Ancient Faith

If Oboro wants to conquer the Dark Continent, he will inevitably clash with all the extraordinary beings.

He wants to stand at the very top!

This is his ambition and desire.

The Demon King sensed it from his soul and confirmed it from his past experiences in the human world.

Are you afraid of me?

As Long spoke, a terrifying black mist of soul energy spread outwards from him like a tsunami, reaching the heavens and the earth.

The guide, who was standing right next to him, was instantly struck by the soul pressure, his eyes lost their light, and he collapsed to the ground.

The endless black mist spread wildly like a virus, and wherever it passed, the transformed soul creatures seemed to be injected with adrenaline, roaring to the sky.

Furthermore, as the black mist swept across the vast land, countless spirits absorbed by Long appeared one by one, transforming into a massive army.

Among them were spirits he had absorbed from the human world, led by Meruem and Netero, as well as many life forms that had perished at his hands over the years, all sorts of strange creatures, flying in the sky and running on the ground... From a high altitude, the entire surface of the earth was occupied by soul life, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Like a sea of the dead.

And Oboro was surrounded by people in the very center.

"Our decision to accept you and allow you to build your own home on this land is already our bottom line."

Above, that will remained completely still.

"Really?"

Oboro's body underwent a transformation, with raging soul fire burning his flesh and blood, revealing Thresh's appearance.

He held the Chain of the Rigge's Lantern in one hand and gripped the axe blade at the end of the lantern with the other.

"Now that you know I can evolve indefinitely... you won't leave me alive on the Dark Continent, and you won't give me enough time... So, you're trying to mislead me, right? To stall... until the real rulers behind the scenes arrive and put me to trial?"

Long gently swung the Chain and said calmly.

"Humans... are indeed a boring and inferior species."

As the will to negotiate surged, thunder and lightning roared across the sky.

One after another, streaks of red and black lightning descended upon the earth, appearing almost tangible, and did not vanish in an instant.

Immediately afterwards, a gigantic serpent head appeared faintly in the sky, along with a pair of eyes as large as the sun and moon, radiating a murderous glow.

A figure gradually descended from the most vast and massive bolt of lightning.

It was a life form that resembled a demi-human Magical Beasts.

At first glance, it looks no different from a human. The difference is that its lower body has human legs and feet, but it has no neck or head above its chest. Instead, it has grown eight snake bodies, and the eight snake heads are human faces. It holds a weapon in each hand, namely a short sword and a spear.

"It seems that your evolution to this level is also due to human genes... Your intelligence is also because of humans."

Although Oboro and the other's true form were still extremely far apart, one in the sky and the other on the ground, their gazes were clearly locked on each other.

"Humanity's only value was providing the nutrients needed for evolution... but now they are no longer useful."

The snake-man said coldly, his forked tongue flicking out repeatedly.

"Enough with the talk, either eat me or... be eaten by me."

Long raised a bloodthirsty smile.

He had waited so long, and finally... he had met one of the true rulers of this land.

"A fish that slipped through the space-time rift... You don't belong here, and you haven't even seen your own abilities clearly... We have lived on this continent for a long time, and the evolutionary sequence is far beyond your reach. Your undisguised desires have already foreshadowed your end."

Before the words were even finished, Long had already taken the initiative.

Countless spirits shot up like locusts, flying towards the snake-man standing on the lightning.

Boom!

Almost simultaneously, a raging sea of thunder surged and churned between heaven and earth, annihilating all souls.

However, these spirits, which transformed into soul energy, did not completely dissipate but quickly reformed, maintaining their offensive.

Rules are imposed; gamification is employed.

Long stared at the snake-man in the blinding sea of light, his spreading energy mixed with the power of rules, attempting to change this space and alter the battlefield through various forms of energy.

His Spirit Vision can see through the snake-man's physical weaknesses, allowing him to hit and critically strike, while also possessing an attack range beyond the norm... The rule that best fits these elements is still the game.

The rules have been judged, and the attempt has failed! However, Oboro did not succeed, as the enemy also possesses the power of rules and can contend with him.

For the power of rules to take effect, there must be prerequisites, and the rules can only take effect after the other party has fulfilled these prerequisites; otherwise, they are just a form of energy.

To put it bluntly, if you want to apply the power of the rules to actual combat, both sides need to disguise themselves and set up traps in advance, waiting for the other side to fall into them and participate.

Then various constraints are imposed.

"If powerful rules cannot be implemented, then... we can only pursue changes in minor rules in the details."

For example, calling out the other person's name... or making them lose focus for half a minute, etc. However, the power of the rules that can be applied to such small prerequisites is also very limited.

His battle with his opponent was also a contest of wits and observation.

You absolutely must not get infected.

Once restricted by rules, one will be at a disadvantage without realizing it, and will face significant trouble.

Long raised the Chain, and the artifacts immediately pierced through space, falling directly from above the snake-man's head, coiling around and binding the target.

He has been evolving, and his abilities have been constantly improving, not only Thresh's skills, but also Senna's and Ekko's.

This technique, which transcends spatial limitations, evolved and was developed from attacks with a wider attack range.

Click.

The next second, the snake-man's snake heads bit into the Chain. It seemed to be able to reach the artifact in its soul state. Its sharp fangs not only broke the Chain, but its venom also melted the long lock.

The raging lightning continued to sweep in all directions, and the densely packed ghosts could not get close to the snake-man at all.

The snake-man's eight snake heads suddenly grew larger, spewing thick streams of venom into the sky. The deadly poison spread across the battlefield with the gale, and in a short moment, a torrential downpour began, all of which was formed from its venom.

The snake's head rhythmically flicked out its tongue, producing a silvery sound that echoed across the earth.

All living things that heard the sound, including plants, withered and died instantly.

Long's army of souls was also gradually collapsing, and the energy he unleashed was even difficult to control for a time due to the interference of this sound wave.

"Lightning and sound, two extraordinary elemental powers, and venom is an innate talent... As expected, those who can evolve into rulers are no ordinary people." As Oboro spoke, he gently shook the lantern in his hand, swaying it left and right like the hands of a clock... Gradually, the flow of time on the entire battlefield slowed down.

Finally, it came to a standstill, frozen in time.

Even the snake-man maintained a stiff posture and expression...

Mastering time is not about rules, but about his ability.

This also stems from the development and formation of Ekko's skills.

Long suddenly vanished from his spot and appeared before the snake-man in the center of the lightning.

His eyes were icy cold as he brought the axe blade down on the man's head.

Bang! But surprisingly, the snake-man, who had been frozen in time, suddenly raised his short sword to block the fatal blow. The eyes on his eight snake heads moved, and his limbs seemed to slowly regain their mobility.

All abilities are transformed from energy and reside downstream of the power of rules.

The presence of energy implies the existence of antagonism; it is not an absolute force.

Whether it's Oboro or the snake-man, once they reach this stage of evolution, it's actually a contest of essence, no longer revolving around form.

Let's see whose life energy is stronger.

With his killing move blocked, Oboro suddenly opened his mouth, and a ball of raging soul fire flew down onto the snake-man, bursting into flames.

"Ah!"

The snake-man let out a painful howl.

Oboro was also bitten on the shoulder by a snake's head.

The snake-man's body suddenly wriggled and swelled, rising high in the wind, and began to grow larger.

It can transform into a colossal creature standing between heaven and earth, with eight heads and one tail, abandoning its human appearance... This ability is something many Magical Beasts and creatures can do.

Oboro's physique was also growing taller. Thresh's body was formed by Nen power. If Menchi and the others were still there, they probably wouldn't believe it, because even Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva was as small as an ant in front of Oboro and the snake man.

The next moment, the earth trembled violently.

Two colossal beings, resembling God, began their most primal battle.

In an instant, the world was in chaos, and a fierce wind arose.

The sky was filled with wandering souls, and thunder and lightning rolled.

After an unknown amount of time, the noisy, dilapidated space, resembling the end of the world, finally returned to calm.

Thresh, standing tall and imposing, stepped on the fallen snake corpse and let out a soul-stirring roar.

The snake-man's endless soul power, like a river overflowing its banks, surged into Oboro's body.

The first one! This will be the prelude to his hunt for all the rulers of the Dark Continent!

Thresh's figure disappeared, revealing Oboro's true form, half of his body corroded by venom... his injuries were not light.

Fortunately, the body stores abundant vitality, allowing it to recover little by little, but it will probably take a long time.

Looking up at the sky, Long prepared to fly up, leap over the door, and see what the 'ecology' of the snake people's territory was like.

But before he could even set off, he seemed to sense something.

Suddenly, he frowned.

Look behind you.

Whoosh! A 'thing' bursting with terrifying energy surged forward at an astonishing speed.

They fell onto the desolate and ravaged battlefield.

The newcomer was about the size of a human, but was shrouded in a cloud of soul mist.

With narrowed eyes, the murderous aura from the recent slaughter of the snake-man had not yet dissipated. A powerful soul pressure immediately slammed into the creature's body, instantly dispelling the soul mist around it and revealing its true form.

It has two horns on its head, a mouthful of sharp teeth, dark skin, long limbs, and several ring-shaped metal ornaments hanging from its ears.

Demon King!

Long's heart stirred.

Back then, in the memories of the skeleton's soul fragments, he couldn't even glimpse the Demon King's true face, but now... he can easily see his true form!

Long had no idea how many Demon Kings existed on the Dark Continent, but the one before him was the one he had seen before, the one who had passed on his information to the other rulers!

He was all too familiar with this kind of soul fluctuation.

The other party didn't just arrive now; they've always been there, just hiding far away.

"Hehehe... Human, you actually managed to kill Canbius."

The Demon King's voice was grating, and his tone carried a cunning and treacherous quality, completely different from the impression he had given Oboro.

It seems that in his soul's memory, the Demon King intentionally changed his behavior and aura in order to bewitch him, making him more in line with the human perception of the 'Demon King'.

Now, this is its true form.

Canbius, the name of the snake-man.

Having a name implies that the civilization and origins formed by humans, or rather intelligent beings, on the Dark Continent are far more complex than one might imagine.

The appearance of the Demon King and his expression made it clear to Oboro in an instant.

The snake-man was merely a sacrifice used to determine his danger.

A primitive human being disrupts the long-standing order of the Dark Continent, a challenge to those in power.

Not to mention dominant life forms, even higher beings would not allow it.

Long has not yet replied.

A golden glow appeared in the sky above.

A creature with three pairs of pure white wings slowly descended.

Its aura was incomparably sacred.

Each wing resembles a cloud hanging from the sky, but hanging in the center of the wing is a human flesh and blood body crawling with maggots, with a human face on its abdomen, not on its neck.

Long glanced at it briefly, then turned his head again to look in another direction.

This time, it was a giant bear running wildly from the horizon. What was peculiar was that the bear's body was not made of flesh and blood, but rather resembled a kind of mucus.

These three creatures posed a threat to Oboro that was no less than that of the snake-man.

They are clearly all dominant-level life forms.

"Are they planning to take advantage of my injury to attack me when I'm vulnerable?"

His face was expressionless.

Since they are intelligent beings, then... it's perfectly normal for them to use some tricks.

However, Oboro had no intention of running away; he had just absorbed Canbius's soul...

But these three creatures seemed to have no intention of fighting him. Under Oboro's gaze, the Demon King suddenly knelt on one knee and lowered his head in submission.

Even the angelic creatures folded their wings.

The giant bear lay prostrate on the ground.

The statements made by the three parties were clearly not directed at themselves.

Long's eyelids twitched, and she looked up at the sky once more.

"Above the Demon King, who is at the Dominator level... is there a god?"

His pupils shrank to the size of pinholes.

The system's displayed and determined position in the food chain already provides some indication.

Furthermore, some images in the murals of the Botswa Tribe and the books of the Kurta Clan show that human groups inhabiting different areas of the Dark Continent all had the habit of worshipping a certain God... The fact that a creature like the Demon King could exist on the Dark Continent already speaks volumes.

"There really is... such a thing..."

When he saw the sky, which had always been as dark as an abyss, now shimmering with black and red hues as if the sun had broken through the clouds, Long was deeply moved.

He wasn't astonished by the concept of gods, but rather by the fact that the life energy nurtured by the Dark Continent, including the alternation and evolution between genes, could truly reach the level of creating gods.

This deity is definitely not the kind of supreme being that he knew in his previous life or in this life as a god in the human world.

Rather, they are simply 'gods' who have risen step by step through hunting, fighting, or even climbing up from the bottom of the food chain over the endless course of history and time.

They evolved to the level of 'gods'.