Within the spatial anomaly created by the intersection of the Netherworld Black Hole and the Black Sea Abyss, the atmosphere reached a level of bizarre intensity.
With Shendu now fully manifested, his Hetero-Energy spiking to nearly eleven Black Holes, everything seemed to be spiraling toward an uncontrollable outcome. Hades felt a momentary sense of exasperation. Even a subordinate wouldn't sabotage their superior like this.
As a veteran warrior, his mind instantly formulated a counter-strategy: he had to get this guy out of here! Regardless of whether Hades was currently at the zenith of his power or not, the version of Shendu standing before him promised nothing but a grueling, bitter conflict.
A flash of relief crossed Hades' heart. Thank goodness that guy is still hovering at the boundary of the Netherworld Black Hole and hasn't actually stepped inside.
Abruptly, the Netherworld Black Hole, a domain defined by its core nature of attraction and consumption, erupted with an overwhelming, violent repulsive force, attempting to forcibly eject Shendu back through the conduit of the Black Sea Abyss.
A shimmer of light danced over Shendu's form. Defying the repulsive pressure entirely, he stood unmoved, rooted firmly at the threshold.
"Oh? Why the sudden rush to see me off?" Shendu curled his lips into a smile.
It's easy to invite a Buddha, but hard to send one away.
The repulsive force of the Black Hole was ignored. Instead of retreating, Shendu took a definitive step forward into the pitch-black void.
"As the old saying goes, since I'm already here, I might as well stay a while." Shendu's body shuddered, shattering the Black Hole's repulsion and staking his claim on the position.
Seeing that Shendu refused to be banished, Hades' resentment toward the Whale Shark King deepened. He truly had no words for this disaster. Back in the Third Parallel Universe, the Whale Shark King seemed to sense the shift. He sat motionless on the ground, his body heavy with fatigue, staring at the sky where the massive vortex of Hetero-Energy had completely vanished. A bitter, resigned smile touched his lips.
Inside the Netherworld Black Hole, realizing that stopping Shendu's arrival was now impossible, Hades steeled his resolve. The repulsive force of the Black Hole vanished, instantly replaced by a massive, all-consuming attraction.
If you want to come in, then by all means, enter.
This Netherworld Black Hole was not an empty vacuum. It just so happened that there was another troublesome existence lurking within: the other Nebula Body, Snow Emperor! Since Shendu was so insistent on taking a look, Hades would not hesitate to deflect the trouble.
Infinite attraction surged toward Shendu, aiming to drag him into the depths of the Black Hole. But a moment later, doubt crept into Hades' heart. Shendu had resisted the attraction as well.
"What exactly do you want? What is your objective?" Hades finally couldn't help but ask. He realized that this entity was immune to both soft persuasion and hard force.
"Your gravity is lacking," Shendu remarked with nonchalant ease, finding the leisure even at this moment to offer a lukewarm critique. "I came here for you. Why are you hiding?"
Silence descended upon the Black Hole. Then, after a deathly pause, Hades' figure manifested before Shendu. The strong possess the pride of the strong; even facing a full Nebula Body, Hades did not fear manifesting, though this was merely a projection of his power, as his true form remained sealed within the Netherworld Coffin.
"You should not be here. This is a mistake," Hades said calmly.
Shendu didn't respond. He simply let out a cold snort, shattering the projection. "Bring your true body here!" he commanded with bold, reckless arrogance.
The projection flickered and reformed. "My true body is bound within the Netherworld Coffin. I am but a hair's breadth away from resurrection." Surprisingly, Hades did not hide his situation; he laid his circumstances bare. As the pinnacle of strength in this universe, he disdained lies.
"If you intend to kill me, break open the Netherworld Coffin, and you shall find me," Hades said earnestly. Without hesitation, he continued, "I will reach my full resurrection in three days. By then, I shall be stronger than I was ten thousand years ago!"
The projection gazed at Shendu, fearless. "Come! A creature like you, though utterly unreasonable, is not entirely disagreeable."
Within the Netherworld Black Hole, Shendu and the projection stood in a tense standoff. Hades hadn't just revealed his status; he had even illuminated the path, guiding Shendu toward the location of the Netherworld Coffin. Given the power of Shendu's current Nebula Body, finding him would be a trivial task.
"In this world, there are many unexpected choices and accidents. Like a migratory bird longing for its path home, only to have its wings broken by a gale, one must simply accept it," Hades' voice drifted through the void, carrying a tone of weary, world-worn resignation.
Hades knew that in his current state, he could not possibly defeat Shendu. From their brief contact, it was clear that the entity before him operated by no logic whatsoever. Yet, he would not sit idly by, even if the result was death. After ten thousand years of tasting the solitary dark, he had long since come to terms with it.
But unexpectedly, Shendu suddenly turned his back. He walked toward the conduit of the Black Sea Abyss without a shred of lingering attachment.
"Boring. I shall return to find you in three days."
With that, his figure vanished into the passage, leaving Hades to stare silently into the darkness. If this was a warrior's challenge, he accepted it. This outcome was not entirely surprising to Hades. The peak powerhouses of this world were often arrogant and self-important, especially when there was no prior grievance between them.
Hades fell into deep contemplation. In the seven parallel universes, when had such a unique Nebula Body emerged? A warmonger of such tyrannical power should have been known to him long ago. But no one answered; only a soft sigh echoed through the Netherworld Black Hole.
Outside, in the Third Parallel Universe, a powerful aura surged into existence. A vortex of the Black Sea Abyss manifested passively. A hideous, clawed arm reached out, and Shendu vaulted out of the abyss, landing with ease before the Whale Shark King.
The Whale Shark King's expression shifted wildly. He stammered, "Hades... he...?"
"Not resurrected yet. I don't care for one-sided slaughters," Shendu said, offering a faint smile. He clapped his hands together with grace. "Now, it is time to conclude the battle between us."
As he spoke, his Nebula Body shot toward the firmament, casting the entire planet under his shadow. He had just acquired this power; it was only fitting to test it out. It was a conclusion that two combatants owed each other.
The Whale Shark War God stiffened. The Whale Shark King gazed into the towering Nebula Body with unfocused eyes. His expression shifted from bitterness to terror, and finally, to acceptance. He maneuvered the War God, launching a final charge against the invincible Nebula Body.
It was like an ant shaking a tree, utterly futile, yet carried with it the pride and determination of a man who believed himself to be a powerhouse.
Radiant light erupted from the Whale Shark King, proof that the entire planet was channeling its strength into him. He harbored no resentment for his current weakness, nor did he scorn Shendu for unleashing his full power after claiming he disdained a one-sided slaughter.
He had spent his entire life upholding the creed of the strong. In the eyes of the strong, there is no seat for the weak. But at this moment, Shendu's choice to fight him in his Nebula Body form was the ultimate proof that he was recognized as a worthy opponent. He felt honored, and content.
"TSUNAMI CALAMITY!!!"
The Whale Shark King roared. In this final moment, he resolutely unleashed his ultimate technique.
He charged toward his death.
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