The battlefield had become a wasteland of devastation, the very ground cracked and broken beneath the weight of Adams' and the Ashura General's power. They stood locked in combat, two titans whose every movement sent shockwaves that rippled across the God Ascension Plane. The sky itself seemed to tremble as the two combatants clashed with ever-increasing ferocity.
Adams, golden aura blazing like a sun, darted forward with blinding speed. His expression was cold, focused—his eyes gleaming with resolve as he unleashed the first of his techniques:
"Infinite Dragon Fist."
A colossal dragon of golden energy formed behind him, its scales shimmering as it mirrored his movements. His fist collided with the Ashura General's chest, the impact sending a shockwave that split the earth for miles. The air screamed under the force, and distant mountains crumbled as the energy dragon tore through the landscape.
But the Ashura General stood firm, his four arms crossed in defense, the Void Emperor's Aegis glowing as it absorbed the blow.
With a low, guttural growl, the Ashura retaliated, his four fists glowing with a terrifying darkness. "Hellfire Tsunami." A wave of molten, black fire surged from his fists, swallowing the battlefield in an ocean of destructive energy. Adams met the onslaught head-on, his golden aura flaring as he tried to hold back the tide of hellfire.
But the sheer force behind the technique pushed him back, the ground cracking beneath his feet as he dug in.
Adams grimaced, feeling the heat scorch his skin despite his divine protection. The Ashura General laughed, his voice a deep rumble. "You cannot outlast me, boy. I have slaughtered gods for less."
Adams' eyes narrowed. He wasn't done yet.
"Celestial Palm of Creation."
He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the heavens themselves responded. A massive, glowing hand descended from the sky, larger than mountains, its divine energy rippling with the power to reshape worlds. The Ashura General's eyes widened in shock, but his lips twisted into a dark grin. He raised all four arms, a sphere of impenetrable darkness forming around him.
"Void Shield of the Abyss."
The enormous celestial hand crashed down on the Ashura, but the dark sphere held firm, the collision of divine and void energy sending shockwaves that blasted across the battlefield, annihilating everything in their path. Even miles away, mountains were flattened, and forests were reduced to ash. The weaker cultivators watching from afar were sent flying, their bodies shattered by the force.
Adams, the one above all, had fallen.
From a distance, Lovigary, Arianna, and Lokk, Adams' children, rushed toward their father. Their faces were tight with concern, their movements swift as they reached him. Lovigary knelt beside his father, his voice trembling. "Father... you must rise. Brother needs you."
But Adams did not move. His once-golden eyes were now distant, clouded with grief. His lips murmured softly, "I... I will save her... I will bring her back..."
Lovigary's heart ached as he realized the depth of his father's pain. Even now, after all these years, Adams could not let go of his beloved, still haunted by her death. Tears welled in Arianna's eyes as she gently touched her father's hand, trying to reach him. "Father, please... don't leave us..."
Meanwhile, Adams lay broken, yet his spirit stirred. Slowly, he raised his trembling hands and began weaving hand signs. The Ashura General, standing victorious, felt a chill run down his spine. His eyes widened in panic as he realized what Adams was doing.
"If you finish that..." the Ashura General's voice faltered, his confidence shattered. "I will not survive."
With a snarl of desperation, he hurled a black sword at Adams, the blade piercing his side. Adams grunted, blood pouring from the wound. But he only smirked, his golden eyes locking onto the Ashura.
The Ashura's heart pounded in his chest. "I won't let you finish!" he roared, but there was fear in his voice. He turned, preparing to flee.
But as he tried to escape, Lovigary and Lokk, along with the orphans, stood in his way. Their faces were resolute, their auras blazing as they refused to back down.
The Ashura's dark aura surged, crushing them under its immense weight. They fell to their knees, barely able to breathe as the oppressive energy washed over them. But despite the pain, they stood their ground.
With lightening speed, the Ashura General reached for Arianna, his hand wrapping around her as he sneered at Laden, who still clutched to the lifeless body of his wife. Laden's hollow eyes barely flickered at the scene, but the Ashura General's voice cut through the haze.
"If you can appease the god of the underworld," the Ashura whispered darkly, "I'm sure he would return your wife's soul. But you'd have to sacrifice something, do things you would regret something like sacrificing a plane or two, maybe more. Think about it." His words dripped with sinister glee.
And then, in a blink, he vanished, leaving nothing but dust in his wake.