"That thing is a cosmic void," Belial said, lifting the Beliarok and looking up at Greeza.
"Can it even be cut?"
"Just try it," the Beliarok replied, its mouth opening and closing.
"If I want to cut something, I'll cut it."
High above, Greeza twisted violently, splitting into multiple afterimages as if reality itself were glitching.
Rampant energy particles surged through the air and converged rapidly around its body.
In the next instant, they gathered at its chest—
And then poured downward like a waterfall of destruction, unleashing a barrage of violent energy beams toward those on the ground.
Seeing this, Z transformed into a golden storm and charged straight into the attack.
But the moment he made contact, he was blasted away, sent flying by the overwhelming force.
Juggler and Geed did not move.
They both knew—
This was now Belial's battlefield, and the stage belonged to the Cosmic Needle in his hand.
Belial felt the fearlessness emanating from the Beliarok.
He made no attempt to dodge.
Instead, he raised the sword and held it firmly in front of him.
The raging beams struck the Beliarok, appearing as if they would engulf it in the next second—
Yet the expected scene never came.
To everyone's shock, Beliarok's mouth opened wide, swallowing the torrent of energy whole.
When the beam attack finally ceased, the energy devoured by the sword had reached saturation.
Belial wasted no time.
He thrust the Beliarok upward toward the sky—
And the sword opened its mouth again, releasing all that stored power in a single, devastating counterattack.
BOOOOOOM—!!!!!
A thunderous explosion erupted in the heavens, blooming into a black, cotton-candy-like cloud.
Greeza had been hit—solidly.
Aside from Yuzhou's dream-based method, this was the first time any other form of attack had successfully damaged Greeza.
A ghostly, shrill cry echoed as Greeza instantaneously flashed from the sky down to the ground.
Thin wisps of white smoke rose from its body—
The unmistakable mark of damage inflicted by Beliarok's reflected attack.
"Yeah," Belial said, swinging the Beliarok lightly.
"This thing's actually pretty useful."
He had searched for a suitable weapon for a long time.
This was the first one that truly felt right in his hands.
Only its appearance left him somewhat speechless.
"Go on!" the Beliarok shouted enthusiastically.
"Use me—cut this cosmic void to pieces!"
"Exactly what I was thinking," Belial replied.
Gripping the sword tightly, he charged straight at Greeza.
In close combat, Belial closed the distance in an instant, swinging Beliarok again and again, carving streaks of violet blade-light through the air.
Greeza clearly understood now—
That bizarre weapon in Belial's hand could genuinely harm it.
It no longer dared to take the blows head-on.
Its body flickered between solid and void, blinking erratically as it dodged each strike.
Belial did not relent.
His sword swings grew faster and faster, pushing his speed beyond Greeza's evasive limits.
No matter how perfect the evasion—
Mistakes were inevitable.
At last, under the relentless assault, Beliarok sliced cleanly across Greeza's body.
Purple lightning crackled wildly across Greeza's form.
Struck by the Cosmic Needle, Greeza finally realized—
Its existence was now truly in danger.
For a being that had rampaged freely across the universe, devouring countless life-bearing planets, this was the first time it had ever felt the threat of death.
The Cosmic Needle existed for one purpose alone—
To counter monsters like Greeza.
"Now," Yuzhou said calmly, observing Greeza's body becoming increasingly solid, "your attacks should be able to affect it as well."
"Got it! Z, let's go!"
"Move out!"
"Guess it's time to stretch a bit!"
Haruki and Z, Geed, and Juggler all charged forward together.
After being utterly helpless earlier, frustration had been building in all of them.
Now that they could finally land hits—
They were more than ready to vent it.
"See?" the Beliarok bragged loudly.
"There's nothing in this universe I can't cut!"
"Good," Belial nodded approvingly.
"I'm starting to like you too."
"Wait," the sword suddenly said.
"Why does your voice sound exactly like mine?"
Belial glanced down at it.
"Because your body contains my genetic factor."
"What?!"
The sentient sword froze in shock.
"In other words," Belial added after a moment's thought, "You could be considered my second son."
"That's impossible!" the Beliarok immediately protested.
"I'm this dark—how could I be your son?! Don't try to take advantage of me!"
"Suit yourself," Belial replied indifferently.
"In the end, we're still part of the same whole."
To him, the sword was simply a self-aware weapon—
Like a blade spirit, not a person.
"Z Flame Lance!"
"Solgel Ray!"
"Rampart Photon!"
As Belial and the Beliarok bickered, Z, Geed, and Juggler unleashed their beams simultaneously.
Now fully materialized, Greeza faced the combined assault of three Ultras—
Yet it remained eerily composed.
With a wave of its hand, several blue energy spheres formed around its body, attempting to block the incoming attacks.
But the three beams struck at once.
After barely three seconds, the spheres shattered like fragile glass, dissolving into particles of light.
The attacks slammed directly into Greeza's body.
BOOOOOOM—!!!!!
Another explosion thundered across the battlefield.
Greeza let out a ghastly shriek as its form reappeared elsewhere.
Thick black smoke poured from its body—
It was clearly severely wounded.
"I'll finish it," Belial said, facing Greeza with the Beliarok in hand.
"No," the sword replied, its blade glowing brightly.
"Let me finish him."
Belial understood instantly.
Without instruction, he grasped exactly what Beliarok was about to unleash.