Amid the explosions of translucent flame, a golden light built up in Vesuvius's mouth. This surge of energy transformed into a massive beam of golden light that he released, turning his head to spread the destruction further across the guardian's white realm.
Dark, burning cracks formed in the white background, the breath seemingly annihilating even the guardian's inner world.
As the last droplet of his breath flowed out, the dragon spoke, his words charged with even more divine energy: "Spread, burn, and destroy everything!"
The golden energy then grew even more intense and expansive, as if it were gaining additional power from somewhere unseen.
'No matter how well you are hidden, if I hit everything, there will be nowhere to hide.' Vesuvius was sure his foe had used divine energy for their nasty, little tricks, so he was forced to counter it with his divine powers.
The battle escalated as bursts of the guardian's translucent energy appeared everywhere, trying to fight back against Vesuvius's golden flames. The two energies clashed, causing large explosions and shockwaves.
The dragon calmly floated amidst the explosions, the energy washing over the dark, burning barrier enveloping him, like sea waves crashing against a shoreline.
'Trying to counter me? Hmmm, purity... That's it!' The dragon's eyes lit up as he observed the clash of two energies, making him finally put together the methods of his enemy, 'It must be using its purity affinity to do something weird like purifying its traces of existence! No wonder I couldn't find any traces if they were purified!'
This insight sparked a revelation. He had been limiting his own potential. His powers were absolute; he could manipulate them in any way he desired for unexpected outcomes. He has always used them in the most direct ways instead of exploring more creative uses of his various affinities and divine energy.
'When it can purify its traces of existence, can I wash them away, or perhaps burn them away?!'
Just as he pieced this together, immediate danger snapped him back to reality.
In the blink of an eye, the guardian, like a silver dagger, lunged from the golden inferno. Its form was surrounded by translucent flames clashing with the golden inferno, slowly melting away its silver, ornamental body.
Yet the giant, semi-translucent blade growing from its arm quickly approached the dragon, aiming straight for his eyes. Its tip quickly grew closer.
'You can't outlast me...'
Reacting swiftly, Vesuvius's horns ignited, redirecting the protective sphere of energy into a massive golden flare toward the assailant.
The silver and gold clashed, with sparks flying everywhere.
The two forces collided spectacularly, silver against gold, sparking an intense explosion. But then, the silver faded, swallowed by the endless golden inferno, and the white space shattered into dissipated sparks of light.
Then, the darkness of the black hole returned, only to be devoured and burned by the ravaging golden radiance.
[+8600 XP]
'You were powerful and resourceful, but I have much, much, more energy...' With his ability to draw upon his star, Vesuvius was sure he could outlast any lord-level being, or simply overwhelm them with the sheer intensity of his indiscriminate attacks.
'No, that long in the past, attacks like those would drain me...' The dragon couldn't help, but reminisce about his growth and rising power.
Ding!
// Analyze result //
Name: Alchemical Golem Core of Purity
Category: Material
Grade: Lord
Item level: 230
Description: A core forged for the army of purity during the era of the purity crusade.
Effects: It generates purity-affinity divine energy and can be used to power things up.
//
'Forged? But by whom? Who could create cores to support constructs with divine powers?' Reading all of the hints, the dragon slowly pieced together the image: 'There was a war in the past—a big one.'
He tried to focus on his inherited memories, but there was nothing, except for the general sense that there was the war, but without any details.
'There are four balance races, plus the void walkers, which could be counted as the fifth race, but it is obvious that there are some internal divisions. They are not united at all. Maybe the part about the consequences of that war?'
With another thought, three translucent slips of paper manifested before the dragon, his eyes curiously glancing at them as if it were the first time he had ever heard of them.
Ding!
// Analyze result //
Name: Energy Purification Coupon
Category: Coupon
Grade: Mythical
Item level: 100
Effects: It can be used to purify abilities and titles back to celestial energy or XP.
//
'Huh? Celestial energy... again. Maybe I should finally explore what you are.'