Regis, Isaiah, Miller, Balintan and Kauze had finally arrived. The first three had been injured and imprisoned in the secret chamber by Han Shuo and wouldn't have been able to escape with their powers alone. It didn't help that the chamber prohibited the use of all forms of energy.
Even so, Kauze and Balintan, who came from the Divine Domains of Life and Fire, weren't injured, so they used fire and life energy to attack the secret chamber nonstop. Since Han Shuo was draining too much yuan energy, coupled with the strange events in the Sky Annihilation Formation, the secret chamber's defences were severely weakened, and it crumbled under their constant attacks.
If the threat of Judas, Dhaka, and the rest were enough to put Han Shuo and his gang in trouble, the arrival of new enemies would soon push them to the breaking point. As Judas had said, the battle was already coming to an end.
Surrounded by all the remaining Hegemon, Han Shuo smiled darkly. He said, "Looks like we're backed into a corner. Wasir, Salas, I have failed you both this time. It seems that you're doomed with us."
The Hegemons were in no hurry to act. Instead, they formed their own Domains of Divinity to seal off the entire area, trapping Han Shuo and the others inside.
With so much power on their side, Judas and the others could be sure that Han Shuo and his cohort would be no match for them. To prevent them from escaping, Regis, Balintan and the others had sealed off the surrounding routes with their respective energies before joining forces with Judas.
Layer after layer of barriers spread outwards, enveloping Han Shuo, Wasir, Salas and Han Hao. Within them, the laws of space were unpredictable. Even an Overgod well versed in the Space Edict wouldn't be able to escape.
Han Shuo laughed forlornly while Wasir and Salas sighed at the same time, knowing that they had failed and that there was no hope for them to leave alive.
"Father, we can still try," Han Hao said telepathically to Han Shuo. As he sent the telepathic message, he also glanced at Han Shuo. Han Shuo knew what he was up to. As cultivators of demonic arts, they still had one last move they could use. Since their abilities were not of this world, they were also not bound by the laws of this world. As long as Han Shuo and Han Hao ignored possible injuries and used the Demonic Blood Disassembly, there was a chance that they would be able to escape.
Still, Han Shuo felt a little uneasy about this. He felt that if he and Han Hao really chose to run, his entire family would still perish. He felt a little depressed at his predicament.
Meanwhile, Judas noticed a strange look on Han Shuo's face. He waved to stop the other Hegemons from doing anything and smiled. "Bryan, I'm still willing to give you a chance. As long as you give us all the secrets of Pandemonium as well as your cultivation, we will make sure that your family is spared."
Judas!" Dhaka shouted, "Why bother? They're going to lose to us at this point anyway! Why waste so much time?"
It wasn't just Dhaka; the other Hegemons were quite annoyed that Judas had made the decision without consulting them first. Regis, Isaiah and Miller were even more pissed, considering they had been injured and imprisoned by Han Shuo only moments before. Isaiah grinned and said, "Judas, you don't call the shots in the Godhunter Alliance. Today, the House of Han must fall!"
A little stunned, Judas smiled and said, "You think you three have the right to speak?" Pointing at Asser and Dhaka, he continued, "And you two. Didn't I come with Tuckamore to save you? If it hadn't been for us, you would have died at their hands. I hope you haven't forgotten that."
The moment he said that, they looked rather uncomfortable. Judas had spoken the truth. Without him, Kauze, and the others helping them, not a single one of them would be able to leave Pandemonium alive.
Han Shuo really wondered why Judas was still giving him this option when he had the complete upper hand. As long as he asked the other Hegemons to attack, there was no way Han Shuo and the others could resist.
Seeing that the others had stopped arguing, Judas smiled. "So how will it be, Bryan?"
Meanwhile, Han Shuo had to scrutinise the tempting offer and try to find a way out.
"Father, we are fine. We'll be able to leave Pandemonium soon. What about you and Big Brother?" Han Mu said telepathically.
Although he was wavering over Judas' offer, Han Shuo was pleased to receive Han Mu's message. However, nothing showed on his face. He immediately reached out to Han Mu with his consciousness to ask how they were doing. He soon learned that Andrina and the Five Elite Zombies had allowed them to easily escape from Balintan and Kauze. Using their familiarity with the local terrain, they made their way to safety.
Because all the demon generals in Pandemonium were gathered in the Cauldron, and because he had consumed too much Yuan Energy in Pandemonium, he wasn't able to perceive everything that happened in the Pandemonium as usual. Not to mention, the Life Edict expert Kauze had hidden his and Balintan's life auras, so there was no way Han Shuo could tell how they were doing. That was why he had been worried about his family and the five elite zombies all this time. But now he was finally relieved to hear that they were safe.
"There's no need to use that, I still have a trick up my sleeve!" Han Shuo told Han Hao telepathically, who seemed a little stunned to hear it. He didn't seem to know what Han Shuo was up to.
"Judas, my answer is the same! I am someone who does things knowing that I may well fail!" he announced proudly.
Surprised, Judas shook his head with a resigned smile and sighed. "What's the point of all this..." He waved his hand and said, "Since that's the case, I think Bryan is still up to something. We better keep our guard up.
The other Hegemons waited for Han Shuo to say exactly that. They didn't believe that Han Shuo really had a way to turn the tables. Instead, all they saw was a dead man walking. They smiled eerily as they approached him step by step, each of them forming a small energy field that concentrated the energies they had cultivated.
"Bryan, I wouldn't blame you if you had accepted his terms," Wasir suddenly said as he turned to him.
Han Shuo laughed out loud and said, "What are you talking about? Either we survive together or we perish. There's nothing more base than sacrificing a friend's life for your own. I wouldn't stoop to that."
When Salas heard him say this, there was a hint of a sparkle in his eyes. "Bryan, oh Bryan, I really haven't lost faith in you. You're nothing like Logue and Tyre. Today we fight side by side to the death!"
Wasir also felt a little touched. He nodded sincerely and said, "Then let's fight! To die at the side of worthy friends - there is no greater honour for a warrior than that! He turned his fierce, cold eyes on Regis and Miller as they approached. When the two heard Wasir say this, they felt a chill in their hearts. They slowed their steps and stood on guard, as if they were facing a mighty enemy.
Overgods who were determined to fight to the death were the most terrifying. If Salas and Wasir made a suicidal move to take them down together, Regis and Miller might not survive either.
"Whether we're going to die isn't set in stone yet!" Han Shuo shouted loudly, and his howl seemed to break through the layers of barriers everywhere. Sounds of explosions could be heard in the distance as Pandemonium itself shook furiously.
The secret chamber burst open and many energy towers and stone pillars exploded. Sounds could even be heard coming from the Sky Annihilation Formation. The ground cracked apart as dense yuan energy erupted from them.
A large crack had suddenly appeared beneath their feet. Isaiah and Ossora, both experts in the Earth element, were actually unable to detect the sudden change in energy in the ground. Stunned, they looked at the cracking earth beneath them and quickly tried to probe the crack.
Dhaka widened his eyes and signalled to Asser before the two of them charged through one of the cracks. Balintan, Kauze, Ossora and Tuckamore also stood beside similar cracks.
They knew that Han Shuo had a son who was an elusive earth energy master. If Han Shuo and the others were able to escape through these cracks, the Godhunter Alliance would be laughed at for losing them after basically cornering them.
Han Shuo laughed maniacally, and Pandemonium reacted with loud explosions all over the place, as if his laughter was the taboo act that triggered it. Nobody knew what he was planning to do.