The moment Jiwoon took a step forward—
The arena's divine barrier flickered. A burst of raw force erupted beneath his feet, fracturing the marble with a thunderous crack. The audience gasped as invisible pressure surged outward.
Aven's eyes narrowed.
"You're holding back again."
He snapped his fingers.
In response, the golden spear hanging mid-air split into seven, each one encoded with divine glyphs. They circled Jiwoon like orbiting blades—then struck all at once.
Fzzzzzzz—BOOM!
Dust and light exploded in all directions.
But when it cleared…
Jiwoon stood in the middle, untouched.
One hand extended. A single black sigil floated above his palm, erasing the divine glyphs like ink dripping into water.
"Your weapons are pretty," Jiwoon said casually.
"But they don't know how to sin."
Aven gritted his teeth.
"Fine. You want to see judgment?"
He raised both hands.
[Oathbrand – Celestial Executioner: 2nd Form]
A halo of golden fire expanded around Aven, rising like a sun behind him. Wings of light unfurled—not angelic, but mechanical, constructed from law and scripture.
"You're not the only one who carries weight."
He launched forward, crashing into Jiwoon with a wave of radiant force.
The impact launched both fighters across the arena.
For the first time, Jiwoon skidded backward.
In the stands—
Kaelya stood up sharply. "That was a real hit…"
Vera gritted her teeth. "And he still hasn't used the armor."
Back in the arena—
Jiwoon cracked his neck, eyes slowly glowing with flickers of dragonlight.
"Alright, Aven. Let me show you what sin tastes like."
He lifted one hand.
The sigil behind him shifted—the first fragment of the Sinbound Core pulsed, and a black gauntlet of the Ebonwyrm Exordium formed over his right arm.
Aven's expression shifted—recognition.
"That armor… That's not divine."
Jiwoon smiled.
"No. It's justice… for the damned."