With fierce battle intent, Kuga, the War Leader of the Lizardmen, released the supreme power of the Ancient Saint through his long spear. He carried with him over twenty powerful blessings bestowed by the Shilan just before their death. As this greatest Lizardman warrior tightened his grip, the power of the stars was unleashed in the tropical rainforest, enveloping Kuga's body and enhancing his strength. He dodged Fugen's attack, and the Venerable God Spear tore a massive crack through the armor on Fugen's chest.

"Ha!" Fugen immediately raised his sword to block, sending a kick to Kuga's chin. The blade of the power sword cut a deep wound along Kuga's arm to his armpit. In mid-air, Kuga twisted his body and struck back, driving the long spear into Fugen's abdomen.

Both of them let out a muffled grunt almost simultaneously.

Still, Fugen reacted quicker, landing a punch on Kuga's face. The Lizardman Warrior before him was sent flying like a cannonball and crashed to the ground.

With a "boom," as soon as Kuga hit the ground, Fugen was already in pursuit, his sword blade raised high, ready to deliver a fatal blow to the Lizardman War Leader.

Kuga no longer used the long spear to attack; instead, he smashed his sharp horn into Fugen's handsome face. His horn was harder than the hardest obsidian. Receiving the blow on his forehead, Fugen released his grip on the sword hilt and punched Kuga's chin.

In the next second, the Venerable God Spear and the Golden Power Sword clashed again, sparks flying everywhere.

This duel was far from over!

The two stepped back, with Fugen feeling the wounds on his body. The Primarch of the Emperor's Sons frowned deeply, realizing he had finally met his match today.

The strength of the Lizardman before him was nearly unimaginably powerful. Even during the Great Crusade, he had rarely encountered such a formidable foe.

If Fugen had been at his peak, defeating this Lizardman would have been a breeze. However, only two years had passed since his resurrection, and he only possessed about sixty to seventy percent of his full strength. The weakness of rebirth pained him greatly.

But this was no excuse for failure; the Primarch of the Emperor's Sons would continue to fight, for the Emperor, for honor!

While Fugen was still careful, Kuga was utterly shocked.

Kuga was the last survivor and Guardian of Ashhot. From birth, he was an extraordinary Lizardman, bearing the "Holy Infant Mark." The Ancient Saint had plans for his birth and future, which was why the Shilan had him join the Holy Council. The Ancient Saint had a special mission for Kuga, and thus bestowed upon him the most powerful strength.

Among the Lizardmen, the strongest, the most powerful.

The "destiny" heralded by the Ancient Saint guided Kuga's path. Before the fall of Xihout City, dozens of Shilan bestowed their final blessings on Kuga.

Such immense power couldn't defeat the human before him. Kuga was even seemingly at a disadvantage, proving the strength of this human.

This led Kuga to firmly believe the human before him was no ordinary human. Most likely, he was a Chaos-worshipping Barbarian, with such striking looks, flowing long hair, purple armor, and exquisite swordsmanship.

Without a doubt, he was most likely Slaanesh's Divine Chosen Champion!

The human must be eliminated here!

Kuga raised his left hand, adorned with the Divine Artifact of the Ancient Saints, "Hand of the Gods."

The power of the Ancient Saints flowed through his palm.

For the grand plan!

The battle between Kuga and his mount Kuimok continued fiercely against Fugen, with the Divine Tlanxla Spear and the golden power sword clashing over a thousand times.

The power of the spear enveloped Fugen. The Primarch of the Emperor's Sons witnessed apocalyptic visions - the world in flames, stars falling, volcanoes erupting, a meteor fire rain obscuring all life, and the gods weeping. The fury of the Ancient Saints had descended. Opposing the grand plan would only lead to death!

Yet Fugen was no ordinary man. He had watched hundreds of worlds turn to fire, seen friends lost to betrayal and deceit, defied his father's guidance, plunged into darkness, slain his brother Ferrus, and driven Kiliman into a coffin. The illusions of the Venerable God Spear did not frighten him; instead, they intensified his fierce battle intent.

The two forces collided, with Fugen stepping back a pace and Kuga a step and a half. The spear tip narrowly grazed Fugen's face. Utilizing the momentum, Fugen whirled, directing his sword blade at Kuga's throat.

At this moment, Kuga extended his left hand toward Fugen.

An intense warning echoed in Fugen's mind. He felt a dreadful alert arise, although unaware of what it was, his instincts told him to evade this strike!

As he anticipated, Kuga's left hand discharged a blazing orb.

Contained within the orb was the power of the universe's genesis and the Ancient Saints' creation of all things. It was the purest cosmic primordial light, activated by the servant through the Divine Artifact of the Ancient Saints, vowing to annihilate all enemies!

"Ahhh!" Fugen was hit by the orb, the Primarch of the Emperor's Sons' figure was suppressed by it, drawing a meteor-like trail through the air, snapping trunks and evaporating foliage along its path. After trailing dozens of meters, Fugen landed in the rainforest's underbrush, the orb from the Hand of the Gods having burned a severe wound on his left shoulder, melting his armor. He hurriedly rolled aside even before checking his injuries.

Narrowly dodging, the Venerable God Spear stabbed into the ground as Kuga abandoned his mount Kuimok and pursued Fugen, with the power sword and Venerable God Spear clashing anew.

Fugen felt the pain and exhaustion in his body and understood the difficulty of this fight. The Lizardman before him wielded a Divine Artifact left by the Ancient Saints, and its tremendous power had wounded him.

Despite the unknown limits or conditions for its use, Fugen knew if the Lizardman could use it once, he could use it again. The last time he barely evaded a lethal blow, and if there was a next time, he was unsure of escape.

Kuga was even more astonished. The Hand of the Gods was one of the Divine Artifacts left by the Ancient Saints; it was an immensely powerful magic treasure capable of instantaneously slaying Chaos Great Demons. Several Great Demons had already been vanquished by its power, yet this human merely had his shoulder burned?!

Kuga immediately signaled the Spirit Lizard Priest, requesting communication for reinforcements.

The battle wasn't over, as the two heroes from different races clashed once more.

...

Sun City, Hesuota, Pyramid Temple.

A Spirit Lizard Priest hurried over, finding another Spirit Lizard Priest who served as a Maintainer: "The front line Spirit Lizard Priest sent a message that War Leader Kuga has encountered a powerful enemy and requires support."

Maintainer Isis, a great Spirit Lizard Priest and the daily steward of Sun City, pondered for a moment: "We can dispatch three more Lizardman Legions to assist Kuga."

"Not enough, the War Leader requests reinforcement from the Temple Guard Legion and the Ancient Giant Beast Legion," the Spirit Lizard Priest said. "According to Kuga, the enemy he's facing is unprecedentedly powerful, demanding the full deployment of the Temple Guard Legion and the Ancient Giant Beast Legion."

"But those are the core forces guarding Sun City; they cannot be mobilized lightly," Maintainer Isis hissed, with his tongue protruding. The Spirit Lizard Priest spoke softly: "The human invasion requires mobilization of the Temple Guard Legion and the Ancient Giant Beast Legion? It's unprecedented..."

"The War Leader insists," the Spirit Lizard Priest merely relayed Kuga's message.

"We can't decide this matter ourselves, let me consult the High Priest!" The resolute attitude displayed by Kuga was felt by Maintainer Isis. For thousands of years, this War Leader had consistently proven his prescience. After a brief contemplation, Isis resolved to seek the counsel of the Sun City's City Lord, Master Mazda Moody.

Using the key, the Maintainer opened the door to the meditation chamber. The oppressive humidity and dense fog assaulted its senses, but not hesitating, it swiftly entered the chamber.

In the midst of a vast expanse of lotus leaves and ponds, a massive Demon Toad slumbered. It sat cross-legged on the Golden Throne, its chest rising and falling steadily, exhaling great clouds of smoke continuously.

Isis was uncertain if Master Mazda Moody was asleep or meditating, but by operating the magical mechanism left by the Ancient Saints, it followed the traditional method of awakening the Demon Toad, trying to rouse the most powerful High Priest Shilan.

"Hoo~" The magical energy stirred Mazda Moody awake.

The High Priest Shilan took several minutes to open his eyes:

"The Son of the Ancient Saint has emerged; have Kuga cease fighting!"

"Yes!"