My body went into overdrive as I pushed every ounce of my strength to the limit.

Emitting energy that would be deemed suicidal at a steady pace, and refusing to take my eyes—no, my entire senses—from the target; I made the first move.

>WHOOOSHHHH!!!<

My body moved like lightning, coated in golden lightning—a mix of both Light and Lightning! For this fight, this was the best I could do by myself.

“Heh!”

Kahn moved like a blur, sharpening his body in an instant.

Pure Magical attacks would be too ineffective on him, so I used the best means in my current reach.

Martial Arts!

>SHIIINNNGGG<

Condensing a great deal of Mana in my hand, I created a blade of light. It brimmed with such brilliance that anyone who gazed at it would be rendered blind instantly

This concentrated blade would easily tear through dozens of Shadows—no, even more! Still, I worried that it would be inadequate for my foe.

‘He doesn’t have his full strength, so if I can’t win now… there’s no hope for a comeback!’

There was no room for hesitation. I simply had to follow what I knew best…

… My wits!

>FWOOOSSHHH!!!<

My blade descended with godlike speed, slashing at the Demon Lord in front of me.

>CLANG!<.

Sparks flew as he easily parried my full strike with a single bladed limb.

Kahn didn’t even seem shaken by the attack… even though our surroundings suffered a great deal from our collision.

>BOOOOMMMM!!!<

The echoes of our devastating impact speed across the area.

I could sense the ground breaking apart, but Kahn remained unmoved.

Usually, Shadow Demons would be obliterated with that reinforced strike, but he took it in stride.

‘He’s using Miasma to coat himself! Shit!’

Just like I could reinforce myself with Magic to defend against my human weaknesses, this being was no different.

However… I expected this!

>SWIIIISSSHHHH<

Another condensed blade formed on my other hand as I released my grip on my blade.

>SHIIINNNGGG!!!<

Kahn blocked the next strike.

Both my limbs and his were busy, occupying each other’s blades.

However… for Kahn, he could have as many body parts as he desired.

In a moment, multiple spears burst forth from him, launching themselves at me. If I took even a tiny second more time before acting, I would be riddled with holes.

Instantly, I became a blur and vanished from my position.

“Huh?”

Before the Shadow Demon realized what happened, I appeared behind him, brandishing yet another condensed light blade.

It was very powerful, more powerful than the previous ones I used.

Bringing both arms down with a strong vertical stroke, I cried.

“ANNIHILATE!!!”

The 9th form of the Fundamental Precepts… ANNIHILATE. I used the best I knew of the Martial Blade God’s Foundational technique with that hit.

>BOOOOOMMMM!!!!<

Light filled the area as more debris scattered around.

I was forced to generate a shield to defend myself from the impact that radiated around me.

The move I employed boasted of the most destructive capabilities among all nine. Quickly maneuvering my body, I took light and quick steps in retreat.

—However…

“Nice one!”

… Kahn appeared from the thick smoke, grinning like the monster he was.

His body was covered in black spikes, and his size was much bigger.

Changing his mass and rendering his form more durable… the being in front of me was finally beginning to take this fight seriously.

“Dodge this!”

A cackle escaped Kahn’s cracked mouth as he launched a dark javelin in my direction.

>WHOOOSSSHHHH!!!<

Space tore as the long and sharp projectile homed at me.

I was stuck in mid-air, still in my attempt at a retreat. The insane velocity Kahn’s attack employed was enough to tear me to shreds—even with my enhancements!

Fortunately, I had bought enough time.

“Let’s go!”

With that, a massive burst of energy swirled around me, and then—

>BOOOOMMMMM!!!<

—Everything around me vaporized. The dark spear was no exception.

Floating amid the destroyed area was me—in a completely different state from earlier.

My body glimmered in various colors, shrouded by a condensed amount of energy that was too much to belong to me.

My blond hair had already taken a fiery red state and my complexion transformed into a Cian hue.

Red

Ashen

Blue

—And Green bursts of energy all swirled around me.

“Grand Fusion State…” I whispered.

I was currently utilizing the abilities of all four Wisps in my possession.

Wind.

Fire.

Earth.

Water.

I had a vast amount of these at my disposal, and each of my Cores functioned individually and simultaneously to maximize the elemental attributes to their full potential.

“Oh? Nice trick!”

The Shadow Demon shrouded himself with even more Miasma and began to levitate as well.

He charged at me with intent to kill, enough to send shivers down my spine, but I refused to back down.

“Quadro Storm”

Just as I used Blitz by combining two Elemental Attributes—Light and Lightning—I combined all four elements that welled up within me and sent them straight at Kahn.

>BOOOOOMMMMM!!!<

A more powerful explosion—the most I had ever made—erupted. A swirling wave of power burst through the area, sending anything in the path Kahn took to smithereens.

‘That won’t be enough… but that’s enough time bought!’

Taking advantage of the chaos, I added another technique to my current fused state.

Elemental Chamber!

0)ᴠʟ >VWUUUSHHH!!!<

My immediate surroundings swirled with all four elemental attributes, and then I added my golden lightning to the mix.

Now armed with five elements—each core operating them respectively—I glared in the direction of the blast trail, only to see Kahn unscathed.

“Oh? You changed again?” The dark-coated monster remarked, returning from the air from whence he descended.

“Aha! This is quite interesting!”

Black wings sprouted from behind him, and he developed several tentacles and spike-like limbs that spiders possessed.

Now having so many more options and combinations for offense at his disposal, he raced at me with full speed.

“Cheh!”

I refused to back down and charged at the opponent with all I had.

Creating another elemental storm, I launched a barrage of attributes at him, but he was able to take them all thanks to the dense Miasma that shrouded his skin.

“Tch!”

He had already closed the distance between us, so I could only strengthen the air sphere that surrounded me as his multiple appendages struck.

>BOOOOOMMMM!!!<