Chapter 442: Killing Intent
The Grand Priest's guard, having failed to take Uchiha Dali down after repeated attacks, began to grow irritated, and his strikes became heavier and more ruthless.
As he grew more serious, the entire Palace of Zeno trembled under the crushing force of his power.
Uchiha Dali could feel an overwhelming pressure unlike anything he had experienced before.
The Grand Priest frowned slightly and raised his hand, releasing a burst of divine power that spread throughout the surroundings.
In an instant, the trembling palace regained its stability.
The sheer strength displayed in that single casual gesture far surpassed the guard's current level of power, leaving Uchiha Dali deeply shaken.
He focused all his attention, eliminating every stray thought from his mind, and concentrated solely on his battle with Zeno's guard.
As his body and mind grew more synchronized, the transcendent form of Ultra Instinct began to reveal its true power.
Gradually, Uchiha Dali stabilized his footing, no longer completely overwhelmed. Against the guard's relentless attacks, he now held his ground—he even appeared somewhat composed.
Seeing this, the Grand Priest's expression remained calm, yet deep within his eyes flashed a faint, unreadable light.
Only Zeno himself showed no sign of concern. He simply watched the battle as though enjoying an entertaining match. Whenever either Uchiha Dali or his guard performed well, he clapped enthusiastically and cheered for them both.
But within the Grand Priest's heart, a faint sense of unease began to stir.
"For a lower god to grow to this level… that's truly beyond belief. In billions of years, it's rare to see someone like this."
"And from the looks of it, this still isn't his limit…"
"If he keeps growing, surpassing Zeno's guard won't be difficult—and he might even reach my level someday…"
The Grand Priest's gaze locked on Uchiha Dali, his vigilance quietly rising.
He wasn't worried that Uchiha Dali might target him personally—his concern was for Zeno's safety.
If Uchiha Dali's strength surpassed that of Zeno's guards, it would mean he had gained the qualifications to challenge the Grand Priest himself.
And if the Grand Priest could no longer intimidate him, then one day, Uchiha Dali might pose a threat to Zeno's life.
After all, although Zeno had appointed him as a "Grand Priest," he was not truly of the Angel race.
Not being an Angel meant he could not be completely controlled.
At that thought, the Grand Priest's gaze grew colder, his attitude toward Uchiha Dali becoming more cautious and deliberate.
Uchiha Dali, fully absorbed in combat, had no idea that the Grand Priest had already developed a sense of wariness toward him.
As the fight went on, his mastery of Ultra Instinct—Transcendence grew more fluid. His responses to the guard's attacks became increasingly effortless.
It was at that moment that a familiar chime rang in his mind.
[Ding! You have repeatedly used divine power in a higher dimension. Your mastery of divine power has deepened—your Divinity has increased!]
[Divinity: A trait possessed only by higher-dimensional deities such as Supreme Kais and Gods of Destruction. Increased Divinity enhances mastery over divine power, accelerates comprehension of divine techniques, and is the key factor in elevating one's divine rank—breaking through limitations to become a higher form of life.]
...
Seeing the notification appear before him, Uchiha Dali's eyes flickered thoughtfully.
He already knew what "Divinity" was.
The crucial part lay in the last few sentences.
"Divinity is the key to advancing a god's level and breaking through their limits… So does that mean if I want to become someone like Zeno or the Grand Priest, I'll need enough Divinity? Otherwise, even if my power reaches its peak, I still won't be able to surpass or defeat them?"
As he pondered this, he subconsciously glanced at the Grand Priest.
And in that instant, he caught a fleeting, unfamiliar gleam in the Grand Priest's eyes.
His heart tightened.
"That look… didn't seem very friendly."
Before he could think further, a heavy punch slammed into his face.
"What are you looking at?"
Zeno's guard's cold voice rang in his ear.
Having spotted an opening, the guard launched a frenzied assault, his blows raining down like a storm.
Within seconds, Uchiha Dali had taken dozens of hits.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
He thought using the advanced Flying Thunder God technique would let him escape pursuit—but to his shock, the guard's speed had already surpassed the limits of the universe.
In an instant, he caught up, moving even faster than Uchiha Dali himself.
"Think you can run?"
The guard struck again—this time unleashing destructive energy, going straight for the kill.
Sensing that this power was far beyond anything from before, Uchiha Dali's heart sank.
He instantly realized—the guard truly intended to kill him.
That hadn't been the case earlier.
He was clearly weaker; defeating him would have been enough to preserve the guard's pride and honor. So why aim to kill now?
The answer was obvious—someone had given the order.
Zeno, with his childlike nature, would never command his guards to kill Uchiha Dali. At that moment, Zeno was still watching the battle with wide-eyed delight, showing no intention of stopping it.
That left only one possibility…
"The only one here who can command Zeno's guards—aside from Zeno himself—is that man."
Uchiha Dali didn't look at the Grand Priest.
The memory of that strange look in his eyes was still fresh.
At a level like theirs, perception was extraordinary. He knew that if he drew too much attention from the Grand Priest, things would only get worse.
Still, the Grand Priest probably wouldn't act directly.
For now, Uchiha Dali didn't yet possess the power to threaten him. That was one reason.
More importantly, the Angel race was absolutely neutral. They never took sides in conflicts, nor did they act without Zeno's order. Their duty was solely to serve Zeno.
That made it even less likely the Grand Priest would personally attack him.
But right now, defeating Zeno's guard was no simple matter—and merely surviving under his assault was already difficult.
Just as Uchiha Dali was frantically thinking of a way to deal with the threat, Zeno suddenly spoke.
"Guard One, are you trying to kill Uchiha Dali?"
Zeno had clearly noticed what was happening. His casual question sent a chill down the guard's spine.
In an instant, the guard froze in place, hastily stopping his attack on Uchiha Dali.