~BOOOOOM!!!~


    The ground beneath Neron cracked as heunched forward, propelled by the overwhelming force of Aether surging through his body.


    The Emperor''s golden aura met his attack head-on, and the resulting collision sent a shockwave through the chamber, shaking the very foundation of the pce.


    ~VWUUUUMMMM!!!~


    "You''re strong, Neron," the Emperor admitted as he deflected the strike with a shimmering golden shield that materialized in the air. "But you''re blinded by rage. It clouds your judgment."


    Neron scoffed, mming his foot into the ground to steady himself.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Judgment? You think I need rity to kill a monster like you?"


    Without waiting for a response, he stretched his hand toward the Emperor, summoning a massive spear of Aether that crackled with violent energy.


    He hurled it at him with lethal precision, the air screaming as it cut through the space between them. The Emperor raised his hand, and a radiant golden barrier formed around him, absorbing the impact. The force of the collision sent chunks of stone flying, tearing the walls of the chamber apart.


    The Emperor''s golden eyes remained calm, but the cracks forming in hisposure were evident.


    "You have no idea what you''re doing," he said, his voice still measured.


    "I know exactly what I''m doing," Neron snarled, vanishing from his spot and reappearing behind the Emperor in an instant. His fist, cloaked in raw destructive Aether, drove toward the Emperor''s back. The Emperor twisted at thest moment, catching the blow with his palm. The sheer force of their sh sent out another shockwave, and the chamber shuddered violently.


    ~BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!~


    The Emperor gritted his teeth as golden light wrapped around his arm, reinforcing it.


    "Do you even realize what your power is doing to you?" he asked, his voice strained as he pushed back against Neron.


    "The more you use it like this, the more it consumes you."


    "You''re stalling," Neron growled, summoning a de of Aether in his free hand.


    He shed upward, forcing the Emperor to leap back. The Emperornded gracefully, his golden aura shimmering around him like a shield.


    "You''ve lost yourself, Neron," the Emperor said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "I hoped you would be different."


    "Save your pity," Neron spat, raising both hands and summoning a storm of Aetheric energy. Dozens of glowing spears materialized around him, spinning wildly beforeunching toward the Emperor in rapid session.


    The Emperor responded with a sweeping motion of his hand, creating an intricatettice of golden threads that intercepted the onught. Each impact rattled the threads, but they held firm, scattering the spears into harmless fragments.


    "You''ve mastered Aether quickly, but you stillck understanding," the Emperor said, his tone almost patronizing.


    "Power without control is nothing but destruction."


    "Destruction is all I need to deal with you," Neron retorted, vanishing once again. This time, he appeared above the Emperor, mming a massive Aether-forged hammer down toward his head. The Emperor sidestepped at thest moment, but the hammer struck the ground, creating a crater that shook the entire pce.


    The Emperor retaliated with a pulse of golden energy that surged toward Neron. Neron barely had time to summon a barrier before it hit, and even then, the force sent him skidding back.


    "You''re holding back," Neron said, ring at him. "You think you can win without getting your hands dirty? That''s your mistake."


    The Emperor''s expression tightened. "I fight to protect, not to destroy. That''s the difference between us."


    Neronughed coldly.


    "Protect? Is that what you call murdering my friends?"


    The Emperor''s hesitation was brief, but it was enough. Neron lunged at him, his movements erratic and unpredictable. His de shed against the Emperor''s barrier, shattering it in a burst of golden sparks. Neron followed up with a flurry of strikes, each one more brutal than thest.


    The Emperor countered with a glowing staff that appeared in his hand, deflecting Neron''s attacks with precise movements. But the strain was evident—he wasn''t used to fighting like this.


    "You''re faltering," Neron said, a savage grin spreading across his face. "You''re not cut out for war."


    The Emperor didn''t respond.


    Instead, he raised his staff, and a column of golden light descended from above, engulfing Neron. The heat was intense, searing, but Neron pushed through it, his Mage Mode shielding him from the worst of it. He emerged from the light, bloodied but unfazed.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" Neron taunted, summoning another wave of Aetheric energy.


    This time, he didn''t hold back. The ground beneath him cracked and splintered as he unleashed a devastating st that tore through the chamber, obliterating everything in its path.


    The Emperor managed to shield himself, but the strain was evident. His golden aura flickered, and he stumbled slightly.


    "You''re finished," Neron said, advancing on him.


    The Emperor hesitated, his hand hovering over his chest. A faint glow emanated from beneath his robes, and Neron realized what he was about to do.


    "You''re going to use your Arcana," Neron said, his tone mocking. "Is that yourst resort?"


    The Emperor didn''t respond, but the glow grew brighter.


    Neron didn''t give him the chance. Activating his Original Magic, he stopped time, the world around him freezing in ce. He stepped forward, standing directly in front of the Emperor.


    "Toote," he whispered, cing his hand on the Emperor''s chest.


    With a surge of Aether, Neron elerated the Emperor''s time. The Emperor''s body began to wither and age, the golden light in his eyes dimming as he disintegrated into dust. His Arcana, a shimmering card marked [The Emperor], fell to the ground.


    Neron picked it up, his expression cold and unfeeling.


    As the flow of time resumed, Neron turned to see the Midas Guards surrounding him, their weapons drawn, their faces a mix of fear and determination.


    "You''re all going to follow your Emperor," he said, his voice devoid of mercy. "One by one."


    The Empire would burn, and he would make sure of it.


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    [A/N]


    I deeply apologize for not uploading any chapters yesterday.


    Thanks for reading.