The resistance against Azrivel's attack gradually lessened, hurling the purple mass of demonic energy towards Vermaris. The outcome was obvious. He accepted the bet because of amusement. This boy, who was only 16 years old, dared to challenge him whom even the gods ran away from.
Adrian was the only person who was able to overpower him in direct combat, and even he had to work hard for many years. Well, there is Reyna too. Even if she's suffering from backlash and still recovering strength, her ability to manipulate time could give him a hard time, though he would of course win.
Come to think of it, four of them were really balancing each other out. Adrian was a jack of all trades, Azrivel was superior in terms of strength and power, Reyna had a great affinity with divinity even before she became an avatar, and then there was Arden. He was a strategic genius. He had no need for power, he just needed to surround himself with powerful people. A man who was born to be a great king. But what about now?
Reyna is pursuing her own sense of justice regardless of casualties, Azrivel himself is trying to exterminate humanity for the sake of his people. Arden, a man who was proficient in schemes, died by a scheme before recognizing his full potential. Adrian was dead, leaving the weakest parts of himself behind. And that idiot just challenged Azrivel to a battle with raw power. How stupid.
Azrivel kept looking with a cold look as Theon failed to stop his attack and suffered a penalty. His soul is breaking apart, and existence itself is disappearing. He looked towards the sky. Right now, the whole world must be witnessing Theon's death and the destruction of Vermaris. They would think twice before challenging him.
He looked one last time at the face of his old friend, withering in agony.
"I hope we get to meet again in better circumstances, Adrian. You're not the type to easily die. I'm sure you're out there somewhere. I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to the people who once called us saviors. Goodbye, old friend."
He turned around and started heading towards the demon realm.
He was about to fly towards the crack when he felt like something was wrong. The sound and clash he expected with the destruction did not happen. The existence of a demon king is similar to that of an avatar. He, too, could sense the ceiling, the level cap that was preventing mortals from reaching higher than the saint rank. Of course, the level cap did not affect him. For him and for the avatars of gods, the level cap did not matter.
Avatars could bypass the ceiling with the divinity they inherited from their gods. Azrivel is a different kind of existence altogether. He was not a mortal. The level cap did not affect him either. But he was still aware of it. He could spiritually see it holding humans down. And that's exactly what left him dumbfounded. The indomitable barrier between the Mythic realm and the Saint realm slowly started cracking.
....................
"Wake up, my beloved. Put yourself back together and breakthrough that damn ceiling."
"Write your story among the stars for ages to come."
With those words, Theon opened his eyes.
His entire existence was breaking apart like porcelain. He could no longer feel his arms or legs. He was surrounded by a fiery inferno. getting burned from all sides. His sword shattered. From the front, he was getting suffocated by the mass of demonic energy. From above, he felt as if been constrained by an invisible force. Most likely the level cap.
There was no need for any thoughts, analysis, or plans. There's only one thing to do. He still felt the warmth of the goddess, felt as if she was standing behind him, pushing him forward while bearing his weight.
He focused deep into his soul and recalled every precious memory he had, trying to create an anchor within himself. Memories of the time he spent with Bloodwolf party, his childhood where his grandfather showed him numerous amazing techniques, his father's silent encouragement, even if he did not praise Theon openly.
All those memories, the good, bad, and worse? It's what made him who he is right now. So, what if Azrivel and Reyna regressors? Who cares about the level cap? He has things to do, people to save, and especially some people whom he has to send to a place worse than hell. There's no time to be dead.
With all the emotions he could muster, he willed his existence to gather. With all that he ever was and ever will be, his will clashed against the ceiling of power.
Crying out a furious roar, he went head-on against Azrivel's attack while his own power kept clashing against the ceiling. There was no hesitation. No unneeded thinking or holding back. The only thing on his mind was breaking through. Against the flames, demonic energy, and the level cap, he clashed with everything he had.
Countless notifications appeared in front of him, but he did not pay any attention. He was in the zone, seeking boundless victory through raw power and will.
The whole world was watching. The beings who were closest to the level cap felt it. The force that was holding them back was fracturing. The gods residing in heaven felt it as well. Their entire realm started reverberating. Gods were stupefied. They did not expect this mortal, whom they paid attention to only for a brief moment, would do something like this.
The goddess of time was gritting her teeth. How was this possible? The very mortal whom she dismissed as a mere remnant is trying to break through the ceiling with sheer will. This has never happened before.
Of course, except for the avatars and the demon king, there were only two people who managed to pass the level cap. One person was Adrian Holloway from the previous timeline. He used his knowledge to make the limits disappear for him.
The person was the fallen one. The demon god. He, too, broke the ceiling like Theon was trying now. But he was a god who was forced into the mortal realm.
Theon's furious roar echoed throughout the world. At this moment, it was all or nothing. Heavenly realm, Demon realm, and every other realm out there felt pulsations. Slowly, cracks started widening, which could only be sensed by the strongest people in the world.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
WARNING: USER LIFESPAN DECREASING RAPIDLY. CEASE ALL COMBAT OR IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE WILL OCCUR.
REMAINING LIFESPAN- 12 YEARS
ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL DEATH: 1 MINUTE.
With one final push, he unleashed everything, and the ceiling finally gave in. For the first time in history, in every timeline, a mortal broke through the level cap with pure will. Beings who were closer to the level cap felt their suffocation fading briefly.
Truth to tell, Theon was temporarily increasing his strength by using his life span as fuel. Ignisborn bloodline is slowly leaving his body. Terrible condition of his body aside, he will be dead once the countdown runs out. But despite all that, his breaking through the level cap had a significant meaning. The strongest people in the world who were convinced of reaching the prime of their strength, Theon, became an inspiration to them. It was possible for them to reach even higher. And they can do this without relying on gods. At this moment, without knowing, he became a beacon for all those who were suppressed.
📜 SYSTEM STATUS
USER – THEON RIVENHART IGNISBORN
MANA CORE – MYTHICAL (MIDDLE TIER)
CORE POTENTIAL – ???????????????
BLOODLINE – I?N?S?ORN B?O?DLI?E
Azrivel watched dumbfoundedly as his attack was completely swallowed by white and crimson flames. Demonic energy completely disappeared he could see Theon's silhouette within flames. He was levitating midair. His blond hair has completely turned black. His pupils kept changing between piercing blue and black. There was a halo of flames around his head. He gave Azrivel a cold look.
Azrivel prepared himself for a counterattack, but instead, Theon pointed his hand towards the battlefield. All the flames he generated started condensing around him. Then he muttered:
"Ignis Regnum: Flame King's Domain"
A huge, fiery dome manifested surrounding Vermaris. Then the entire dome was engulfed in flames, as if burning everything.
"Azrivel, you are right. I'm not Adrian. And I have no intention of ever becoming him. I will do my own thing."
"Regression, transmigration, and reincarnation. I don't give a damn about your so-called cheats. When we clash again, I will win. The only question is, will it be today or tomorrow? Will you honor our bet?"
"I have 50 seconds left. I will use all of it to end you right here and now." Theon grinned arrogantly and looked him directly in the eyes.
"Even if you are weakened, even if my strength is temporary and on the verge of death, I'm strong enough to kill you right now."
The fiery domain dissipated. Flames completely died down. Every single monster within the area was burned to a crisp. But none of the humans or the remaining structures were damaged. "Flame King's Domain" ignored all allies and attacked all the monsters within the area.
Azrivel had a hard look on his face. Theon's face looked similar to that onetime Adiran went mad after Reyna was kidnapped. It was like all the darkened thoughts inside him were on the verge of emerging.
Maybe those were Theon's real feelings emerging at that time. And now, in a world without Adrian, nothing was holding Theon back. This was not as simple as killing him and all the humanity. For the first time in a while, Azrivel felt a small spark of uneasiness.
He did not want to speak the words aloud. He didn't want to say "fine, I'll head back for now". He had too much pride. But his look said it all. He had made his decision.
He looked at Theon and spoke.
"3 years. That's how much time you asked for, right? All right. I will not directly interfere with the war for 3 years. I will strengthen my army, make sure my generals achieve their full potential."
"But know this, Theon Ignisborn, I will not stop them if they wish to fight you, whether through brute strength or schemes."
Theon smirked.
"That's fine. Humanity can't grow if they don't have any challenges. I will properly mold them in the next 3 years and cut off all the wretched parts. Then I will come for you, Azrivel. After 3 years, two of us will clash with everything we have."
"Until then, stay obediently in that hell hole of yours."
Azrivel's look was fierce enough to cut through steel. He released his killing intent. But what can he do? Theon had cornered him. And most importantly, he felt a spark of excitement—something Adrian could never offer him, but Theon could, a fight to the death.
He did not say anything but looked Theon in the eye. But he doesn't have to. Both of them have come to an agreement. Azrivel scoffed and turned around, leaving the battlefield.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:
WARNING: USER LIFESPAN DECREASING RAPIDLY. CEASE ALL COMBAT OR IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE WILL OCCUR.
REMAINING LIFESPAN- 4 YEARS
ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL DEATH: 35 seconds.
He turned his gaze from retreating Azrivel and towards Vermaris. There was one last thing he needed to deal with. The most important and dangerous part. He turned his cold gaze towards the Horseman of War.