The sphere of pure darkness forming between Sung Jinwoo's hands pulsed with ominous energy. It wasn't just mana or spiritual energy; it was the distillation of his authority as the Shadow Monarch, capable of erasing existence itself at a fundamental level. The air around them distorted, not from heat or pressure, but from the simple negation of space that this concentration of death represented. "This is the end. Disappear," Jinwoo murmured, ready to unleash his most potent attack against the bewildering opponent challenging his dominance.
On the other side, Cid Kagenou watched the sphere with an expression of anticipation. Cid (Thought): There it is! The mid-level boss's secret technique. A sphere of concentrated dark energy. Classic. Predictable, but effective for most. But for the true Eminence... it's just a sign. A sign for... that! The all-encompassing movement that proves my existence from the darkness. The world is watching. It's time for the perfect climax.
A genuine smile (hidden behind his mask) spread across Cid's face. He raised both hands, striking a pose that to him was the quintessence of hidden power revealed. The mana in his body, which was a vast and boundless ocean, began to churn violently. The dark ground beneath his feet cracked not from pressure, but from the sheer density of the energy Cid was summoning. Purple and black mana, glistening and corrosive, erupted from his body, condensing around him into an unstable sphere of cosmic power that quickly eclipsed Jinwoo's in size and brilliance. The energy was so vast that the Nexus stage itself, designed to hold high-level battles, began to give way, dimensional rifts forming in the air.
Cid (Loudly, in a voice that resonated with the force of a thousand thunderclaps and the despair of annihilation): "Now... behold the true power of the Shadow..."
The mana sphere above Cid grew exponentially, enveloping him completely in a singularity of destructive energy. It wasn't just a mana bomb; it was the materialization of a concept, the will to erase, focused through an unimaginable amount of energy.
Cid (Shouting, with an emotion that transcended his performance): "I... AM... ATOMIC!"
With that declaration, Cid unleashed the energy. Not as a lightning bolt or a directional blast, but as a spreading wave of annihilation. A purple and black tide that spread from his position at light-defying speed, consuming everything in its path. It didn't just destroy; it erased.
Sung Jinwoo sensed that it wasn't just an immense amount of energy. It was an attack that attempted to negate existence itself, a force alien to the laws of his own universe but undeniably real and terrifying. His sphere of annihilation, a point of pure, controlled death, was an ultimate weapon against individual beings or specific areas. But Cid's attack was different; it was a wave of destruction on a cosmic scale.
Sung Jinwoo (Thought): Too big! Too fast! I can't dodge it... I must resist!
With a war cry, Jinwoo launched his sphere of annihilation. The point of darkness collided with the expanding purple tide. For an instant, it seemed as if the two energies would cancel each other out at a point, one negation of existence against another. But Cid's "Atomic" wave was too vast, driven by a seemingly endless reservoir of mana and a will to annihilate that stretched across space.
Jinwoo's sphere was engulfed. The "Atomic" wave continued its unstoppable advance, colliding head-on with the Shadow Monarch. Jinwoo enveloped himself in the full force of his Monarch power, his body glowing with shadow energy as his regeneration activated at unprecedented levels. The remnants of his shadow army attempted to form a useless barrier, only to be instantly obliterated. The commanders—Beru, Igris, Bellion—either screamed or stood stoic, standing between the wave and Jinwoo, their titanic forms suffering catastrophic damage, their bodies partially or completely dissipating under the pressure of annihilation.
The wave of purple and black energy swept across the battleground, vaporizing the metallic floor and tearing at the very fabric of the Nexus dimension in its wake. The platforms where the other heroes were watching shook violently, protected only by the barriers The System had erected around them.
When the blinding light dissipated, the battleground was gone. It had been replaced by an immense, jagged crater, stretching as far as the eye could see. The air still vibrated with the residual energy.
And in the center of the crater, surrounded by devastation, were two figures.
One was Sung Jinwoo. He was on his knees, leaning on one of his notched daggers, the other broken at his side. His shadow armor was almost completely destroyed. His body was covered in horrible wounds that struggled to close despite his accelerated regeneration. His Monarch aura was depleted, reduced to a thread. He was ALIVE, but barely. The sheer magnitude and annihilating nature of Cid's attack had pushed him to his absolute limits. His Monarch power and connection to death allowed him to not be erased, but they didn't leave him unharmed.
The other figure was Cid Kagenou. He stood in the exact center of where he had unleashed "Atomic." His Shadow clothes were spotless, without a single speck of dust. His posture was relaxed. He didn't seem to have expended any energy, despite having unleashed a dimension-altering attack.
Cid (Thought): Perfect! He's still alive! Just like a final boss who takes your ultimate attack but stays standing for phase 2! Admirable resilience for an "extra." This validates the power of 'Atomic.' And I'm intact, of course. It's the culmination of the drama.
Cid (Loudly, his calm voice echoing in the crater): "Impressive... for a 'Monarch'."
Sung Jinwoo raised his head, staring at Cid through the remains of his armor. He didn't understand how this being could be unharmed, how this attack of pure energy could exist, or why it acted the way it did. But he did understand one thing: the opponent before him was an anomaly that defied his understanding of power and shadows. Its "shadow" was different, more terrifying in its pure, destructive nature than his own grasp on death.
Before Jinwoo could muster the strength to respond or Cid could deliver his next dramatic line, The System's voice boomed again.
[System: Sung Jinwoo vs. Cid Kagenou match... analyzed. Power level exceeded. Annihilation level confirmed. 'Dimensional Mastery' potential recorded.]
A bright light enveloped Sung Jinwoo. His wounds stopped bleeding immediately, though his form remained that of someone who had just survived the end of the world.
[Sung Jinwoo: Main Battle Continue Ability: Critical. Repositioning for recovery.]
Jinwoo disappeared, teleported back to the Beta Team platform, where he fell to his knees, exhausted.
The light then focused on Cid.
[Cid Kagenou: Main Combat Continuation Ability: Optimal. Level of Discrepancy Between Potential and Self-Understanding: Extreme.]
Cid was slightly annoyed by the interruption and the last part of the message, which he interpreted as an understatement on the part of the System. Cid (Thought): Discrepancy? Nonsense! I understand my power perfectly. I am the Eminence. 'Optimum'? Of course. I am in perfect condition. Tsk, the System lacks dramatic subtlety.
[1 vs. 1 Match Result: Technical Draw by Mutual Stage Cancellation. Both participants displayed power levels exceeding the expected parameters for a single initial confrontation.]
Cid (Thought): Technical Tie?! After my 'Atomic'! Unheard of! They must be manipulating the results to keep the drama going! Excellent! Just like a shady organization would do! This means the plot is thickening. Wonderful!
[Both teams proceed to the next phase. The battle structure will be adjusted. Next match: Rimuru vs. Gojo.]
The annihilation crater slowly closed, repaired by the Nexus's own energy. Cid was teleported back to the Alpha Team platform, where Rimuru and Saitama watched him. Jinwoo, on the Beta Team platform, slowly recovered under the watchful eyes of Gojo and Mash.
The first duel, the clash of Shadows, had ended not in a clear victory, but with a terrifying display of power on both sides, leaving more questions than answers about who truly held sway over darkness in that Nexus of Realities. The "Eminence" had revealed his absolute power, and the "Monarch" had demonstrated a resilience and control over death that defied total annihilation. The stage was set for the next confrontation.
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