BOOM!
The enormous justice hand, forged from divine law and soul-rending light, struck Malikai square on the forehead. The arena fell silent. Spectators held their breath. Even the clouds above the arena stilled as if fearing to move during the judgment.
Dawnveil hovered high in the air, cold and disdainful. "Justice has been served," she whispered.
Inside Malikai's mind, the moment the hand entered his Sea of Consciousness, everything changed.
The tranquil void turned crimson. A BLOODSEA churned awake—vile, endless, ancient. Screams echoed from its depths, the echoes of demons long forgotten. From the blood-red waves rose a massive, rotting mouth, jagged with teeth shaped like bones. It opened, vast and eternal.
CRACK—
With a soundless snap, the golden hand was swallowed whole.
Gone.
Not even a ripple remained.
Outside, Malikai's body drooped forward like a puppet cut from strings. His axe slid down, the edge scraping the arena floor. Dawnveil narrowed her eyes, her voice laced with superiority.
"You never stood a chance," she said, lips curling. "Even if your body can match a Nascent Soul cultivator, your soul was always unworthy. All the filth and sin inside you… only divine light can cleanse it."
She drifted downward slowly, sword raised, preparing to slice off his head—her legs trembling, her skin pale. The Judgement Hand had cost her dearly, draining half her soul sea.
Still, justice must be done.
She reached him.
He didn't move.
Closer.
No reaction.
She raised her sword—then it happened.
SCHLICK!
The axe shot up, tearing through the air like a beast unchained. Malikai's eyes snapped open, glowing red and gold with madness. The blade split through her hastily conjured shield and bit deep into her chest and stomach.
"AGH!" she screamed, blood spraying as she flew backward, using the force to create distance. Her face twisted with shock and fury.
"You—how?! That technique should've killed you! You can't possibly have survived without a soul treasure! You can only use one treasure in the arena! You cheated! You DEMON!"
She was shaking, blood soaking her robes.
Malikai just grinned, eyes still glowing, axe dripping with blood.
"You're weak because you think judgment is a privilege," he said calmly. "You think sin makes someone lesser. Who decided you fit to judge me?"
He tilted his head. "Your puny justice domain?"
With a snort, he charged.
They clashed mid-air, weapons sparking with fury and light. Each strike was explosive.
Dawnveil's wings spread wide—Celestial Pierce!—a thrust of radiant light.
Malikai parried—Bloodhowl Fang!—a cleaving axe arc of blood-colored qi that shattered her sword-light.
Dawnveil spun, her wings unleashing blades of divine energy—Holy Severance!
Malikai dipped, sidestepped, and slammed the side of his axe—Asura Fang Cleave!—a horizontal blow that cracked the air itself, sending her reeling.
Her expression warped. "You… vile sinner."
He grinned. "You're the one who calls down justice without the appropriate strength."
They flew higher, blades clashing in a storm of qi and light. The sky above the arena dimmed under the pressure.
Then, CRACK!
Dawnveil was smashed into the ground. She tumbled, coughing blood, her once-pristine robes torn and soaked crimson. Her wings were tattered. Her eyes, once cold and proud, now wide and bloodshot.
"You… you leave me no choice."
She stabbed her own chest.
Golden blood poured from her mouth—four huge orbs. They floated up, transforming into four massive angels, each one radiating terrifying divine might, with twelve wings each. They formed behind her, glowing brighter than the sun.
"I might be crippled for a century…" she croaked, kneeling. "But as long as you die… it's worth it."
" Divine Verdict: Spear of Judgement."
The angels fused into one massive spear of judgment, like a divine lance of retribution. It gleamed with heavenly law.
Malikai's hair stood on end.
His instincts screamed—this will kill you.
He tried to dodge—but the spear followed.
It locked onto his soul.
No escape.
The Spear of Judgement raced forward like divine wrath.
Malikai roared. His dual cores, crimson and gold, spun madly inside his dantian. Qi surged into his limbs like a tide.
"ASURA ART—SEVERING FATE STRIKE!"
A massive crimson-black slash erupted from his axe, colliding with the spear.
BOOM!
The spear cracked—slightly. He slashed again.
BOOM!
Another crack.
He attacked again, again, and again—his body bleeding from the strain.
BOOM!
The divine spear was now half its size, power reduced—but still barreling toward him.
He clenched his teeth, muscles bulging, eyes burning.
"RAAAHHH!"
He slashed out with all his might.
BOOOOOOM!
The shockwave tore through the air.
The spear exploded—but the backlash flung Malikai like a ragdoll, his arm shattered, his entire left side pulverized. He crashed into the ground, coughing blood, his body twitching from the pain.
Smoke rose.
Dust settled.
He didn't move.
Not far away, Dawnveil lay unconscious, a smile frozen on her blood-streaked lips.
The arena was silent.