Curtain Domain

At the same time, Barn gained a clear understanding of Joanna's combat style. This darkness enveloping the entire arena did not rely solely on the effects of the Night Veil Profound Mystery; Joanna had clearly fused other profound mysteries onto that foundation and developed this terrifying domain through unique means.

As a Lowgod, such an achievement was enough to be proud of.

As for that violent attack just now, the extreme explosive nature was clearly the "Profound Mystery of Explosion" from the Fire Laws. However, judging by the fluctuations of her divine power, her comprehension of the Fire Laws was not deep, and she had not fully mastered this profound mystery. Thus, while her attack power was sufficient, her stamina was lacking; if she were drawn into a protracted battle, she would inevitably be the first to reveal a flaw.

Her Fire Laws were likely mastered by comprehending the Fire Body Technique to reach godhood, and the Profound Mystery of Explosion is only half-comprehended and not yet fused. As for the Darkness Laws, her main focus is the Night Veil Profound Mystery, which likely incorporates other profound mysteries, though they are not yet apparent.

Stealth and burst—this style is indeed highly threatening against peers. Unfortunately, as a Soul Mutator, my perception is far superior to that of an ordinary Lowgod.

Barn grasped the crux of the situation, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. The ice-blue water-type divine power around his body began to converge frantically into his palms, and fine water ripples flowed across his fingertips—previously, due to insufficient divine power reserves, the boost provided by the Profound Mystery of Water Element to long-range spellcasting could not be fully utilized. Only now, with his divine power replenished, did he dare to actively use spell attacks in combat.

Just then, an extremely subtle fluctuation of divine power came from his side, almost impossible to capture. Joanna's figure had just manifested in the darkness, and before she could even swing her sword, she saw three Ice Javelins condensed with ice-blue divine power flying toward her like three bolts of lightning, carrying bone-chilling cold and sealing off all her angles of evasion.

Joanna's expression tightened. In her haste, her long sword surged with scorching fire-type divine power, wreathed in explosive fire elements, and she slashed out a fiery red blade-light. With a few "crack" sounds, she shattered all three Ice Javelins, sending ice shards and sparks flying in all directions. Before Barn could cast another spell, her figure once again hid within the night veil, disappearing without a trace.

The three Ice Javelins Barn had just fired, while appearing ordinary, actually contained the dual profound mysteries of the Water Element and the Water Body Technique. Their power was quite impressive for a Lowgod's long-range attack; had Joanna not reacted extremely quickly, she likely would have been struck.

Having failed in her strike, Joanna was clearly thoroughly enraged. The dark domain covering the arena began to surge violently, black divine power rolling madly. Subsequently, dozens of dark whips as thick as arms condensed from the shadows. The whips were covered in sharp barbs and radiated a biting murderous intent, lashing out at Barn—who stood at the center of the domain—like countless claws reaching out from a hellish demon, their momentum terrifying.

"The Profound Mystery of Darkness Element? Well come!"

Barn let out a low shout, and the Mist Hidden long spear in his hand spun violently. Pale blue water-type divine power spread along the spear shaft, and as the spear shadows danced, they transformed into an impenetrable pale blue curtain of light, blocking all dozens of black whips on the outside.

The "crackle" sounds were incessant. As the dark whips struck the light curtain, they were instantly severed and dissipated into the air as black divine power. Yet, Joanna's divine power seemed inexhaustible; as the battle stalemated, more dark whips condensed from the shadows, attacking Barn in wave after wave without a moment's pause.

The aftermath of the battle continued to spread. Sharp blade-lights, bone-chilling ice, and thick darkness intertwined, and the continuous sounds of collisions and explosions echoed throughout the Colosseum, leaving the audience in the stands breathless and unable to look away.

One must know that in Gobada, even Lowgods, in order to better protect themselves, would try their best to comprehend profound mysteries as quickly as possible to break through to Midgod. Those who could fuse and utilize two profound mysteries at the Lowgod stage either had powerful backers providing resources or were gifted individuals, one in ten thousand.

Yet here in the Colosseum, two Lowgods were actually engaging in the fusion of profound mysteries—Joanna fusing the Night Veil Profound Mystery with the Darkness Element, and Barn fusing the Water Element with the Water Body Technique. How could this not make the god-level experts and Sanctuary powerhouses in the stands green with envy? Everyone stared intently at the two figures in the center of the arena, anticipating the next turn of this fierce battle.

While waving his long spear to block the dark whips, Barn secretly used his divine sense to lock onto Joanna's position within the darkness. He knew that such a terrifying domain must consume a significant amount of energy; as long as he persisted for a moment longer, waiting for the opponent's divine power to be overly depleted, it would be the perfect time for his counterattack.

The sounds of the long spear clashing with the dark whips followed one after another. The spear in Barn's hand danced more and more fluidly; under the infusion of divine power, the originally straight spear seemed to become as flexible as a whip, tracing streams of water in mid-air and batting away the ferocious whips one after another.

In the darkness, Joanna's eyes grew colder. She had not expected Barn's defense to be so stable; her repeated surprise attacks had not only failed to injure him but had instead consumed a significant amount of her divine power.

At this moment, Joanna was like a leopard lurking in the shadows, her aura completely merged with the darkness, waiting only for a fatal opportunity.

This Curtain Domain was a unique skill she had explored on her own after observing the battle of a truly top-tier powerhouse—it completely fused the Night Veil Profound Mystery with the Darkness Element Profound Mystery, and incorporated a portion of the "Profound Mystery of Devouring" from the Darkness Laws, transforming it into this domain in a unique way.

Once deployed, the domain's suppression power and range reached the Midgod level directly. Moreover, because it incorporated a portion of the Profound Mystery of Devouring, it could devour the divine power exerted by enemies and convert it into the power of the domain itself, making its divine power consumption far lower than that of ordinary large-scale secret techniques.

Most Lowgods comprehended at most one or two profound mysteries, and their combat styles were very singular.

With this trick, Joanna was enough to stand invincible among Lowgods; even if she truly encountered a Midgod, she would have the strength to fight.

In her ambition, she waited for her Darkness Element, Night Veil, and Devouring profound mysteries to be fully fused, and once she became a Midgod, she would be able to further perfect this domain, forming a trump card capable of contending with Highgods.

--

The opportunity arrived in a flash.

While blocking a dark whip, Barn's figure sank slightly, revealing an imperceptible opening at his lower back.

Joanna's eyes turned sharp, and she did not hesitate in the slightest.

Her figure shot out from the darkness like an arrow released from a bow!

The long sword ignited with violent crimson flames, the Profound Mystery of Explosion pushed to its limit, like an erupting volcano; the short sword was wrapped in ink-thick darkness, its blade pointed directly at Barn's vitals.

The experience of being enslaved in her early years and escaping death had taught her one truth—in battle, if you do not go all out, you die.

Barn sensed that fatal murderous intent at almost the exact same moment.

A thick ice shield condensed with ice flowers formed instantly, blocking the path of Joanna's charge.

But the next moment—

"Crack!"

The volcano-like long sword crashed down, and the ice shield could not even hold for an instant before shattering into a sky full of ice shards.

Just as the long sword was about to pierce Barn's body.

A faint golden shimmer spread silently from within Barn's body.

Fate Law—Trajectory Distortion!

Joanna felt her wrist jerk violently; the long sword seemed to be forcibly pulled by an invisible hand, losing all its aim, and it grazed past Barn's body, stabbing fiercely into the ground.

"Fate Law..." Joanna's voice was cold, yet she was not surprised.

Barn had displayed Fate Divine Power earlier in the battle, but she had not grasped its patterns at the time; only now did she truly experience the bizarre and troublesome nature of this law.

With one sword strike missed, the short sword followed closely, the power of darkness stabbing straight at Barn's heart.

Barn had already recovered, and the Mist Hidden long spear instantly turned back.

The spear tip collided with the short sword; there was no ear-piercing metallic clang, only a slide and a flick like a loach. The Round Soft Profound Mystery was activated, lightly deflecting the force of the short sword and flicking it upward.

Both strikes missed!

Joanna made a prompt decision and retreated rapidly, wanting to hide back into the Curtain Domain.

But it was already too late.

Golden Fate power suddenly expanded, like an invisible great net, directly enveloping her entire being.

Space slightly distorted, her feet lightened, and her body uncontrollably soared straight upward.

After a brief moment of shock, Joanna instantly understood—Bane's Fate Law again!

She roared, her long sword gathering power once more, flames raging to the extreme, preparing for a mutually destructive strike.

Meanwhile, Bane's spear had already pierced through the air.

"Clang—!!"

The spear and the long sword collided fiercely.

Water and fire, fate and darkness, two extreme powers exploded, a terrifying shockwave sweeping the entire arena.

The dozen or so god-level guards stationed at the edge of the Colosseum's complexion changed, and they immediately joined forces, instantly constructing layers of water element barriers, binding the explosion's power tightly to the center of the arena to prevent it from affecting the stands.

The residual waves gradually dissipated.

Joanna's Curtain Domain completely disintegrated, darkness vanished, and her figure was re-exposed to the air, her aura noticeably disordered.

Bane, however, was in a more disheveled state, standing at the other end, covered in blood.

The two looked at each other for a moment, the killing intent in the air gradually subsiding.

"I concede," Bane spoke first.

Joanna was silent for a moment, she sheathed her twin swords, her tone losing some of its ferocity and gaining a bit of acknowledgment, "Very well."

She looked up at Bane, her voice from beneath the mask still clear and cold, "What is your name?"

"Bane Boley."