"Bang!"
Yet even with such a strike, the young god merely blocked it with a thin branch and counterattacked.
Even the impact of the thin branch caused Erika's left hand, which held the shield, to tremble slightly.
Erika's combat skills were not only flashy but also incorporated many practical tactics, so she continued to launch rapid attacks.
However, the young god easily dodged her attacks, and sometimes he would counter with the small branch, diminishing Erika's momentum.
"Little girl! You've trained quite well! If you keep improving, one day you'll definitely become a strong warrior. Impressive!"
To be able to casually offer such praise to an opponent, he treated it like a game; after all, he was a deity.
Eventually, Erika unleashed her ultimate move.
"Sword of the Lion, transform into binding chains, forsaking your blade!"
As the sword and the small branch clashed, Erika suddenly jumped back while chanting a brief incantation.
In the next moment, her beloved sword began to transform, no longer resembling a knight's weapon of sword and spear.
Instead, it became an iron chain about three meters long, with a heavy weight at the end.
She swung the iron chain towards the young god's heel, seemingly intending to entangle his feet and bring him down.
"Hahaha, I thought you had some scheme."
But even against this move, the young god merely smiled and easily leaped out of the way.
However, Erika threw a second chain, this time formed from her left-hand shield, wrapping around his arm.
At the same time, Erika pressed forward instead of retreating, closing in on the young god.
The chain in her right hand transformed back into a giant sword, and she struck down directly.
The young god, almost touching the ground, was wounded by the girl's full-force strike.
Even though it was just a scratch that barely counted as a light injury, it was enough to earn the young god's praise.
But at that moment, the small branch held by the young god also appeared in front of the girl.
In a critical moment, Erika could only revert the chain in her left hand back to a shield.
"Bang!"
Perhaps it was because she had wounded him, or maybe the young god simply didn't want to continue playing with Erika, but this time his strength suddenly surged, sending the girl flying.
"Bang!"
However, Veleslana was very measured in his actions, only knocking Erika back without causing her any harm.
After all, in his eyes, this wasn't even a real battle, and he appreciated Erika's brave performance.
Don't get it wrong; he simply admired the girl's courage and combat talent.
"Not bad, and don't worry, I won't harm her. After all, I intend to have a life-and-death battle with her!"
With Erika defeated, Veleslana did not pursue her but instead waited with excitement and anticipation.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Luo Chen was unaware of the situation outside.
At that moment, he was experiencing what felt like a ritual, as a peculiar power began to gather, seemingly intent on enveloping his body and undergoing a complete transformation.
The scene around him also shifted, directly transporting him to a strange space.
This was a space devoid of anything, with everything painted in shades of gray and white, even the horizon was gray, an incredible world of gray.
"Are you my new son?"
At that moment, a crisp voice, imbued with a strong allure, rang in Luo Chen's ears, prompting him to look towards the speaker.
A lovely girl stood there, her delicate and graceful face better described as beautiful.
Rather, she exuded a cute vibe, appearing to be around fourteen years old.
Perhaps due to her twin ponytails, she looked quite youthful.
The girl wore a thin white dress, her golden hair tied into twin ponytails with a white ribbon.
On her exquisitely shaped ears hung slightly oversized spherical earrings, which seemed a bit large for her petite frame.
She was shorter in stature, giving off a first impression of a child.
Yet, she was more enchanting than anyone else.
With a well-proportioned face and slender figure, if compared to the likes of the sect leader, Lucrazia, or Erika, she would be considered somewhat lacking in curves.
On the contrary, she had a doll-like face and figure that made one want to praise her cuteness.
"Pandora?"
Luo Chen spoke without surprise, instead expressing a hint of admiration for the girl.
After glancing at Pandora, who had come to his side, he began to survey his surroundings.
"Oh dear~ Rather than that name, I prefer you to call me 'Mommy'~ This is the 'Realm of Life and Death', or simply put, it's like being 'almost at the other shore' or 'nearly at the River of Three Paths'~"
Regarding Luo Chen's attitude or actions, Pandora lacked any divine authority; instead, she felt like a neighbor girl or childhood friend, giving off a very approachable vibe.
"Mommy? You?"
"Alright~ Let's say I'm your adoptive mother. With a face and body like mine, and no blood relation, isn't it 'cute' to have an adoptive mother like this? Don't you think you're quite lucky?"
"...Not really."
"Eh? How un-cute~"
"I apologize for not being cute."
"Oh dear~ Well then, congratulations on completing the miracle of slaying a god. Now it's time for your reward~"
"Mm."
"You must endure; this pain is the price that will lead you to the peak. Just accept it obediently~ Now, bestow blessings and hatred upon this child! The seventh god-slayer—destined to be the youngest demon lord, please grant this child the sacred incantation~"
【I bestow blessings upon you, reborn as the slayer of gods! You are the first to usurp the powers of me—the King of Gods! Stronger than anyone else! You shall possess a body that will not be defeated until the day we battle again!】
"..."
Finally, as Mekar's voice faded, Luo Chen felt the surroundings becoming blurry once more.