A Demon's Journey

Since ancient times, strength was used to determine victory! Techniques, schemes, and other ways of fighting were invented afterwards.

And Gilbert was certain that this was one aspect where he was undoubtedly better than Noah!

Thus, Gilbert decided to make it a close-combat battle.

However, Noah wasn't intimidated even as Gilbert chose to have a close-combat battle. He took the same stance as before and whispered, "Sword Domain: Hundred Strokes!"

This time, his Sword Domain wasn't stretched around his body. Instead, it was densely packed around his sword.

Noah knew that he had to strike quickly and strongly. And this was exactly what he did.

However, Gilbert was preparing for such an attack. With a sneer, he released significant wind pressure from his palm and forced Noah back by a couple of feet.

Noah's attack missed and a small window of opportunity opened for Gilbert.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Gilbert attacked Noah. It was a punch to Noah's face. This punch was enhanced by Wind Ardor and would easily break Noah's face.

Noah realized the threat from this punch. He immediately moved his hand and whispered, "Reverse Swallow!"

His hands turned and Noah raised his sword at a blinding speed. His sword struck the lower part of Gilbert's arm. However, this time he failed to pierce the arm and only move it by a few inches.

Noah could feel the wind around that punch brush past his cheek. He immediately pulled back his sword before taking another yet unfamiliar stance.

Suddenly, Noah's entire aura vanished.

Gilbert understood that this next attack would possess all that Noah had to offer. And even he sensed a threat from it.

"Heaven Rending Stance!"

A second later, Noah swung his sword with all his might. His sword was swinging from right to left, targeting Gilbert's Torso.

Clearly, Noah's aim was to deal a significant damage to Gilbert's torso. He would win as long as he managed to accomplish it!

Unfortunately, it didn't go as easy as he had imagined. Gilbert recovered sooner than he anticipated and raised his arm, densely packed with Ardor to block Noah's swing!

Another massive shockwave occurred as the Sword Domain clashed with Gilbert's 5 Star Ardor.

This time, Gilbert and Noah were using every bit of their strength. Thus, the shockwave that occurred was even stronger!

Noah soon noticed that Gilbert was overpowering his swing. A few seconds later, Gilbert suddenly used a burst of strength to swipe away Noah's right arm!

Noah was currently in an incredibly unpleasant situation! His sword-wielding right arm was swept aside, and his chest was entirely exposed, with no protection!

Gilbert just had to punch Noah's chest and he would be finished!

And Gilbert didn't fail to take advantage of this opportunity! His right hand was ready as he immediately punched Noah's chest!

Noah tried to move his right hand to deflect this punch, but it was too far away from his chest. It couldn't reach on time.

Gilbert's strike landed hard on Noah's chest, fracturing two of his ribs! This was an absolutely ruthless strike and Noah was sent flying back by this attack.

Gilbert didn't let up and released hundreds of Wind Blades at Noah.

These Wind Blades contained the full power of his Ardor. It was impossible for Noah to block them all even if he was completely fine, let alone in such a dire situation!

The Sword Domain around Noah immediately acted up as it released Sword Qi in all directions. This Sword Qi managed to deflect majority of these Wind Blades. However, a few still struck Noah.

Noah was bleeding profusely. His entire body was riddled with wounds from these Wind Blades.

His top, trousers, and even his sword, were drenched with his blood!

However, even though he had lost much of his blood and was feeling rather dizzy, it didn't loosen his hold over his sword.

Gilbert was growing more confident. He could sense that Noah's Sword Domain was trembling!

It was clear that Noah couldn't maintain his concentration for much longer! He had to keep this up and he would win!

However, something unexpected occurred at that moment. A purple light shone over Noah's body and his injuries recovered instantly!

As his wounds recovered, it seemed as if there were no signs of him even receiving them.

Gilbert noticed that purple glow emerging from the ring that Noah wore on his index finger!

In reality, Gilbert had misunderstood something. This healing wasn't the ring's ability.

This was the ability of Azaroth's spirit sealed within that ring!

Azaroth had sealed a part of his spirit within all the Mystical Spiritual Communication Ring that he handed to his retainers!

It allowed him to not only communicate with them, but also act at an appropriate time. As Noah's blood fell over this ring, it awakened Azaroth's spirit sealed within it.

Azaroth soon realized that Noah was fighting a 5 Star Warrior.

He didn't plan on letting Noah die here!

Meanwhile, Gilbert had a rather bad feeling as he saw that Purple Glow enveloping Noah's body.

He could sense a power even stronger than 5 Star Ardor from that purple glow. It was as if he didn't stand a chance against that purple energy!

At that moment, Roman shouted, "Don't fight him anymore. Help our forces to retreat!"

However, Gilbert ignored those words. He felt that if he didn't kill Noah today, he would never have the opportunity!

He would become a target of ridicule if he failed to defeat a 4 Star Warrior like Noah!

"Triple Fleeting Cresent Slash!"

Noah released three slashes at Gilbert. These slashes were filled with the Sword Qi from his Domain and the Purple Ardor that Azaroth was lending Noah!

He launched three slashes in the shape of a half-moon. There was a horizontal slash, a vertical slash, and a diagonal slash!

Gilbert blocked those attacks with his Wind Ardor.

Azaroth's spirit within Noah's ring sneered as he saw Gilbert's defense. He thought 'Idiot. That's the wrong way of blocking this attack.'

The power that Azaroth had strengthened Noah's Wind Ardor Wind Ardor! This was the first time Noah was using Wind Ardor since this battle began.

Gilbert had no idea that his Wind Ardor barrier couldn't put up the slightest bit of resistance against Noah's Wind Slashes that had been boosted by Azaroth's Purple Ardor.

It went without saying that the three slashes smoothly passed Gilbert's defense and sliced his body apart. The first slash sliced his body into two parts. The second slash sliced his body into four equal parts. And the third slash sliced his body into 6 parts!

However, Noah fell on the ground as his body was still rather weak and couldn't endure Azaroth's robust and dense Ardor.

Heretical Paladins moved at that moment and recovered Noah before retreating swiftly. Luna and Aria launched their strongest techniques that encompassed a wide area to ensure that no enemy could pursue them!