Tamojin Lake's once-golden surface no longer showed a trace of gold. Instead, a blue-green mist covered the mountains that had once stood there.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
As the sound of figures cutting through the air rang out, three different silhouettes flashed into view. Ochre and water-blue streaks of light landed and transformed into Conofier, Emmanuel, and Alfred.
"Hmm? This space is rather interesting. You've even incorporated wind blades and Vocal Music into it. It seems Ren doesn't want to be disturbed!" Kofinor narrowed his eyes and glanced around, a look of surprise on his face.
He had thought Ren was only stopping here temporarily. But since he had sealed off the area using such methods, it seemed he was worried about being disturbed. People generally only did this when preparing for a long period of secluded cultivation. That meant Ren had likely gained great insight during the battle earlier. His talent made Kofinor somewhat envious.
Of course, that was all. As a veteran Asura, he could recognize how extraordinary the technique was, and he could also combine Gravity Space with Pulsing Defense to achieve something similar and create a peaceful environment for his own cultivation. It simply wasn't necessary for him.
"All right, you two wait over there for now. From here on, it's our time."
As soon as Conofier finished speaking, he vanished, sinking deep into the earth. A moment later, a glow appeared on the ground and shot toward the bottom of the lake.
Emmanuel and Alfred immediately retreated, stopping at a nearby mountain peak in the blink of an eye. It was best to keep a safe distance from an Asura's battle.
"Hmm?"
Ren, whose eyes had been tightly shut, suddenly opened them. His Divine Sense spread out in an instant, and fury filled his gaze.
Boom!
A deafening rumble shook the ground for hundreds of miles. The entire mountain shifted in an instant, and the terrain around Tamojin Lake overturned. The golden lake water surged out and flowed away in the blink of an eye.
"Hmph!"
Ren let out a cold snort and flashed into motion. A blue-green glow burst out and spread, transforming into a streak of light that shot up from the lakebed. At the same time, a hundred-meter-long white wind blade burst from his body and thrust toward the ground in the distance.
Bang!
An explosion rang out, and the ground shattered. The hundred-meter wind blade struck a thin ochre film. The instant the two Divine Powers collided, the film abruptly contracted, turning into an ochre glow that formed a ten-meter sphere and shot into the sky.
The ochre sphere sped away. A hundred meters in front of Ren, it transformed into a stern figure with brown hair. His long eyelashes framed a gaze as sharp as ice.
"Who are you?"
Ren didn't attack at once. Instead, he demanded in a deep voice, "Whatever the reason, what you've done makes it clear you intend to fight to the death. But I'm still puzzled." The next second, his gaze flicked toward Alfred in the distance, and his expression darkened.
Alfred's arrival had surprised Ren. He knew Alfred had another clone, but he hadn't expected him to be able to enlist an Asura. That was strange. Normally, an Asura who had lost his strongest Divine Clone would never get help avenging himself from old friends—unless they were exceptionally close.
But not everyone had friends that close. After all, not everyone was Linley, with Bebe the God-Eater Rat as a sworn brother willing to share life and death. If Alfred had a friend like that, there was no way the Fiend Castle would have gone all these years without hearing about it.
"Unless he can offer something valuable enough. His Spatial Ring, for example." Ren narrowed his eyes, quickly coming up with a plausible explanation. But he couldn't understand what Alfred's Spatial Ring contained that could persuade another Asura to help him.
Conofier gave Ren a faint smile. He didn't attack at once, instead speaking slowly.
"My name is Conofier. I'm an honorary elder of the Four Divine Beasts Clan. I've come to take your life. Hand over Alfred's Spatial Ring and kill yourself, and I'll spare the people around you."
Conofier had no intention of sparing Ren. He had a little admiration for him, but he had given his word to Emmanuel and wouldn't go back on it. He'd said this only because he hoped to save a drop of Sovereign's Might.
After all, if Ren fled with all his strength, Conofier might not be able to stop him without using Sovereign's Might. But if Ren killed himself willingly, he could save a drop. He knew it was almost impossible, but there was always a chance. What if Ren, fearing the Four Divine Beasts Clan's power, really did give up his life to protect those around him?
"The Four Divine Beasts Clan?"
At Conofier's words, Ren's expression darkened, fury flashing in his eyes. He had no family, but even if he did, he wouldn't believe Conofier's promise. Besides, his strength had improved further over the past few decades. He had no reason to fear this arrogant man before him.
Ever since arriving in Hell, Ren had been relatively cautious, always keeping his distance from the Four Divine Beasts Clan. They were a bunch of madmen who would stop at nothing. He just hadn't expected them to come after him today.
"You're pretty arrogant. But so what if you're from the Four Divine Beasts Clan? If you come for me, I'll kill you all the same!"
Ren sneered and stared at Conofier in the distance, his voice low and firm. He showed no deference at all.
Ren wouldn't go out of his way to provoke the Four Divine Beasts Clan, but he wouldn't back down if they came after him. After all, he had learned enough about their ways over the years. From the moment Conofier showed up, there had been no way to avoid offending the clan.
Even if Ren knelt and begged for mercy, Conofier wouldn't spare him. And even if Ren defeated Conofier and chose not to kill him, the Four Divine Beasts Clan would still think they had lost face. It didn't matter that Conofier was only an honorary elder and not a true clan member. The clan would keep hunting Ren down. In their eyes, there was no need for reason. They were the law.
"Oh? You've got quite a mouth on you!" Conofier's expression darkened. Though he wasn't a member of the Four Divine Beasts Clan, he still represented them to some extent when he was out in the world. If he didn't kill Ren himself for speaking that way about the clan, Gaiseresen would likely give him trouble when he returned.
"Since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish. Then you'll learn that no one is allowed to insult the Four Divine Beasts Clan!" Conofier's voice rang out, echoing across the heavens and earth.
"If you want to kill me, come and try!" Ren chuckled. His eyes shifted, and a blue-green glow instantly spread out. The surrounding air began to whirl at high speed around him, and howling winds swept in every direction like blades.
"Hmph!" Conofier sneered and waved his right hand. A brown battle hammer appeared in his grasp. It was over two meters long, engraved with strange patterns and radiating an astonishingly terrifying aura.
"A Sovereign Artifact?" Ren's gaze never wavered as he stared at the battle hammer in Conofier's hand.
Before you continue