Uriel stood back up, letting go of his chest as he remembered he now had a new opportunity to live differently from how he lived in his past life, and that now he could even use the magic he had sought so much.
"I'll just say that this time I won't be like before."
When Chrom heard these words, he took out a white sword with golden details from a dimensional space. It resembled an oriental sword known as a Katana. As he unsheathed it, its sharpness was evident and golden sparks radiated from it.
Both of them took fighting stances, and Uriel rushed toward Chrom with Daelvachor in an attacking motion at high speed. The clash was so powerful that the shockwave forced everyone fighting to kneel from the pressure.
Their blows produced sparks of light and darkness that made everyone present stop. It was impossible to fight under such pressure; only Zerothiel, who was amazed by his lord's new appearance, and a few from Chrom's group remained standing, staring at the sky.
Zerothiel, deciding to do his part, began walking toward the group of three who were still standing, while strikes and abilities from both Chrom and Uriel fell near him. However, Zerothiel didn't flinch even slightly and continued his calm stride. Chrom's group began to guard themselves, knowing that the one approaching was not a being they could consider inferior.
After an instant, Zerothiel simply vanished from their sight, leaving no trace of having walked or even of his existence…
"Was that an illusion? Or was it not real?"
"You tell me, am I real?"
Zerothiel whispered behind the ear of one of Chrom's colored beings, who became so terrified that he thrust himself forward and fell to the ground.
"H–how did you get here?"
—Who is this monster? My eyes couldn't follow him.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is showing you how terrifying it is to oppose my lord Uriel."
Zerothiel released a macabre and cold smile as he opened his arms as if about to reveal something magnificent.
"Ludok, step back…"
[Nightmare World]
A wall as enormous as it was terrifying, with the face of a demon, rose from the earth. It was formed by bones and rotting bodies producing heart-wrenching and horrifying screams. The eyes on that wall's face were black and furious, as if they were the void itself—eyes that seemed to cry a substance as dark as the darkest night. They stared at Chrom's three beings, who, upon meeting this gaze, became petrified with terror, crying and releasing all kinds of bodily fluids from every orifice. Their faces bore witness to the nightmare unfolding in their minds.
Nightmare World is a mind-control ability. It displays the worst nightmares and deepest fears engraved in the souls of the targets who look into the eyes of the wall's face, leaving them in a state of vulnerability and total madness until the wall disappears. It is said that even after it fades, the targets may remain in the same state due to the intense trauma caused by the experience.
Zerothiel expressed a satisfied look upon seeing how effective his ability had been.
Zerothiel raised his gaze and observed his lord fighting Chrom. However, the battle seemed to increase in speed and the strikes from both grew heavier.
"All of you, demons of Abbadom, retreat slowly. Those who struggle to stand, return to the portal."
The demons, following Zerothiel's order, retreated with difficulty due to the battlefield, but none entered the portal—something that made Zerothiel proud enough to smile.
Suddenly, the battle in the sky between Uriel and Chrom halted. Chrom had been cut again by Uriel, this time a diagonal cut across his chest from the left shoulder to the right side of his hip.
Uriel attempted to apply the venom-edge effect, but it had no effect on Chrom, as his body possessed total resistance to altered states. The ability simply broke. Uriel knew this battle had to be won with full strength, without relying on tricks that had often granted him victory.
Chrom was visibly affected by the wound, though he recovered quickly. Seeing this, Uriel realized he needed to finish the battle soon, for in a war of attrition Chrom would likely win—he probably had far more MP than Uriel.
[World Chain]
Countless chains emerged from the ground, this time black and tipped like scorpion stingers because they were empowered by the title Dark Tyrant Prince. The chains chased Chrom, who fled swiftly, sliding through the sky.
[Thunder Sonata], [Fire Sonata]
[Final Judgement] — Daelvachor's area-of-effect ability, which caused powerful lightning bolts to fall from the sky over a wide area.
This barrage of abilities made it difficult for Chrom to avoid the chains. Uriel's abilities were also decimating Chrom's army as collateral damage. Thankfully, the demons had retreated, so none were affected, and Zerothiel was there to deflect any stray attacks that accidentally approached the barrier.
Finally, Chrom was struck by one of the Final Judgement bolts, stopping him in place. One of the chains grabbed his left leg, and he instantly felt the weakening effect of the chains.
—How is it possible that I feel weak? I shouldn't… I have absolute resistance to weakness and altered states. Then why?
Uriel approached Chrom rapidly, his palm extended toward him as he controlled the chains. Seeing this, Chrom fired magical projectiles at Uriel, who deflected and dodged them as he advanced.
[The Color of the Soul]
Chrom raised his hand, and a golden sphere emerged from it—the same one he used on Aeris, but this time aimed at Uriel. Rays began bursting out of Uriel. Chrom smirked, confident in his instant-death ability, which he considered his trump card.
"I'll have to use this on you as well."
//Warning
You are being attacked by an ability that destroys the soul.
Do you wish to activate Forcejear?
[Accept]//
[Forcejear]
The sphere in Chrom's hand shattered into thousands of fragments, and Chrom's face shifted to confusion as the smile faded.
—How is this possible? My ability is unbeatable. It shouldn't be countered. Why? Perhaps it failed… yes, that must be it, although strange, since the MP was deducted. And these cursed chains… maybe they caused the failure.
[The Color of the Soul]
Chrom raised his hand again and generated the sphere once more—only for it to shatter again. His ability had no effect on Uriel, which drove him into desperation. Uriel, who had paused his advance, raised his hand again toward Chrom and the chains tried to capture him. Chrom, seeing this, sliced off his left leg and was caught by the chain on his right arm, which he also cut off in desperation. However, he regenerated quickly, but Uriel did not relent.
[Star Spear]
Chrom was impaled by a powerful and immense spear-like force that appeared in the colors of the cosmos, reflecting the darkness of the universe and the stars within it. The ability was launched at such speed that it was impossible to dodge. The impact halted Chrom, and Uriel seized him by all four limbs, as well as by the neck, with the chains.
"What are you thinking right now, Chrom?"
—Damn it, even with these rings, I'm running out of MP. — Chrom thought in frustration.
"You won't get away with this. Even if you finish me, the other gods won't let it pass. They will come for you and destroy you definitively. And I will reincarnate and take revenge. Yes, I will take revenge and finish everyone. This time, I'll begin my destruction the moment I'm reborn."
"Reincarnate? What do you mean, Chrom? I suppose as the god of this world you can perceive souls. Search for the souls of those who faced me: Storm Gorilla Groll, that Cardinal, the primordial Fairy Trex, or the numerous beings you sent to defeat me."