The battlefield was unlike anything that had ever existed. Time itself had begun to warp, distort, and unravel, bending under the pressure of the sheer forces that now stood at odds with one another. The very fabric of existence rippled like water, the sky shattered and reformed in an endless cycle as the energy from both beings flooded the universe.
Shinryu's aura radiated outward, igniting the void around him with a power that went beyond the gods—beyond creation itself. His entire being glowed with a cosmic grace, every motion of his body a testament to the limitless strength he held within him. He was not merely a being of power; he was a force of nature that the multiverse could barely contain.
And yet, standing across from him was Sukojo.
The Devourer of All stood calmly, his presence oppressive, yet casual. His crimson eyes gleamed with ancient malice, a calm smirk on his face, as though he found the entire situation amusing. To him, Shinryu was just another obstacle, a mere plaything in a universe he had already consumed and discarded countless times before.
Sukojo: (mocking, his voice cutting through the chaos) You think you can stop me, Shinryu? You, who fancy yourself beyond the gods? Let me show you how insignificant that title truly is.
Shinryu's muscles tensed, his body prepared for the fight of a lifetime, but even as he focused every ounce of his being, the overwhelming presence of Sukojo sent a cold shiver down his spine. He knew—on some level, deep within—that this fight was not going to be an easy one.
Shinryu: (thinking, determined) I don't care how powerful he is. I will stop him. I have to.
With a fierce roar, Shinryu launched himself forward, his body vanishing in a blur of radiant light. His speed surpassed that of light itself, his movements tearing through the fabric of space and time as he closed the gap between him and Sukojo in less than an instant.
Shinryu: Infinity Break!
His voice boomed across the battlefield as he summoned the full force of his cosmic energy into a single strike. The power of entire galaxies condensed into his fist, glowing with a blinding light as it hurtled toward Sukojo's chest.
But in the moment the punch was about to connect, Sukojo simply raised a single hand. His fingers wrapped around Shinryu's fist, stopping the attack with an ease that defied explanation.
Sukojo: (smirking) How... trivial.
With a flick of his wrist, Sukojo sent Shinryu flying backward, crashing through the very structure of reality, fracturing universes as his body tore through dimensions. The impact alone shattered countless worlds, but Shinryu quickly righted himself, his aura flaring even brighter as he regained control.
Shinryu: (growling, wiping blood from his mouth) No way...! I'm not done!
Sukojo remained where he stood, his smirk growing wider as Shinryu re-engaged, his power growing with every step. The skies twisted and howled as Shinryu unleashed the full depth of his abilities.
Shinryu took a stance so immense that the entire cosmos bent under his will. Stars blinked out of existence as his aura expanded, pulsating with the power of a being who stood beyond the gods.
Shinryu: (roaring) Obliteration Pulse!
The universe itself seemed to scream as Shinryu unleashed a massive wave of energy, tearing through space and time, aiming to wipe Sukojo from every plane of existence. The attack rippled through the multiverse, its destructive force unfathomable.
But Sukojo didn't move. His eyes glinted with amusement as the wave of destruction rushed toward him. With a calm, almost bored expression, he raised a hand, his palm glowing with a dark, ancient energy.
Sukojo: (quietly) Void Rend.
In an instant, the entire wave of Shinryu's attack was swallowed by the darkness in Sukojo's palm, devoured as though it had never existed. The sky, which had been torn apart by Shinryu's energy, returned to a still, eerie calm, as if the destruction had been nothing more than a fleeting breeze.
Shinryu's eyes widened in shock.
Shinryu: (thinking, horrified) He... absorbed it?
Sukojo's grin widened, his presence becoming even more oppressive.
Sukojo: (mocking) You really don't understand, do you? I am the Devourer of All. Your attacks, your power, your entire existence is nothing but nourishment for me. This multiverse... everything... belongs to me.
Shinryu's heart raced. He had never faced anything like this. Even gods, even entities beyond gods had fallen before his might, but this... Sukojo was on a completely different level. His power was more than just overwhelming—it was reality itself bending to his will.
But Shinryu wasn't done. He wasn't going to let this end here.
Shinryu: (gritting his teeth, his body shaking with resolve) You might be powerful, Sukojo... but I'll never stop fighting. I'll find a way to beat you. I have to.
Taking a deep breath, Shinryu summoned the full might of his power, drawing from the furthest reaches of the multiverse. His body began to glow with an otherworldly radiance, his aura expanding into a swirling maelstrom of cosmic energy.
Shinryu took a stance so immense that the boundaries of reality trembled. His power transcended the known realms of creation, stretching into dimensions that had yet to be born.
Shinryu: (voice low, filled with absolute determination) Celestial Cataclysm.
The air became dense, every atom vibrating as Shinryu pulled in the essence of the multiverse itself. His body became the center of a storm that stretched beyond the infinite, the power within him roaring like a supernova. The ground beneath him shattered into dust, floating away as if consumed by the very concept of entropy.
But Sukojo merely laughed.
Sukojo: (amused, shaking his head) Still fighting, Shinryu? I suppose I should commend you. Most would have broken by now.
As the words left Sukojo's mouth, Shinryu unleashed the attack. The cosmos quaked as the force of Celestial Cataclysm exploded outward, obliterating everything in its path. Planets, stars, and dimensions alike were erased from existence in the blink of an eye, the energy surging toward Sukojo with unstoppable fury.
And yet, in the face of such overwhelming power, Sukojo stood calmly.
With a slow, deliberate motion, Sukojo raised a single finger.
Sukojo: (quietly) Devour.
The universe itself seemed to buckle as Sukojo's power surged. The energy from Shinryu's attack was swallowed whole by the darkness that emanated from his finger, devoured without a trace. It was as if Shinryu's attack had never existed at all.
Sukojo: (laughing) You can't win, Shinryu. Your power means nothing to me.
Shinryu fell to one knee, panting, his body trembling from the exertion of his attacks. He had thrown everything he had at Sukojo, but it wasn't enough. Nothing seemed to work.
Sukojo: (smiling, coldly) You are nothing more than a child playing at being a god, Shinryu. But don't worry... I will end this soon enough.
Before Sukojo could make his next move, the sky above them tore open. A crack appeared in reality itself, a rift that spread across the heavens, and from it, a presence unlike any other emerged.
Dark's eyes widened as he realized who had arrived.
Dark: (whispering) No... fucking way....
From the rift, a figure descended, his body glowing with a brilliant light that seemed to stretch beyond existence itself. Cosmic, The Architect of Realms, had arrived.
Leona, Tier, and Cron stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening. The sheer weight of Cosmic's presence pressed down on them, making it hard to breathe.
Leona: (thinking, terrified) What... what is this power?
But even as Cosmic descended, another figure appeared beside him, his form rippling with the energy of countless timelines. Sojo, the Keeper of Time, stepped forward, his eyes scanning the battlefield with cold calculation.
Cosmic: (disrespectfully) Sukojo, The Geeky Ass Relic.
Sojo: (calmly) It seems we've arrived just in time, of course you are the one that is disturbing us Sukojo. As usual.
Sukojo's smirk faltered for the first time.
Sukojo: (voice low, growing darker) So... the two of you have arrived. How amusing.
Sojo walked calmly toward Sukojo, his hands still casually tucked into his pockets. With every step, the ground rippled beneath his feet, forming glowing orbs that revealed trillions of timelines in their brief existence—each step showing the past, present, future, afterlife, and the moments before life, all collapsing back into nothingness after mere seconds. The air itself seemed to warp around him, as though the universe was bending to his presence.
Sojo's aura was so overwhelming that anyone near him felt it seep into their bones. Whether they were a child, an adult, or even a dead soul, they would feel their essence flicker between ages, as though they were being simultaneously reborn and aging into oblivion. His aura painted the air with glimpses of infinite destinies, fates stretching endlessly into every direction.
As Sojo finally stopped in front of Sukojo, his face softened into a warm, almost friendly smile. But the weight of that smile carried something far more terrifying.
Sukojo stood frozen, every atom in his body screaming for him not to move. His cells, his blood, even the deepest parts of his existence knew—if he moved even slightly, death would claim him. Yet, Sukojo wasn't afraid of death. His regeneration was instantaneous, nearly divine. He couldn't die...unless someone bound him within the Prison Reality or the Prison Gate, both inescapable for anyone trapped inside.
Then, without warning, Sukojo's hand appeared inches from Sojo's face. His speed had surpassed the understanding of time itself. No one had seen him move.
Sojo didn't flinch, tilting his head slightly to the right, looking at Sukojo with a casual, disinterested glance from the corner of his eye.
Sojo: So even with my hands in my pockets, unguarded, you'd still strike first.
Sukojo's smirk vanished as Sojo's eyes glowed faintly, a dangerous energy rippling through the air.
Sojo: Crumble.
With a single word, Sukojo collapsed. His knees hit the ground with such force that the earth beneath them cracked, sending shockwaves across the entire planet. The ground continued to split, each fissure deepening as if a colossal weight had been placed on the world itself. It wasn't just Sukojo being crushed; it was the planet itself, groaning under the power of Sojo's words.
This was Speech Magic, a power that transformed words into reality. And for Sojo, even a thought could invoke it.
Sojo: What a waste of time... and oxygen.
He turned his attention to Shinryu, who stood nearby, still breathing heavily from the battle.
Sojo: Shinryu, you fought well. But your time here is over. Go home. Rest.
Shinryu clenched his fists, his eyes flickering toward Sukojo's crumpled form.
Shinryu: What about him?
Sojo glanced back at Sukojo, who was still pinned to the ground by the crushing weight of his magic.
Sojo: He's going back to the Prison Gate where he belongs.
Sojo: Dark will continue living his life as he chooses.
Shinryu hesitated, sensing something was wrong.
Shinryu: Are you sure he'll stay there? Forever?
Sojo paused for a moment, and then turned his gaze to Cosmic, who stood watching from a distance.
Cosmic: This time, there will be no mistakes. I'll keep a close eye on him, something I should've done the first time.
Shinryu, relieved, dropped to one knee, bowing to Sojo and Cosmic.
Shinryu: Thank you. Without you, I would've been killed.
Cosmic: You're our successor, Shinryu. Keep up the good work.
Shinryu: I won't fail again.
Before they could react, a voice rang out, filled with mockery.
Sukojo: Do you ever shut up?
All heads turned toward Sukojo, disbelief washing over them. Sojo's Speech Magic had shattered.
Sojo, Cosmic, Shinryu, Leona, Tier, and Cron all froze in shock. Sukojo was standing tall, completely unaffected by the magic that should've crushed him.
Sukojo: Blah blah blah... you all never stop talking.
With an exaggerated sigh, Sukojo casually walked over to Sojo, placing a hand on his shoulder with the ease of someone greeting an old friend.
Sukojo: Do you mind if I finish my little game with Shinryu? Then I'll deal with you.
Cosmic: Not here. I'll create a new world for your fight, identical to this one. Go wild. There are no living beings, so destroy as much as you want.
Shinryu: Fine.
Sukojo: Heh. This is going to be fun.
With a snap, Cosmic transported them to a new world—an empty, barren landscape, identical to their original battlefield but devoid of all life. Only Shinryu and Sukojo remained.
Sukojo: So, Shinryu... ready for round four?
Shinryu took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
Shinryu: Let's finish this.
Shinryu: (thinking) I'm alone. No one to save me. Just me... and Sukojo.
Sukojo yawned, scratching his head as if the battle bored him.
Shinryu: (thinking) Damn it. Sukojo isn't just strong. He's beyond anything I've ever faced. Too fast. Too powerful.
His thoughts swirled in his head, his fear creeping in as the reality of the situation sank in deeper.
Shinryu: (thinking) Sukojo... he really is the Devourer of All. No one has ever survived a duel with him.
Sukojo casually sat down on the ground, crossing his legs and tapping his fingers against his knee.
Shinryu: (thinking) Even Cosmic, in his weakest form, barely survived. And that wasn't even a duel. That was a war—an all-out war.
He could still feel the weight of Sukojo's power pressing down on him, suffocating.
Shinryu: (thinking) It was more than an empire. More than a multiverse worth of armies. And it was all against him—one being. Sukojo.
He remembered the stories, the legends, the sheer terror that Sukojo invoked. Entire armies were obliterated in an instant, while others fled or were cursed. Sukojo didn't just win battles; he devoured all opposition, leaving nothing behind.
Shinryu: (thinking) And then... Cosmic showed up. Even he was nearly killed. And now I'm standing here, alone, against him.
The atmosphere grew thicker, the weight of the impending fight bearing down on Shinryu. His grip on his sword tightened as he stared at the immovable force that was Sukojo.
Shinryu: (thinking) Am I... going to survive this?
He inhaled deeply, steadying his heart.
Sukojo: You done talking to yourself?
Shinryu unsheathed his sword, readying himself.
But the moment he did, a crushing presence washed over him. It wasn't just Sukojo's power—it was something far beyond that. It was as if the very air around Sukojo had become a weapon, suffocating Shinryu, tearing at his soul.
Shinryu's body trembled, sweat pouring from his face, his hands shaking uncontrollably.
Shinryu: (thinking) What the hell is this... gap in power? My chances... they're zero.
Sukojo took a step forward, his spiritual energy slicing through the atmosphere like a blade. The pressure grew heavier, forcing Shinryu to his knees.
Sukojo: What's wrong, Shinryu? You scared?
In the blink of an eye, Sukojo vanished. Shinryu blinked, and suddenly, Sukojo was standing directly in front of him, their faces mere inches apart.
Sukojo's form had shifted, now resembling the version of himself that had fought countless battles in the past. His hand reached up toward Shinryu's face, slowly, deliberately.
Shinryu couldn't move. He knew if he even flinched, he would die.
Sukojo's fingers traced along Shinryu's face, almost tenderly.
Sukojo: Oh, Shinryu...
Sukojo's voice dropped to a low whisper, his smile widening.
Sukojo: You look so good when you're scared. The way your eyes tremble, the way your body gives up... the way your heart already feels dead.
For a brief moment, a pulse of light flashed in Shinryu's eyes, and Sukojo was sent flying backward, his body propelled by an unseen force.
Shinryu's voice, now laced with a demonic undertone, cut through the tension.
Shinryu: Don't ever touch me like that again.
In an instant, Shinryu was behind Sukojo. Without hesitation, he grabbed him by the arm and hurled him upward, sending him crashing through dimensions, universes, and realms beyond comprehension. Then, in the blink of an eye, Shinryu followed him, delivering a powerful front kick that sent Sukojo crashing back to their original spot. The sheer force of the impact erased the world itself, reality shattering like glass.
For a brief moment, Shinryu glanced down at the shattered ground and saw something—a hand, holding a pencil, as if writing the events they were living. But before he could process what it was, the hand vanished.
Shinryu landed beside Sukojo, breathing heavily, but his eyes widened as he realized something.
Sukojo wasn't hurt. He stood up, brushing the dust off his clothes, his smile never fading.
Sukojo: You done?
Shinryu took a step back, the reality of the situation crashing down on him.
Shinryu: (thinking) The gap between us... It's...immeasurable.
Sukojo slowly stretched, cracking his back, then looked at Shinryu with a grin.
Sukojo: What's wrong? Scared?
Sukojo opened his arms wide, laughing maniacally.
Sukojo: You're all pathetic! All of you so-called "beyond imagination" beings! PATHETIC!
He stopped laughing, his arms dropping to his sides, his expression suddenly solemn.
Sukojo: What? You looking at me like that because I'm wrong?
Sukojo smiled again, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
Sukojo: You really thought I wanted to fight you?
Sukojo closed the distance between them and placed both hands on Shinryu's shoulders, gripping them firmly.
Sukojo: You were never worthy. Every word I ever said that hinted you were strong? A lie. A joke.
Sukojo's voice grew darker, his eyes narrowing.
Sukojo: Do you know how long I've waited for this moment? Forget that other Sukojo—he's coming closer. He's coming to me. And when he does, I'll devour his soul. Just like I've devoured countless others.
Shinryu's mind raced, the weight of Sukojo's words pressing down on him.
Shinryu: What... what is this other Sukojo?
Sukojo: He's a fraction of me. A hero version of me. And I think you know by now—I'm no hero. I don't save people. I devour.
Sukojo released his grip on Shinryu, stepping back with a cruel smile.
Sukojo: Being good? It gets you nowhere. Mercy shows weakness. But chaos? Chaos makes you powerful. Feared. Respected.
Sukojo took a moment, his smile growing wider.
Sukojo: Be so bad, so powerful, that even people 50 million years from now will tremble at your name.
Before Shinryu could respond, the ground erupted beneath them, a divine light tearing through reality itself. A massive beam of pure energy shot upwards, illuminating the sky.
A figure emerged from the light, levitating slowly. A white aura radiated from its body, growing and flowing like a river of energy.
When the figure landed, its black eyes opened, consuming the surrounding darkness and radiating light into existence.
This was Light, successor to Shou.
Behind Light, Sukojo lay crumpled, his body drenched in blood. Injuries covered him, the damage caused simply by Light's mere presence.
Light, or rather Agami, stepped forward, his eyes focused on Shinryu.
Agami: Shinryu.
Shinryu immediately knelt, showing absolute respect and loyalty.
Shinryu: My lord... welcome.
Agami's eyes scanned the battlefield, his expression calm.
Agami: What's wrong? Shou sent me here.
Shinryu: Look behind you...
Agami turned slowly, his eyes narrowing as he saw Sukojo lying on the ground.
Agami: Is that Sukojo? I didn't even sense him. Too weak, I guess.
Shinryu: I have a question for you... after this.
Agami: Sure, but first... are you injured?
Shinryu: No. He didn't even attack me.
Agami: Good. Ask your question.
Shinryu: Are you more powerful than Cosmic?
Agami's expression darkened slightly, his tone serious.
Agami: If Cosmic uses his Weakest Vessel, yes. But if he fights in his true form? He'd obliterate me. However...
Agami's eyes flickered with resolve.
Agami: I'd have a chance. As long as Shou keeps giving me power, I can keep growing.
Shinryu: I never knew that...
Agami: You weren't around when it began.
As they spoke, Sukojo stirred, his body healing faster than before. In an instant, he was on his feet.
Sukojo: What the actual hell just hit me?
He looked at Agami, his eyes wide in recognition.
Sukojo: Agami... my son?
Agami's eyes narrowed in disgust.
Agami: I'm not your son. DIE!
With a word, Sukojo's entire existence exploded, erased from reality. But a moment later, he reappeared, regenerating faster than the laws of existence could comprehend.
Agami's eyes widened in shock, even if only for a brief moment.
Sukojo: Quite disrespectful, don't you think?
Sukojo's voice was low, laced with irritation. His body hummed with rage.
Sukojo: I don't want to fight you, Agami. But...
Sukojo's face twisted into a manic grin.
Sukojo: YOU ATTACKED ME FIRST!
He extended both hands, forming a twisted symbol.
Sukojo: Domain Verse.
Reality shattered around them, the verse of Dark's Pre-Crisis turned into a sea of darkness and red. Every star, every world, every existence was swallowed in the infinite chaos.
Sukojo: Chaos of Perfection.
The entire landscape turned to lava. But not ordinary lava—Ryo Lava. The substance of chaos, capable of breaking anything, burning through existence itself. It dripped from every direction—above, below, from the skies and ground alike, consuming all.
Agami: What the hell is this...?
The stage is set for an unimaginable clash of powers. The battle is far from over.
End Of Arc 2 Chapter 11