’We’ve both revealed the weaknesses of our strengths?’ Fulgardt frowned.

Both?

When had he revealed the faults of his powers?

Fulgardt knew he’d said a lot more than he needed to earlier, but at no point did he reveal crippling information about his abilities. Was it that Skullius had seen through one of the present weaknesses of one of his newfound abilities, like Demesne of Maximum Fatalities? Sure, the ability, while capable of killing a Deity in one shot, was not usable in rapid succession and could only target one opponent at a time, but that was something Fulgardt was on his way to fixing.

’That’s not it...’ Fulgardt looked Skullius in the eye and saw the unwavering confidence dancing within him. ’I see. Then this is a game where whoever exploits the other’s weakness first wins.’

There was no underestimating Skullius now.

Fulgardt’s mirth vanished. His confidence forced onto him a stern look of complete focus.

’I’ll show you everything, brat.’

Skullius returned the same visage.

...And then it was back to reality, to the natural flow of the world that didn’t exclude anyone other than the two Insurgent Magni.

They were still steeped in thick darkness, but now, their appearances were fashioned from the powers they had obtained and activated during the course of the battle till now.

Fulgardt had his Bare Guise on, his Voided Deathform physique and sprawling tendrils of Voided Death Essence flaring from his outline.

Skullius, embodying the Second Phase of his War Body, was decked in the Garmma Mail, looking both resplendent and magisterial.

His presence was easily the most formidable and astonishing. The Sovereign’s Judgment, Garmma Mail, forced a pressure just as suffocating as that of Zu’sse on its opponents, along with an aggro effect that directed his enemies’ rage towards him, slowly chipping away at their sanity. This wasn’t all, though – far from it.

On top of receiving all three Great Revelations – which included the Sovereign’s Authority, Storm Baker, and Sovereign’s Honour, Kharnio-Glyss – which now gave him full access to fourth-dimensional quirks, Skullius was also in possession of a tamed Divine Apostle.

The Six-Handled Chariot of Probable Royalty, Tycha.

In its tamed form, it hung over Skullius’ head, its body a bowl shape resting over a set of arms that pointed in different directions. Within the bowl were units of Focused Null Life Ota.

’Measured in units or droplets. Nine in total,’ Skullius mused. Tycha produced its own Focused Null Life Ota, which was a little different from his. Its purpose wasn’t for reinforcing either Skullius or Tycha itself. Instead, it powered some of the Apostle’s outrageous abilities.

The Mystery Series, Bewitchment and Bestowal.

The Banisher Series, Removal and Railing.

The Amamm Qualifier’s Class-Change abilities.

’Well-defined limits,’ Skullius thought, smiling. But he hesitated to apply any of these three abilities while on Aigas.

The ones he thought would be friendlier were the Wafer’s abilities. Yes, those would be convenient. What was sneakier and more precise than paper?

...Yet the idea that Skullius from this point on could be sneaky or subtle was absurd to Boron.

Indeed, he was present in the stand-off, a third party still thriving amidst Fulgardt and Skullius’ clash. He had not seen or heard the interaction the two had shared just now, but there had been no lapse of time as it happened. As far as Boron was concerned, he, Skullius, and Fulgardt had been standing off in this manner since they were all warped here.

<Again, the future turns, uncertain...>

As a Deity, he had transcended anything Quintess had been. When matched against the quality of Deities from all around Reality, Quintess was only on the precipice of Low Middle Class*. Boron had been around the same, but with the proceeds from his Higher Fundamental Barter earlier, he had become a full-fledged Middle High Class Deity, though, with none of the qualitative quirks. That was his limit for now. He was powerful indeed, but...

<I’m no match for them like this – with only raw power.> he thought, regarding the Insurgent Magni seriously, Skullius especially.

The powers of Skullius’ three Great Revelations were terrifying indeed, but Boron regarded their aesthetic properties instead. They were not three-dimensional. They existed on a plane higher than the ones most Divines ever got to taste. They were broader than the norm.

<How did he come by this power? It’s unlike Fulgardt’s. There isn’t a tacking on of tricks and quirks to reach this unfathomable strength. No. It’s the real deal.>

Speaking of the Immoral, he drew in a deep breath and made his move.

This was his demesne – his domain. It was only natural for him to exploit it.

With the Bare Guise on, he looked thoughtful as he rubbed his chin... and sank into the darkness.

His presence vanished completely.

Boron frowned. Skullius gave a smile.

Fulgardt was buying time, the Sovereign could tell. He could sense the Immoral lurking within the vast mechanism of the Labyrinth. He was cautious and wary of what Skullius had said. For a man whose pride rested on the idea that he was quick to evolve and slow to become obsolete, the greatest threat possible was something that could catch him unawares before he evolved.

’It doesn’t matter. His fate’s already decided. All that’s left is to deliver it,’ thought the Authority of the Null Verse. ’But before then...’

He faced Boron. The Deity shuddered a little.

There was some unspoken pressure of royalty billowing from Skullius. Boron couldn’t translate it well, but what he could was enough for him to understand and be adequately wary.

<Do not for a second think I will be easy to thwart, like Quintess.> said Boron boldly.

"Don’t worry. I’m ready to press you even harder than I did him," said Skullius as Benighted and Enlightened Ju`wtte rolled across him all over. "I’ll have you throw everything at me as well. Don’t you dare save some of your wrath for anyone else but me."

Something threatened to force Boron into a flaring madness with fury, but he reeled himself back.

<Everything, you say?> said the Deity scathingly.

...And he practiced the Divine right of ascended Deities.