Global Descent: Heaven's Executioner-Chapter 49:

Zayen’s form flickered in the blink of an eye, the force of Ragnar’s swing sending him sliding back a few meters. His expression remained calm, almost teasing, as if this exchange were nothing more than a warm-up.

Ragnar didn’t hesitate. Lightning surged violently along his arms and hammer, crackling across the shattered plaza like living electricity. "You move fast... too fast for most, but speed alone won’t beat me!" His voice roared over the storm, each word resonating with raw, god-chosen authority.

Zayen’s eyes narrowed, studying Ragnar’s movements—the way the lightning followed the hammer, the slight weight shift before each swing, and the rhythm buried within the chaos of the attacks.

Without wasting a second, Zayen moved again with incredible speed, leaving only a faint afterimage behind. Sparks and scorched stone marked where he had been a heartbeat ago.

But this time, Zayen did not continue his assault. He appeared a short distance away from Ragnar and raised the Blacksteel Katana high.

Divine Manifestation.

Zayen directly activated [Divine Manifestation], and in the next instant, countless golden swords appeared in the sky, all locking onto Ragnar.

Ragnar’s expression froze at the sight, lightning crackling along his hammer as his grin faltered.

"F...ck...want to play big, huh?" he muttered, a mixture of surprise and excitement in his voice.

The countless golden swords hovered in the sky, shimmering with divine light, each one pulsating with a deadly aura. They hovered for only a heartbeat, then began their synchronized descent, falling toward Ragnar like a torrential storm of steel.

Ragnar’s eyes narrowed, lightning dancing violently across his massive hammer. He planted his feet firmly and swung the weapon in a wide, circular motion. Arc after arc of lightning erupted from the hammer, creating a protective barrier that crackled and hissed as each golden sword collided with it.

CLANG! CRACK! BOOM!

The force of the impact sent shockwaves rolling across the plaza. Dust and debris exploded outward, while the golden swords split and ricocheted off the lightning shield, slicing deep grooves into the stone around them.

Ragnar roared, the sound echoing like thunder, as he spun the hammer above his head. Each swing generated lightning arcs that expanded outward, scorching the air and forming a violent storm around him.

But Zayen didn’t move. He stood a short distance away, observing Ragnar with a calm, calculating gaze. With [Divine Manifestation] active, every sword in the sky moved as if guided by his will, seeking openings in Ragnar’s defense with surgical precision.

A lightning bolt erupted from Ragnar’s hammer, striking a descending sword. The weapon shattered instantly, but another golden sword immediately replaced it, striking the same spot with the same deadly precision.

Ragnar’s lightning barrier flared brighter, struggling to repel the continuous onslaught, yet the sheer number of divine weapons forced him onto the defensive.

Every swing of his hammer now had to account for multiple angles, multiple strikes, and the ever-present threat of Zayen appearing anywhere, at any moment.

Ragnar Thorson’s grin hardened, his eyes glowing with fierce determination. "Impressive, kid... but let’s see how you handle this!"

He slammed his massive hammer into the ground with incredible force. Lightning crackled violently along its surface, and the air seemed to twist around him. With a deep, resonant shout, he activated one of his signature skills: [Storm of the God’s Wrath].

Immediately, the sky above the ruins darkened as if night had fallen in an instant. Clouds roiled violently, swirling with black and blue lightning. The temperature dropped sharply, and the wind howled through the shattered plaza.

A single, colossal bolt of lightning descended from the storm above, crackling with divine energy, aiming straight for Zayen. The sheer intensity of the strike made the ruins tremble and sent waves of heat and electricity radiating outward.

Zayen’s eyes narrowed, sensing the immense threat. The golden swords hovering around him dissipated in a blink as he assessed the attack. Without hesitation, he activated [Divine Manifestation] once again—but this time in a defensive configuration.

In an instant, five layers of golden shields manifested above and around him, each radiating a faint hum of divine energy. The shields shimmered and rotated slightly as the massive bolt of lightning plummeted toward him.

CRACK! BOOM!

The lightning collided with the outermost shield. Sparks and energy arcs burst outward, scorching the ground and sending debris flying. The first layer of the shield shuddered but held firm.

The bolt struck the second layer with equal force, the golden energy absorbing and dispersing the raw divine power. One layer after another took the impact, the shields glowing brighter with each strike as if feeding on the divine energy.

Ragnar’s roar echoed across the ruins, the sound mingling with the thunder above. "Come on! Is that all you’ve got?"

Zayen’s expression remained calm, almost detached, as he maintained the golden shields.

Above him, the fifth and final layer of the golden shield flared violently as the lightning bolt’s energy slammed against it. For a brief moment, the light from the divine shields illuminated the entire ruined plaza like a second sun, a clash of god-chosen powers that shook the very earth beneath them.

At that moment, lightning began to coil around Ragnar’s body like living serpents. A terrifying aura burst from him as his feet slowly lifted from the ground.

Within a few breaths, Ragnar had already risen several meters into the air.

He stood suspended in midair, lightning boiling violently around his body. Thunder rumbled through the darkened sky as he looked down at Zayen, his gaze carrying the overwhelming authority of a god’s chosen warrior.

Zayen looked up at Ragnar without the slightest hint of panic.

Lightning raged across the sky, illuminating Ragnar’s towering figure suspended in midair like a god of thunder descending upon the battlefield. The violent aura rolling from his body caused the air itself to tremble.

Suspended in midair, Ragnar raised his hammer high toward the storm-filled sky before slowly bringing it down, pointing it directly at Zayen.

The next second, bolts of lightning tore through the air, racing toward him like divine punishment.

Seeing the attack, Zayen instantly activated Divine Manifestation, summoning layer upon layer of golden shields above him. The radiant barriers formed in rapid succession, shining like a wall of sunlight as they prepared to withstand the incoming lightning.

BOOM!

The first bolt of lightning slammed into the outermost golden shield. The impact sent a violent shockwave across the plaza, dust and shattered stone blasting outward.

The shield trembled violently before cracks of golden light spread across its surface.

CRACK! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

It shattered.

But before the lightning could continue downward, the second shield absorbed the remaining force. Golden energy rippled across its surface like waves striking a wall.

Another bolt of lightning followed immediately.

BOOM!

The second shield fractured under the pressure, splintering into fragments of fading light.

Zayen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he maintained control of Divine Manifestation, pouring more energy into the remaining barriers.

Above him, Ragnar floated like a god of thunder, lightning roaring around his body as he continued directing the storm.

"Let’s see how long those toys of yours can hold!" Ragnar shouted, his voice echoing through the storm.

Another barrage of lightning bolts rained down from the sky.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

One shield after another shook under the relentless assault.

Golden light and blue lightning collided violently in the air, illuminating the battlefield with blinding flashes.

Zayen lifted his gaze toward Ragnar, who floated high in the storm-filled sky.

Golden light flickered faintly around him as he spoke in a deep, steady voice.

"Do you really think... you’re the only one who can fly?"

The moment the words left his mouth, a powerful surge of divine energy burst from his body.

"[Seraphic Ascension]."

Golden light erupted behind him.

In the next instant, six radiant wings unfolded from Zayen’s back, each one shining with a different divine aura. The wings spread wide, illuminating the battlefield with brilliant golden light.

One wing radiated the unwavering authority of Justice.

Another glowed with the calm brilliance of Faith.

The third burned with the fearless spirit of Valor.

The fourth shimmered with the pristine light of Purity.

The fifth carried the gentle warmth of Mercy.

And the final wing pulsed with the terrifying power of Wrath.

The air around Zayen trembled as divine energy surged through his body.

With a single beat of his wings—

BOOM!

A shockwave blasted across the ground as Zayen shot upward into the sky like a golden comet.

Within seconds, he rose to Ragnar’s level, hovering in the storm-filled air. Lightning flashed around them while golden feathers of light drifted slowly through the dark clouds.

Ragnar narrowed his eyes as he looked at the six radiant wings behind Zayen.

But Zayen gave Ragnar no time to react.

The moment he reached the same height, his six radiant wings beat once, and his body shot forward like a streak of golden light.

In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance.

Both of his blades flashed as he struck.

CLANG!

Ragnar reacted just in time, swinging his massive hammer upward to block the attack. Lightning exploded outward the moment the weapons collided, sending a violent shockwave rippling through the dark clouds.

For a split second, the two warriors hung in the air, locked in a clash of strength.

Golden light against raging thunder.

Zayen’s wings flared behind him as he pushed forward with incredible speed, his blades moving in rapid succession.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Each strike came faster than the last, sparks and lightning scattering across the sky as Ragnar blocked the attacks with his hammer.

"Ha! Now this is a real fight!" Ragnar roared, lightning surging wildly around his body.

He suddenly swung his hammer in a wide arc.

A massive wave of lightning burst from the weapon, tearing through the air toward Zayen.

But Zayen’s wings moved instantly.

With a sharp beat of his wings, he vanished from Ragnar’s sight, leaving only a fading afterimage behind.

The lightning strike ripped through empty air.

Ragnar’s eyes widened slightly.

Then—

A voice appeared behind him.

"Too slow."