The sky was red, a colour like that of blood.
The ground was cracked, and fissures spewed with the blood of the people who had fought and fallen.
But Ryuk’s eyes narrowed when he noticed a peculiar anomaly amidst the war raging around him.
"They... They’re not dying?"
He watched as an army struck each other down—some split in the head, some cleaved completely in two—yet still, they moved, still fighting despite their life-threatening injuries.
Even those who had been reduced to nothing more than a bloody mess on the floor were still squirming, undoubtedly alive.
That was when he realized a heart-thumping truth.
"So, people here can’t die...?"
"If that’s the case, could it mean... they’re all locked in this war forever?"
He mused, his gaze shifting back to the battlefield, wondering just how long this endless slaughter had been raging.
SHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNGGG!
A sharp sound suddenly tore through the chaos, drawing Ryuk’s attention forward.
His gaze settled on the most prominent figure on this battlefield.
A mountain of defeated warriors and beasts lay piled up, and seated atop a throne crafted from their bones—adorned with their skulls—was the individual responsible.
A massive humanoid being, teetering on the line between human and monster.
An exceptionally bulky warrior with enormous arms, thick veins squirming beneath his skin, revealing his horrifying strength.
His eyes were pitch black and his body was clad in bone-like armour, covered in dark runic lines, his long dark hair framing a face riddled with bloody scars.
What caught Ryuk’s attention the most, however, was the enormous weapon embedded into the bones beneath him, resting beside the throne.
It resembled a knife, but it was nearly two meters in length, with an extra grip positioned at its middle.
The sound of creaking suddenly resonated through the entire battlefield, drowning out even the loudest clashes of battle.
Immediately, all fighting ceased, and every warrior froze in place, caught in the midst of their motions.
Something began to shatter—none other than the throne of bones upon which the colossal figure sat.
Slowly, he rose to his feet, and as he stood upright, all the still-standing warriors also straightened, aligning themselves like an army.
The massive, heavy blade was pulled from the ground by the monstrous figure.
He lifted it with veins bulging powerfully, making Ryuk wonder just how heavy it truly was.
Then, slowly, the figure raised the blade and pointed it directly at Ryuk. A runic circle appeared in his eyes.
> [Challenge Issued for the 3rd Phase of the Test!]
[Defeat the Spawn of the Eternal Lord of War!]
The voice echoed throughout the world, and Ryuk’s brows furrowed as he looked at the figure before him.
"Defeat him? How am I supposed to defeat him when—"
His thoughts halted as his eyes widened in realization.
He instinctively called for his ice abilities, but there was no response. It was as if his mana had been completely sealed.
His gaze flickered downward, taking in his own hands and legs. With a simple will, Ryuk’s body began shifting rapidly.
Soon, a veil of Nanobots covered his body, and in his right hand, a massive, nightmarish scythe materialized.
The air around Ryuk was sliced apart as the scythe spun within his grip before settling into his grasp.
A relieved smile spread across his face.
"Finally... I can use my Nanobody ability again."
"Activate: Nano Abyssal Reaper."
The ground trembled violently as Ryuk snapped his gaze forward.
The colossal warrior had leapt from his throne, descending from the towering heap of corpses.
He crouched low upon landing before—
His body shot forward at a speed faster than lightning.
Ryuk barely had time to react before he saw the enormous, terrifying length of the warrior’s blade rushing toward him, its edge mere inches from his head before he could even twitch a muscle.
The sound of something tearing through flesh echoed as he instinctively stepped aside, but he was too slow for the sneak attack.
The blade landed on his shoulder—cleaving it off entirely.
RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPP!
The scythe in Ryuk’s grip flashed downward with blinding speed.
Ignoring the loss of his arm, he swung toward the thick neck of the Titan, who, for once, seemed unable to dodge fast enough. But then—
The instant the scythe’s edge touched the Titan’s neck, Ryuk expected a clean decapitation.
But instead—it was like striking a mountain.
The impact sent him flying backward, his scythe still in his grip, bouncing against the ground multiple times before coming to a stop.
Shock filled his eyes.
As he looked up, all he saw was a thin, white line across the Titan’s neck—already fading.
"Impossible! My Nano Abyssal Reaper didn’t cleave through?!"
Ryuk’s heart pounded in disbelief.
He knew his scythe had sliced through even A-grade beasts with ease before. Yet, this figure before him hadn’t even spilled a drop of blood.
The sound of bodies collapsing suddenly echoed across the battlefield.
Ryuk turned his gaze, eyes widening as he saw seventy undead warriors suddenly dropping to the ground, motionless, their necks cleanly severed from their heads.
"No… My scythe did have an effect on him. But he negated it!"
"He passed the damage of my attack onto those seventy warriors behind him, ensuring they took the brunt of it while he remained completely unscathed..."
Ryuk mused to himself, eyes narrowing coldly.
The sound of the ground cracking beneath massive footsteps rang out as the monstrous figure slowly walked forward, one step at a time, his heavy blade dragging behind him.
Ryuk’s eyes flickered with understanding.
And in an instant, he dismissed his scythe.
The Titan, mid-stride, paused for three whole seconds, as if surprised by the action.
Then, he resumed his approach.
Ryuk’s gaze sharpened.
"I understand now... My Abyssal Reaper transformation is useless in this battle."
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In and Out_SnowySmoos