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Nyzzor dragged Moon Light with him as the pocket dimension sealed shut.
Space folded violently. The ground vanished. Gravity twisted, then snapped back.
Moon Light hit first, boots scraping against solid nothingness as the dimension stabilized around them. The sky was wrong—fractured, layered, flickering between darkness and static.
Nyzzor did not waste time.
He kicked forward hard, both feet slamming into Moon Light's face.
THUD.
Moon Light's head snapped back as he was thrown across the ground, skidding on his heels before catching himself with one hand. Dust and fragments of warped space scattered under his palm.
Nyzzor landed opposite him, hunched low, chest rising fast.
Nyzzor (thought): "This human is dangerous. I attacked from his blind spot and he still landed heavy damage. Even after evolving. Even after gaining two horns. My power should be far superior to human capabilities."
Moon Light straightened slowly. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away with his thumb and looked at the smear, then smirked.
"Not bad," he said. "You got out of my grip."
He rolled his neck once, eyes locked on Nyzzor.
"But you are not the only one who can slip into other dimensions." His grin widened. "I noticed you moved your body through random layers of the galaxy, huh? Cute."
He took a step forward.
"You picked the wrong opponent, bitch. I am one of the strongest humans ever."
Nyzzor screeched, the sound tearing through the warped air. His body twitched violently as dark mist poured from the hole in his ribs, spilling down his torso and evaporating before it hit the ground.
He spread his arms wide.
The void answered.
Black mist flooded outward, filling the dimension, pressing in from all sides. The air thickened. Gravity pulled unevenly.
"How? HOW can a mere human have such power?" Nyzzor shrieked, voice cracking. "I am a Demon Peer! I am this close to becoming a Demon Lord!"
His claws shook as he pointed at Moon Light.
"So how are you THIS strong?! WHO THE HELL has access to dimensions other than us and the angels?!"
They rushed each other.
Their fists collided.
BOOOOOM.
The dimension convulsed. Shockwaves ripped outward, tearing through the ground and sky at the same time. The horizon split apart. The sky fractured like glass, massive cracks spreading as chunks of reality peeled away and fell into a screaming void beneath.
Moon Light didn't pull back.
"Apparently I do," he said, driving forward through the recoil. "And for your information, although it is very rare, there are a handful of people on Earth who can do that and more."
He slammed his knee into Nyzzor's face.
CRACK.
Nyzzor's head snapped sideways. Before he could recover, Moon Light vanished and reappeared at his flank.
A kick crushed into his ribs.
CRUNCH.
A punch followed immediately, burying into his gut.
THUD.
Each hit sent fractures racing through the dimension. The ground split open. Gravity buckled. Nyzzor's own mist lashed back against him, slicing into his arms and tearing chunks of flesh loose.
Moon Light stayed on him, relentless.
" You underestimated humans," he said evenly, landing another punch. "And that will cost you your life."
Nyzzor staggered, limbs shaking, chunks of his body tearing away as his power turned unstable.
Moon Light grinned.
"Is that all?" He tilted his head slightly. "All bark, no bite."
He spat blood to the side.
"Tsk. How pathetic."
Energy erupted around him.
The dimension screamed as power ripped outward from his body. Light and pressure tore across broken space.
"Aaaaaaaah!"
Nyzzor stumbled back, claws scraping uselessly against the collapsing ground.
"Such overwhelming strength…" his voice shook. "I cannot beat him—"
He twisted sharply, trying to sink into subspace.
Moon Light was already there.
He grabbed Nyzzor's face with one hand, fingers digging into bone.
"Trying to run after all that blabbering?" he said calmly.
His grip tightened.
"Take this."
A beam of chaotic light detonated point-blank.
There was no scream.
Nyzzor did not burn.
He was erased.
His body broke apart into fine ash mid-beam, particles disintegrating instantly. The pocket dimension shattered behind him, collapsing inward like stained glass hit by a bullet.
Reality snapped.
Moon Light stumbled forward as solid ground returned beneath his feet. He skidded across scorched pavement, boots grinding against broken asphalt.
Rubble settled around him. Fires crackled in the distance.
He straightened and blinked once.
"…I am back?" He glanced around, then shrugged. "Welp. That was easy."
He exhaled through his nose.
"Too easy."
Above them, Megalodon watched with his arms crossed, expression unreadable even through drifting smoke and ash. He floated downward at an unhurried pace, boots never touching the ground. Halfway down, he uncrossed his arms and spoke calmly.
"What a shame… both demons slain. So easily." His eyes flicked briefly toward the craters. "Though… they were the two weakest. Children playing at war."
Moon Light spat into the dirt, jaw tight.
"Now we only have the arrogant bastard left," he said, eyes never leaving Megalodon. "And I can tell he's strong as hell. Different league than those losers. Bro lifted a finger and nuked multiple blocks like it was nothing."
Megalodon chuckled. The sound was deep and heavy, vibrating through the street. Broken glass rattled in nearby frames.
"Arrogance is natural for someone like me," he said evenly. "I am a superior entity. Far stronger than both of you fodders. I am beyond your comprehension."
Tempestia stepped forward, boots grinding against cracked asphalt. Electricity trembled around her clenched fists, snapping against the air.
"The battle's just starting," she said. "Moon Light— you need to go all out. I've got a bad feeling about him."
Moon Light did not hesitate.
He launched upward, body cutting through smoke. His arms spread wide as light gathered in one hand and darkness in the other. The energies twisted violently as he hurled them forward in rapid succession.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
"Hell yeah, a damn direct hit!" Moon Light shouted.
Explosions ripped across Megalodon's torso. Shockwaves slammed outward, flipping cars, snapping streetlights, and blowing chunks of concrete loose. Fire and smoke swallowed Megalodon completely.
When it cleared.
Megalodon hadn't moved.
Not a single step. Not even a scuff.
He casually brushed dust from his shoulder.
Moon Light's jaw clenched hard.
"WHAT? Really?" he snapped. "That's bullshit. Not even a damn scratch?!"
Megalodon sighed, almost bored.
"Is that all you can muster?" he said. "You showed more strength fighting my minions. You even had a sharp tongue back then."
The world blinked.
Megalodon was suddenly in front of him.
Moon Light barely had time to register it before two fingers lifted beneath his throat, forcing his chin upward. Megalodon's eyes bored into his.
Moon Light's pupils shrank.
He warped away— but the air pressure from Megalodon's hand movement alone detonated outward.
Moon Light was blasted backward, smashing through one building, then another, then a third. Concrete collapsed as he skidded across rubble, coughing blood onto shattered pavement.
"DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME!" Tempestia screamed.
She teleported above Megalodon, twisting mid-air into a flipping roll. Her heel came down hard toward his neck.
The impact cracked the atmosphere.
Megalodon didn't dodge.
He didn't move.
The force rippled outward, tearing the air apart, but his body remained solid.
He raised one hand and fired a casual energy burst toward where Moon Light had landed.
"What the hell?" Tempestia shouted. "Immune to physical damage?!"
The beam screamed forward.
Moon Light caught it with both hands. His arms shook violently, boots digging trenches into the ground as he was pushed back. Blood leaked from his teeth as he gritted them.
Megalodon side-eyed Tempestia.
His other hand moved toward her leg resting against his neck.
Tempestia vanished a split second before his fingers closed.
She reappeared high above the battlefield, smoke swirling around her. Both arms raised overhead.
She slammed them down.
The sky tore open.
"Purification!"
A pillar of white-hot lightning crashed down, obliterating the ground beneath Megalodon. Asphalt vaporized. Metal liquefied. The blast shook the entire sector.
When the dust cleared—
Megalodon stepped forward.
Smoke rolled off his body. Fresh scratches and bruises sealed shut as his skin bubbled and healed in seconds.
Tempestia's eyes widened.
"W-what… not good," she muttered. "Calling him a high-ranking demon is an insult at this point…"
Megalodon laughed, slow and amused.
"Annoying fallen," he said. "You think that little storm mattered?"
His mouth opened.
A blast of condensed dark energy erupted outward.
"Take this!"
Tempestia slammed her heel into the ground. Earth surged upward, forming multiple thin layered shields in front of her.
BOOOOOM.
The shields disintegrated instantly. The impact hurled her through a collapsed tower. She bounced off iron beams, sparks flying, then slammed into the ground hard. Blood sprayed from her mouth as she grabbed a bent metal pipe mid-flight to stop herself.
"Damn it… damn it," she groaned, forcing herself upright. "This demon… he's way stronger than I thought. I can't use that form against him yet. If I do, I'll weaken afterward, and I'm already far from my prime. The punishment would cost me greatly…"
Moon Light shoved rubble off his chest, breathing hard. His thoughts echoed, unsteady.
(We can't keep this up. My healing isn't instantaneous like his. If we keep taking hits like this… we're dead.)
He limped back beside her, wiping blood from his mouth with the back of his hand before spitting it out.
"We're not beating him with brute force," he said. "Physical and magical attacks aren't doing shit. You got anything else?"
Tempestia steadied her breathing, shoulders rising and falling.
"Maybe," she said. "But I have to seal him with my strongest spell. I need at least one minute."
Moon Light froze.
"Oh come on. One minute?" He barked a humorless laugh. "Are you fucking insane? A minute is a lifetime against this freak. One wrong move and I'm a smear on the pavement!"
He glanced at Megalodon, who was casually cracking his knuckles.
"God damn it, Temps. He's moving faster than me, and he's been toying with us." He exhaled sharply. "If I do this, you owe me. Big time. And if I die, I swear I'll haunt your ass."
Tempestia slapped his ass hard.
"Stop whining," she snapped. "If you die, I will water you from time to time." She sighed. "I'll try my best to keep you alive, okay?"
She placed two fingers against his forehead.
"I need time to gather the energy around this world. Even if it means destroying this whole sector to save the universe."
Energy surged into him.
"Here. Buffing all your physical and normal abilities."
Moon Light exhaled slowly, feeling power flood his body.
"Thanks for the buff," he said. "Just one damn minute."
Megalodon opened his arms, clearly entertained.
"Aww. Are you two done making plans and chit-chatting over strategies?" He smiled. "Then let's end this."
He leaned forward.
Grinning.
And took one step.
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