423

Azure Flames

Observing Forseti relentlessly awaken Ghost Riders, Zatanos swiftly unleashed another barrage. Massive hellfire surged from his hands, forming twin pillars that shot towards Forseti.

Simultaneously, he reiterated his command to the Evil Spirit Legion: "Evil Spirit Legion, I am your master! Obey my command and slay this Asgardian!"

Following his orders anew, another faction of Ghost Riders, confused, descended upon Forseti.

Forseti maneuvered swiftly amidst the legion, his ethereal wings leaving golden afterimages in their wake. He engaged the enemy while systematically rousing the evil knights, though the process proved perilous. He had to invoke the Holy Shield technique multiple times to survive.

Yet with each advancement, more Ghost Riders stirred from their stupor, gradually tipping the balance in his favor.

Thus far, he had only roused those Ghost Riders still dazed or leaning towards Zatanos. Utilizing the Eye of Reckoning, which gauged energy levels, he consistently selected the most formidable Ghost Riders to awaken. Though their numbers were fewer, their collective combat prowess remained potent and continued to grow.

This shift in power balance began to unhinge Zatanos.

As a dignified lord of Hell, a member of the Satan Council, and commander of Hell's mightiest legion, he should have crushed Forseti. Instead, with each skirmish, his situation worsened, an inconceivable turn of events.

Forseti's Holy Shield technique, in particular, left Zatanos feeling utterly powerless. He couldn't fathom why such an overwhelming, unshakable force existed in the world, yet remained within another's grasp.

No matter how he attacked, he couldn't breach the Divine Shield technique. If this unparalleled spell persisted, his demise seemed inevitable.

Contemplating this, Zatanos glanced at the slowly awakening army of evil spirits, his anxiety and resentment reaching fever pitch.

At this rate, the entire legion would soon defect. Hundreds of Ghost Riders—no one understood better than him the terror this force could unleash.

When the Evil Spirit Legion's chains surged forth, even Mephisto would have to yield... Once God's finest creations, these spirits now epitomized Hell's most fearsome executioners.

Zatanos, who once commanded these executioners and plotted to seize the throne of Hell, knew all too well that once the evil spirit army fully defected, escape would be nigh impossible.

He must halt Forseti's awakening of the Evil Legion, at any cost.

"Your shield can't last forever!" Zatanos roared, eyes fixed on Forseti, the flames swirling within them, "Let's see how long you can sustain this spell!"

At the threatening undertone, Forseti's heart skipped a beat. Evading the pursuing chains, he warily eyed Zatanos, bracing himself.

Simultaneously, the azure flame upon Zatanos's brow stirred, radiating an intensified brilliance, as if awakening to some dormant purpose.

Witnessing this, Huss, still recovering from his wounds, widened his eyes in alarm and scrambled away, perspiration beading on his brow.

"Zatanos has gone mad..." He hurried further away, observing Zatanos from a safe distance, muttering under his breath.

The azure flames surged from Zatanos's brow, brilliance amplifying tenfold, before a resounding *boom!* echoed through the air.

The azure fire proved challenging to control; guided by Zatanos, it surged forth like a released dam, hurtling towards Forseti.

The sky of Hell gleamed with azure brilliance, its magnificence marred by an undercurrent of murderous intent discernible to Forseti.

This was no Hellfire, nor mere demonic flame. There was a hint of celestial fire within it...

Forseti dared not underestimate it, promptly invoking the Holy Shield technique. The azure flames descended in a torrent, enveloping him entirely.

Under the protection of the Divine Shield, Forseti absorbed the flames once more, but this time, the absorption was notably slower—barely a fraction of its former speed.

Quick to react, Forseti attributed this to the immense energy of the azure flames. While the Divine Shield guarded against harm, it couldn't exceed his own limit in absorbing external energy.

The energy of the azure flames surpassed his threshold, slowing absorption considerably.

Yet despite the slow intake, Forseti's flame power surged noticeably.

Even the combined Hellfires absorbed previously paled in comparison to the divine empowerment gained from absorbing a mere fraction of the azure flames.

If his flame power had a progress bar, its advance would be perceptible to the naked eye as the azure flames dissolved gradually.

Forseti pondered if sustaining this process for two minutes could propel his divine power to its third awakening.

However, mindful of Zatanos's visibly deteriorating state, he knew this window wouldn't remain open for long.

Use one more fragment of divine shield to maintain it.

Maintaining the protective mantle of the Divine Shield, Forseti absorbed the azure flames, floating above the ground to avoid its destructive reach—each moment searing the earth beneath him to naught.

The azure flames, surging from Zatanos's brow, flowed like a river in spate, consuming both Forseti and inadvertently injuring Zatanos himself.

Despite the skeletal armor he conjured from accumulated orange-red Hellfire, the azure flames continued to ravage Zatanos's form.

After more than ten seconds, unable to endure the searing azure flame, his jawbone agape, Zatanos howled in agony.

Meanwhile, Forseti remained unscathed, absorbing the azure flames within the impervious embrace of the Holy Shield, unwavering in his resolve.

At this juncture, Forseti grew apprehensive. Though Zatanos's endurance was faltering, his Divine Shield technique had less than ten seconds remaining.

In ten seconds, if the azure flames persisted and he lost the protection of the Holy Shield, death would be inevitable.

For a tense moment, they confronted each other, each second ticking like a sundial in the dark, their gazes locked—each hoping the other would falter first.

One second passed, three seconds, five seconds...

*Boom!* Suddenly, an explosion rent the air—the skull of Zatanos exploded!