The wind howled through the smoking ruins, raising whirlwinds of ashes that mixed with shards of shattered stone. Velthar and Zykran, panting but determined, had no idea that Ryo was using only a tiny fraction of his power.
Deep within his consciousness, Gabriel, his skill, analyzed every movement, every muscle tension, and every attack. Gabriel's voice resonated clearly in his mind:
> Gabriel: "Three percent… that will be enough."
Ryo nodded slightly, silently confirming the calculation. His golden eyes tracked every micro-movement of the Demon Kings, evaluating their style, their coordination, and their weaknesses.
Velthar's claws slashed through the air in rage, while Zykran coordinated rapid and varied shadow strikes, attempting to break the Ashen King's guard.
> Ryo (thinking): "Very well… let's see how far they'll go."
He dodged fluidly, each movement measured, sometimes leaving calculated openings. Velthar and Zykran believed they could finally surprise their opponent, but they only perceived an illusion of vulnerability.
Velthar leapt again, his speed defying sight, while Zykran attempted a complex combination, striking from multiple angles simultaneously. Ryo adjusted his position just enough for every attack to graze the air, creating bursts of energy around him, but never taking any damage.
> Velthar (gritting his teeth): "This human… he…" Zykran: "How… it's impossible!"
Then Ryo stepped forward, the blade of the Orb glowing faintly. Thanks to Gabriel's precise calculations, he activated an attack that devoured the souls of Velthar and Zykran, concentrated just enough. The sword's light became dense, almost liquid, and in an instant, it pierced through the two Demon Kings.
A scream of rage and surprise echoed across the ravaged battlefield, then abruptly ceased. Velthar and Zykran's bodies collapsed, their souls consumed by the Orb, leaving behind an oppressive silence.
Ryo remained motionless, his breathing calm, his golden eyes still alert. He had only used a tiny fraction of his power, yet the threat posed by these two Demon Kings had been completely eradicated. The earth, already scarred by the previous battles, seemed to hold its breath, aware of the force contained within this single being.
Gabriel, still within him, confirmed:
> Gabriel: "Three percent… it was enough."
Ryo nodded slightly, without a word. He sought neither glory nor spectacle. Every movement had been calculated, every action designed to gauge his opponents while keeping the world in a delicate balance.
The battlefield was silent, occupied only by ashes, wind, and the shadows of the vanished bodies. Three percent of his power had been enough, yet the message was clear: no Demon King was ever truly equal to an Ashen King.