In Artoris, a power elevated to unprecedented levels now resided.

Having activated the direct combat mode, Artoris could finally access the various abilities associated with this enhanced version of himself. Every move and action were amplified and fortified, ready to be used to face his opponent with utmost determination and power.

Artoris gave an absolute order that no one should intervene, leaving Kira and Amelia as mere spectators on the sidelines, watching with anxious eyes the scene unfolding before them.

With a triumphant smirk, Artoris lifted his head proudly, his eyes burning with determination and power.

"Very well. Now I will show you the true potential of a demon king." He proclaimed in a booming voice, his tone echoing across the battlefield like a challenge roar.

His hands trembled slightly with excitement as he prepared to showcase all his dark power, ready to demonstrate his absolute dominance over demonic magic.

Daltonious let out a battle cry and gripped the handle of the axe tightly.

With a decisive gesture, he relaxed his grip on the handle, letting the axe fall to the ground with a muffled thud.

The blade sank into the ground with an aura of unstoppable power, causing turbulence in the surrounding air. The wind currents, sharp as blades, moved with unheard-of speed, charged with magical energy that manifested in incandescent glows.

The force of the impact made the ground vibrate, causing the collapse of numerous nearby houses, leaving behind an impressive trail of destruction.

But Artoris was not intimidated; on the contrary, he charged headlong like a bull.

That immense wave of wind engulfed Artoris. In that instant, Daltonious, with a sadistic smile that bared his teeth, saw with his own eyes his opponent's arm being torn off.

Artoris jerked around, seeing his skin spraying blood continuously. His arm had been flung so high that it landed far away.

"Damn it!"

His eyes widened in terror as his arm was severed in an instant. The air slash had ensured such a precise amputation that not even a surgeon could have done better.

Panic set in. He had lost a limb, not his life, but just a limb, yet it made him break out in a cold sweat.

But in his time of need, the interface appeared clear to him:

REGENERATION ACTIVATED.

"Eh?"

The arm sprouted from the wound, as good as new, and thousands of microscopic pixels reassembled and reformed his arm. The mode he had set allowed for regeneration.

With a graceful face, Artoris bent and flexed his elbow, his arm reassembled as good as new. It was a joy in his heart, and he was still unaware of the vast abilities of a demon king.

He attempted to visualize the demon king's abilities and saw that one, in particular, was listed on the interface that inspired confidence in him.

With a fluid and decisive movement, the Demon King extended his arm, revealing his hand trembling with dark power. With a solemn gesture, he opened his palm completely.

Darkness seemed to dance and writhe as if it were alive and eager to be released.

The shadows concentrated into a concentric vortex, forming a dark, smoky sphere, ready to be hurled at any opponent daring to challenge his demonic realm.

Artoris intensely fixed his gaze on the dark sphere in his hand, his eyes shining with a light that radiated across his face.

Magical power pulsed through his veins, fueling his determination to annihilate any resistance to his dark reign.

"What power!" Daltonious whispered, feeling the ground tremble under the weight of the dark energy enveloping him. His legs trembled, but his will remained firm, fueled by the flame of hope and resistance.

Kira and Amelia, now sidelined, witnessed the scene. Kira watched the clash with a triumphant air.

"See, Daltonious, you stand no chance against our king."

Amelia looked at her curiously, as if seeking explanations.

"See, it's with that attack that the demon king defeats his enemies," Kira continued.

Amelia's mouth slightly agape, turned back to Artoris, seeing his dark aura expand even further.

The Demon King raised his imposing hand, the palm open like a portal to darkness itself.

He opened his mouth, ready to utter the name of the skill:

"Supreme Sphere of Profound Restlessness and Affliction, Wrapped in the Darkness of a Tormented Soul, Bearer of a Thousand Laments and Anguishes, Destined to Spread Dishonor and Inconvenience on Those Who Dare Cross It."

HOW UNBELIEVABLY LONG!

His hand pulsed with a blinding light and with a swift, powerful movement, he hurled the dark sphere through the air, leaving behind a distorted trail of its energy.

The dark sphere sliced through the air with a menacing whistle, a dark projectile directed with relentless precision at its target.

Daltonious, seeing the approaching horror, raised his axe firmly, trying to block the blow with all his strength.

But it wasn't enough.

The spinning axe couldn't stop the impending impact of the dark energy. The dark sphere hurtled through the air at a terrifying speed, striking Daltonious's axe with a force that made the metal groan.

The axe was completely overwhelmed by the devastating power of the dark sphere.

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An explosion of darkness engulfed Daltonious, swallowing him with its destructive fury.

The air filled with dark sparks and debris, as the shockwave from the explosion propagated across the battlefield, shaking the ground and darkening the sky.

Daltonious was thrown backward like a leaf in a hurricane, his body twisted by the force of the explosion. His scream was lost in the roar of chaos as he was enveloped by darkness.

Before Artoris, a landscape of desolation and ruin stood.

Total destruction, the fire burning incessantly, the grass charred to a crisp. With just one attack, he had leveled the surrounding territory. It was incredible that already at level 10, he had access to such powerful abilities.

In those ruins, through the smoke, Artoris saw the silhouette of Daltonious rise again, back on his feet. He had lost -50 HP. The attack had been fatal to him.

Artoris couldn't help but feel thrilled at the magnificence of the destruction before him. He was finally coming to fully understand his true abilities, embracing the dark power that resided within him.

An evil laugh escaped him, one of those short but intense ones.

"Ha, ha! Incredible." He looked at his palms, still smoking from the attack. "It was me, what incredible power." He clenched his fists.

Daltonious advanced with the fury of a titan, swirling his scythe at his side like a giant pinwheel. His determination burned like an internal fire, fueling every movement as he prepared to deliver a devastating blow against the forces of evil.

Artoris was more convinced than ever that he would be able to counter his enemy, knowing he had the chance and the ability to take him down.

After the smoke had cleared, Daltonious was covered in wounds and bruises, but his determination remained unshakeable.

With an upright posture that betrayed his iron will, he lunged forward with the force of a boxer, throwing powerful punches with his massive fists.

Artoris narrowly avoided the blows, agilely dodging his opponent's attacks with supernatural grace. His movements were fluid and precise as if he were dancing through the waves of combat, always one step ahead of his opponent.

Despite the wounds and fatigue, Daltonious continued to fight with fierce determination, the fire of his will burning in his eyes. At that moment, Daltonious seemed amused despite the imminent danger, aware of risking his own life. However, it was evident that he found a strange satisfaction in facing an opponent who finally matched him. So far, his battles had never had that hint of excitement.

"You're not a boring opponent," he admitted with a smile, as the heat of battle ignited his eyes. "You're someone fun to fight."

Artoris raised a grin, his expression revealing a strange mix of respect and contempt.

"So, do you intend to join me and end this fight?" he asked sarcastically.

"No!" Daltonious promptly responded, his voice full of determination. "Why are you so obsessed with seeking alliances?"

I must attack from a distance; there's no other way.

Artoris calmly retreated several steps, his hands gracefully moving to create magical circles in the air. From those circles, a sinuous dark energy was released. They looked like tentacles wrapped in a dark aura, writhing and twisting among themselves like power-thirsty snakes. Their presence dominated the surrounding space, emitting a malevolent intensity that made the very air shudder.

"METEOR SHOWER!"

There's an urgent need for an update; I must immediately reformulate the skill names.

Like raindrops, the energy dispersed and propagated towards Daltonious, who lifted his axe using the weapon as a shield. After the raging wave, he advanced toward the Demon King with determination, flames threateningly emerging from his trail. With an explosive leap, he lifted off the ground, gripping the axe handle firmly.

Artoris sensed the impending attack as the oppressive energy of the axe enveloped the air around him. With heavy legs, he tried to move sideways, but it was too late. The axe came down with devastating force, slicing not only the ground beneath him but also Artoris himself, his body overwhelmed by the attack's power.

An unprecedented explosion of power was released, engulfing the surrounding territory and leaving behind only destruction.

Artoris was paralyzed. He couldn't even feel his legs and arms anymore, continuously losing blood. He could barely breathe; the heat choked his throat, and he was spitting out endless liters of blood.

The beast's footsteps echoed; stones jumped with each step, and when he approached the now-mangled demon king, he gave a penetrating look.

"It has been an honor to have you as an opponent."

Artoris was so wracked with pain that he couldn't even respond. He simply had to endure the terrible pain. Regeneration was slow; little by little, his legs were beginning to reform. Daltonious placed the axe handle on Artoris's back, driving it into his flesh until it broke the magical flow, thus interrupting his regeneration.

"Is this...perhaps, game over?" Artoris muttered.

"Game...over?" Daltonious repeated.

"Next time, I will defeat you."

"What awaits you is not a second chance: your hopes will fall into the underworld, Demon King. I, Daltonious, will end your existence. From now on, no one will remember the Demon King."

Artoris's vision blurred as he already saw the colossus clenching one of his fists. Too bad, he was about to achieve victory. His HP dropped to 20.

Daltonious's HP stood at 40; one more fatal blow could have taken him down. Just one more, and Artoris would have leveled up. Who knows how many experience points he would have gained by defeating such a formidable opponent? But Artoris kept these thoughts to himself.

The beast-man smiled. "It has been an honor to fight against the Demon King," he lifted the axe. "But now, the time has come for you to return to the shadows; your epic ends with your demise. Humanity must face a new era of terror, that of Daltonious, not Artoris anymore."

Artoris spat out a liter of blood and tried to speak: "But... but it's not fair! Your name sounds so... epic, while mine... mine is just...

"Silence. It will no longer matter to anyone. Because now, it is time for your end."

Daltonious was ready to crush him under the weight of his fist.

"Goodbye, Demon King."

Daltonious stiffened, the muscle in his arm bulging as if charged with energy ready to explode. Then, with a swift and decisive movement, he extended his arm downward, his fist clenched like a hammer ready to strike the nail. The tension in the air was palpable as his impending attack neared Artoris, lying on the ground, unable to move.

Suddenly, Daltonious's arm came to a sudden halt, meeting inexplicable resistance. He couldn't move it freely, as if something was forcibly holding it back. He pushed down with all his strength, but an invisible grip relentlessly held him back.

Spider webs quickly wove around his arms, tightening them like iron clamps. Daltonious's muscles tensed as the momentum of his movement was broken by the mysterious force that held him back. Then, suddenly, he found himself lifted into the air, suspended like prey in a spider's web.

From the cracked ground, split in two, a figure emerged from the shadows of the depths below. With fluid movement, the figure rose, beating its wings against the sun. From above, it launched spider webs non-stop, frantically trying to quell Daltonious's fury. The giant's feet were completely immobilized, trapped in a net of sticky filaments. His right arm was now encased in a cocoon of webs, but with his free hand, he reached for the axe embedded in Artoris's body and pulled it out smoothly.

Artoris's HP dropped to 1%

But as soon as the regeneration ability activated, Artoris's HP started to grow back to 100%, and the process of limb regrowth began immediately. He felt a mix of emotions as he saw Purply still alive and at his service. He realized he had loyal subjects willing to sacrifice themselves for his protection.

Purply re-emerged from the abyss, his wings spread and pulsing with new energy, no longer dry and weak as before. Daltonious summoned a lightning bolt that flashed on the axe, infusing it with tremendous power that allowed it to break the chains binding it. With a roar of fury, Daltonious felt more powerful than ever. Electric sparks danced around him, shattering rocks and sinking the ground with every step.

The grass that dared grow in his path was instantly carbonized by his electric aura.

Amelia's eyebrows stiffened, taken aback by the revelation. Was this really Daltonious? His power had significantly increased, and Amelia couldn't help but notice it with dismay. Perhaps his hatred, combined with his immense strength, had reached relentless levels, impossible to contain. It was clear that Daltonious was on a dark and dangerous path, and there was fear that he could reach an unimaginable level of power, touching divinity itself. The situation had become critical; how could they hope to defeat an opponent like that? A colossus driven by a fierce and unrestrained passion for destruction.

Artoris faced the battle with a new awareness: merely changing the fighting mode would not be enough this time; he needed a real miracle.