Chapter 1116 353: Duel with Anubis (2)

This kind-hearted God of Death reminded Ian, hoping that Ian would not hold too much vanity.

However.

Ian shrugged.

"I have enough magic power, I'm not afraid."

He was at an age where vanity was strong, how could he not have it? Anubis stepped toward the center of the arena, with each step, the sandy ground beneath him solidified into obsidian. His figure gradually grew taller, reaching three meters, with golden divine patterns flowing across his skin, and the aura of death palpable, oppressing the entire space.

He raised his hand, pointing at the undead audience around him.

"For so many years, many have challenged me." The God of Death's voice was calm and cold, "Without exception, they have all stayed here."

Those undead warriors let out a low growl, their voices like the lamentation of thousands of souls.

Ian looked around, his gaze sweeping over the twisted faces — there were priests dressed in pharaoh's attire, warriors wearing Greek armor, and even a few souls of black-robed wizards, all with unwillingness and resentment in their eyes. Yet these souls, constrained by their unwillingness, could only be controlled by Anubis.

"These people..." Ian scanned the surroundings, his gaze slightly somber, "Are they all people who failed to challenge you?"

Anubis nodded, his tone calm:

"Every person who challenged me has stayed here."

For this reason, they are no longer spectators, but witnesses.

He pointed at those souls.

"Their wills were absorbed by me, their souls sealed by me."

"Are you sure you want to become one of them?"

Anubis once again reminded the protagonist to think carefully, clearly issuing another warning, yet Ian's lips curled slightly upward, his gaze unwaveringly confident.

"I won't become one of them."

"I will be... the only exception."

Ian's words were arrogant.

Anubis looked at him, remaining silent for a long time.

Finally, he nodded slowly:

"Then, you have decided."

The God of Death said no more.

"Let it be." With Anubis stepping into the arena, the space seemed to tremble.

He was no longer a judge, but a contestant. He slowly raised his hand, the golden cloak fluttering in the invisible wind, under the jackal-headed mask, those deep eyes flickered with divine light.

"My power is endless, life and death, reincarnation never ceases." With that, Anubis raised his hand, and a massive black scepter emerged from the void — "Anka's Staff".

The top of the staff was adorned with a gemstone flickering with a ghostly blue flame, the shaft wrapped in countless tiny chains, each chain hung with a miniature soul.

They howled silently.

Meanwhile, another hand of his revealed a heavy bronze book — "Undead Holy Scripture", its pages turning automatically, numerous spells flying out, surrounding him.

"Ian Kent, you challenge me."

"The wager, is your soul's fate."

"Are you sure you want to begin?"

Ian stood opposite, magic wand held firmly, magic armor still fitted to his body, his gaze unwavering with determination.

"I'm sure."

"And... I won't lose."

Anubis looked at him, a complex emotion flashing across his eyes.

Finally, he nodded slowly:

"Then... the match begins." The arena trembled once more, the wind and sand swirling, magic and divine power intertwined, as if the entire space was awaiting an unprecedented duel.

Ian's magic wand was already in hand, his money bag slightly open, ready to pull out alchemy items at any moment.

One man, one god.

One battle, to determine life and death.

The fight, is about to begin.

Only to see, Anubis was the first to strike.

He did not swing his scepter, nor recite any spell, merely taking a step forward —

"You shall die."

This was the purest declaration of death, the Netherworld ruler's most direct negation of life. Spoken, and so it followed, the rule power descended instantly, the air around Ian solidified into black chains, the death markings spread across his skin, as if dragging him into an eternal slumber.

In the audience stands, countless undead warriors roared in unison, offering praises of reverence for the God of Death's power.

Yet, Ian laughed.

"Death?" He raised his hand, a dazzling light burst from his silver-gray right eye, "Sorry, this concept is invalid for me."

"Paradox Anima!"

His very existence suddenly became blurred, the boundary between life and death twisted upon him. The death markings collapsed upon touching his skin like snowflakes — because he was simultaneously in a superposed state of "alive" and "dead", Anubis's death proclamation logically could not hold.

The God of Death's golden pupils slightly contracted.

"The power of Divine Law..."

He couldn't recognize this man-made divine authority, yet he could feel its strength. Anubis's scepter struck the ground, and the entire desert suddenly collapsed, transforming into the tumultuous waters of the Nether River. This wasn't ordinary river water, but liquid formed from countless memories of the dead, each drop heavy as a thousand weights, capable of corroding souls.

The river water roared and surged towards Ian, but suddenly halted just before touching him.

"Time is interesting, isn't it?" Ian's magic wand lightly touched the water surface, "Especially when it... flows backwards."

"Tempus Inversus!"

The power of paradox applied to the magic, thus, the water of the Nether River began to flow backwards, defying logic, waves returning to the riverbed, even revealing the desiccated riverbed. Even more terrifying, the bones that had sunk to the riverbed were "reviving" — reversing the death process from skeletal remains to bodies.