An arrow zipped past us''s ear, forcing him to move aside as another sh streaked past him. He was up in the air, wielding twin sabers bathed in lightning and mes.


    Opposite him stood a bushy-faced demon-man with a muscr physique, a scorpion-like tail, and armour that seemed to be made from fish scales—or so it appeared.


    us couldn''t tell, mainly because he was under heavy barrages from the demon Manticore archer.


    The demon had a pair ofrge horns and bird-like wings.


    Its body seemed to be a grotesque amalgamation of different monsters. us couldn''t help but feel curious about what kind of creature a Manticore truly was.


    Now, he was facing one—and struggling.


    This was us''s third challenge and the ninth-strongest opponent he would face.


    Of course, the demon was also an Ascendant Level expert, but a threat level ranked at SS low making him the least formidable of the opponents on us''s list.


    That didn''t mean the fight was going easy for him. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire


    On the contrary, this might just be his most difficult challenge yet.


    The Manticore demon was using a bow and arrows. However, the most dangerous aspect wasn''t the bow. Alongside its physical arrows, it was firing condensed arrows of light energy from its horns and tail.


    And as if that wasn''t enough, feather-like projectiles shot from its wings, adding to the relentless barrage. Every p of its wings was sending out feather-like projectiles.


    us was forced to stay on the defensive while the demon maintained the offensive. Unlike before, us wasn''t talking or taunting his opponent—he was hurt in more than one ce.


    ''It seems hisw of self wasn''t exaggerated. This bastard really takes self-love to a whole new level,'' us thought, narrowly evading more attacks while trying to defend himself.


    From the description he received, this Manticore has a ''Law of Self'' called [Sky Dominion]. ording to the description, it has no opposing effect.


    But that is what makes it dangerous. Basically, this bastardprehended aw that all his stats receive a 300% boost when fighting in the air.


    And the shameless part? As long as he stays in the air, this effect remains active. No matter what control or debuff technique you use, his Law of Self cancels it out.


    This means that even if us used the [Demon Killing Circle], he couldn''t create a domain where they all fight onnd. If he applies thew of self against the demon and him, the sky dominion will cancel it.


    In other words, this battle can only happen in the air. Currently, us has used [Shared], boosting his stats by 240%.


    He has formed yet another core, so the boost moved from 230% to 240%. He will receive an even greater boost once he forms the ninth core and breaks through.


    This boost has increased us''s fighting strength to the point where he is defending and dodging, ensuring the enemy''s attacks don''tnd more on his body.


    ''His arrows areing quite fast. How is he doing that?''


    us decided to close the gap forcefully, but the demon moved further back, rendering his attempt futile.


    ''This shameless bastard. You''re basically ten times my strength, so why are you running?'' us made no further attempt to close in and instead used the opportunity to execute all the ns he had devised to win—somehow.


    The sky battle continued as the minutes passed, but neither of them seemed willing to concede defeat.


    Naturally, us didn''t want to die and use his life points. But seeing how badly things were going for him, he started considering it.


    If he could study his opponent more and then die, he coulde back with a solid n to secure a decisive win.


    Yet, he didn''t want to die.


    Not to the ninth strongest when he had already killed the seventh and eighth. That would be a in disappointment.


    ''This is it. I have to make him pay before killing him.''


    us deactivated [Shared], causing his temporary boon to disappear. His strength dropped, and his speed reduced to the original level.


    Then he cast his own spell, and the Demon Killing Circle appeared around him. It opened five meters wide.


    His mind and soul went into overdrive, creating aw-like force within the circle.


    He didn''t understand howws worked, but the Demon Killing Circle allowed him to determine what would happen within its boundary. If his soul could support it, it would be reality.


    It was, in essence, like a Law of Self, and us decided to use it to craft something for himself, mirroring the Demon Manticore''s self-centredw of self.


    Suddenly, the red Demon Killing Circle turned golden, and that was when doom struck the Manticore.


    "What?"


    The Manticore spoke for the first time, shocked as his arrows lost 70% of their strength upon entering the five-meter radius around us.


    "Surprise, motherfucker! Did you think you were the only one with self-love?" Four spirit weapons materialized behind us: the two [Void Piercing Needles], the [Crescent Disc], and the [Razor Disc].


    us had levelled the ying field. Now, it was a direct sh to see who would emerge victorious.


    His [Instant 70% debuff] domain or the sky dominion domain...


    us''s soul ached under the strain, but he had to win. To do that, he had to embrace his own self-love. He had aimed for 100% nullification, but his soul could only sustain 70%.


    us was very shameless in going for a 100% nullification... But if he had seeded, he would just have to stand there and let the demon manticore attack...


    Thus, the four Spirit weapons attacked as us continued to dodge, defend, and bleed while drawing closer to the demon, who was now beginning to see the downside of hisw of self.


    The moment someone finds a way to level the ying field, things be far more dire. And as it stood, us had the upper hand.


    He was still weak, but he was killing it.


    The Razor Disc zipped past the left horn of the demon, forcing him to move to the side. This allowed the Crescent Disc to attack from behind.


    "Arrrghhh!"


    A painful cry escaped the lips of the demon, who, after defending against the Crescent Disc, was struck by two needles that pierced through his left eye.


    Yes, us wasn''t fighting like a dignified warrior.


    When the odds are stacked against you, you fight dirty. That was the only way. And now, us had managed to blind him in one eye.


    The Crescent Disc struck again, opening a gash on his left arm and drawing blood. Then the Razor Disc sliced deeply into his right arm.


    "First rule of killing an archer: always go for the arms."


    More cuts began to appear on the demon''s arms, making it difficult for him to shoot an arrow. Finally, his left arm fell off, and his world descended into perpetual doom.


    The right arm followed suit, and just like that, us managed to send the Ninth Hell Lord plummeting to his death. But he had made a promise—a promise to kill the bastard agonizingly.


    "Strike of a Thousand Cuts."


    us channelled a skill into the Razor Disc, increasing its spinning force several times.


    Then it moved, and in the next few seconds, before the bodynded on the ground, countless cuts littered the demon''s form, killing him in the most painful way possible.


    us sighed, deactivating the Demon Killing Circle. He then activated the [Ice Lotus Bloom], and the healing process began.


    He sat down, took some pastries Hanna had prepared, and began eating. Of course, his mind was on something else. He wished he could kill the bastard again for making him suffer.


    He was bleeding all over. He never even had the chance to use the Sabar like he had anticipated...@@novelbin@@


    ''Damn it.''