Chapter 562 - Going All Out

Khalos had lost all of his reasoning and the only thing left in his mind was the desire to kill Ren. He was blinded by uncontrollable rage and continued to destroy everything in his way. There was nothing else in his sight except for Ren. The pride he once had as a New God was gone, the drive he had to become stronger had disappeared, the skills he has honed for centuries were nowhere to be found, everything he ever was and ever will be was devoured by the branch of the ORIGIN. 

After accepting the strength granted by the Branch of the ORIGIN nothing was supposed to be left of Khalos but madness, yet despite the insanity, the branch of the ORIGIN gives the bearer, Khalos was able to maintain one single thing and it was his anger at Ren. As he kept on punching through the layers or walls Khalos suddenly stopped and backed away. 

Even though Khalos no longer had any emotions aside from rage, Khalos's body instinctively felt an overpowering sense of dread. It was like his very being was telling him to run away, but even though his rage made him want to move forward his instinctive fear wanted him to back away. It was at that moment Ren's booming laughter echoed throughout the desert. 

...

Ren felt his excitement reach its peak as he decided to finally remove all of his restrictions. A few years before Ren had become too powerful for the world he was living in. The world was literally unable to handle his existence and wanted to forcefully expel him. So as to not ascend into the higher planes without his companions Ren had to seal a large portion of his power. Now at this very moment, he could finally release the seal and he felt liberated. 

"Hahahahaha! This is incredible, it's been so long since I could truly go all out! Now I know you can hear me O' ORIGIN. I don't know if you have already fallen into madness but watch me as I show you my might! I will show you that unlike before were I couldn't handle a single seed of yours, this time I will crush this branch of yours!" 

Ren looked at Khalos who had stopped attacking and gestured him to come. Khalos whose body was overcome by fear was once again enraged as he roared and dashed towards Ren. This time Ren who had released the seal on his body could finally see Khalos's movements. 

Ren discarded the death scythe and decided to fight Khalos bare-handed. Ren blocked one of Khalos's punches with his forearms and he felt it numb a bit, but this time he wasn't pushed back. Ren then punched Khalos with all his might and of course, Khalos in his maddened state did not dodge and received Ren's punch head-on. 

When Ren's fist connected to Khalos's face he felt a corrosive power trying to invade him, but it couldn't. Not only that the punch Ren did was at least eighty percent of his full power but Khalos didn't even flinch as he kept on attacking Ren. 

The two exchanged blows which destroyed the land they were standing on. If they had this battle back in the lower planes, the world would've disintegrated from just the aftershock from their blows. 

Ren felt a rush like no other as he received a punch and delivered one. He had almost thought that this would end fast after he had released his seal but it wasn't like that. Even after receiving Ren's full-powered attacks, Khalos wasn't stopping, even after he tore one of his arms apart Khalos just grew new ones and continued to attack. 

This regenerative ability of Khalos was even more ridiculous than the Seed of the ORIGIN Edge fought. Ren could do something similar with his mana and Spirit Aura but that drains him a lot, on the other hand, in Khalos's case, it doesn't seem like he's affected by energy consumption as it felt like he could go on forever. 

Ren knew that if they continued this way he would eventually be defeated. Still, he didn't want to change tactics as he wanted to feel the heat of battle even more. 

...

Under the scorching heat of the desert, the sound of booming thunder reverberated. It has been four days since Ren and Khalos started their battle. Khalos was still in an enraged state and kept on attacking without rest, on the other hand, Ren was still in high spirits but had numerous injuries that were slowly healing. 

During these four days of nonstop battle, Ren had destroyed Khalos's body a dozen times but was still unable to kill him. At one point the original incarnation was about to give some advice as to how to fight such an opponent, but Ren rejected the offer since he wanted to find out how to win on his own. 

Now that he could feel his massive amount of mana supply depleting rapidly Ren finally decided to change tactics. First Ren summoned all the weapons hidden in his shadow and bombarded Khalos with them. While Khalos was being distracted by the waves of weapons, Ren resummoned the death scythe. 

"It was fun Khalos, but it's about time we end this." 

Ren activated one of the Death Scythe's abilities, and a giant skeletal figure holding a scythe appeared behind Ren who then swung its scythe at Khalos. The scythe had cut Khalos's body cleanly in two. Seeing that scene Ren whispered in the wind.

"Thanks for the battle." 

Ren was about to leave when he suddenly sensed something from behind him and dodged to the side. Khalos had actually survived and attacked him. Seeing Khalos still alive for the first time in this entire fight, Ren was truly surprised. That ability he activated using the Death Scythe was something he could only use once a decade. It was meant to reap not just a person's body but his soul, so it was supposed to be impossible to survive once it hit you. Able to hear his thoughts the original incarnation gave an answer to his question. 

'The Death Scythe's ability to reap souls only applies to mortal souls.. The souls of Gods even New Gods who are only half Gods cannot be reaped. Now that your ace in the hole has failed, are you willing to listen to me now?'