what had happened earlier with the Demon God Baal.
"So that's it, you altered the spatial extension,"
Beelzebub said as he staggered to his feet.
He had immediately seen through this magic of King Solomon's.
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