After Fafniel and Uriel vanished from the battlefield, a hush swept over the angels watching, broken only when Jophiel spoke—her voice laced with awe.

  “Samael… was that what I think it was?”

  “Yes,” Samael replied, still stunned. “But it shouldn’t be possible. Even Uriel, with aeons of training, can’t. How did he learn it so quickly?”

  “Not even all archangels can use [Divine Territory],” Gabriele added. “It’s the peak of celestial magic.”.

  Even I couldn’t master it, Jophiel thought, troubled. A fusion of [Genesis: Creation] and [Revelation: New Heaven and New Earth] ... I’ve spent eternity chasing it. And this brat pulls it off?

  Samael clenched his jaw. I underestimated him. His talent… It's on a different level. Fafniel might be the strongest member of 'Dead End,' no matter the outcome.

  Adriel leaned forward. “Then doesn’t that mean Uriel’s going to lose?”

  “Not necessarily,” Samael answered. “I trained him to resist [Divine Territory]. Fafniel’s casting wasn’t flawless. Uriel should still be able to access five per cent of his technique.”

  “Is that enough?” Jophiel asked, worried.

  “He’ll endure. I taught him to survive in my Territory; surviving Fafniel’s would be a piece of cake.

  Within Fafniel’s [Divine Territory], a golden paradise stretched infinitely. Sacred structures dotted the divine landscape, radiating peace. But the illusion of tranquillity would soon be shattered.

  “Welcome to my world,” Fafniel said, grinning. “Like what you see?”

  “Not bad,” Uriel replied calmly. “But it's flawed. I can still fight.”

  Fafniel’s smile widened. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be enough to get the job done.”

  With a clenched fist, gravity collapsed onto Uriel, Bones cracked—pelvis, collarbone, ribs—one after another. The pain was indescribable, drowning out even his screams. His soul flickered, on the verge of shattering.

  But just before fading, a memory stirred—Samael’s training, his voice cut through the despair.

  Fafniel watched with amusement. “What happened to all that bravado? Cat got your tongue?”

  Uriel’s breath trembled, but he forced a glare. “Is… that all you’ve got?”

  In a blur, he lunged, catching Fafniel off guard with a sudden blow to the jaw. The younger angel staggered backwards, stunned.

  He recovered? Fafniel’s thoughts spun. He was crushed a moment ago.

  Uriel pressed the advantage, unleashing a barrage of punches. Fafniel took the hits before snapping out of it and countering with a brutal strike, sending Uriel flying, jaw broken.

  Crushing force won’t be enough, Fafniel realised. I’ll bleed him dry and drain his mana.

  Raising his hand, he changed the sure-hit effect of his territory to slashing attacks. The barrage of slashes tore through Uriel, carving deep wounds.

  But Uriel didn’t stop, he continued advancing. Mana flickered across his form, healing the devastating injuries.

  What is he made of? Fafniel thought. Why won’t he fall?

  He kept his distance and amplified the output of his slashes, trying to keep Uriel at bay. One strike severed Uriel’s arm—but the limb remained tethered to his soul, still functional.

  That thread technique… from the gravity well? That doesn’t explain the increase in speed. How is he getting stronger? Fafniel’s mind raced.

  Uriel pushed forward, face grim. I can’t keep this up. Either I end this… or I lose.

  "Why are you running? Are you scared? He mocked. “And in your technique no less. Pathetic.”

  Fafniel growled. “How dare you mock me, you pathetic weakling. I’ll make you scared.”

  Black holes erupted across the territory, all aimed at Uriel, and ice detonated throughout the realm. Due to the inherent conditions of a [Divine Technique], all the attacks struck through.

  Fafniel grinned, victorious, until a force pulled him toward the ice

  What? He survived that?

  A fist smashed into his face.

  Uriel emerged from the frost, bloodied, cracked, and had holes in his soul, yet he stood firm. He pressed the attacks, multiple blows landing. Fafniel reeled from the blows, finally retaliating.

  “You know this territory heals me, right?” he taunted, striking Uriel across the jaw.

  But Uriel grinned, healing his soul as the slashes continued.

  They both exchanged blows, neither getting the advantage before Uriel landed a clean uppercut, then summoned a blade of pure mana. The tip drove into Fafniel’s skull, injuring his brain. A follow-up strike destroyed his heart.

  Fafniel collapsed.

  Uriel saw his chance. With the slashes continuing their assault, he poured all his power into one final blow, punching the golden ground.

  The shockwaves roared through the realm, tearing the fabric of the Territory apart.

  But Fafniel’s eyes snapped open.

  “I’m not gonna let that happen.” He growled, forcing the territory to stabilise.

  Uriel’s gaze hardened. Already awake? Damn it. I have to destroy his heart and brain again.

  As he moved to strike, Fafniel observed something impossible: Uriel’s wounds were healing faster than before. His movements grew sharper, his strength surging.

  Fafniel retreated, trying to regroup. But Uriel pulled him in again, landing a devastating punch to his chest; however, this time, Fafniel condensed mana in his chest, causing the mana blade to stop just short of his heart.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  How is he still fighting this intensely? Fafniel thought, stunned. The mental strain would have overwhelmed most opponents, yet he is still pushing. I need to be more ruthless—more violent.

  Pushed to the edge, Fafniel gambled everything, pushing the output of his slashes passed its limit just as Uriel was about to land a haymaker.

  Uriel was thrown like a ragdoll, his soul shredded.

  But he didn’t stop. He regained his composure and pushed himself beyond his limits. The pain was excruciating, but he gritted his teeth and summoned every ounce of strength he had left. His mind and soul were in sync as he managed to maintain control of his mana, sealing the wounds the moment they formed.

  He smirked. So… this is your plan. Both technique slots for offence. No defence. Brave. Stupid.

  The next moment decided everything.

  Uriel reeled Fafniel in again and drove his fist into his chest. The heart shattered.

  Fafniel coughed blood. I can’t let him destroy my head, he thought, raising trembling hands to block the next strike.

  But Uriel’s fist crashed through his guard—faster, heavier, unstoppable.

  The blow warped space, a golden flash erupting on impact.

  Fafniel was sent flying.

  A heartbeat later, both combatants reappeared in the arena.

  Fafniel crashed into the floor, still.

  Adriel and Gabriele erupted in cheers. The arena shook with their joy.

  Jophiel stood frozen, staring at Uriel. He survived that? No one survives inside an enemy's Territory.

  Samael smiled quietly, pride glowing in his eyes. Of course, he made it. I trained him after all.

  Uriel stood, covered in gashes, yet determined. He lunged toward Fafniel, one last attack prepared.

  But Fafniel rose.

  With a calm palm strike, he drove his hand into Uriel’s chest. The heart shattered.

  Uriel gasped, blood pouring from his lips as he skidded back.

  How has he already healed?

  Fafniel unleashed a devastating blow, fuelled by the mana he had siphoned within his [Divine Territory]. His fist hammered Uriel’s skull into the ground with such force that it shattered, flesh, bone, and soul splintering in one brutal strike.

  For a heartbeat, silence gripped the arena.

  Then, laughter, raw and triumphant, echoed through the sky.

  "I won," Fafniel breathed, voice trembling with disbelief. "I actually won."

  He raised his arms to the heavens, bathed in the fading afterglow of celestial warfare. Adriel and Gabriele stood frozen; their hopes crushed.

  But just as despair set in, a roaring pillar of fire erupted beneath Fafniel, engulfing him.

  “AGHHH!” He screamed, dropping to his knees, writhing in agony.

  Uriel stepped out from the flames, unharmed.

  Then came the kick, a brutal, precise strike to Fafniel’s chest that sent him skidding back, clutching his ribs in disbelief.

  “You should be dead,” Fafniel rasped. “I destroyed your head. Your heart!”

  Uriel’s tone was calm as he replied. “Passive healing, of course.”

  Passive healing my ass, Fafniel gritted his teeth. He knew the truth: no healing was possible once both the heart and brain were obliterated. Mana circulation would cease.

  And yet, here Uriel stood.

  Realisation dawned.

  Fafniel let out a breathless laugh and rose to his feet. “You fused your mana circuits with your blood vessels and kept your soul intact by force-feeding mana into it, didn’t you?”

  Uriel said nothing at first. Then, with a smirk tugging at his lips, he spoke.

  "Stay down. You sacrificed your healing just to bring me down, burned through everything in your [Territory]... and yet here I am, standing. Not a scratch on me."

  He tilted his head.

  "But you? Look at yourself. Circuits fried; spells drained. Pathetic."

  Fafniel didn’t flinch. “That may be so…but this fight is far from over.”

  He stomped the ground. A hidden seal flared to life, its light flooding through the arena.

  Uriel’s eyes widened, “When did you—”

  “Before I cast my [Divine Territory],” Fafniel said smugly. “An insurance in case you survived.”

  Mana surged through his soul as the circuit healed his circuits and his soul.

  Tch. Back to square one. Now that he’s learned [Circuit Fusion], it’s only a matter of time before he copies it. I need to drain his mana. That’s my only shot.

  Uriel steadied his breathing and shifted into a guarded stance, eyes locked on his opponent.

  The two fighters circled each other, their footsteps echoing in the charged silence. The air was heavy with tension.

  Then, Fafniel’s tone changed. No longer mocking, it carried a strange reverence.

  “Uriel,” he said quietly, almost contemplative. “I hate to admit it... But you were stronger than me—before.”

  He took a step forward, arms loosening at his sides.

  “But now? Now I’ve ascended. I’ve reached a higher state of being... and it’s all thanks to you.”

  Uriel scoffed, “Don’t make me laugh.”

  He lunged, but Fafniel sidestepped effortlessly.

  “Hey,” Fafniel grinned, slamming a punch into Uriel’s ribs. “Don’t interrupt my rush.”

  Uriel hit the ground, coughing blood.

  “You survived my territory by forcing your heart to pump faster, accelerating mana flow across your soul, stitching it together piece by piece,” Fafniel continued, awe mixed with pride.

  He figured it out already. This is bad. Uriel forces his ribs to heal.

  Samael’s lips curled into a smile.

  He figured it out after seeing it once...Maybe Fafniel really is the one. Without training, he cast a near-perfect [Divine Territory]. Not only that, he used [Circuit Fusion] and mana manipulation perfectly.

  Fafniel’s excitement was evident as he continued sharing his observations, “What a brilliant technique. Using it makes me feel so powerful, I can reinforce my soul better than ever before. What a rush!”

  He chuckled.

  “What’s going on with Fafniel. He sounds crazy.” Jophiel inquired.

  “He’s entered the zone,” Samael said, answering Jophiel’s confused glance. “The third level of flow.”

  “What does that mean?” she asked.

  “When you deploy your Territory, your circuits overload, pushing past their limits.

  But once the Territory collapses, your burnt-out circuit begins to cool. And when they do, there’s a rebound, your circuits temporarily overproduce mana in compensation.

  That surge? It pushes you into the third state of flow… assuming you were in level two to begin with.”

  He narrowed his eyes, voice dropping to a near-whisper.

  “At that level, mastery becomes instinct. You don’t just copy what you see—you internalise it, refine it, and evolve it in real time.”

  Jophiel’s breath caught. “So, it amplifies the benefits of levels one and two, and lets you copy any technique?”

  "Precisely," Samael confirmed.

  Jophiel went pale. “Then Uriel is—”

  “Doomed,” Samael said flatly.

  But just as despair gripped the air, Uriel rose, his torso fully healed, flames simmering beneath his skin.

  This is a new level of power I haven’t seen before. He isn’t even taking me seriously. But that arrogance will be his undoing.

  With a burst of speed, Uriel lunged. Fafniel, still drunk on his newfound strength, barely glanced his way.

  Uriel sized the opening, a compressed beam of fire exploded from his palm, detonating against Fafniel with a thunderous blast that shook the battlefield. Uriel surged forward, fist blazing, unleashing a relentless barrage that engulfed Fafniel in flames.

  From the sidelines, Adriel and Gabriel’s eyes lit with hope.

  But it was fleeting.

  With a single, brutal front kick, Fafniel hammered Uriel in the sternum, sending him flying.

  Uriel hit the ground hard, coughing, gripping his chest.

  “How are you unharmed…?” he growled.

  Fafniel scoffed. “I let you hit me so you could feel useful. But you're so weak, I barely noticed.”

  Then he vanished.

  Fafniel reappeared mid-strike, devastating blows landing in a blur—each punch heavier than the last. A savage uppercut shattered Uriel’s heart, launching him into the ceiling. The impact cracked the golden ceiling. He crashed down moments later.

  Fafniel grabbed him by the hair and sneered.

  “This is it? You’re going to embarrass your teacher like this?”

  Without hesitation, he crushed Uriel’s skull with a single, bone-splintering punch.

  Despite the gruesome assault, Uriel displayed his remarkable healing abilities, restoring his head and heart.

  Crawling, broken, he tried to escape—but Fafniel conjured a mana tether, yanked him back and drove a fist into his chest—shattering his heart again.

  Uriel groaned, shielding his head, but he was too slow. Another strike crushed his skull and shattered his hands.

  Jophiel couldn’t watch. She turned away, trembling. “Samael, please—end this!”

  Samael’s gaze was grim. “I can’t, not until Uriel gives up.”

  But Uriel didn’t, despite the immense pain and overwhelming odds; he stood to his feet, healing his head and heart.

  Bloodied. Battered. Broken.

  “I will not…lose,” he snarled—and charged.

  Gasps rippled through the crowd as Uriel’s speed began to spike, his movements sharper, faster, every attack more ferocious than the last.

  But Fafniel sidestepped all of them. Effortlessly, with a smug grin on his face.

  “You used this on me in my Territory, right?”

  Fafniel dodged a right cross and cocked his hand back.

  Samael’s eyes widened. Don’t tell me he is about to use it. Shock flickered—then gave way to anticipation.

  Uriel tried to deflect the incoming strike, but he was too slow.

  Fafniel’s fist flashed gold as it connected, collapsing Uriel’s chest inwards and hurling him into the wall.

  “That,” he said, brushing imaginary dust off his knuckles, “Is how you land a [Divine flash].”

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