Immortal Paladin

[POV: Ding Cai]

An Ascended Soul was a being that had transcended the limits of mortal existence in pursuit of immortality or godhood.

Such existences wielded power that defied reason itself. They could sunder worlds, level mountain ranges, and sway the hearts of entire civilizations with a single word.

Yet even among Ascended Souls, there existed an unmistakable hierarchy. Strength was measured not merely by the amount of power one possessed, but by how completely one understood the nature of immortality.

A newly Ascended Soul relied primarily upon their innate qualities and the layers of immortality that formed the foundation of their existence.

Their flesh neither aged nor remained broken for long. Wounds stitched themselves together before the eye could fully comprehend the injury, while severed limbs regenerated as though time itself had reversed. Killing such beings was anything but simple.

To end another Ascended Soul through conventional means required the simultaneous destruction of both the heart and the brain, a feat demanding extraordinary precision. Otherwise, only overwhelming devastation capable of reducing every trace of the opponent into nothingness could accomplish the task. Failing either method, combat inevitably became a contest of endurance, where victory belonged to the one whose will outlasted the other's.

"That was a close one," Loki remarked as he slipped beneath Ding Cai's sword. The blade skimmed over his scalp by the breadth of a hair before carving a shallow line across his chest. Crimson stained his robes for only an instant. Flesh knit together almost immediately, the wound disappearing as though it had never existed.

Ding Cai did not pursue him.

Instead, she leaped backward without hesitation. Her feet landed lightly several paces away as her gaze settled upon the ground beneath Loki. A web of invisible spell formations lay hidden there, their intricate lines concealed beneath layers of qi.

During the course of their duel, Loki had quietly inscribed one formation after another while deliberately giving ground, weaving a lethal trap beneath every exchange of blades.

She had noticed them long ago.

Rather than expose herself, she had deliberately stepped on several formations to trigger them, allowing Loki to believe she had remained blissfully unaware. Every feigned mistake had only strengthened his confidence.

"Oho, did you just avoid your imminent demise?" asked Loki playfully.

Now there was no longer any reason to continue the charade.

"The jig is up," the Human Soul muttered. The sword's voice carried the same irritation simmering within Ding Cai's heart.

Loki's lips curved into a knowing smile.

"It seems you could see them all along, huh?"

His tone remained casual, but his fingers subtly tightened around his weapon. The formation beneath him was the culmination of every hidden inscription throughout their battle.

"You are correct," Ding Cai answered calmly.

The Human Soul dissolved into liquid light before reshaping itself into a polished black staff. She planted its base against the arena floor with a measured thump as she subtly injected qi through them.

"The spell formations you created were aligned with the fire element. Each was designed to detonate in sequence so the flames would cling to anyone caught within the blast."

Golden lines erupted across the battlefield.

Every formation awakened simultaneously.

Loki frowned.

"What did you do?"

Throughout their battle, Ding Cai had already made countermeasures against the spell formations. Their weapon mastery stood on equal footing. Their combat techniques mirrored one another with frightening precision. Even their weapons possessed the ability to transform into different forms according to the needs of battle.

Loki was also patient and careful, the kind of opponent who never gambled unless the odds already favored him.

If she wished to defeat someone like that, then overwhelming force alone would never suffice.

She needed surprise.

While pretending to blunder through his trap, she had quietly rewritten every formation she stepped upon. The changes were subtle enough to escape Loki's notice, yet profound enough to alter their very nature. She had amplified their destructive output many times over while weaving her own qi into their framework, ensuring the resulting inferno would reject her existence entirely.

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I picked up a lot of strange sayings from Master."

She tilted her head ever so slightly.

"He used to say that explosions are an art."

The world answered her words.

The first detonation swallowed the arena in blinding white.

Before the light faded, the second explosion erupted.

Then the third.

The fourth.

Each blast fed the next, multiplying until the entire battlefield became a collapsing chain reaction of incandescent destruction. Pillars of crimson fire pierced the heavens while shockwaves spread across the arena like the wrath of an ancient god. The earth buckled beneath impossible pressure. Stone walls shattered into countless fragments before vaporizing inside the expanding inferno.

The spectator stands disappeared first.

Thousands of observers never even had the opportunity to scream.

Their bodies dissolved into ash before their minds could register what had happened. Flesh, bone, steel, banners, and defensive barriers alike were consumed by the merciless tide of fire. Entire sections of the coliseum were ripped from their foundations and hurled skyward, only to be pulverized by subsequent explosions before crashing back as molten rain.

The arena itself ceased to resemble a place built by human hands.

Its once-pristine dueling grounds fractured into a wasteland of jagged obsidian spires and smoking craters. Rivers of molten stone carved glowing scars across the shattered earth. Towering slabs of broken marble jutted from the ground like the ribs of a fallen titan, while storms of burning debris continued to rain from the heavens.

For several long moments, nothing remained except roaring flames and rolling clouds of black smoke that blotted out the sky.

Eventually, the inferno subsided.

The smoke slowly parted.

Ding Cai stood alone amidst the devastation. Her robes remained spotless. Not even a strand of her hair had been singed. The fire had curved around her as though recognizing its rightful master.

Slowly, a cold voice drifted from directly behind her.

"An impressive performance."

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A sword slid silently toward the back of her neck.

It was Loki.

…

..

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[POV: Loki]

Loki had wanted to humiliate the Supreme Bearer.

The same trick had worked flawlessly against the pair of champions before this match. If he could repeat that spectacle here, Supreme Heart would undoubtedly enjoy the spectacle as well. Pleasing his employer while amusing himself was a worthwhile endeavor.

Unfortunately, Ding Cai had seen through his deception from the very beginning.

Even so, Loki had never been the sort to surrender after a single failure.

The instant the chain of explosions consumed the arena, he made his move. He ripped his own heart from his chest in one fluid motion, cast barriers over it, concealed it within his palm, and hurled it far into the sea of smoke before activating his Immortal Art.

"Immortal Art: Loki's Mischief."

His body dissolved into countless illusions.

Within the blinding flashes and rolling clouds of dust, reality and deception intertwined until neither could be distinguished from the other. His true heart vanished amidst the chaos, hidden so thoroughly that even an experienced Ascended Soul would have struggled to locate it.

If ordinary Ascended Souls fought with the immortality granted by their ascension, then those who stood at the pinnacle fought with something far more terrifying.

Their mastery over immortality itself.

That mastery manifested as an Immortal Art.

Each Immortal Art was unique to its creator, born from one's understanding of immortality and existence. Such techniques did more than wound flesh. They reached directly into the foundation of an Ascended Soul's immortality, damaging what should have been impossible to harm. For that reason alone, Ascended Souls who possessed Immortal Arts occupied an entirely different tier from their peers.

"I can see you."

Ding Cai's calm voice echoed through the ruined battlefield.

She turned with startling speed.

"Thunderous Smite."

Lightning roared into existence.

Her sword descended with flawless precision, cleaving through the illusion's skull before continuing into its heart. Brilliant arcs of thunder erupted from the strike, annihilating the false Loki in a burst of crackling light.

The illusion scattered like mist.

At that exact moment, the real Loki emerged from her blind spot, reborn through the heart he threw earlier.

Lævateinn flowed like liquid metal before splitting into twin daggers. Unlike Ding Cai's weapon, which could assume only a single form at a time, his divine weapon could separate into two independent weapons so long as both remained small enough to wield comfortably.

One dagger pierced toward her heart, while the other thrust into her brain.

The blades twisted simultaneously.

A violent surge of qi erupted through both wounds.

"It's my victory—"

His smile froze.

Ding Cai remained standing.

Blood spilled from her lips, yet the light within her eyes never dimmed.

Before Loki could retreat, her hand shot forward and seized his throat.

"Halo of Restriction."

A silver halo materialized around his neck and her wrist, binding the two together with an unbreakable chain of divine light. The restriction suppressed every attempt to escape, pinning him in place regardless of how he struggled.

Ding Cai stared into his eyes.

Blood vessels had spread across the whites of her eyes, giving her an almost frightening appearance.

"It looks like I was wrong."

Loki offered a crooked smile.

There was still time.

If he could shake her resolve for even a moment, an opening would present itself.

She had just obliterated countless spectators with her own attack.

Whether they had been illusions or not scarcely mattered. Their screams had sounded real enough. Their deaths had looked real enough. Guilt could cloud even the sharpest blade.

"Impressive, but—"

He never finished.

"Immortal Art: Godslayer."

...

..

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[POV: Ding Cai]

Among Ascended Souls, it was accepted as absolute truth that no two Immortal Arts could ever be identical.

Each was the culmination of a unique path toward immortality. Each reflected only a single soul. Ding Cai was the exception.

Her greatest gift had always been imitation and learning.

Not merely copying movements or techniques, but reproducing the essence hidden beneath them. Through years of guidance beneath her master, she had accomplished what should have been impossible.

She inherited his Immortal Art.

Godslayer possessed none of the elaborate mechanics found in many Immortal Arts.

It was terrifying precisely because of its simplicity.

It existed for only one purpose.

To sever immortality itself.

Ding Cai raised the Human Soul, and then she swung.

The blade fell from above, tracing a perfect line through Loki's head before continuing straight into his heart. The force of the strike split her own palm as blood ran down the hilt, yet she never loosened her grip.

For the first time since their battle began, Loki's immortality failed to respond. His body separated cleanly before collapsing onto the shattered battlefield in a grotesque heap.

"..."

The Human Soul let out a satisfied hum.

"Congratulations. It is your victory."

Ding Cai lowered her sword and released a weary breath.

"I don't know about that."

Her gaze remained fixed on Loki's motionless corpse.

"It felt too easy."

The Human Soul remained quiet for a moment, and then it answered honestly.

"I can't tell."

…

..

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[POV: Da Wei]

"That felt too easy," I remarked as I watched the duel reach its conclusion.

Loki's corpse lay motionless amidst the shattered remains of the arena, while Ding Cai stood over him with a wary expression. She had won, yet neither master nor disciple looked particularly convinced.

"Oh, take the win. Don't be such a hardass."

Supreme Heart lounged comfortably before me, smiling as though he had just watched a pleasant play instead of a battle between Ascended Souls. His reaction immediately put me on guard.

Heart was many things. Honest was rarely one of them.

If he was taking this defeat so lightly, then there was almost certainly another trick hidden beneath the surface.

He noticed my stare and chuckled.

"Don't look at me like that. You're making me feel guilty when I didn't even do anything." He shrugged lazily. "Actually, I'm glad your disciple offed the guy. I promised him rewards I'd rather not hand over. By principle, I'd have been obligated to pay him if he survived the whole ordeal."

I folded my arms.

"Why are you telling me this? You do realize I can simply bring him back to life. Then you'd still be obligated to pay him. It might not benefit me directly, but making your life more difficult is benefit enough."

Heart burst into laughter.

"Oh, you're adorable."

He leaned forward, his smile widening.

"You can only bring him back if I allow it."

My expression hardened.

"The owner of the Tower, this lovely venue, happens to be me." He spread his arms theatrically. "Everything that dies inside belongs to me. His corpse. Your people's corpses. Every last one."

His voice remained playful, but every word carried unmistakable menace.

"Da Wei, if you lose this contest, you won't just become my bitch." He tapped the armrest with a finger. "You'll lose quite a few of your precious people to me. Far more literally than you can imagine."

Understanding dawned immediately.

So that had been his real objective.

The wager itself had never mattered.

The Tower had.

When negotiating the contest, Heart had insisted the battles take place atop the Tower. At the time, it had seemed like nothing more than his usual theatrics. Now I understood why he had refused to compromise.

Before I could respond, Athena floated into the center of the ruined battlefield. Her divine voice echoed throughout the Tower.

"The winner of this round is the Supreme Bearer."

She turned her golden eyes toward Heart.

"Supreme Heart, please present your next representative."

I remained silent.

Heart believed he had revealed a trump card.

He had no idea I possessed one of my own.

Patience.

Everything would unfold in due time.

...

..

.

[POV: Liang Na]

Far away from the Tower, inside the Hollowed World's embassy within the Human Empire, Liang Na found herself sitting across from a familiar face she had not seen in person for many years.

"Long time no see, Lord Mao."

A warm smile spread across her face.

"It feels like an eternity since we last met. I believe it was during the Civil War."

Hei Mao currently wore the appearance of a young boy. He sat beside the open window with remarkable composure, leisurely sipping tea while moonlight spilled across the room. A white cat rested upon the windowsill, gazing silently at the stars. Another black cat purred contentedly on Liang Na's lap as she absentmindedly stroked its soft fur.

"Hm... the Civil War?"

Hei Mao tilted his head thoughtfully.

"Ah. That was indeed a long time ago." He smiled faintly. "I learned quite a lot from you back then, Lady Liang Na. Espionage, sabotage, assassination... all very useful skills." He raised his teacup. "Although we've met rather frequently through my familiars since then. Wouldn't you agree?"

Liang Na nodded. That much was true. Even when Hei Mao himself remained absent, his countless familiars served as his eyes and ears throughout the world. It made his presence here along with his familiars more significant. She finally voiced the question that had bothered her ever since his appearance before her.

"Lord Hei... I'm dying of curiosity."

She leaned forward.

"What exactly are you doing here?"

Liang Na still vividly remembered the moment he had emerged from her own shadow to intercept the asura's attack. The Hollowed World and the Human Empire were separated by an immense distance. Under normal circumstances, such a feat should have been impossible.

Hei Mao answered without hesitation.

"Master secretly imbued a fragment of the Dark Veil into you."

Liang Na blinked, while Hei Mao continued.

"He has been researching ways to better protect the people around him. Through one of the Ezekiels, he managed to attach a piece of the Dark Veil to your existence." Hei Mao smiled. "That allowed me to travel through your shadow whenever necessary via the Dark Veil itself."

He took another sip of tea before casually adding,

"As for why I'm here..." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "That's classified. But since you're one of us, I'll tell you anyway."

Liang Na suddenly had a terrible feeling.

"While the overlord of the Greater Human Realm is away, my mission is to inflict as much damage upon his territory as possible."

"...How?"

Hei Mao's grin widened.

"Let's steal from the rich and give to the poor."

Liang Na stared blankly.

"Master called it Operation: Robin Hood," added Hei Mao.

She frowned.

"Who even is Robin Hood?" After a brief pause, another question surfaced. "Wait... give it to the poor? Wouldn't it make more sense to confiscate everything for the Hollowed World's benefit?"

Hei Mao struggled to suppress his laughter.

"Exactly."

He nodded enthusiastically.

"That's what I thought too."

He paused dramatically before pointing a thumb toward himself.

"But then I realized something."

Liang Na raised an eyebrow.

"We're poor."

"..."

For several long seconds, she simply stared at him.

She hated how much sense that made.

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