The Executioner didn’t stop. Chains shot out from its body, twisting and writhing like living serpents, aiming to bind Asher’s limbs.
"Not a chance."
With a flick of his wrist, Asher’s Sanguine Supreme ability surged, blood-forged claws extending as he sliced through the incoming chains. The severed pieces withered into smoke, but more took their place, coming from every direction.
He clicked his tongue, his Phantom Veil ability activating just in time.
His form blurred. Illusions of himself flickered across the battlefield, confusing the Executioner for a split second.
A second was all he needed.
SHLINK!
A blood-red scythe materialized in Asher’s hands, and with a single sweeping motion, he carved through the Executioner’s side, dark ichor spilling onto the floor.
The Executioner roared, but Asher was already moving, appearing above it mid-air, claws extended.
"Die."
He plunged downward like a crimson comet, his claws aiming straight for the Executioner’s head—
CLANG!
At the last second, the Executioner raised its axe, catching Asher’s attack. The force of the clash sent out a shockwave, cracking the ground beneath them.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then—
The Executioner’s empty hand lunged forward, grasping Asher’s throat in an iron grip.
"—Tch."
A surge of abyssal energy erupted from its palm, burning through Asher’s armor, making his vision flicker red with pain. The dark energy attempted to corrupt his body, to infect his soul.
But then—
A deep, primal power awakened within him.
The Sanguine Supreme ability pulsed, his entire being rejecting the foreign energy. His crimson aura flared, counteracting the corruption.
Asher’s expression twisted into something between a smirk and a snarl. "Not enough to kill me."
Blood tendrils shot out from his back, impaling the Executioner’s arm and forcing it to release him. Asher landed gracefully, rolling his shoulders.
"Alright. My turn."
His form shimmered again. But this time, it was different.
The air itself trembled, and the markings on the colosseum floor flared brighter.
Then—
His third ability activated.
A shadowy mist enveloped his body, his form shifting, merging with the darkness itself. His white hair flowed wildly, his red armor deepening in color, and his presence becoming almost godlike.
This was his newly unlocked form—
Sanguine Monarch Form.
The Executioner hesitated, sensing the change. But before it could react—
Asher vanished.
A single slash.
A single movement.
And then—
The Abyssal Executioner’s body split in two, collapsing as its abyssal energy was devoured by Asher’s overwhelming presence.
[ Opponent Defeated. ]
The arena fell silent once more.
But Asher barely had time to breathe before the next gate opened.
A suffocating presence filled the air.
And from the shadows of the third gate—
A golden figure stepped forward.
[ Next Opponent: Celestial Tyrant – Rank SSS ]
Asher’s grin widened. "Now we’re talking."
The golden figure strode forward, each step radiating divine energy that made the very air tremble. It was clad in ornate golden armor, its face obscured by a shining helmet that revealed only two blazing white eyes. In its hand, it held a greatsword wreathed in pure celestial fire, burning so intensely that the arena’s obsidian ground melted beneath its feet.
Asher could feel it.
This was different.
If the Abyssal Executioner was overwhelming in raw force, then the Celestial Tyrant was something else entirely.
It wasn’t just strong.
It was absolute.
A pressure unlike anything before descended upon him, making his very soul tremble.
"Heh." Asher cracked his neck, licking his lips. "Let’s see what you got."
BOOM!
Before he could even finish speaking, the Celestial Tyrant moved.
It didn’t teleport. It didn’t use tricks.
It was just pure speed.
In an instant, its flaming sword was already inches from Asher’s neck.
CLANG!
Asher barely managed to block, his scythe grinding against the burning greatsword, sparks flying in every direction.
But—
A burning pain erupted across his chest.
He looked down.
A deep gash had already been seared into his armor, flesh smoldering beneath it.
Asher’s pupils dilated. "Fast."
No, beyond fast—it had attacked twice before he even registered the first movement.
And it wasn’t finished.
WHOOSH!
The Celestial Tyrant twisted its body, swinging its massive sword like a blur of golden fire.
Asher’s instincts screamed.
Phantom Veil – Illusion Step!
His body flickered—but too slow.
SLASH!
A searing pain tore through his side, sending him flying across the arena.
CRASH!
He smashed into the obsidian wall, coughing up blood as the heat still burned through his wounds.
For the first time in a long time—
Asher felt himself panting. Experience tales with freewebnovel
He clenched his fists. He wasn’t supposed to feel this much pain.
The Celestial Tyrant didn’t hesitate.
It raised its sword high above its head, golden energy gathering in a blinding halo of destruction.
[ Divine Judgment – Holy Annihilation ]
The very arena trembled.
The next second—
A pillar of golden fire descended from above, aiming to erase Asher’s existence.
But then—
Something inside him snapped.
A surge of unfathomable power erupted from within his core.
The wounds on his body sealed instantly, the flames licking his skin but refusing to burn him anymore.
His blood boiled.
" I will go out too" Asher said as he activated his Sanguine form.
A dark crimson aura exploded around him, corrupting the golden flames, twisting them into a deep, blood-red inferno.
His hair turned completely white, his eyes shining with endless scarlet light.
Blood-forged wings sprouted from his back, their feathers razor-sharp like blades.
His armor shifted, sleek but deadly, adorned with obsidian markings glowing with divine and abyssal energy fused as one.
And then—
A second scythe appeared in his other hand, twin blades dripping with the essence of life and death itself.
Asher exhaled.
For the first time—he felt complete.
[ New Form Unlocked – Sanguine Form : Reaper ]
BOOM!
In a flash of crimson light, he vanished.
Before the Celestial Tyrant could react—
Asher reappeared behind it.
A single whisper escaped his lips.
"Too slow."
SHHHHNK!
A cross-shaped slash tore through the Celestial Tyrant’s golden armor.
For the first time, its body shuddered.
Golden ichor spilled onto the arena floor.
It tried to turn—
Too late.
Asher’s twin scythes struck again.
And again.
And again.
Each attack was a blur—so fast that even the Colosseum of Gods struggled to process the movements.
The Celestial Tyrant tried to retaliate, but its attacks phased through him—his Phantom Veil and Sanguine Sovereign form weaving through space like an untouchable specter.
Finally—
Asher appeared above his enemy.
Both scythes raised.
"Time to fall."
CRIMSON REQUIEM—FINAL EXECUTION.
SLASH!
A single cut.
A single moment.
And then—
The Celestial Tyrant’s body split in two.
It collapsed.
Silence.
The once unstoppable warrior of the gods—had fallen.
[ Opponent Defeated. ]
Asher landed softly, exhaling slowly.
His new form slowly receded, his armor returning to normal.
He clenched his fists, feeling the immense power still coursing through his veins.
"This form is great, but it’s too damn mana-consuming," Asher mumbled as he absorbed the Celestial Tyrant, turning it into his own power.
A surge of energy rushed through him as his rank increased.
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"SS rank, huh?" he muttered, closing his eyes and feeling the power coursing through his veins.
"Once again, my power has doubled," he nodded to himself, a smirk forming on his lips.
As the next gate rumbled open…
A voice echoed across the arena.
A voice unlike any other.
[ You have done well, Mortal. ]
[ But now, you face your final challenge. ]
The presence that emerged dwarfed everything before it.
Asher’s eyes widened slightly.
For the first time in his life—
He felt something close to fear.
[ Final Opponent – The God of War (Ex Rnak). ]
Asher smiled.
"Now we’re really talking."
"Though, if I hadn’t leveled up, I would have been in deep trouble," Asher thought as he eyed the man in front of him—a massive, muscle-bound old warrior, his entire body covered in scars. His eyes had no pupils, only a glowing white void.
[Be grateful, mortal. You get to fight the Projection of the God of War when he was at EX rank.]
The eerie voice echoed through the arena, and Asher narrowed his eyes at the old man standing calmly before him.
"Let’s just save the small talk and start the match," Asher said, smirking as he cracked his neck.
The old man chuckled, his voice deep and rumbling. "Ready?"
"Will you let me go if I say no?" Asher asked jokingly.
The old man simply sat down cross-legged, folding his arms. "Yes, I would. I like to fight at my opponent’s peak."
Asher raised a brow. "Huh, you’re more considerate than I expected."
The old warrior closed his eyes. "Just tell me when you’re ready to fight."
Asher nodded and sat cross-legged as well, beginning to stabilize his realm. Fighting immediately after advancing was not advised—one needed to become fully aware of their new power and senses. A sudden surge of strength without control could lead to mistakes, both for oneself and others.
He had learned that lesson from a couple way back in the academy. A newly advanced student had excitedly hugged his girlfriend in joy, only to end up breaking her bones due to his uncontrolled strength. Though she had been fine after some healing, the poor guy had been red-faced with guilt, realizing firsthand what carelessness could cost.