Chapter 345: The Beginning Of The End [VII]

CRAAACKLEEE!!!

The two figures collided with such force that the air itself screamed.

CLANG!

Aestrea twisted his sword downward, forcing Clostro’s scythe to slide along the blade’s edge.

Skkrrrkk!

Sparks flew as the steel scraped, and Aestrea kicked forward, driving his heel into Clostro’s gut.

THUD!

Clostro stumbled half a step back, only to grab Aestrea’s ankle midair and twist.

CRACK!

Aestrea spun with the motion, landing lightly on his other foot, sliding backward across the cracked floor.

Then, he raised his sword again.

“Good… GOOD! You’re not breaking yet!” Clostro’s grin stretched wider.

He lifted his scythe overhead, divine light pulsing along its curved edge.

『 ✯ Authority of Killing — Crimson Spiral ✯ 』

The weapon spun once, twice, then erupted into a spinning storm of blood-red energy. The air twisted, dragging everything nearby toward the vortex.

Aestrea’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art…”

He crouched low, icy mist bursting from his feet as he slashed diagonally upward.

『 Third Move! (✦ Moonlight’s One Flash ✦) 』

SHIIIIING!

A silver arc shot from his sword, tearing through the air and cutting straight into the crimson vortex.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

The two attacks collided, causing an enormous shockwave that blew both of them apart, sliding across the ground in opposite directions.

Aestrea dug his sword into the floor to stop himself; Clostro used his scythe as an anchor, dragging a deep mark through the stone.

“Haaah… haaah…”

“Fuuu… haaaa…”

Both breathed heavily, their clothes torn, divine blood dripping down their arms.

But neither stopped.

Fwoosh!

Aestrea kicked off the cracked floor again, his sword raised high while Clostro swung his scythe low

Clang!

Their blades met midair.

Aestrea turned his wrist, twisting the sword against the scythe’s curve and forcing it aside. Clostro responded instantly, releasing the weapon and aiming his elbow at Aestrea’s ribs.

THUMP!

The hit landed, sending Aestrea sliding backward.

But before Clostro could retrieve his scythe, Aestrea’s hand snapped upward, ice bursting from the ground and wrapping around the weapon’s handle.

“Not this time.”

He pulled hard, the ice dragging the scythe toward him. Clostro yanked back, muscles tensing, and the weapon shattered the ice.

Fwoop!

They charged again!

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Fists, blades, and divine energy struck faster than mortal eyes could follow.

Aestrea ducked a swing, slashed across Clostro’s chest, and rolled aside as a red wave of energy cut the space where his head had been.

Clostro spun, his scythe moving in wide circles, forcing Aestrea to parry each attack one by one.

“Move faster, Aestrea!” he taunted.

Aestrea didn’t answer.

His sword glowed faintly as silver threads of light were woven around it.

He sidestepped a horizontal slash, turning his wrist sharply and letting [Midnight] glide upward in a crescent arc.

SLASH!

Clostro grunted as the blade grazed his shoulder, divine blood splattering across the air.

“Beautiful cut,” he growled, grin still on his lips.

“Now, watch mine!”

He raised his free hand, and crimson runes flared across his arm.

『 ✯ Blood Reaver Dance! ✯』

In an instant, his body blurred, moving like a ghost through the air.

Scythe swings came from every angle, one upward slash, one diagonal cut, one spinning strike that aimed straight for Aestrea’s throat.

SWISH!

SWISH!

Aestrea blocked one, dodged another, and parried the third by twisting his sword handle, redirecting the scythe’s momentum.

The moment Clostro overextended, Aestrea stepped in.

CRACK!

His palm slammed into Clostro’s jaw, sending him staggering backward.

Aestrea didn’t stop as he followed immediately, slashing three times in quick succession.

SLASH!

Crash!

Each blow struck with blinding precision, frost exploding from the sword’s edge.

Clostro barely managed to raise his weapon in time, sparks flying as the scythe caught the last hit.

He kicked off the ground, gaining distance, blood dripping from the side of his mouth.

“You… really are different,” he muttered, panting lightly.

Then he smiled again, that crazed joy returning to his eyes.

“But it’s still not enough!”

His divine aura flared crimson, spinning wildly around him, the air twisting with raw killing intent.

Aestrea’s silver aura rose in response, causing a cold mist to flood the battlefield.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

In the blink of an eye, they clashed again.

Aestrea slashed upward, frost trailing behind every swing.

Clostro blocked with his scythe’s handle, twisted his wrist, and hooked the weapon around Aestrea’s sword, pulling him forward.

CLANG!

Their foreheads collided.

THUD!

Splat!

Both staggered a step back, blood streaming from their brows, but then the wounds sealed instantly, divine flesh stitching itself before the next breath.

Aestrea was the first one to move, as he lunged again, sword spinning in his grip before cutting downward in a heavy vertical slash.

Clostro sidestepped, dragging his scythe across the ground, sparks flying as he pivoted, the blade curving upward in a diagonal arc.

SHRRRING!

Aestrea bent backward, the sharp edge grazing across his chest, slicing through cloth and skin.

Blood splashed out, then froze midair before returning to his body, the wound closing as his foot twisted and kicked toward Clostro’s chin.

CRACK!

Clostro’s head snapped back, but his laughter came through the impact.

“Good hit!”

He swung his scythe in a spinning circle, forcing Aestrea to duck under it, then slammed his knee into Aestrea’s gut.

THUMP!

“Fuu…” Aestrea’s breath hitched.

He slid backward, sword scraping along the floor. The ground beneath them was nothing but deep scars and melted stone.

He exhaled cold mist, eyes flashing silver and black.

SWOOSH!

He vanished in a blink, reappearing behind Clostro with his sword already swinging down.

SHING!

Clostro’s scythe turned just in time, catching the edge, but Aestrea twisted his wrist, locking their blades.

The two gods pushed against each other, power flaring, space trembling around them.

“Trying to overpower me?” Clostro sneered.

“Just distracting you,” Aestrea replied coldly.

He suddenly let go, spinning midair, and with his left hand formed a sphere of freezing mist.

FWOOM!

Hundreds of tiny ice spears materialized, shooting out in all directions like a storm.

Clostro growled, crossing his arms as crimson energy exploded outward.

『 ✯ Authority of Killing — Crimson Barrier ✯ 』

The red aura flared like liquid fire, melting the ice midair, but several spikes still cut through, stabbing into his arms, shoulders, and chest.

Blood splattered the ground. Clostro looked down at the wounds, grinned, and they sealed shut within seconds, leaving not even a mark.

‘Tsk… not even the God-killing authority can make his healing slower,’ he clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Still, he dashed forward, slicing in a flurry of clean, relentless strikes.

CLANG!

Every movement was a blur, Aestrea weaving in and out, twisting his sword, cutting, stabbing, spinning to dodge.

Clostro met him swing for swing, countering with brutal scythe arcs that tore through the air.

The ground beneath them cracked and exploded under the weight of each clash.

At one point, Aestrea slid under Clostro’s scythe, turning low and cutting upward across his ribs, then ducked a counterattack and rolled behind, stabbing at his spine.

CLANK!

Clostro spun his weapon backward, the shaft catching Aestrea’s blade, before twisting to hit his side.

BAAAANG!

“Urgh…!” Aestrea grunted, thrown sideways into a pillar of divine stone.

The impact shattered it into dust.

“Pftt!”

He coughed, wiped blood from his mouth, and stood again, his body already repairing, the bruises fading as his divine power surged.

Clostro raised his scythe again, his eyes gleaming with red madness.

“You’re holding back something, aren’t you? I can feel it.”

Aestrea said nothing. He only adjusted his stance, sword angled downward, his breathing steady despite the chaos.

Clostro lunged first this time, dragging his scythe low before whipping it upward.

SWOOSH!

The blade sliced open Aestrea’s shoulder, but Aestrea didn’t flinch. He stepped in, grabbed the shaft with his free hand, and slammed his forehead into Clostro’s face.

THUD!

Crimson light flashed, and Clostro’s nose broke, but before the blood even hit the ground, the wound healed, and his lips curled into another grin.

Their weapons locked again, strength pressing against strength. The ground beneath them shattered completely, pieces of marble floating in midair from the force.

Then, Clostro’s body flickered, vanishing.

Aestrea spun instantly, raising his sword to block.

CLANG!

Clostro appeared behind him, scythe aimed at his neck. Aestrea barely caught the edge, sparks flying.

“…Fast.”

“I’m just getting started,” Clostro smirked.

His body blurred again, appearing to Aestrea’s right, then left, then above. Each movement started getting faster, sharper, and each swing was heavy enough to split mountains.

Aestrea deflected every strike, each parry shaking his arms, each counter met with equal force.

The battle became pure chaos, silver and red lights flashing, energy waves cutting through the air, the shockwaves flattening everything around.

CRASH!

Suddenly, Clostro’s foot hit Aestrea’s ribs, sending him skidding across the battlefield.

“Cough, cough… agh…” He stopped, coughing out steam instead of blood, his silver aura flickering slightly.

‘The Moon Mark… It’s starting to fade.’

He clenched his sword tighter, eyes locked on Clostro, who was laughing gleefully once again.

“Don’t tell me you’re getting tired already?” Clostro taunted, spinning his scythe lightly.

“Fuu…” Aestrea’s breathing slowed.

His aura dimmed for just a moment, then steadied again.

‘Not yet… he hasn’t used that ability…’

The moon mark on his eyes started dissipating away, but Aestrea gritted his teeth. But then, he recalled a little technique that he had created before, and because of that…

Swish…

The Moon Mark dissipated, causing him to go back to his measly 3✯ True God state.

Clostro laughed even more loudly than before at this, but upon seeing his sudden confident demeanour, he frowned while thinking.

‘…He doesn’t have any more hidden cards… does he?’

For the first time in forever…

He doubted his own abilities.

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…This feels strangely cringe somehow…

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