"...Nah, just for the fun of it."

That sentence kept ringing in Shen Ye's mind.

So everything he had gone through… it was all because Void wanted to play with him?

The lives of tens of billions… lost because of that.

How cruel… how senseless must a being be to think this was right?

In what world, what universe could this ever be justified?

Shen Ye wasn't the only one.

Sword Demon felt it too.

So his miserable past… the deaths of his loved ones… were all because Void was bored?

His sect destroyed.

Years upon years of memories… gone.

None of it made sense.

And Void was smiling.

Their torment… their grief…

Was entertainment to him?

What did he take them for?

Toys?

Grip…

Everyone tensed instantly.

Sword Demon turned and walked out of the bubble.

Shen Ye stared at his back as memories surfaced.

Wasn't this how his master had always stood?

Like an unreachable mountain—firm, unshaken.

A presence that gave trust.

A presence that promised protection.

And now…

He felt it again.

Tears slipped down Shen Ye's face as his body trembled.

"Void…"

For the first time in a long while, Sword Demon didn't say "Master."

He called him by name.

The air grew heavy.

A terrifying pressure began to build.

Sword Demon's hair flowed, covering his eyes. His hand tightened around his sword hilt, his grip turning white.

"Did you feel any remorse at all?" he asked.

"Did you feel sorry for the lives connected to me?"

Silence.

No one stepped in.

Not even Junnie.

The others—half-demon, half of other races understood emotions like love and grief.

And even Junnie, a demon like Void…

Stayed quiet.

Because she understood.

If someone took Void away from her…

She would be just like Sword Demon.

"Nothing," Void said calmly. "Though… I do think I was too young back then. I should have done a better jo—"

He stopped.

His eyebrow lifted slightly in amusement.

Sword Demon had already drawn his blade.

The edge rested directly against Void's neck.

"Choose your next words wisely."

Sword Demon raised his head.

Dark green eyes met crimson red.

"Enough, Sword Demon."

Alayot stepped forward, catching the blade between two fingers.

Sword Demon tilted his head slightly, looking at him.

"Do you support him?" he asked.

Alayot frowned.

This wasn't an external battle.

This was conflict within Void's own ranks.

Slash

Clang!

Alayot was pushed back to his position, his fingers trembling slightly.

Sword Demon snorted.

His gaze returned to Void.

This time…

Void wasn't amused.

Wasn't smiling.

Wasn't angry.

Just…

Neutral.

For the first time.

"Look, Sword Demon," Alayot began, "I understand what you're going through. But remember, you're pointing your sword at Void. Not just anyone. And I—"

"Yeah, you're right," Sword Demon cut in with a grin.

"He's Void. He's responsible for everything."

His eyes sharpened.

"But you were there too."

"And you knew Shen Ye… yet you did nothing."

"You know," he continued, "I've always wanted to shut you up. You think because you were the first, you're the strongest among Void's slaves?"

Sword Demon stepped forward, stopping a short distance from Linkir.

"Sword Demon," Linkir spoke, "they stood against your master—"

"And so what?" he snapped.

"So that justifies their deaths?"

"We can't speak anymore?"

"We just stay silent and accept everything?"

His voice hardened.

"Fine," Linkir said calmly. "If it's a fight you want… then let's have it."

"Good," Sword Demon replied.

"Let's have it."

Both of them moved.

Reality shifted.

A vast expanse formed in space, enclosed by a massive dome.

An arena spanning thousands of light-years.

Void, the others, even Shen Ye....

All were drawn into it.

Grass spread.

Mountains rose.

Rivers flowed.

Everything reinforced, capable of withstanding Quasi Rank 4 clashes.

Then

Silence.

The two stood opposite each other.

Boom!

The ground shattered as they moved.

Sword Demon struck first..

A clean, decisive slash.

Linkir slipped past it effortlessly.

The shockwave tore through the terrain behind her, sending ripples across the battlefield.

She was already close.

Her leg snapped out like a whip

Sword Demon caught it.

Pulled her in

And thrust his blade forward.

Clang!

Her palm stopped the sword mid-strike.

She pushed him back.

Sword Demon flew, crashing into a distant hill.

It crumbled instantly.

He rose

But a hand covered his face.

Bang!

Linkir slammed his head down.

The hill disintegrated into dust.

Slash!

Sword Demon countered.

Linkir retreated as the ground split in two.

He vanished

Reappearing at her side.

She punched. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

He didn't dodge.

Boom!

The impact echoed.

Dust rose

Then was obliterated.

Sword Demon didn't even glance at her fist buried in his abdomen.

He simply moved his sword.

Shiaaa

Flesh tore.

Blood spilled from Linkir's side.

A shallow cut across her abdomen.

It healed instantly.

Boom! Boom!

Linkir struck twice.

Sword Demon was sent flying again crashing through a forest the size of a light-year.

It vanished on impact.

"Ugh—"

He spat blood and shifted to the side.

Bang!

The ground where he had stood collapsed into a massive crater.

"Hm."

Sword Demon narrowed his eyes.

Linkir wasn't weak.

Not at all.

Both of their injuries had already healed.

This…

Was just the beginning.

Now they continued.

Bang!

Boom!

Boom!

Across the arena, they crashed into the ground, creating massive pits.

Sword Demon split the earth, the mountains, and everything around him as he attacked Linkir relentlessly.

Finally

The two collided head-on.

Bam!

Linkir grabbed Sword Demon's blade, stopping it from descending further and cleaving her body in half.

Their bodies trembled as they both increased their strength.

Sword Demon gripped his hilt with both hands, pressing down harder and harder.

Linkir raised her second arm, reinforcing her hold on the blade.

For a moment…

They were locked in a stalemate.

Then

Grrrk…

Space trembled as the two were forced apart, blasting away from each other.

They landed at a distance, facing one another once more.

"The warm-up is finally over… time for the real battle," Nephem said from the side, taking a deep breath.