A Terrifying Opponent

"Boom—!!!"

Space seemed like overloaded glass, undergoing violent compression and collapse in an instant, releasing a teeth-grinding wail.

This was not merely the transmission of sound, but a tremor on the level of laws.

Countless white high-pressure air currents exploded between Dago and the Revival Society's hidden leader. This was no ordinary wind, but the vacuum backfill caused by the outpouring of pure force, forming a massive vortex hurricane capable of shredding steel.

Dago maintained his punching stance. At this moment, he no longer resembled a wizard seeking truth, but an ancient god of war.

Within his dantian, the phantom of the [Despair Winter Star] flickered wildly, frantically devouring, compressing, and gathering every trace of violent energy within Dago.

Dense black radiance flowed like ink, the manifestation of high-density energy.

The violent currents surged backward, tossing his long blue-black hair high into the air like a tattered banner snapping across an apocalyptic battlefield.

However.

This punch, enough to shatter mountains and even leave microscopic cracks in space, came to an abrupt halt before the black-robed man.

There was no earth-shaking clash of energy waves, no flashy exchange of spells.

The black-robed hidden leader merely extended one withered, pale hand. A transparent glow, neither dazzling nor weak, bloomed in his palm, effortlessly blocking Dago's heavy punch wrapped in [Despair Force].

"Hummm—"

Invisible ripples spread outward from the point where fist and palm met, like a stone dropped into stagnant water.

Yet those ripples contained a suffocating pressure. Even the aftershock that spread out merely lightly lifted the hem of the Revival Society hidden leader's aged black robe.

Beneath that robe, countless tiny, intricate mysterious runes vaguely emerged around his body. They flickered as though breathing, constructing an absolute defensive force field.

Dago's expression remained as calm as an ancient well. This