Against The True Gods-Chapter 146: Me, Myself and I

[Conquer the Fracture of Time and Fate (4/6)]

The platform was empty. Caine sat cross-legged at its center, alone.

He was utterly still, his presence blending seamlessly with the vast emptiness around him. The only signs of life were the slow, rhythmic heaving of his chest and the faint, steady echo of his heartbeat, a quiet cadence that resonated with the serenity of the world.

His long black hair swayed gently in the breeze, each strand flowing like ink spilled into the air. His pristine white robes fluttered softly, catching the light of the stars above. That starlight painted his pale skin with a celestial glow, as though the heavens themselves had chosen him as their canvas, weaving an unspoken tapestry of beauty and grace.

On his thighs rested his spear, humming faintly, vibrating as if alive. The low sound reverberated through the space around him, like a heartbeat in harmony with his own.

The world was calm, steeped in serenity.

Caine surrendered himself to this peace, letting it wash over him. He became one with the flow of nature—a leaf swaying gently on a tree branch, a stone resting unyieldingly at the bottom of a river, a star nestled among countless others in the infinite expanse above.

WHOOOSH!

The tranquility was broken as the winds intensified, stirring the stillness into motion.

In the distance, three figures emerged from the void, their forms gradually sharpening until their features became clear.

Short, slicked-back black hair, cold silver eyes, and a tight-fitting black changpao—Oldest. His aura radiated quiet authority, his expression as sharp and unyielding as tempered steel.

Long black hair, unreadable silver eyes, and loose grey robes—Mirror. A silent enigma, his presence seemed to distort the very space around him, as if reality itself struggled to comprehend him.

Long curly white hair, an angelic face, and eyes of endless gold—Failure. His beauty was almost otherworldly, yet the weight of his presence carried an oppressive force, a contradiction that made him all the more unnerving.

The three stood side by side, their gazes meeting briefly before turning to Caine. No words were exchanged, yet an unspoken understanding passed between them, an acknowledgment of what was to come.

Failure glanced at his hands, which were bound by strange, writhing vines. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, a sound laced with both amusement and frustration. Oldest and Mirror noticed the vines but said nothing, recognizing that Failure would not explain.

They simply observed in silence, their focus returning to the man seated on the platform.

High above, Uriel hovered in the skies, his arms crossed and his expression neutral. His face betrayed no emotion, but within his chest, his heart raced with anticipation. Even as he maintained his stoic façade, he could not help but feel a thrill coursing through him.

Moments stretched into eternity, the tension thickening like a coiled spring.

Caine opened his eyes. Their dark depths were calm yet carried a weight that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of the world.

Without a word, he stood, his movements fluid and deliberate. Using his spear as a crutch, he rose to his full height and looked ahead. His gaze met Oldest’s, then Mirror’s, then Failure’s. He regarded each of them in turn, his faint smile never wavering.

Raising his hand, he beckoned them forward.

His voice was soft but carried an undeniable authority.

"Come."

The word had barely left his lips when a blade flashed toward his neck, so fast it seemed to materialize out of thin air. Simultaneously, a dozen formation circles appeared behind him, their intricate patterns glowing ominously.

Above, another blade descended, poised to strike him down.

"Repulse."

BOOOOOOOOM!

A shockwave erupted from Caine, violently repelling everything around him. The formation circles shattered into nothingness, and the descending blade disintegrated mid-air.

Failure’s formations crumbled under the force, while Oldest and Mirror were hurled backward, tumbling toward Failure. Yet they rose swiftly, their expressions as calm and composed as before.

Caine took a step forward, then another, and another. Each step was deliberate, unhurried, yet carried an undeniable momentum, like the steady march of time itself. The faint smile remained on his lips, unshaken by the assault.

Failure spoke, his tone measured but firm.

"My body is heavily restricted. I’ll remain here and cover your bases. Mirror, go and engage him head-on. Oldest, stay in the mid-section. Support Mirror’s attacks and cover his retreats."

Without hesitation, they moved.

Mirror appeared in front of Caine, his blade splitting into nine shimmering arcs that descended simultaneously.

Caine’s body blurred, his movements almost imperceptible as he parried each strike with precision.

Mirror’s expression remained unchanged.

Flames erupted across his body as he slid his foot forward, swinging his blade upward in a fiery arc.

Caine’s hand ignited with white flames, and with a single, brutal motion, he slapped the blade downward, slamming it into the platform and shattering Mirror’s balance.

BANG!

Taking advantage of the opening, Caine’s fists blurred, unleashing a torrent of strikes upon Mirror. The sheer force of the assault sent Mirror spinning, his blade arcing upward in a desperate attempt to counter.

CLANK!

The blade struck nothing but air. Mirror had been pulled away by a massive hand of qi, summoned by Oldest.

Switching places seamlessly, Oldest stepped forward. His nine rings began to spin, their radiant light illuminating the skies.

Coiling his fist with the phantom of a black dragon, Oldest launched a strike aimed directly at Caine’s liver.

Caine dodged, sidestepping gracefully, but Mirror emerged from Oldest’s shadow, his blade tearing upward in a perfectly timed strike.

Caine clicked his tongue in annoyance, tilting his neck awkwardly to avoid the blade.

Seizing the opening, Oldest’s fist slammed into Caine’s side.

Yet, instead of breaking through, his fist shattered against the sheer durability of Caine’s body.

Oldest had anticipated this. All he needed was contact.

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The formation etched into his fist burned into Caine’s body, spreading across him like wildfire.

The formation activated, freezing Caine in place for the briefest moment. It was enough for Mirror to capitalize, his blade cleaving downward.

"Not bad."

From above, a bolt of black lightning descended, striking Mirror and charring his body. The surrounding air froze under the following waves of frost.

White flames erupted across Caine’s skin, incinerating the sealing formation in an instant.

Caine’s leg shot out like a bullet, slamming into Oldest’s gut with devastating force. The blow sent Oldest flying toward Failure, his stomach nearly torn apart.

Just as Caine turned to counter Mirror’s strike, Failure’s voice rang out:

"[Blight Art: Frames of Latency]."

Caine froze mid-motion, and Mirror’s speed doubled. Gashes appeared across Caine’s chest, blood spilling freely and soaking his robes.

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"[Blight Art: False Immortal]."

Mirror and Oldest’s bodies rippled, crimson halos forming above their heads. Their strength surged, and Oldest, who had been near death, healed instantly. Mirror’s speed increased further, his blade a blur as it nearly severed half of Caine’s neck.

Caine remained calm, his mind accelerating as time seemed to slow.

His blood qi surged into his left arm, exploding outward. His fist struck Mirror with overwhelming force, launching him skyward.

Taking advantage of the brief reprieve, Caine healed himself, threads of neutral and time qi weaving his wounds together and leaving only a faint scar on his neck.

With a single step, he soared into the skies, aiming to finish Mirror.

"[Blight Art: Swapped Origin]."

Before Caine’s blade could reach him, Mirror vanished, replaced by a concentrated beam of chaotic qi.

The beam struck Caine’s blade.

BOOOOOOOOM!

The explosion rippled through the heavens.