Chapter 181

181: Going All Out?

Domain, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍one of the pinnacles of magical crystallization.

Renowned ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as the ultimate art that breaks through conventional magical boundaries, it is a brand new [World] formed when the mental imagery world deeply imprinted in the caster's heart erodes reality as an independent space.

There ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍are no two identical domains in the world. Each domain possesses uniqueness representing its caster.

Precisely ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍because of this, the power of domains varies from person to person.

Perhaps ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍some, after deploying their domain, can obtain terrifying power surpassing super-tier magic. But others' domains might be weaker than an ordinary high-tier spell.

But ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍there is one thing that must be remembered: every domain has a core [Rule] that supports its existence. This [Rule] could be a certain concept, or something even more abstract.

Evelia recalled the knowledge about [Domains] that her old dad had taught her during magic lessons, and her expression grew increasingly grave.

The vast and boundless azure sea. The place they were currently in was precisely Sauron's, or rather, Zophi Gregory's domain!

"I should have thought of this earlier... as humanity's former strongest, Zophi... how could he not have a domain?"

"No, Eve-Eve, the problem isn't there. Because even if that old geezer Sauron possesses a domain, with his body already aged and deteriorated, without the enhancement of the Holy Spear [Longinus], how could he... still retain such massive magic power!?"

Amya's face had also lost its earlier confidence. She gazed quite warily at the solemn and majestic figure not far away, murmuring subconsciously.

"What's more... this guy, where does he still look like someone in his sixties?"

That's right, the Sauron, or rather Zophi, at this moment was no longer the aged and decrepit figure from before!

White hair cascading behind his head, golden eyes bright as the morning sun, and that youthful posture along with vast and majestic magic power.

What Evelia and the others were facing now was Zophi Gregory, approximately in his twenties, in his peak state!

In other words, what they were facing was the pinnacle of an era.

Even without the Holy Spear, with Zophi's strength alone, he was worthy of being called world-class!

"Is it the power of that [Divine Canon of Grace]... Miss Evelia, Miss Amya, if Zophi right now is truly in his peak period from decades ago..."

"We might be in trouble..."

Jasmine shielded Lina behind her with her body, gazing intently at Zophi in the distance, subconsciously tightening her grip on the Pitch-Black Sword in her hand.

"Everyone."

Zophi held the divine canon, smiling as he gazed at Evelia and the others on the sea surface below him.

"Next, I, Zophi Gregory, shall bestow upon you the Lord's trial!"

In an instant, as Zophi's words fell, overwhelming golden threads surged from the divine canon in his hand, weaving in the air to form thousands upon thousands of golden spears engraved with mysterious runes, condensed into solid form.

God-given Magic, [Spear of Judgment]!

This attack spell was not Evelia's first time seeing it. As the most convenient and useful attack-type spell in the God-given Magic system, [Spear of Judgment] could be said to be a required spell for every high-ranking member of the Church.

But the same spell performed by different people would yield completely different results.

Like the [Spear of Judgment] Victor attempted to use when fleeing, it absolutely couldn't compare to the one Jasmine used last night when confronting the still-unidentified cloaked figure.

For this type of magic, the closer its appearance to a solid entity, the more powerful it became.

But the [Spear of Judgment] Zophi was casting now had far exceeded the theoretical upper limit of this spell.

Single-handedly summoning thousands of [Spears of Judgment] simultaneously, and each one condensed as solidly as a real weapon! The magic power and magic refinement required for this was almost unimaginable!

If Evelia still harbored some hope earlier, she was now completely certain.

What stood before them now was Zophi Gregory in his prime!

But even so, this level of magic power was still somewhat exaggerated.

Perhaps Zophi's domain was an enhancement type?

"Everyone! Stand behind me!"

Facing the densely packed Spears of Judgment raining down like a storm, Evelia, who had the weakest physical constitution among everyone present, not only didn't hide behind the others, but instead took the initiative to stand at the very front, contrary to her usual behavior.

The enemy was humanity's former strongest. She had to reveal her trump cards without reservation from the very first moment!

"Gates of Hell, Open!"

As the familiar magic formula flowed through her palm, Evelia gritted her teeth and took the lead in opening the gate connecting Hell and the mortal world.

Scorching hot magma erupted from the summoning array beneath Evelia's feet, almost instantly vaporizing the surrounding seawater and forming massive amounts of high-temperature steam! At the same time, this steam underwent further explosions under the magma's heat. Loud and small booming sounds rang out one after another like fireworks being set off, and a massive figure the size of a small mountain leaped out from the summoning array on the sea surface!

"Roar, roar, roar!"

The three-headed hound of Hell, Cerberus, made a grand entrance!

"This is... the Hell Three-headed Hound?"

Looking at Cerberus before her, its massive form looming like a mountain, Jasmine's eyes were filled with surprise, and her gaze toward Evelia gained a few more shades of curiosity.

She had already felt something was off about Evelia's identity. How could a normal demon, like Evelia, not only show no reaction when coming into contact with holy water she had personally blessed, but even successfully master God-given Magic? Just last night after discovering Evelia's demon identity, Jasmine had stayed in her room thinking until four or five in the morning without figuring it out!

And now, Evelia had summoned Cerberus, one of Hell's symbols, right in front of her. This made her even more curious about this girl's true identity.

However, in stark contrast to Jasmine's surprise was Zophi, standing tall in mid-air.

Not only did he show no surprise, but he even wore an expression as if he had expected this all along.

"Hell's guard dog, is it?"

"Unfortunately…"

"Little Ke! Bite him!"

"Roar, roar, roar!"

At Evelia's command, Cerberus shook its three massive heads and opened its jaws wide. Three breaths condensed from Hellfire instantly sprayed toward Zophi like laser cannons.

The three flames converged in mid-air, finally merging into an even more massive breath. The scorching heat even melted all the Spears of Judgment in its path!

In response, Zophi merely smiled slightly, extending his right hand and making a grasping motion in the air.

"If one of the Seven Demon Kings of Hell had come, I might have been somewhat fearful."

"But if it's merely this beast!"

"Wanting to threaten me, aren't you underestimating me a bit too much?"

In the next moment, a shocking spear radiance manifested from thin air, instantly splitting Cerberus's breath, along with the entire [World], in two.