Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Battle with a Fallen God

As Seojun stepped further into the circle, he felt a chilling sensation run down his spine. Nerathiel's presence was overwhelming, a dark aura radiating from him that seemed to wrap around Seojun like a suffocating shroud.

For a moment, it was as if he couldn't breathe, his body freezing under the weight of that oppressive energy.

'What is this?' Seojun thought, his heart pounding. Then, just as quickly as the feeling came, it vanished. He took a breath and realized, 'Looks like it's my Fear Resistance kicking in. Without my system's full support, I'll have to be even more careful.'

He steadied himself, his gaze locked on Nerathiel. There was no turning back now. Seojun tightened his grip on his scythe, feeling the cool metal of the handle against his palm. 'I don't have my system to guide me, but I still have access to its features. I just have to rely on my instincts and experience,' he reminded himself.

Nerathiel's voice cut through the air like a blade. "So, it is true," The dark aura emanating from the fallen god pulsed with every word. "The human who annihilated three demon lords dares to stand before me."

He hesitated for a moment, 'I can't afford to lose here. I have to find a way out of this domain, find the Abyss Lord, and—most importantly—reunite with Mom.' The thought of his mother gave him strength, and he squared his shoulders, meeting Nerathiel's fiery gaze.

"I don't just stand before you," he said, his voice steady but his mind still cautious. "I'm here to face you."

Nerathiel's eyes narrowed, a flicker of dark amusement in his expression. "Bold words for a mortal," he said. His voice held an edge that was both mocking and threatening. "Malara said you wish to defeat me. Do you truly believe you can?"

Seojun's mind was still calculating. He knew he had to be strategic. 'Without the system to guide me, one wrong move could end it all.' He couldn't afford to rush in blindly. He needed to test Nerathiel, find a weakness, and strike when the time was right.

"I don't need to believe," Seojun replied, his grip tightening on his scythe. "I just need to try."

Nerathiel's chuckle rumbled through the barren landscape like a distant storm. "Interesting," he said. "Very well, human. You may try."

As Nerathiel stepped forward, his sword crackling with dark energy, the air grew colder again. The weight of his presence pressed down on Seojun, but this time he held his ground. He couldn't let fear dictate his actions. He had to be focused.

Seojun thought. With a swift motion, he drew his scythe, the blade gleaming under the moonlight.

Nerathiel raised his sword, pointing it at Seojun. "Show me, then," he commanded, his voice carrying a deep, echoing power. "Show me the strength that makes you think you can challenge a god."

Outside the forcefield, the atmosphere was tense among the Bino demons and clan lords. Murmurs rippled through the crowd as they watched the thick, swirling black smoke that concealed the battle inside. None of them could see what was happening, and the uncertainty weighed heavily on them.

Malara stood among them, her brow furrowed with concern. Yet, deep down, she believed in Seojun's strength. 'He is no ordinary human,' she thought. 'Lord Seojun will find a way to win.'

Meanwhile, the other clan lords observed the forcefield, eyes narrowed and arms crossed. The black smoke churning within made it impossible to see or sense what was going on inside. The tension was palpable.

"Ah, Nerathiel is probably enjoying himself right now," Zholga muttered, her eyes glinting with a strange excitement. "He's found an interesting opponent this time."

A small demon child, barely reaching Malara's waist, tugged on her hand, looking up with wide, worried eyes. "Sister Malara, will Lord Seojun win?" the child asked softly.

Malara looked down and offered a reassuring smile. "He will," she replied with quiet confidence. "Lord Seojun is the strongest human we've ever encountered."

Nearby, Huno lay on the ground, his massive three-headed form unnervingly still, all his eyes focused on the forcefield. He seemed unwilling to look away, Beside him, Silla had coiled into his serpent form, his silver-scaled body twisted on the ground with his head facing the forcefield. His eyes were narrowed, and his tongue flicked out in anticipation.

"If only we could see how the fight is going," Balor muttered, frustration evident in his gruff voice.

Zholga, with her serpentine eyes and sharp features, spoke up, catching the attention of the other clan lords. "Anyway," she began, and the others turned to her, waiting to hear what she had to say.

She hissed softly, her voice carrying a hint of suspicion. "Could it be that Lord Seojun is just another of Goddess Zyraena's pawns? There's no other way he could have ended up in the Abyss, right?"

The other Clan lords exchanged glances, and some nodded thoughtfully. Kazrak scratched his chin. "Now that I think about it, you might be right," he said. "But this time, she's thrown in a human that she'll regret manipulating."

Nerathiel stood tall, his eyes gleaming with a dark thrill as he gazed at Seojun. Without a word, he lifted his sword high and then plunged it into the ground with a force that shook the entire battlefield.

The earth cracked and shattered, and massive chunks of rock and debris exploded upward, rushing towards Seojun like a storm of stone.

Seojun's eyes widened. "Barrier!" he muttered, instinctively raising his hand. A shimmering shield of energy materialized around him just in time, deflecting the flying rocks. But before he could even catch his breath, a sense of danger prickled at the back of his neck.

Suddenly, Nerathiel was behind him. With a swift and brutal motion, Nerathiel delivered a powerful kick to Seojun's back. The impact was like a sledgehammer slamming into him, sending him hurtling through the air.

He flew several meters, the wind knocked out of him, and crashed hard against the ground. Pain shot through his body, but he forced himself to roll with the momentum. Using his scythe, he stabbed it into the ground to halt his tumble. He came to a stop, dropping to one knee and coughing up blood. His breathing was ragged, and his body ached all over.

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