NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: Chapter 31
In the sky divided into black and white, a figure with demonic horns and devilish wings stood aloft, overlooking a young man with small dragon horns standing in a white domain below. His eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement, as if a demon lord who had destroyed countless worlds had finally seen a hero step up to face him.
Hiroshi scratched his head in frustration as he looked at the dramatically changed Banir. The oppressive presence filling the space around him was overwhelming. With a thought, Hiroshi opened his attribute panel.
**Name:** Hiroshi, lv21 [1800/4000] [Legendary]
- **Strength:** 70
- **Constitution:** 70
- **Agility:** 70
- **Intelligence:** 90
- **Spiritual Power:** 135,000
**Abilities:**
- **Spirit Manipulation - Gold lv6**
- **Space Domain lv7**
- **Spirit Manipulation - Wind lv7**
- **Sword Mastery lv6**
- **Beginner Magic lvmax**
- **Intermediate Magic lv5**
- **Close Combat Mastery lv4**
**Derived Abilities:**
- **Power of the Tiger Suppression max**
- **Transcendent Body max**
- **Treading on Thin Ice max**
- **Still Water max**
**Divine Powers:**
- **Mountain-Splitting Strength lv5**: (30 Strength points to awaken; capable of splitting mountains and parting waters)
- **True Dragon Bloodline lv5**: (30 Constitution points to awaken; gain the strength of an ancient bloodline with True Dragon blessings)
- **Spatial Blink lv5**: (30 Agility points to awaken; move through space influenced by your spiritual domain)
- **Divine Sense lv7**
- **Power of the True Dragon lv4**: (40 Strength points to awaken; unleash the might of a dragon)
- **Dragon's Body lv4**: (40 Constitution points to awaken; gain a dragon's form, enhancing all draconic powers)
- **Cloud Rider lv4**: (40 Agility points to awaken; clouds and mist accompany the dragon)
- **Stormcaller lv6**: (40 Intelligence points to awaken; the power to summon storms is inherent to the dragon)
- **Force of the Mountains lv3**: (50 Strength points to awaken; blessed by nature and the mountains)
- **Dragon Vein Body lv3**: (50 Constitution points to awaken; the dragon embodies the veins of the earth)
- **Heaven and Earth lv3**: (50 Agility points to awaken; move unimpeded through any realm)
- **Thunder Manipulation lv5**: (50 Intelligence points to awaken; command the power of lightning)
- **Power of Breaking Restriction lv2**: (60 Strength points to awaken; overcome any obstacle)
- **Netherwalker lv2**: (60 Agility points to awaken; transcend the bounds of life and death)
- **Undying Body lv2**: (60 Constitution points to awaken; gain an indestructible form)
- **Dragon's Spirit lv4**: (60 Intelligence points to awaken; awaken the spirit of the dragon within)
- **Anti-Magic Power lv1**: (70 Strength points to awaken; sever magical constructs)
- **Body of Life lv1**: (70 Constitution points to awaken; regenerate lost limbs, overcoming natural decay)
- **Boundary-Breaking Wings lv1**: (70 Agility points to awaken; wings that traverse realms)
- **Immortal Soul lv3**: (70 Intelligence points to awaken; gain an eternal soul)
- **Spirit of the World lv2**: (80 Intelligence points to awaken; become one with the world)
- **Eternal Soul lv1**: (90 Intelligence points to awaken; attain eternal life)
**Skills:**
- **Sniping lv6**
- **Sword Manipulation lv7**
- **Spirit Control - Beginner lvmax**
- **Spirit Control - Intermediate lvmax**
- **Spirit Control - Advanced lv8**
- **Experimental Sword Formation - Third Edition lvmax**
**Physique:**
- **World Affinity Body lv4**: (Loved by the world; increases potential. Gain 5 points to each attribute per level and 5 free attribute points. Guaranteed divine awakening)
Looking at his divine abilities, Hiroshi noticed that most of them enhanced his defense, vitality, and movement speed. The only offensive ability he had was the thunder manipulation power. Frustrated, Hiroshi closed the attribute panel. His leap from master-level to legendary-level had only made his shortcomings more apparent.
The small dragon horns on his forehead flickered with purple lightning. Platinum-scaled wings unfolded behind Hiroshi as his spiritual energy surged through his body. With a flick of his wings, Hiroshi shattered Banir's dark domain and soared into the sky, reaching an altitude of ten thousand meters.
Looking down at the massive dark domain below, Hiroshi confirmed Axel's location. The small dragon horns on his forehead glowed with purple lightning, and a deafening thunderclap echoed across the sky. The previously clear sky turned dark as storm clouds gathered, and heavy rain began to pour.
The rain summoned by his divine power purified parts of the dark domain below. Several streaks of light burst out, revealing the figures of Luo Xiaohei, Ruri Gokou, and Kazuma Sato. Banir lowered his head, glanced at the three, then looked at the empty space beside them and said, "Since they're all out, perhaps you should show yourself as well."
The air rippled like water, and Mu's figure appeared beside the three.
"Master!" Luo Xiaohei called out in surprise as he saw Mu.
Mu reached out and patted Xiaohei's head, glaring at the three of them. "You fools! You actually rushed into the domain of a half-immortal on the path to ascension."
"Ah!" Luo Xiaohei cried, holding his head as he stared at Banir in disbelief. "He's as strong as Master?!"
Looking worriedly at Hiroshi in the center of the thunderstorm, Luo Xiaohei couldn't help but ask, "Master, is Brother hiroshi in danger? We should go help him."
Hearing Mu's words, Kazuma and Ruri exchanged nervous glances. They had known Banir was strong, but they hadn't realized he was already in the semi-divine realm. Someone at that level had a domain that had transformed into a demi-plane, far beyond the capabilities of their own domains.
The two hurried to Mu's side, grateful as they said, "Thank you for protecting us. But should we go help Hiroshi?"
Mu looked at the two of them and then gazed up at the sky. "I don't think we need to interfere."
Purple lightning filled the sky as a dragon formed from thunder roamed the clouds. Bolts of lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the world.
Mu's eyes shone with the light of a sword, piercing through the clouds to see Hiroshi at the center of the storm.
"Hmm?" In the center of the storm, Hiroshi floated amidst the lightning, feeling someone's gaze. He looked down and saw Mu and the others below.
"Do you need my help?" Mu's voice echoed in Hiroshi's mind.
Hiroshi smiled and shook his head, then looked at Banir, who was gazing up at him with excitement. With a hint of helplessness in his voice, Hiroshi replied, "This guy isn't even serious about fighting me. He's just excited to see something he doesn't know."
"In that case, I'll give him something worth seeing."
With those words, the thunder dragon burst out of the clouds, charging straight at Banir.
Banir, who had been motionless after unsealing his power, looked up excitedly at the incoming thunder dragon. Knowledge he had never known, power he had never felt—for Banir, who claimed to know everything in the world, these were all unknowns. And the unknown was happiness to him. Desiring to see Hiroshi's unknown power, he unsealed all of his abilities, wanting to see more. So he pressured Hiroshi without truly attacking him.
"Come!" Banir spread his arms, embracing the sky. The demon eyes behind his mask saw through the thunder dragon, observing Hiroshi within. Unknown energy flowed endlessly from Hiroshi, and Banir's face showed increasing excitement as he shouted, "I will not evade! So, warrior from another world, give it your all and try to defeat me!"
Banir's frenzied shout echoed across the land as Kazuma, Ruri, and Xiaohei watched in awe. Banir seemed like a speck of dust compared to the massive thunder dragon descending upon him, yet he laughed as he extended his arms to embrace it.
Crack! Boom!
The moment they collided, the space around them shattered, followed by bursts of lightning that turned the area into a gaping void. Space fragments mixed with lightning flew everywhere, like a shower of violet meteors falling across the world.
As the meteor shower streaked across the sky, the dark domain covering the world disappeared, and the sun shone once again over Axel. Not far away, Klee stood on the city wall, holding Hinata Gokou's small hand as she curiously looked at a small, lightning-glowing orb that had fallen in front of them. She crouched down and poked it with her finger, feeling a tingling sensation. She picked up the purple orb from the crater.
Crack!
The orb split in Klee's hand, shattering into many translucent purple shards like broken glass. Feeling the strange energy from the shards, Klee looked at Hinata and said, "This is beautiful, but it has some strange energy. Once Brother hiroshi confirms it's safe, I'll share it with you."
Hinata shook her head hurriedly, "No need, Sister Klee. You don't have to share it with me. This is yours."
"Sister?!" Klee's eyes lit up at Hinata's words, and she patted her small chest proudly. "I'm the big sister, so you have to listen to me, little Hinata. Once Brother hiroshi says it's safe, I'll give you some."
In the distant sky, the massive void created by the battle was slowly closing, aided by Hiroshi's spiritual power. Behind him, Banir's half-destroyed body lay in mid-air, a satisfied smile still on his face.
"Very well, Hiroshi, warrior from another world. You've defeated me," Banir said, struggling to stay afloat. His lower half was gone, his wings tattered, and one of his demon horns shattered. Despite his condition, he smiled contentedly.
"I am Banir, the Demon Duke who knows all. Because I know everything, I have never experienced anticipation or the feeling of the unknown," Banir said, floating silently, as if satisfied with his life. "But now, I have felt supreme happiness. So this is what it means to feel the unknown and to anticipate. It has truly fulfilled me."
Having repaired the last spatial tear, Hiroshi turned to look at Banir, who, despite being on the verge of death, continued to ramble. With a flick of his hand, a flying sword shot out, piercing Banir's head. Hiroshi clapped his hands and said, "If you're going to die, then die already. Stop rambling! Also, who gets hit by an attack like that and only loses their upper half?"
Trembling, Banir looked at Hiroshi in shock, then fell rapidly toward the ground, leaving behind only one last statement, "A demon as sinful as I am will surely find only the most terrible hell awaiting my soul."
Hiroshi watched Banir's body hit the ground, raising a large cloud of dust and creating yet another crater in the devastated land. He sighed and looked to the side. "Aren't you tired of this, Banir? You really overacted."
"Oh? I thought I did a decent job, acting just like those popular novels," Banir said as he stepped out of a space he had torn open like a piece of paper. Wearing his usual tailcoat, Banir bowed to everyone. "I am Banir, a Demon Duke seeking the unknown. Nice to meet you all."