If Beginning could not defeat the Emperor while possessing a clear advantage in power, then there was even less chance of overwhelming him now that both stood at nearly the same level.

That was the cruel reality of combat. Strength mattered. Experience mattered too. And in that regard, the Emperor possessed decades of advantage.

BOOOOM!!!

The Sea of Darkness exploded once more. Beginning's gigantic fist smashed toward the Emperor's head. The draconic serpent twisted its body with impossible flexibility. The attack brushed past his scales before he counterattacked instantly. His claw swept across Beginning's ribs.

BOOOOM!!!

A massive section of the giant's side exploded apart. Before Beginning could recover, the Emperor's tail struck.

BOOOOM!!!

The titan was blasted backward through the darkness. The Emperor pursued relentlessly.

For the first time since entering the Trial Domain, he had completely abandoned caution. Why would he be cautious? The more he fought, the more benefits he obtained. The more Beginning weakened, the stronger he became.

BOOOOM!!!

The Emperor appeared above Beginning. A claw descended. Beginning blocked. The collision shook the darkness. Then another claw followed. Then another. Then another. The Emperor attacked like a storm. His mountain of combat experience was finally being displayed in full.

Beginning fought back fiercely. His fists shattered scales. His kicks fractured bones. Several times he even forced the Emperor backward. Though they were only in their soul states, what they felt was just as real as what their physical bodies would have experienced.

Yet unlike before, the Emperor no longer feared exchanging injuries. He welcomed them.

BOOOOM!!!

Beginning's fist smashed into the Emperor's neck. Several scales shattered. At the same moment, however, the Emperor's jaws snapped shut around Beginning's forearm.

The darkness trembled.

Below, Michael's expression hardened further. "No…"

Inside the Trial Domain, excitement lit up the Emperor's eyes.

CHOMP!!!

A massive chunk of Beginning's essence disappeared. The giant staggered. His aura immediately dropped.

Meanwhile, the Emperor's body shook. Then, BOOOOM!!!

His aura surged upward once more. The strengthening was immediate.

The Emperor's laughter echoed throughout the darkness. "Hahahahaha! It really works!"

He released Beginning's arm and retreated several hundred meters, his gaze sweeping across his own body. He could feel it. Every bite made him stronger. Every bite made Beginning weaker.

Beginning's expression remained unchanged, seemingly unbothered. But Michael could clearly feel the difference through their connection. Beginning was losing, and if something did not change soon, he would die. At that point there would be no use worrying about Beginning either, as they would all have to worry about their own lives.

The Emperor was simply too skilled.

BOOOOM!!!

The battle resumed. The giant's attacks remained terrifying, yet whenever the two exchanged injuries, it was almost always the Emperor who emerged with the greater gain.

Minutes passed.

Then the Emperor intentionally allowed Beginning's fist to strike his shoulder. At the same time, however, his claws pierced directly into Beginning's chest.

The giant froze.

The Emperor smiled. Then pulled.

RIIIIIIIP!!!

Another enormous chunk of Beginning's essence was torn free. For a moment, the entire Sea of Darkness seemed to freeze.

The Emperor immediately swallowed it. GULP.

BOOOOM!!!

His aura exploded upward again. Meanwhile, Beginning's aura visibly weakened.

The Emperor spread his wings. Bloody energy flooded the darkness. His eyes gleamed with greed.

More. He wanted more. He could already see the future. Defeat this giant. Devour everything. Leave this domain. Surpass the ancestors. Conquer neighboring empires. Become the true ruler of the region.

The Emperor's gaze locked onto Michael outside the domain. He flashed him a smile before charging at Beginning again. At this point he believed he was going to win.

He was not alone in that belief. Michael, as Beginning's master, felt the same way.

Michael's expression darkened further. He felt helpless.

He wanted to help, but unfortunately he dared not. The moment he tried to interfere with the Trial Domain, the domain itself would react. He had already witnessed this once before, back in Hell.

A Rank 4 Amazari had nearly suppressed Beginning during an earlier use of the domain. At the time, one of the surrounding allies had attempted to assist. The result was immediate. The Trial Domain had forcefully dragged them inside as a participant. The moment one interfered, they became part of the trial, and once inside there was only one way out. Victory or death.

Even if some miracle occurred and Michael entered the domain and helped Beginning kill the Emperor, there would still be a problem. The Trial Domain only released participants when a single victor remained. That meant if both he and Beginning survived, one of them would still have to die. The winner would devour. The loser would be devoured. That was the absolute rule governing Beginning's Law.

Michael had no intention of gambling his life on that. Nor did he intend to gamble Beginning's.

Above him, the Sea of Darkness shook violently. Another portion of Beginning's essence disappeared. The Emperor's laughter followed shortly afterward.

Michael clenched his fists. "Damn it…"

For the first time in a long while, he felt powerless.

Then suddenly, his eyes narrowed as a memory surfaced.

Back in Hell, the ally that had been dragged into the Trial Domain had been eaten by Beginning almost immediately. At the time, Michael had not paid much attention. After all, the situation then was chaotic and the important thing was that Beginning had survived.

But now Michael could not help but start recalling everything carefully.

Though it was tragic that the helper had died, they had also strengthened Beginning in the process.

Michael slowly raised his head. His gaze returned toward the Sea of Darkness.

"If interference drags someone into the domain, and if that person dies…"

Beginning would devour them for greater strength and perhaps even reverse the situation entirely.

BOOOOM!!!

Above the capital, Beginning was thrown backward again. Another portion of his essence vanished. The Emperor's advantage continued growing.

Michael's mind raced. The more he thought about it, the more possible it seemed.

The Trial Domain only cared about participants. It did not care whose side they were on. It only cared about winners and losers. Meaning, if enough participants entered and Beginning could devour them to strengthen himself, it could theoretically reverse the battle entirely.

Unfortunately, there was a problem.

Who exactly was he supposed to sacrifice?