Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos-Chapter 78 - 77: The Duel [2]

Seiya remained crouched, one hand braced against the ground while his extended leg rested against the demon’s shoulder.

The demon’s gaze fixated on him, amusement dancing in his eyes as a sly smile curled his lips. His fingers wrapped around Seiya’s ankle, holding it firmly in place with an almost lazy effort.

"Not bad," he taunted, his voice laced with mockery. "But you’ll have to do better." His grip tightened, threatening to twist Seiya’s ankle with a cruel flick.

Seiya instantly moved in a swift motion, twisting his body seamlessly to loosen the demon’s hold. In the same motion, he snapped out his other leg in a sharp kick, but the demon leaned back, dodging effortlessly. Seiya used the opening to wrench his trapped leg free, springing backward in a smooth retreat.

The demon chuckled, eyes gleaming in appreciation of such finesse. But then, almost instantly, his demeanor shifted—his grin fading into something far more sinister. He leaned forward, his posture hunching, face tight. The amusement drained from his gaze, leaving behind only cold, calculated intent.

"Then," he murmured, his voice dropping into a frigid whisper, void of his earlier mockery. "Shall we begin in earnest?"

Before Seiya could react, the demon vanished—only to reappear behind him. A fist enveloped in dark energy, thick and clotted like a swirling mist, came hurtling toward him with devastating speed. There was no time to dodge.

Seiya barely managed to raise his arms in defense as the blow crashed into him. The punch collided with his forearms, the force of the impact overwhelming his defense. Seiya’s stance buckled under the sheer pressure, his knee crashing to the ground as the blow bore down on him.

Both Hayne and Seiya were stunned—this was the first time in ages that Seiya was being so overpowered.

The demon did not relent. With his fist still bearing down on Seiya like a crushing weight, he drew back his other hand, aiming a brutal strike at Seiya’s ribs. Seiya reacted instantly, shifting one arm to intercept the incoming blow. But the power behind it was monstrous. Despite his effort, the impact tore through his block, slamming into his ribs and sending him hurtling aside.

Seiya crashed against the cavern wall, the impact splitting the stone, cracks spidering outward as dust and debris clouded the air. He coughed, thick blood spilling from his lips as he slid and crumpled to the ground.

Hayne’s face turned more ashen, his breaths shallow and ragged as he watched the scene unfold before him. He couldn’t believe it was Seiya—of all people—who had been so effortlessly overwhelmed. Though he understood the demon’s superior rank, part of him had still held onto the hope that Seiya could hold his ground.

The demon took a step forward, his grin widening with sheer, unbridled thrill. "Ah," he exhaled, his voice light, mocking. "I understand now." His chuckle echoed, dark and condescending. "The reason you were given such an ability. It’s because the one behind it is nothing but a weakling."

He threw his head back and laughed—a sharp, eerie sound that echoed through the cavern.

Hayne’s gaze shifted toward the demon, confusion clouding his face at the audacity of calling Seiya weak.

Meanwhile, Seiya rose to his feet, one hand pressed against his ribcage where the heavy blow had struck, the pain still throbbing deeply. He knew the impact was severe—had he not intervened with his defense, his ribs would have surely shattered.

But before he could fully steady himself, the demon was upon him.

With a sneer, the demon fixed Seiya with a predatory gaze and sank his long, razor-sharp nails into the ridge of Seiya’s shoulder, tearing through his flesh and drawing blood.

But before the demon could sink it deeper, Seiya’s hand shot up, seizing the demon’s wrist in an iron grip. With a sharp yank, he tore the embedded nails from his flesh, forcing the demon to retreat a step.

Hayne’s heart clenched in worry as he watched blood trickle down Seiya’s arm. The wound was deep, dangerously close to his neck.

The demon, however, merely chuckled. "Your survival instincts are sharp," he commended, stepping forward once more. "And for some reason," he leaned over with a sinister grin, his looming figure casting a shadow over Seiya. "I find myself wanting to drag this out a little longer, to keep toying with you." The demon’s laughter dripped with malice, his breath hot on Seiya’s face.

Without a word, Seiya lifted his gaze to the demon. In a blur of movement, before the demon could even blink, Seiya shot his arms upward, wrapping them behind the demon’s head and forcing it downward with tremendous force. His knee arched up, poised to slam into the demon’s face.

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But the demon reacted just as swiftly. Before the collision, the demon’s hands interlocked, palms stretching tight as he caught Seiya’s knee mid-air, shoving it downward with brutal force.

At the same time, the demon focused weight on his leg. He planted his feet firmly against the ground, resisting Seiya’s pull. Then, with his head still held down, he drove his fist deep into Seiya’s abdomen.

Seiya barely had time to gasp before the demon’s other hand shot out. He seized Seiya by the neck, nails sinking into Seiya’s pale skin. With effortless precision, he pulled Seiya’s head down, tilting his own head aside as he slammed Seiya’s face into the ground.

The impact was jarring, but the demon wasn’t finished. He straightened up only to bring his boot-clad foot crashing down onto Seiya’s back. Seiya’s body jolted, his chest and legs jerking upward from the force.

"Weak," the demon spat, his voice dripping with disdain. "Pathetically weak." His foot pressed harder, grinding Seiya further into the dirt.

With a strained breath, Seiya planted his palms firmly on the ground and, in an explosive movement, shot upward—lifting the demon’s foot along with him. The shift threw the demon off balance for just a moment—but it was enough. Seiya pivoted, his leg coiling back before snapping forward in a precise, clearing kick.

But the demon reacted swiftly, intercepting with his own leg and blocking the strike before retaliating with a brutal kick that sent Seiya crashing into the cavern wall.

Seiya collided against the cavern wall once more, caving it in with stone cracking beneath the force. Seiya crumpled to the floor, blood staining his form.

Without hesitation, Seiya rose to his feet, warm puffs of air dispersing from his mouth with every strained exhale.

Seeing Seiya up on his feet, the demon approached, his sinister grin still plastered. "Want to just forfeit and hand me your soul?" His voice dripped with mockery.

Seiya drew in a long breath, exhaling it forcefully—leveling a steady gaze at the demon. "I am not that kind….so you’ll have to get it yourself!"

With only a step forward, Seiya appeared right in front of the demon, his punch drawn and muscles tensed, veins bulging tightly along his arm.

The demon’s eyes widened in brief shock—with how weak he depicted Seiya, he always seems to forget just how fast he is.

As Seiya’s punch, brimming with pressurizing force, shot toward him, the demon attempted to back away with ease, but Seiya’s other hand seized his wrist, holding him firmly in place.

Not yet worried, the demon tried to break free, certain it would be as easy as before. But as Seiya’s hold remained unyielding despite his struggles, the demon’s eyes began to widen with realization.

In a swift response, the demon moved his other hand, preparing to counter the incoming punch, but Seiya was faster. With a swift and forceful kick, he swept across the demon’s leg, bringing him down to his knees.

The demon’s eyes widened in stunned disbelief, as if the mere act of bringing him to his knees was a transgression. But soon, his expression morphed into one of delight as he gazed up at Seiya, entertained by the unexpected turn of events.

Without wasting a moment, Seiya followed through with his punch, the sound of the strike echoing through the cavern as it slammed into the demon’s face.

Blood spurted from the impact, bruising his features. Seiya wasted no time, drawing his fist back to deliver another blow, his punch rocketing toward the demon’s face once more. But this time, the demon’s hand snapped up, managing to catch Seiya’s wrist.

Unbelieving as it was in the eyes of the demon, Seiya’s punch continued forward despite his grip on Seiya, slamming onto his face again.

The demon, stunned by the shift in Seiya’s strength, found himself reeling. Moments ago, he had easily overpowered Seiya, but now, it seemed the tables had woefully turned.

Before the demon could recover, Seiya’s hand shot to his neck, wrapping around it in an iron grip.

The demon’s eyes froze in more shock and confusion but slowly widened into an unsettling delight. Slowly, he brought his own hand up, placing it over Seiya’s hand that gripped his neck, assisting in tightening the hold. A wide, eerie grin stretched across his face as his head fell back, his gaze gleaming with twisted pleasure.

The sight of Seiya overpowering and towering over him sent an involuntary thrill of frisson bursting down his spine.

"Agh…" Hot breaths escaped his widened mouth, his hand clenching Seiya’s hand to aid in strangling him tighter. "It’s the first time in eons I’m meeting someone strong enough to manhandle me." He breathed out, head swaying back with eyes widened and rolled back in their sockets.