CHAPTER 292: I DON’T NEED TO DODGE ANYMORE

Zain was being chained.

Black burns spread across his arms and chest.

His breath came slowly, and smoke rose from his back.

His vision blurred, but he kept his eyes locked on Vorthar.

Vorthar chuckled, stepping forward.

"Let me hear it," he said. "Your final words."

Zain’s body swayed.

With the little strength he had left, he lifted his head.

And spat blood right into Vorthar’s face.

Vorthar’s eye twitched.

Zain smirked, tired but sharp.

"Fuck you."

Vorthar wiped the blood from his cheek and frowned deeply.

"I see," he said. "So that’s your choice."

He stepped back and raised one hand. Heat rolled out from his body.

His cloak burned away, revealing the glowing red lines that now covered his skin.

"Then let me give you the death you deserve."

Vorthar’s body rose slowly into the air. Flames circled him.

Zain looked at him and only smirked.

"I’ll remember this," he said.

But Vorthar didn’t listen.

His body shone like the sun. He hovered over the lab, one hand raised high.

The fire above him formed a spinning vortex of red and gold.

The air screamed as it twisted faster and hotter.

"You think you’re strong," Vorthar said. "You think this is your story."

He looked down at Zain.

"But in my eyes... you’re just another fool who tried to challenge a god."

Flames roared above him. The heat burned the walls.

"Burn."

Vorthar’s voice echoed.

He brought his hand down.

[Hellbrand Ascension] activated fully. Fire erupted beneath him.

Then came the final strike.

[Judgment Flame]

A giant pillar of fire dropped from the ceiling and slammed into the ground where Zain stood.

The entire lab shook. Metal bent. Pipes burst. The walls cracked.

Flames roared high and wide, swallowing everything in red light.

For a moment, nothing could be seen. Only fire.

Vorthar hovered still, his hand still pointed down. His face was cold.

He waited.

The smoke began to rise.

The floor below was black, melted, and broken.

No one stood there now.

Vorthar let out a breath.

"It’s over."

He lowered himself back to the ground slowly.

Ash floated in the air.

He looked around the lab.

One of the tubes had already been destroyed.

Savra’s body lay nearby, untouched by the flames.

Vorthar looked down and shook his head.

"We’ll make you a new tube, my dear Savra."

He chuckled to himself.

But then a sound came from below.

A crack in the floor. A low hum.

Zain climbed up, his body covered in burns, blood, and smoke.

Vorthar frowned.

"How are you still alive?"

Zain smirked.

"Of course I’m alive."

He coughed.

"I’m the Heavenly Demon. But still, thanks for the reminder."

He stood fully, shaky but firm.

"It’s been a long time since I was pushed this far."

He looked up.

"I needed this."

He raised one hand.

"It showed me how weak I was here."

He opened his fingers. Something flickered.

"Now it’s time for an upgrade."

Suddenly, light gathered in front of him. A digital screen floated in the air.

Lines of code ran fast.

"System. I want to hack my own powers."

Text flashed back:

[Hack Interface Opened]

Zain grinned wider.

"Heavenly Demon Ether. Heavenly Demon Breathing. Heavenly Demon Body."

"Fuse them."

He paused.

"Make something stronger. Something perfect."

The screen glowed.

---

[Hack Initiation: Ability Fusion]

[Source Abilities: Heavenly Demon Ether + Heavenly Demon Breathing + Heavenly Demon Body]

[Result: Heavenly Demon God]

[Effect: Body absorbs any form of energy, matter, or essence and converts it into Heavenly Demon Ether.]

[Every absorption strengthens the user’s body, mind, and core beyond normal limits.]

[Trait: Divine Override – Zain’s body adapts instantly to hostile forces, turning enemy attacks into fuel.]

[Status: Fused Ability Active – All previous components merged under one transcendent technique]

---

Zain laughed.

The air around him shifted.

His wounds began to close.

His skin stitched itself together. Even his hair returned to its shape.

The fire nearby bent toward him, then vanished into his body.

The stone under his feet pulsed.

"I can feel it," he said. "It’s different now."

He cracked his neck.

"Everything... becomes fuel."

Vorthar stepped back.

"What did you do?"

Zain looked at him.

"I became the real version of what you pretend to be."

"I’m the Heavenly Demon God."

The flames in the lab swirled around Zain like mist being sucked into his body.

His eyes glowed with deep crimson.

Vorthar clenched his teeth.

"I don’t care what trick you pulled," he said. "You’re still just a man."

He slammed his foot forward and burst ahead.

[Flame God Chains]

Fire surged from his hands and shot toward Zain like red serpents.

They tried to bind his arms and legs, wrapping them tightly with violent heat.

Zain didn’t move.

He smirked.

The moment the chains touched his skin, they began to burn away, sucked into his body.

Vorthar’s eyes widened.

"What?"

Zain raised his hand.

"Thanks for the fuel."

The flames were gone.

They were turned into [Heavenly Demon Ether].

His aura grew stronger.

Vorthar shouted and launched a punch to his chest.

[Searing Blow]

His fist hit.

Zain didn’t block.

He let it hit directly.

The lab shook from the impact.

But Zain didn’t move an inch.

Instead, the heat from the punch flowed into him. His eyes glowed brighter.

"Are you done?"

Zain asked calmly.

Vorthar stepped back. Confused.

Zain cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders.

"All your attacks... they just make me stronger now."

Vorthar growled.

"You think you’re invincible?"

Zain tilted his head.

"No."

"I just don’t need to dodge anymore."

Vorthar screamed and used [Hellbrand Ascension].

Flames erupted around him as his body rose into the air, his aura surging like a living sun.

"This ends now!" he shouted.

He stretched both arms toward the sky, drawing every last ounce of flame from the lab into his core.

Then he roared and unleashed [Judgment Flame] once again.

A massive pillar of divine fire shot down from above, aimed straight at Zain.

"No matter what tricks you have," Vorthar growled, "you’ll be nothing but ash after this judgment!"

The sky itself seemed to burn.