The west district of Tartarus had become a battlefield of shattered towers and broken skies.
Green lightning flashed endlessly across the clouds.
Blue ruin energy distorted the atmosphere itself.
At the center of it all—
Nyk Vandamson and Serion Bane stared each other down.
Serion slowly rose from the crater upside down before flipping back onto his feet.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
But he smiled.
"So this is the technique of that old monster Azelar we heard about…"
Nyk rolled his neck casually.
"Master got a lot more where that came from."
Serion suddenly vanished.
BOOOOM!!!
He appeared behind Nyk instantly and swung a kick toward his ribs.
But—
The world twisted again.
Serion's body abruptly flipped sideways unnaturally.
WHAM!!!
He slammed face-first into a nearby wall.
Before he could recover—
Nyk was already above him.
A knee crashed into Serion's spine and sent him through the building entirely.
CRAAASH!!!
Serion rolled across the street below before stopping himself with one hand.
He stood up immediately.
His eyes narrowed.
Again—
He vanished.
This time even faster.
One movement.
Two.
Three.
Each time he attacked—
The Axis shifted.
One moment gravity reversed.
The next moment direction itself rotated.
Every attempt ended the same way.
With Serion smashing headfirst into something.
A tower.
The ground.
A floating bridge.
And finally—
BOOOOM!!!
Serion crashed upside down into the side of a skyscraper with only his legs sticking out.
Nyk burst out laughing.
"Aye yo this technique is disrespectful as hell."
Serion ripped himself out of the wall breathing heavily.
His face twitched slightly in irritation.
Then he raised one hand.
"Immunity Blessing."
A golden aura spread across his body.
The rotational distortion around him weakened instantly.
Serion dashed forward again.
Nyk activated the Axis immediately.
But—
Nothing happened.
Serion smirked.
"Not this time."
He reached forward to grab Nyk—
But Nyk balanced effortlessly on top of Serion's extended arm using only his right hand.
Serion's eyes widened.
"Wha—"
WHAAAM!!!
Nyk swung his right leg downward and kicked Serion directly in the head.
The impact folded the building behind him.
Glass and concrete exploded outward.
Serion flew through multiple structures before stopping himself in midair.
He wiped blood from his mouth.
Then laughed.
"You martial artists are annoying."
Nyk stretched his shoulders.
"Your endurance is annoying."
He reached downward and grabbed Destroyer.
The moment his hand touched the blade—
VRRRRRMMMM.
The sword vibrated violently.
Blue and red energy flowed along its black edge.
Nyk slowly entered a stance.
Left foot forward.
Right foot planted behind him.
His right hand gripped the hilt.
The tip of the blade pointed toward Serion while his left hand rested calmly near it.
The pressure around him changed completely.
Serion's smile slowly faded.
Then—
He raised both hands toward the sky.
"Axe of Taurus."
KRAAAAAK!!!
Green lightning descended from the heavens and struck his right hand directly.
A massive gold-and-silver axe materialized instantly.
The weapon radiated terrifying force.
Serion rested it over his shoulder and grinned.
"Let's rock."
The next second—
Both vanished.
BOOOOOOM!!!
They collided in the skies above Tartarus.
Serion swung the axe downward with monstrous strength.
Nyk blocked using Destroyer.
The impact split the clouds apart.
But Nyk redirected the axe smoothly.
The blade slid toward the right side.
Then—
Nyk spun instantly.
WHAM!!!
His elbow smashed into Serion's face.
Before Serion could recover—
Nyk turned completely and kicked him directly in the jaw.
BOOOOM!!!
Serion became a green streak flying through multiple nearby buildings.
Entire structures collapsed behind him.
Dust filled the skies.
Nyk floated silently with Destroyer resting on his shoulder again.
Then—
CRAAAAACK!!!
The rubble exploded apart.
Serion shot through the sky like a green meteor.
His speed distorted the atmosphere.
As soon as he reached point-blank range—
He thrust both palms forward.
"Canon Blast."
A gigantic beam erupted instantly.
The blast swallowed the entire skyline.
The city trembled beneath the pressure.
But inside the beam—
Nyk calmly raised Destroyer.
Blue and red energy glowed brighter.
Nyk's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Ruin's Touch."
The blade hummed once.
And the massive cannon blast—
Vanished.