The two saints were locked in a staredown as the Avatar of the mother wolf slowly circled Ajax, as though observing a prey.

Avatars are the physical manifestation of the user's power on another level. A skill that is hard to pull off and much harder to maintain.

At that moment, the two opposing sides knew well that their battle would end swiftly. Yet, the destruction it will bring is grand.

Ajax's astral compass expanded as his eyes closed, his focus solely on his enemy and checking the situation.

Realizing the warriors were already at a safe distance, Ajax's eyes slowly opened as he shot a glare at the wolf.

For a moment, the world went to a standstill. Then the first attack was launched.

The mother wolf growled as she lunged forward, shattering hundreds of meters of ground in one single move.

Reacting fast, Ajax slammed down the staff he was wielding, generating another shockwave-like ejection of shadow matter and knocking back the mother beast.

Following close, Ajax extended his scythe, slashing diagonally towards the Wolven avatar.

However, the mother wolf was agile as one of her heads opened its maws, releasing a violent surge of ice and forming a giant wall.

Ajax's avatar skidded back as he regained his foothold. But that short moment was enough as the beast before him opened its second maw, releasing a mighty roar as hundreds of metal beams burst from the ground and towards Ajax.

But the Shadow Saint remained steadfast as he brought forth his staff and spoke.

"Second gear: engulfing shadows."

The staff glew for a brief moment before a flame-like burst of shadows billowed forward, devouring the steel beams as it made its way towards the mother beast.

Releasing a glare, the wolven avatar ran sideways as she continuously avoided the stream of shadows. At the same time, her third maw opened, and a solid sphere of rot manifested in her mouth.

Releasing the attack, it traveled fast, eradicating anything in its path.

Slamming the shadow staff once more, Ajax muttered.

"Third gear: Five usurpers."

Before the shadow warrior, five shields, each with their own designs, fell from the sky, stacking in front of one another.

As the two collided, a blinding light engulfed the field as the sphere exploded, turning into a beam.

The first shield swiftly broke, allowing the beam to mow down the second and third. However, at the fourth hurdle, the blast was unable to proceed any further.

Ajax's avatar wielded a staff and a scythe. The scythe was able to slice through metal and mountains with ease, but the real powerhouse was the staff.

The staff of the shadow sage held three gears. The first gear was neutral, capable of releasing a blast of shadow matter, which can be used defensively and offensively.

The second gear was the attack type. It throws a stream of shadows, devouring all it touches.

The last gear was the defensive one. It throws five shields, each of which corresponds to a specific type of attack.

The first shield was for metamorphosis-ranked attacks; the second was for ascended; the third was for enlightened; the fourth was for saints; and the fifth for morph.

This was the reason the attack was stopped by the fourth shield, as it was only of Saint level and no further.

Not wasting time, Ajax dashed forward as he utilized the second gear to encase the scythe in shadow.

Meanwhile, the mother wolf released a loud war cry as multiple steel blades pierced through the clouds, descending down as it morphed red due to its speed.

Narrowing his gaze, Ajax delivered a series of slashes as he effortlessly cleaved through the blades, bisecting them as they turned the earth to mush.

Samael, who was nearing ground zero, felt the extreme tremors occurring.

This is crazy! He thought as he doubled his speed.

Back in the fight, Ajax marched unhindered as he dodged, sliced, and diced his way through.

Seeing this, the mother wolf opened two of her mouths as large missile-like ice structures manifested, their cores glowing black.

On command, the attacks shot forward, breezing through the wind as they made their way to Ajax.

Ajax halted his steps as he slipped to the side—

"Erupt!"

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The missiles blew next to Ajax's face, shattering his Avatar's helmet as he nearly stumbled down.

Inside the avatar, Ajax felt the world spin for a moment as he felt blood trickle down his nose.

Clenching his jaw, he swung the staff forward as he generated a wave of shadow matter, forcing the attacks to explode before even reaching him.

But the sea of rot that escaped the missiles formed a curtain as the mother wolf lunged out, mauling the shadow avatar's right shoulder as the abomination hauled him away.

Ajax's avatar soared in the heavens as he descended in a thunderous explosion, ripping through hundreds of trees and forming ravines in his wake.

Inside the ability, Ajax spewed blood as he felt the backlash of the attack resonate with him.

Each damage done to an avatar will not reflect physically on the user, but it will mess up their internal "world." Their very core will be shaken, and thus the damage is worse.

Ajax's grunts echoed as he painstakingly rose up, his hands trembling as he shifted his gaze to the distance where his staff lay.

"Shit," Ajax muttered as he breathed heavily.

The wolf's face slowly formed a nasty smirk as it approached Ajax. Like a predator who's caught up to its prey.

Ajax racked his mind for other actions, but to no avail. However, his attention was divided as he felt a presence come closer.

A small, imperceptible smile formed on Ajax's lips as he stood there.

"Any last words, human?" The mother wolf asked as she stood before the shadow avatar.

Staring right into the eyes of the wolf, Ajax replied.

"Go to hell."

From the shadows, Igram jetted forward as the spawn swung its greatsword with tremendous force.

However, the wolven avatar swiftly swung at the shadow, knocking it down as a sneer escaped its lips.

"Was that the best you could do?"

However, Ajax remained calm, as he said.

"You fell for it."

"What—"

"Devourer."

An ear-shattering wail of pain echoed across Georgo Road as the mother beast flailed in a frenzy as one of its heads was torn off its neck.

In the midst of the chaos, Samael's figure was revealed as he exploded into a flock of ravens, effortlessly avoiding the rampage of the saint.

Landing softly on the shoulder of the Shadow avatar, Samael spoke in a teasing tone. "Hello, mentor. Miss me?"

A soft chuckle escaped Ajax's lips, a gesture not often seen in his character.

"You look well," Ajax said, a hint of relief present in his voice.

"Well, you look like you've aged twice when I last saw you," Samael replied as he chuckled.

Shifting his gaze at the mother beast causing a rampage, Samael spoke. "What is going on here?"

"That's the leader of the wolves. A saint like me," Ajax answered.

"I'm guessing she was winning?" Samael asked.

"...Yes," Ajax replied.

"So what's the plan?" Samael asked.

"I need to get my staff back," Ajax said.

"Roger that," Samael uttered as he cracked his neck.

"Ready for round two?" he asked.

"Let's end this," Ajax said.

Shifting his focus forward, Samael burst into a flock of ravens as he crossed the distance with ease, narrowly avoiding the shards of rocks hurling his way.

The mother beast, consumed by her rage, shot a vengeful glare at the flock as her maw opened, releasing a stream of decay.

However, Samael swiftly dispersed in multiple directions.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!" The mother wolf roared.

Seeing the ravens flock, she swiftly threw an ice javelin at the gathering, killing dozens of ravens in one fell swoop.

However, her gaze widened as she felt a presence appear inches before her.

"Void miasma."

A wave of Void matter spewed from Samael's body, swiftly surrounding the mother beast.

Blinded by her anger, she threw a series of ice spikes, only to miss as Samael kept exploding into a flock of ravens.

However, she soon halted her movements as a searing pain struck her eyes.

It has taken effect! Samael shot a glance at Ajax as the Saint dashed forward, inching towards the staff.

But the mother beast managed to cover her second head's eyes with ice as she attempted to lunge at Ajax.

Thinking quickly, Samael spoke.

"Void wall."

A large circular wall of solidified Void matter manifested before the wolf and Ajax, slowing down the beast as she clawed her way through, but it was too late.

"First gear: shifting shadows."

Ajax swung the staff straight at the wolf's face. Seeing this, the mother beast nimbly retreated, but to no avail.

As the burst of shadows escaped from the staff, the abomination was struck by its shockwave, knocking her down to the ground.

Seizing the chance, Ajax used gear one once more, pummeling the beast deep below the earth.

Trembling, the mother beast howled, her call reaching far and wide.

The wolves ears perked up as their eyes morphed black, their senses slowly losing control of their bodies as they rushed the Shadow Saint.

The waves of wolves were like a tsunami, climbing through the saint's leg and slowing him down.

Seeing this, Samael spoke.

"Needle rain."

From above, a plethora of thin, nearly invisible spikes rained down, impaling the wolves one by one as they fell like snow.

However, that small window of time was enough as the mother wolf overpowered Ajax's assault, giving her time to escape.

Battered and weakened, she growled in fury at the two bastards.

However, Ajax himself was not faring well either. He was bleeding internally from all the damage he sustained earlier.

Closing her eyes, the mother of the wolves glew as her fur rose up, swaying under the wind.

"Berserk."

A strong shockwave swept the forest as Samael and Ajax braced. Before their very eyes, the abomination slowly lost its wits as its power spiked up.

"We cannot let it finish!" Ajax said as he burst forward. Samael, on the other hand, followed closely. Underneath the two were Merlin and Igram.

The shadowcaster kept shooting one spell after the other, while Samael himself actively used Void fire to interrupt the beast.

Dealing the final blow, Ajax used gear two as a jet of shadows slammed against the wolven avatar, forcing it to stumble.

A large explosion shook the grounds as the mother beast finished only half of the ability.

But Samael's eyes widened as he spoke.

"Wait..."

However, his thoughts were interrupted as the abomination dashed at mind-shattering speed, barreling straight at the shadow avatar and knocking it back.

Not done with its assault, it shot a large ice meteor down towards Ajax.

The shadow saint swiftly cast the third gear of his staff, blocking the attack with the final shield as he felt his arms tremble under the recoil.

Watching all this unfold, Samael kept his focus on the mother beast as he spoke.

"Sheer focus."

Slowly, everything else seemed to fade away from Samael's vision as he felt his entire being focus on the wolven avatar alone.

With the help of his all-seeing eye, Samael finally understood what was happening.

Bursting into a flock of ravens, he made his way towards the shadow saint, landing on its shoulder as he spoke.

"AJAX! IT'S CONSUMING ITS LIFE FORCE IN EXCHANGE WITH POWER!" Samael roared.

With the help of his all-seeing eye, Samael could see the life aura of the mother beast weaken inch by inch.

Each time it did, the beast grew stronger and stronger too.

"That means..." Samael muttered.

"We'll have to survive until it's dead," Ajax resumed.

They were now in the end game.