Kai desperately blocked the Blind Swordsman's attacks. He didn't even have an opportunity to launch attacks of his own. Yet, he wasn't losing.

"Give up! You've already... lost this gamble!"

The Blind Swordsman used a heavy attack to try and break Kai's shield but it wasn't successful.

'How...?'

No matter how many cracks were made on the shield, it wouldn't break. Even though it looked like it would shatter at any second, it stood strong.

"Pretty tough, isn't it?"

"..."

The Blind Swordsman furrowed his brows. His instincts told him that no matter how many times he was to hit the shield, it won't break. The cracks he made were superficial.

"Finished attacking? Then, it's my turn."

Kai tightened his grip on Superbia. The barrier disappeared from view but it wasn't gone. It continued to surround Kai evident by the mana swirling around him.

Kai used Flash Step to arrive in front of the Blind Swordsman and swung his sword from overhead.

'What's he planning?'

The same action had already been repeated by Kai before. No matter how many times he'd repeat it, he wouldn't be able to exceed the Blind Swordsman's defense when his seal is already unlocked.

"Boom."

"?!"

Kai's sword made contact with the Blind Swordsman's and the ground beneath them formed a crater with them in the center.

'What is this weight?!'

The Blind Swordsman's arms were trembling. With most of his attacks earlier, he had only used one hand to wield Caliburn but he had to use two hands to stop Kai's swing.

"Heavy, isn't it?"

Suddenly, the pressure on the Blind Swordsman's sword disappeared. Kai used Flash Step and attacked from the side. The Blind Swordsman desperately blocked him.

BOOM

He was sent flying and made a crack in the barrier surrounding them.

"Ugh..."

'How can he control it so easily...?!'

It was impossible. The weight used in those last two attacks were something that only his peak self could wield. Kai was only S-class, it was impossible for him to swing the sword let alone so nonchalantly.

But, there was no mistaking the truth.

Kai moved and swung the sword as if he was holding a twig. There was no weight at all. In fact, he seemed even faster than when he had increased his physical body's output and moved at lightning speed. A twig with the power of a thousand oxen.

"But if power and speed are the only things on your side...!"

The Blind Swordsman appeared right in front of Kai. The latter quickly thrust his sword forward while the Blind Swordsman redirected the sword—or at least, he tried to.

"Urgh!"

The moment their two swords came into contact, the ground caved in and the Blind Swordsman's arms struggled. His legs were shaking and Caliburn's incarnation looked like it was on the verge of disappearing.

The Blind Swordsman felt the weight of a mountain pressing down on him.

Just when the Blind Swordsman that it was the limit of what the sword can do, he saw a quick flash of electricity course through the sword. He felt an invisible force tug on his body and caused his stance to collapse.

Kai's sword landed on the floor and as the Blind Swordsman expected, the entire area collapsed. The walls that barely stood, the ground full of craters in varying sizes, the rubble that were once houses, they all fell into a giant hole caused by the sheer weight and power behind that one sword attack.

On Earth, it might even be mistaken as a sinkhole. Only, this one was way larger than the average sinkhole and the fact that it was made not from water wearing down the ground over a long period of time, but a sword was a testament to its power.

Deep inside the hole, the Blind Swordsman and Kai continued to face off. Their attacks weren't as fast as before but each one was carefully executed. It was only natural. A single mistake could cost them their lives.

Only... one side had the complete advantage in the fight.

"Agh!"

BOOM

The Blind Swordsman flew into another wall and lodged his body deep inside.

"Send a message to the fallen hero for me. Tell him to clench this teeth."

"...How?"

Kai stabbed Superbia into the ground and raised a brow at the query.

"How, you say? It's simple. My weapon is far superior to yours."

"Don't play dumb."

The Blind Swordsman had already given up, he felt it before but couldn't accept it until now. He lost the moment Kai brought out Superbia—no, he lost the moment he failed to kill Kai in their initial clash.

"Why the heck would I divulge my secrets to an enemy? Not only that, but this enemy is also going to report to the big bad in just a few moments too. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"You should know that nothing can hide from my lord's eyes. My lord will find out the truth behind your sword—no, he may have already found out."

"Then go ahead and ask him. I still have some matters to take care of."

"..."

The Blind Swordsman dispersed Caliburn and stood in front of Kai.

"Cut me down where I stand. I at least have to die an honorable death."

"Honorable death when you aren't even able to die."

Kai sighed.

Normally, in shows, this would be the part where the main character would forgive the villain who would then swear to kill the main character one day only to convert into being a good guy. But...

"I don't believe in such useless fairy tales."

Kai cut the Blind Swordsman down. A diagonal slash from top to bottom.

A giant wound was left on the Blind Swordsman's chest. It was a fatal wound.

"You will..." The Blind Swordsman coughed up a mouthful of blood, "die once we descend. At that time..."

The Blind Swordsman was already struggling to speak and gagged a few times. It was only natural, right now, he had no heart and his lungs were even damaged. That one sword wound stopped quite a few of his vital organs.

"...I will also grant you an honorable death, Gaia's Champion, as you have granted me mine."

Kai rolled his eyes and delivered the finishing blow. Superbia was left passing through the Blind Swordsman's body. Once Kai took the sword out, the Blind Swordsman dropped down on the floor.

Once he confirmed the Blind Swordsman's death, Kai dropped down on one knee and forced himself to stop collapsing by leaning on the sword.

"Well... are you going to come out on your own or are you waiting for me to drag you out of there?"

Kai took deep breaths after talking. He lost most of his stamina wielding Superbia and it felt like he would collapse at any second. However, he couldn't collapse just yet.

"Incomprehensible. How are you able to stay conscious?"

"I'm wondering that myself."

Kai recalled Superbia back into the pendant and took out a polearm to lean on.

The angel walked out from the darkness. The power radiating off of her body was incomparable to before but compared to Kai earlier, it was far too low.

However, in Kai's current state, it was as easy as crushing an ant for her.

"Bewilderment. Are you not going to try and run away? Considering what you've shown so far, you can clearly see the difference between our strengths."

Kai continued to stare at her while trying to stabilize his breathing. Then, he turned to the side to follow the angel's gaze, the Blind Swordsman's body stayed there but it was slowly disappearing. It wasn't his real body after all.

The angel's eyes lightly dimmed for a second.

"So your objective is not to kill me, it's to take the corpse of the one who loses the fight."

The angel turned her eyes to Kai.

"...The target's body can't be used, I'll just bring you instead."

Her silver hair begun fluttering and her eyes glowed. She pointed her hand at Kai. The temperature inside the hole that should've been quite hot dropped so much that the droplets of Kai's sweat froze.

However, Kai didn't retaliate in the least and continued to stare at her.

"Are you not fighting back?"

"..."

The angel was bewildered. Kai continued to stare into her eyes and she could feel unease. Although she knew he wouldn't be able to do anything to her in his current state, she couldn't help but ask. It was a strange feeling, emotions running rampant. As far as the angel knew, she didn't have any emotions yet whenever she faced the man in front of him, she felt their presence, however faintly.

'I must eliminate him.'

Though she hid it under the guise of orders, in truth, she had only been told to bring the corpse of the defeated. In fact, she was even warned that she was not to fight either of them cause they were way above her league at the moment.

To get rid of the sense of unease, that's why she chose to eliminate him.

The angel fired several dozen icicles at Kai.

"I've found you."

Before the icicles could hit, the angel felt chills up her spine. Kai continued to stare into her eyes as if the icicles weren't a problem to him but it didn't look as if she was staring at him, it felt like he was looking straight past them.

"Reo, have you finished?"

"Yes, just now."

"Then, let's go get her back."

Kai stood up even with the icicles piercing his body. At the same time, two figures descended.

Erina and Yoko stood by his sides without their masks. They brandished their weapons and aimed them at the angel.

"Keep her contained. Do not kill her."

"Got it."

Yoko nodded her head and charged forward. Erina frowned once she saw Kai's wound but after he gave her a look that said he was fine, she turned her attention to the angel.

"I'll be back soon."

Kai stepped back once and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Yoko and Erina with the angel.