Sacrifice's Rise: I Became Invincible After Entering Godslayer Temple



John's eyes glittered. With a subtle shift of his feet, he seemed to become intangible, effortlessly evading the ferocious strike of Adam's greatsword. 

Immediately following, he lifted the Divine Blade in his hand, emitting an overpowering aura of energy.

"Unrivaled Strike!"

Muttering the incantation silently, John swung his blade with an earth-shattering luminance that descended sharply.

[Unrivaled Strike (Divine Talent): Through tireless training, you have honed your martial skills to their pinnacle, achieving this lethal blow. When unleashed in battle, this strike embodies the force of the cosmic ORDER, breaking all binds, and is a blow even deities would struggle to counter.]

Adam's expression shifted rapidly, already sensing the menacing sword aura from John. 

Left with little choice, he released his hold on the greatsword, allowing the energy within him to gush forth, all funneling into the Holy Light shield encircling him, hoping to withstand the onslaught.

Yet, could a skill unleashed by John be so effortlessly blocked?

Especially the Unrivaled Strike, a god-tier offensive skill renowned for its maxed-out single-target damage!

Though John had intentionally suppressed his level to match Adam's, the depth of his intrinsic power was undeniably evident. 

The potency of the Unrivaled Strike, when not executed at its full capacity, was noticeably diminished. 

Yet, it was more than sufficient to challenge a player of Adam's caliber.

The Holy Light shield surrounding Adam shattered like fragile glass. 

Adam felt an overwhelming force transmitted from the blade, instantly sending him flying backward. 

At this critical juncture, his steed, the unicorn, seemed to sense its master's peril. 

With a skyward neigh, a gentle radiance emitted from its horn, encasing Adam and drawing him safely back onto its back.

Adam's face was etched with shock. 

It was the first time he felt such overpowering pressure from John. 

Had it not been for the shield's cushioning effect, a direct hit would have undoubtedly resulted in grievous injuries.

"How can he have such devastating damage output even after suppressing his level to match mine?" Adam pondered, filled with disbelief.

John casually brandished his pale blue energy sword, looking serenely at Adam. 

With a slight chuckle, he asked, "How do you feel now, brother Adam?"

Adam, his gaze locked onto John, revealed a glint of defiance in his eyes, "Impressive, indeed. But don't think I'm easy prey." 

Taking a deep breath, his form shimmered with the brilliance of the Holy Light, and once again, he brandished his greatsword.

This time, Adam attacked with everything he had, unleashing his power without reservation. 

The Holy Light on his sword blazed even brighter. 

John's eyes narrowed, and with his exceptional reflexes, he effortlessly dodged Adam's onslaught, immediately launching a counterattack.

Using his agility to his advantage, John maneuvered behind Adam. 

His blade, swift as lightning and bearing a grim finality, aimed straight for Adam's neck. 

Adam felt the cold touch of impending doom and hurriedly raised his greatsword in defense.

But John's strike was too fast, leaving Adam barely any time to react.

Clang!

A resonant sound echoed as John's Divine Blade fiercely struck Adam's sword. 

Adam felt a violent tremor in the greatsword he held, the sheer force pushing him backward. 

Yet, in spite of John's overwhelming power, Adam managed to ward off the blow, albeit barely.

"Truly remarkable," Adam internally marveled.

The two continued their fierce duel, their strikes colliding with the intensity of thunderous lightning. 

John's swordplay was incredibly fluid, always catching his opponent off guard, while Adam's strength and defense were equally commendable, allowing him to contend with John for some time.

However, as the battle raged on, fatigue began to wear Adam down. 

It was hard for him to believe, even with various buffs enhancing him, that he was losing the physical contest against John.

"How can this be? Is the gap between us truly this vast?" Adam thought, his heart riddled with bitterness and confusion.

For Adam, the taste of defeat was agonizing, especially for someone with such a proud disposition as his. 

Yet no matter how hard he tried, regardless of how much of his strength he put forth, John always effortlessly dodged his blows, delivering near-fatal counterattacks in return.

Just as despair started to engulf Adam, John suddenly ceased his offense. 

With a gentle smile, he gazed at Adam and whispered, "Brother Adam, perhaps it's time to concede? Continuing like this serves you no purpose. No matter how hard you try, you seem to have reached your limits."

Adam was taken aback. 

He perceived a faint hint of condescension in John's eyes, a feeling akin to being pricked by countless needles. 

Deep down, however, he understood that John's words weren't meant to mock. 

By pointing out the chasm in their abilities, John was, in fact, attempting to inspire Adam to genuinely confront and surpass his own limitations.

Lost in contemplation, Adam reflected on his battles with John and gradually grasped the essence of their encounters. 

The power John displayed was not merely an accumulation of strength and skill, but a profound understanding on a much higher plane.

"I see now," Adam murmured, realizing his shortcomings. "Thank you, Galewind, for the enlightenment." 

He bowed slightly to John, a playful grin on his lips. "If Galewind wishes to see my true capabilities, then I shall no longer hold back."

A surging wave of refined Holy Light energy burst forth from Adam.

Far more concentrated than before, John could sense the potent surge emanating from Adam, a glint of anticipation gleaming in his eyes. 

Radiating intense energy, he met Adam's tempestuous assault head-on.

The massive Holy Light greatsword descended from above. 

John, with his nimble agility, evaded and swiftly retaliated. 

His energy sword transformed into a Flowing Light, lunging at Adam with lethal speed.

Adam reacted instantly, shifting his body to narrowly avoid the fatal blow. 

The two engaged fiercely, every move a testament to raw power. 

John, with his exceptional combat skills and indomitable will, managed to dominate Adam. 

Although Adam's attacks were robust and potent, they were all deftly evaded by John's agile movements and impeccable defense.

Adam could feel his energy waning rapidly. 

Both his MP and Stamina were being drained at an alarmingly exaggerated rate, yet he remained resolute in opposing John with all his might.

John chuckled softly, immediately sensing Adam's fatigue. "It seems your strength still falls short," he remarked. "At this rate, you can't hope to defeat me."

Adam gritted his teeth, wiping the sweat off his face, and said gravely, "While Galewind's prowess is unparalleled, and I might be outmatched, I won't simply wait for my demise."

With a silent incantation, Adam unleashed his ultimate move, the Sacred Halo. 

Instantly, he was enveloped in a dazzling aura of Holy Light, wielding his greatsword with even more ferocity.

John looked on, visibly surprised by Adam's transformation, his respect for Adam's determination growing.

From behind Adam's heavy visor came a muffled voice, "Galewind, I won't back down easily! Even if I fall by your hand, I intend to shine."

He activated his skill: Sacred Explosion!

[Sacred Explosion (Unique Skill): Exclusive to the Divine Vanguard, this skill accumulates all bodily energy for an instantaneous burst, inflicting immense damage on the adversary...]

In a flash, Adam's Holy Light exploded with blinding brilliance, creating a potent shockwave. 

John, caught off guard, was directly hit by the wave, sent flying backward.

Regaining his balance swiftly, the tattered cloak on his back rippled like water, neutralizing all inflicted damage. 

He lifted his head, smiled subtly, and without hesitation, lunged at Adam once more.

In midair, John's body transformed into a shadowy specter of dark light, with his energy sword tapping lightly, each strike accurately piercing Adam's shield. 

Inside the arena hall, the audience watched, utterly spellbound and awestruck. 

Who would have thought that the battle for the top spot on the Arena Leaderboard would be such a fierce showdown?

As the minutes ticked away, John could sense that Adam's strength was waning. 

"Brother Adam, you're still not strong enough. To defeat me, this won't suffice," he declared.

Adam struggled for breath, yet his eyes shimmered with unwavering determination. 

"I don't fight to beat you, but to pursue greater strength! Even if I fall to you, it will only steel my resolve to tread the path of power."

A glint of admiration passed through John's eyes, recognizing that Adam's words weren't empty boasts. 

They clashed fiercely once more, each strike echoing the struggle of top-tier warriors. 

Their figures intertwined in the air, sparking a cascade of radiant embers.

At last, Adam could no longer hold on and crumpled to the ground in exhaustion. "Is this where it ends?"

John's energy sword became ensnared in a blinding aura, his entire being radiating an overpowering presence. 

Adam lifted his head, his expression defiant. "Of course not, Galewind. Witness my final counterattack!"

With great effort, he raised his nearly unsteady silvery-white greatsword, pointing it towards the sky. 

A thick, sanctified beam of light descended from the heavens, rapidly enveloping Adam within.