Gatekeeper slightly lifted its trident—just that small movement—and its massive form surged forward, closing the distance between them in an instant!
So fast—unnaturally fast for a creature of that size!
Whoosh—
The trident thrust toward Germain, carrying the fury of a stormy sea, but Germain slipped aside in a blur.
Boom—
The Gatekeeper followed with a sweeping arc of its trident, half-circular and brutal, kicking up a tidal wave of force.
Germain's silver form dodged again—barely, yet flawlessly—always moving at the perfect moment.
This dance on the edge of the blade impressed even the Gatekeeper.
Germain... this is the first time he's seen my attacks, and yet he's already reacting purely on experience and instinct, avoiding each blow without the slightest error.
That old hag—though weakened—was still someone from our tier.
Her strength was real.
Now it makes sense that she lost to this man.
Even I can't fully suppress him.
Germain seized every opportunity to flash-step through the onslaught, untouched despite the Gatekeeper's fierce aggression.
But he had no intention of dragging this out just to win by time.
That wasn't his style.
He wanted to fight.
To explore his own heart—his own future—through battle.
Only in the thrill of deadly combat could he truly feel alive.
Besides, among those known to be in his league, there were only a few: the Seed Urn Bearer (a fairy-like girl), Don Freecss, the Gatekeeper, and the Wall-Facer.
Fights like this—where power was evenly matched—were rare for someone like Germain.
Every encounter was something to treasure, to take seriously and use wisely.
He had no desire to end up like Chairman Netero—invincible across the six continents, only to see his strength decline over time, and only finding a true challenge again with the birth of Meruem.
That was why he took a firm step forward.
Wielding the Burial Blade, he charged straight at the Gatekeeper and swung his scythe!
Clang—
Germain's sudden strike surprised the Gatekeeper.
But it didn't hesitate to counter.
The Burial Blade clashed with the Trident of Dread, sending sparks flying in every direction.
With every blow that rang out, shockwaves rippled across the surface of the sea beneath them, creating crater-like depressions in the water.
The ocean wind howled in chaotic gusts, tearing through the sky and disrupting the air currents above.
Whether it was seawater or rain, it splashed and scattered in wild confusion.
What belonged in the sea was pulled into the sky.
What belonged in the sky came crashing down into the sea.
But then—just like that—the stormy, frenzied battle came to a sudden stop.
The wind, rain, clouds, and thunder all paused, leaving a lingering sense of unfinished intensity in the air.
Germain stood, Burial Blade in hand, still immersed in the thrill of the fight.
But the Gatekeeper had already stopped, motionless in midair, slowly withdrawing its trident back into the swirling vortex.
"Ten minutes are up," the Gatekeeper said with a hearty laugh.
"Seems like the time I had with you just wasn't enough… but rules are rules. You've already won."
Ten minutes was too short.
Neither Germain nor the Gatekeeper had reached the point of using their full strength or fighting to the death.
It was a bit disappointing that no clear winner emerged, but at least Germain gained valuable experience fighting an Apostle of the God.
Only equal or challenging battles could show him the path of spiral ascent.
As he was about to return to Boundary with the Gatekeeper, he noticed that the Gatekeeper was still hovering there, motionless, like a floating island.
It seemed that Germain's suggestion to change the battlefield was exactly what the Gatekeeper wanted.
It also needed to find a place where only the two of them were present, and there was no better spot than this stormy sea that had just been blasted, where even fish, shrimp, and birds had fled.
"Do you have something to tell me?" Germain cautiously asked the Gatekeeper's intent.
The Gatekeeper smiled faintly, and the tentacles on its chin wriggled flexibly.
"You are very perceptive. That's right. Those who are not perceptive cannot survive after a divine battle."
"What exactly do you want to say?" Germain was not surprised that the Gatekeeper knew some details about the recent divine battle.
After all, the winner was the God of the Deep Sea.
It would be strange if his Apostle didn't know.
"The will of my God is my will," the Gatekeeper said indirectly.
"Those who want to break free from shackles and chains are not only you."
That single sentence stunned Germain for a moment, then suddenly enlightened him.
He understood many key points clearly.
But many questions still remained.
"Reach out your hand," the gatekeeper said again. "Don't worry, this is for your own good."
Germain thought for a moment and without much hesitation, he stretched out his hand.
The gatekeeper's sharp, massive claw—bigger than Germain's own body—reached down.
The claw's tip gently touched the palm of Germain's hand, then separated at once.
A hum resonated—
Ripples spread, and the sea breeze momentarily stalled.
A mysterious power seeped softly into his flesh and blood.
"A voice from the deep sea…"
Germain didn't gain much useful "knowledge," but he sensed that this gift was given without malice or poison.
The gatekeeper withdrew his claw and said, "I know you already have a base on the east coast. Such news always travels fast, especially after the big commotion you caused."
"Our god likely knew about your presence long before I did, but he wouldn't mention it voluntarily."
"However, as far as I know, the 'God of Curse of Resentment's' original territory has been thrown into chaos by you. Many of his former minions and leaders have been eliminated by you."
"If this continues, the east coast may indeed become a livable place for your kind... but the surface calm there probably won't last for long."
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