Chapter 343: Rematch

He leveled a piercing gaze at Orion, voice dark and dangerously calm. “It seems the younger generation has grown far too arrogant during my slumber. Come, let me teach you a much-needed lesson.”

Orion took a deep, steadying breath, the anger within him transforming into a powerful, controlled focus. With a calm determination, he raised his swords, instantly channeling his Fire and Thunder Sword Auras into their respective blades.

His presence began surging rapidly, a turbulent storm of crimson-gold flames and azure lightning enveloping his towering Draconian form.

His energy swelled uncontrollably, causing the surrounding space to distort and twist even further, rippling violently under his immense pressure.

Valerian’s expression shifted subtly, revealing faint excitement mixed with anticipation as he recognized the true power hidden within Orion. His lips curled once more into a dangerous smile as he suddenly stepped forward through the distorted space itself.

In the blink of an eye, he materialized directly before Orion, his scythe raised overhead in a vicious, downward strike. The crimson-black blade sliced through space itself, leaving a trail of ominous darkness in its wake, crashing toward Orion with cataclysmic force.

Orion instantly crossed his dual blades, the swords blazing fiercely with explosive Sword Auras, intercepting the scythe’s devastating strike.

An immense shockwave erupted outward at their collision, ripping apart the already fragile sky and earth beneath them.

Valerian’s face hovered mere inches from Orion’s, his scarlet eyes blazing with sinister delight. “Impressive strength! But let’s see how long your youthful arrogance holds up against my eternal might.”

Orion met Valerian’s gaze evenly, his voice calm yet ferociously determined. “This isn’t arrogance, this is your consequence for the countless lives lost because of you.”

Valerian laughed darkly, amused by Orion’s declaration. “Lives? What are mortal lives but insignificant specks before beings like us?”

Orion’s fury surged anew, his powerful Draconian muscles bulging as he forcibly repelled Valerian, driving the vampire lord backward through sheer physical strength.

With a roar, Orion immediately unleashed another combined sword technique, simultaneously channeling Fire and Thunder Sword Auras into a destructive frontal slash.

Valerian skillfully blocked the devastating strike, yet his expression grew slightly more serious.

The two powerful beings hovered opposite each other, energies clashing violently, eyes locked with intensity—Orion, driven by righteous fury and vengeance; Valerian, intrigued by the challenge presented by this young Draconian prodigy.

Valerian chuckled again, eyes sparkling darkly. “Fine, Draconian. If this is your resolve, I shall gladly grant you a true taste of despair.”

Orion simply tightened his grip upon his blazing swords, crimson and azure energy swirling violently around him.

“Come then, Valerian. I’ll ensure you won’t get to leave here alive,” Orion declared coldly, wings flared, poised and ready for the true, final confrontation.

Without wasting another second, their clash exploded instantly into a maelstrom of unparalleled violence. Orion surged forward with blistering speed, his enormous Draconic wings cutting through the fractured skies, leaving trails of lightning and flames behind him.

Valerian responded without hesitation, his body weaving effortlessly through the distorted space, the sinister scythe trailing dark, bloody arcs of energy in its wake.

“[Stormpiercer Bolt!]” Orion roared, a concentrated spear of lightning erupting violently from his blade, slicing towards Valerian.

The vampire lord reacted swiftly, crimson eyes narrowing as he dispersed his body into shadowy mist, narrowly evading the strike. The lightning bolt continued, shattering mountains into pulverized dust as it disappeared into the horizon.

Reforming instantly, Valerian smirked darkly, extending his free hand forward. “Allow me to demonstrate true darkness,” he whispered malevolently, conjuring thousands of black-red chains from the air around Orion.

Each chain hummed ominously with corrupted mana, aiming to ensnare and drain Orion’s life essence directly.

“[Infernal Lance]!” Orion responded immediately, flames converging into a searing spear that launched through the twisting chains, igniting them instantly and turning them to ash mid-air.

He didn’t pause, pushing forward relentlessly, driven by pure fury and an overwhelming desire to end Valerian’s existence.

Their devastating clash moved across the shattered landscape, each strike sending rippling shockwaves that fractured the very fabric of space.

Beneath them, land and seas vanished, swallowed by abyssal rifts that opened in their wake. Orion’s dual swords carved devastating arcs of elemental fury, crimson-gold flames roaring from one blade, electrifying thunder crackling intensely from the other, forcing Valerian to constantly shift between shadowy intangibility and physical combat.

With growing irritation, Valerian hissed, baring sharpened fangs as he unleashed his vampire lord abilities.

Blood mana surged violently, manifesting colossal blood constructs, massive, dark-red monstrosities that lunged at Orion with monstrous claws and fangs.

Orion answered fiercely, his voice rumbling like Draconic thunder, “[Dragon’s Might]!”

Instantly, an oppressive aura exploded forth from Orion, his Draconian presence dominating everything around him.

The blood constructs trembled briefly, their advance halted momentarily, giving Orion the opportunity to incinerate them with a mighty “[Crimson Nova]!” Flames erupted into implosions of devastating force, obliterating Valerian’s blood minions in a heartbeat.

Valerian swiftly retaliated, narrowing his eyes coldly. “You’re worthy of respect, Draconian. But now, it’s time you understand fear.”

He raised his hand high, conjuring a titanic vortex of blood-red darkness. “[Blood Abyss],” he declared coldly.

The vortex expanded terrifyingly, threatening to engulf Orion completely. Orion narrowed his eyes sharply, chest glowing intensely.

“[Fire Dragon Breath]!” Orion unleashed a blinding torrent of crimson-gold flames from deep within his chest, colliding fiercely against Valerian’s blood vortex.

The devastating elemental clash tore through the sky, each powerful force vying for supremacy. Neither yielded as the violent stalemate detonated violently, obliterating entire regions below into a chaotic abyss.

Both warriors paused briefly in the aftermath, breathing heavily. Orion’s thoughts raced quickly, recognizing Valerian’s terrifying power.

‘This bastard’s strength is unlike anything I’ve faced before. Every move is calculated, each attack hits precisely at my weak points. Yet… I won’t lose here.’

Valerian, similarly cautious yet exhilarated, reassessed Orion carefully, his crimson eyes glinting with excitement. ‘Magnificent. His talent and mastery are genuinely impressive. Perhaps… I finally found an opponent worth my full strength in this world.’

With renewed determination, Orion inhaled deeply, lightning arcing brilliantly across his scales. “[Thunder Dragon Breath]!”

A devastating torrent of blue-purple lightning erupted forth, splitting the sky itself. Valerian met it directly, creating a massive shield of crystallized blood. The lightning crashed violently against the barrier, fracturing but unable to fully pierce it.

Both combatants realized simultaneously, they were perfectly matched. A faint yet genuine smile appeared on Valerian’s pale features as he chuckled darkly, voice tinged with genuine admiration. “Draconian, you’ve exceeded all my expectations. But how long can your stamina endure?”

Orion merely tightened his grip on his swords, determination unwavering. “As long as it takes to end you,” he replied coldly. He wasn’t afraid of a battle of attrition due to his absurdly large Sea of Consciousness. And now even the World Tree Sapling continuously nourished his body.

They charged simultaneously, blades and scythe colliding again, releasing shockwaves that shattered the remnants of space, further destabilizing the world.

Their violent dance continued mercilessly across the heavens, neither capable of gaining any decisive advantage.

Spells collided against vampiric dark arts, swords clashed with chains and scythes, each exchange annihilating countless kilometers of land.

Below, the world shuddered violently, landmasses sinking into swirling voids, entire populations vanishing without trace. Yet both Orion and Valerian paid no heed, locked in their devastating duel high above the collapsing world.

Amidst a momentary pause in their relentless battle, Orion stared fiercely into Valerian’s composed gaze. “Enough! We have brought enough destruction upon this land. Now it is time to finish this all.”

Valerian tilted his head slightly, his voice calm yet tinged with genuine intrigue. “Do you truly think you can end me? How intriguing. Prove it, then, Young Warrior.”

Orion exhaled deeply, crimson mana erupting violently through his body. The crown atop his head started glowing intensely.

Thanks for reading the chaps. and Thanks for Tanllwyth for increasing the debt (˵ •̀ ᴗ – ˵ )