The moment Lin Luo made his move, everyone except Lakan, who was immobilized by an overwhelming existential pressure, could suddenly move. Sakuya, Al, and Konoe Eiin swiftly positioned themselves around the Creator, forming a square formation with Lin Luo at the center.

The Creator, however, seemed completely unconcerned, not sparing the three a single glance. His gaze remained fixed on Lin Luo, his tone laced with amusement. "How amusing. That is my daughter. It is perfectly natural for a parent to bring their daughter home."

"That was in the past," Lin Luo replied, though tension coiled in his heart, he managed to project an air of nonchalance. "There's a saying: a married hen follows her rooster, a dog follows its master. Even if she is your daughter, she is now my woman. Naturally, she must stay with me. I’m sorry, Father, but you’ve been replaced."

Evangeline stared blankly at the man holding her. She had never imagined Lin Luo would speak with such forceful words, and directed at the Creator no less. A strange sweetness bloomed in her chest, mingled with confusion. The sweetness came from Lin Luo's undisguised love—a feeling she had never known in her six hundred years of life. The confusion stemmed from the proverb: if Lin Luo was the rooster, did that make her a…?!

Evangeline felt a sudden knot in her stomach.

"Heh heh," the Creator chuckled upon hearing Lin Luo's declaration. "When a daughter marries, parental consent is required. Elopement is not permitted. So… return my daughter to me."

As the words faded, the black tethers enveloping the Creator surged outward violently, sweeping around them like a whirlwind.

"Gravity Compression: Black!" "Second Style... Zetsu (Sever)!" "Engrave the Soul of the Murderer!"

No one intended to let him succeed easily. They unleashed their ultimate techniques in unison. Al hurled two spheres of intensely compressed black matter toward the Creator—gravity balls compressed by at least twenty times their original density, possessing terrifying destructive power. Konoe Eiin utilized the ultimate technique of the Second Style—the absolute killing blow, Zanshin Metan no Zetsu, a move that guaranteed the demise of any fiend struck by it. Sakuya combined the maneuvers engraved in her Red Soul and Mist Night, launching countless throwing knives in a spiraling vortex toward the Creator.

Yet, even the combined might of these three world-class experts proved insufficient against the unfathomably powerful foe that was the Creator. The shadow-like black tethers spun madly: black annihilation swallowed energy, blade light shattered, and throwing knives crumbled… In just one move, the three experts were violently flung backward.

Then, more than a dozen black tethers simultaneously lunged toward Lin Luo!

Facing this onslaught, Lin Luo did not panic; rather, as if anticipating it all along, he closed his eyes. "...Be destroyed."

Swish! Crackle! Hiss!

Specks of black fire suddenly erupted around him, resembling phantom lotuses blooming in mid-air. In an instant, the light of the Black Flames surged, instantly incinerating the Creator's black tethers upon contact.

"I found it strange earlier..." the Creator murmured softly. "I have never encountered this flame before. It does not appear even in ancient magic, yet it vaguely suggests a threat to me. Your power is truly intriguing."

After destroying the tethers, the Black Flames immediately returned to surround Lin Luo, guarding him like vigilant spirits.

Lin Luo gazed at the Creator and let out a cold smile. "Heh heh. So there are things you don't know, after all? I thought you claimed omniscience on every matter. Why don't you try this? Can my flames burn you down?"

Whoosh!

Under Lin Luo's mental command, half of the Black Flames shot toward the Creator.

The Creator remained outwardly unchanged, still maneuvering the black tethers. This time, however, there was a subtle difference: the shadow-like tethers suddenly spread outward… they actually transformed into a vast expanse of shadow!

"What is that..." Lin Luo frowned slightly. The true form of those tethers should be the materialization of the Creator's own magic. Though unsure of his intent, Lin Luo sensed grave danger.

The layers of black shadow coalesced into a colossal black curtain, which then crashed downward with a sound of swish to engulf the Black Flames.

"This... impossible!?"

Lin Luo was instantly shocked. The Law of Destruction, unlike ordinary power, requires mental control. Every wisp of Black Flame was connected to his will, yet in that brief moment, he felt every flame enveloped by the black curtain had vanished completely!

This was something that simply should not happen. The Black Flames of Destruction possess the power to burn away time and space; even peak Spirit-Rank Walkers cannot withstand them. How could they be extinguished by the Creator in a single strike!

This was the first time Lin Luo had encountered such a situation since obtaining the Black Flames. He found it almost unbelievable.

If the Creator could withstand the Black Flames, or nullify them with other powers, that would be acceptable. But what was happening now?

Lin Luo felt a profound sense of unease.

"A formidable power," the Creator stated at that moment. "This is the first time I have witnessed such energy. It appears to be a destructive ability capable of interfering with the Laws themselves. However... what a pity, what a waste."

"Waste? What's so wasteful about it!" Lin Luo said gravely, his mind racing at top speed. If even the Black Flames of Destruction are useless against the Creator, what power remains to oppose him? The Law of Illusion? The Domain of Creation? No, while the Law of Illusion merges the power of Rules and ancient magic, it is still tainted by the latter, giving the Creator avenues of defense. The Domain of Creation is only fifty percent complete, making effective defense impossible under the Creator's attacks—he even negated the Black Flames!

What to do? What can be done? Damn it! This guy came too soon! When a Hero challenges a Demon Lord, shouldn't the Demon Lord be waiting patiently in his castle? Stick to the script, damn it!

"Your black flames can indeed harm me. After all, they are capable of destroying my very essence, my magic. And since I survive by relying on my magic, being burned would be extremely dangerous. But... it is incomplete."

Lin Luo couldn't fathom the Creator's strategy; that he had the leisure to converse and reveal such vital information... Survive by relying on magic? Cannot live without magic? Is that why he possessed the body of Naj, who holds vast amounts of mana?

Damn it! What is this guy thinking? I can't figure him out at all.

He knew the Black Flames of Destruction were incomplete, as they only reversed ten percent of the Rules of Creation. If it were a full one hundred percent reversal, the power of the two would be incomparable. Statistically, a complete Black Flame of Destruction would be at least ten times stronger than what he possessed now!

"Something incomplete, no matter how strong, always possesses a weakness. Once that weakness is found, annihilating it is easy with my power. See, just like this..."

As the Creator spoke, a piece of shadow abruptly transformed into a sharp arrow speeding toward Lin Luo. Its velocity was lightning-fast, seeming to tear through space itself. Lin Luo heard a pop, and one of the Black Flames circling him was shattered.

"This guy—!!"

Lin Luo ground his teeth. This was a display, an undisguised act of dominance! The Creator was not merely demonstrating his abilities; his message was: your power, to me, can be extinguished with a mere touch. If I decided to deal with you, it would take no effort at all.

"Do you really think so, Creator!" Lin Luo was furious, yet miraculously, he grew calm at this critical juncture. He gently set Evangeline down and walked forward. To the stunned gaze of everyone present, he stopped less than a meter away from the Creator.

"Wait! You..."

Sakuya and the others cried out in alarm. At this range, if the Creator attacked with full power, Lin Luo would surely die! Was he courting death?

But before they could say more, Lin Luo raised a hand to silence them, turning his back to issue a directive. "Don't worry, I’m not foolish enough to seek death. There is something I must clarify, so no matter what happens next, do not intervene... Please."

Lin Luo's tone was filled with unwavering resolve. While Sakuya and the others wanted to stop him, they knew their power was useless against the Creator; it wasn't just a gap in strength, but a difference in realm. Just as the Mysterious could be rendered impotent before a greater Mystery, their own mystery was a tier below the Creator's. Currently, only Lin Luo could contend with the Creator on the plane of the Mysterious. If they joined the fight, they would only be dead weight.

"Creator, are you interested in a one-on-one duel?" Lin Luo challenged, his gaze provocative.

"Interesting. Let us have a duel of eras then," the Creator seemed to smile happily. He then extended and retracted a black tether, directly wrapping it around Lin Luo’s body. Lin Luo offered no resistance, allowing the Creator to pull him along.

Then, with a swish, black magic surged up from the ground, engulfing both of them. In the blink of an eye, they vanished from everyone's sight.

...

Lin Luo felt no sensation of spatial displacement, but when the darkness around him dissipated, he found himself standing on a beautiful, vast grassland.

"Is this the Creator's Law?" Lin Luo looked up at the figure standing not far in front of him.

"Yes. This place truly exists, though it vanished decades ago," the Creator nodded slightly, seemingly in no rush to begin the duel.

Though uncertain, Lin Luo harbored a growing thought. If his suspicion was correct, regardless of the battle's outcome, he would not die!

Yes, this was a gamble. A.