Reincarnated as a failed hero?! Watch me Defy Fate! - Chapter 167

Chapter 167: Divine VS Darkness
The sight of Canis, a monstrous entity shrouded in darkness, sent a chill down my spine. His grotesque form and menacing aura made it clear—he was no longer holding back. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, I steeled myself, gripping my katana, Divine Dawn, with unwavering determination. This was no longer a mere skirmish; it was a battle for survival.​

With a deep breath, I channeled the divine energy within me, merging it with the supreme level of Aura Forced. The blade of Divine Dawn shimmered with a radiant light, a beacon against the encroaching darkness. I launched myself at Canis, executing a series of precise strikes, each infused with the combined might of my divine magic and aura.​

Canis snarled, clearly displeased by my counterattack. In retaliation, he unleashed a barrage of shadowy claws, hundreds of them, slicing through the air from every direction. I activated my [Future Sight] skill, allowing me to anticipate the erratic patterns of his assault. With the fluid motions of [Yanagi-uke], I deflected each attack, my blade dancing gracefully to parry the onslaught.​

“Ugh, you’re becoming quite the nuisance! Let’s see how you handle this—[High Dark Magic: Shadow Devour]!” Canis roared.

A wave of darkness surged towards me, threatening to consume everything in its path. I swiftly employed [Kasoseki 3x], tripling my acceleration to evade the impending doom. Yet, the shadows pursued relentlessly, as if Canis had become one with the very fabric of this dark realm.​

Realizing I couldn’t outrun the darkness forever, I recalled a particular skill of Divine Dawn. With renewed resolve, I leaped into the air, the shadows reaching out to ensnare me. But before they could, I activated [Divine Aurora], enveloping myself in a golden aurora that radiated from my blade. The luminous energy repelled the shadows, rendering Canis’s dark magic ineffective.​

Seizing the moment, I charged at Canis with unparalleled speed, unleashing [Blackmore Katana Style: Dark Aura Katana]. The fusion of my dark aura with the divine light transformed my blade into a mesmerizing blend of gold and deep violet. This amalgamation amplified the potency of my strike. Though Canis managed to evade a fatal blow, my attack left a deep gash on his right side, the wound emitting a persistent golden glow—a testament to the divine magic’s efficacy.​

“Curse you! It’s been ages since I’ve been wounded by divine magic… You’re truly testing my patience, you insignificant insect!” Canis bellowed, his voice dripping with venomous rage.

Unfazed by his intimidation, I pressed on, my attacks relentless. Canis began to shrink his shadowy form, desperately trying to dodge my strikes.​

“You call me an insect, yet you’re the one retreating now. How ironic!” I taunted, continuing my assault. After a series of relentless attacks, I managed to land another blow, further destabilizing him.​

Cornered, Canis had nowhere to run. I prepared my next move, channeling divine energy into [Blackmore Katana Style: Inazuma], a technique that combined the swiftness of lightning with the purity of divine magic.​

“This ends now! Die!” I shouted, bringing my blade down with immense force.

Just as my katana was about to cleave him in two, it halted abruptly. To my astonishment, Canis had manifested shadowy hands that gripped my blade, preventing the strike.​

“HAHAHA! Surprised that I can withstand your divine magic? You should have finished me off quickly. The longer you take, the more I adapt to every magical element, including yours,” Canis sneered.

“Inconceivable! How can a being of dark magic resist divine energy?!” I exclaimed, pulling my katana back.

“HAHAHA! Do you even know who you’re facing? I am Canis! A unique monster born from the power of the God of Darkness. I was the one who slaughtered hundreds of gods during the ancient wars. Of course, I have means to counter divine magic.”

His revelation sent a shiver down my spine. This was the true extent of Canis’s power—a simple yet insidious ability to adapt to any magic that harmed him. It explained why he maintained his domain, [Endless Shadow World], even when under pressure.​

“Hey, damn God of Darkness, you’ve created a truly terrifying monster,” I muttered, casting a glance at the deity observing our battle.

The God of Darkness responded with a cold, thin smile, his eyes devoid of emotion.​

Ignoring him, I refocused on Canis. Despite my renewed efforts, he effortlessly parried my attacks. I unleashed [Divine Aurora] at full capacity, preparing for a decisive strike. Canis, in turn, readied his own countermeasure.​

“Let’s see if you can withstand this! [Resonance: Shinryuu no Issen (Divine Dragon Slash)]!” I declared.

A golden dragon-shaped slash erupted from my blade, imbued with divine magic, and surged towards Canis. He retaliated with [High Dark Magic: Shadow Devour], conjuring a massive wolf-shaped shadow that lunged to consume everything in its path.​

Our attacks collided with cataclysmic force, the room engulfed in a maelstrom of light and darkness. The very air trembled as our powers clashed, each vying for dominance in this epic confrontation.

My hands were trembling violently, but I forced myself to fight back. I clenched my resolve and pushed my power beyond its limits.

Canis was beginning to falter. He was being pushed back—I could feel it.

“I… CAN DO THIS!”

“AAAHHH! DIE!” I roared with every ounce of strength left in my lungs, pouring all my energy into my final strike.

The moment my attack landed, a thunderous explosion echoed through the shadowy chamber.

BOOM!

I looked up to see Canis, his form torn and shredded by the divine force of my strike. His pained roar echoed through the void… until suddenly, silence.

He vanished—completely disintegrated—nothing of him remained.

“I… did it…” I muttered breathlessly. My body shook from exhaustion as I gazed at the fading remnants of battle. Then, a system notification appeared before my eyes:

[Warning: You are exhausted! You have reached your limit! Deactivating skill: Divine Aurora.]

The golden light that had surrounded me slowly began to fade. My knees nearly buckled, but I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stand tall. I took slow, unsteady steps toward the God of Darkness, who remained still, smiling faintly as if amused by my struggle.

But then, he spoke—his words catching me completely off guard.

“Every creation has a weakness. You simply have to find it. But it seems… you failed to discover Canis’s.”

“What… do you mean?” I asked, confused, alarm bells ringing in my mind.

And then—I felt it. The unmistakable presence of Canis… right behind me.

I spun around and instinctively raised my katana. Shadows gathered once more, congealing into the shape of the beast I had just defeated.

His voice echoed in the darkness, as smug and sinister as ever.

“Damn, you almost had me,” he hissed. “Luckily, I split myself off at the last second. That was quite the show, little insect. But your chance to win is over.”

I staggered back in disbelief. What he said… it was true. My strength was drained. I couldn’t summon another Divine Aurora. I couldn’t call upon another ultimate skill. I was completely spent.

Where did I go wrong?

What did I miss?

Why couldn’t I defeat him completely?

What did I overlook?

What am I supposed to do now…?

Despair crept into my heart like a creeping frost, choking my thoughts—until suddenly, the God of Darkness interrupted:

“This might be too much for you. Very well… I shall make it a trial for both of you.”

“Both of us?” I echoed, confused.

He raised his hand and pointed toward someone in the distance—Envi. Still sealed, floating in stasis.

“You mean… me and Envi?”

He nodded. “But you must release the seal yourself. Now, Canis, would you give him some time?”

“If that is your will, my lord… then I shall obey. I also want to fight him at his full power.” Canis said, smirking as he stepped back, arms crossed, content to watch.

The God of Darkness tossed Envi toward me. I caught him gently, but confusion swirled within me. How was I supposed to break the seal?

The God of Darkness spoke again, his voice deeper now—more resonant, more serious.

“You and Envi are one. After all, both of your destinies intersect, and only you can release him. That seal is made from the remnants of her regret. Break it, and you will reunite. Only then will you awaken your true power.”

Before I could respond, dark magic surged around us, forming a massive black cube of shadow. We were sealed inside—just me and Envi.

The outside world disappeared. Everything became quiet.

I looked at Envi—he was still unconscious, his body suspended as if he were dreaming. His face looked peaceful, almost too calm for the situation we were in.

Then suddenly… I saw something strange.

I could see his dreams. His thoughts started flowing into me like a river—memories, emotions, fears he had never shown.

Inside his mind, I saw moments of sadness, of guilt, of regret. I saw him watching silently as I struggled through countless battles. I saw him wanting to help, but feeling powerless. I saw how much he blamed himself for not being strong enough—for not being able to protect me.

It was then that I realized: the seal wasn’t just magic—it was his own pain.

“Envi… so this is the real you…”