Peter and Randy were locked in a brutal fight against the remaining ancestors. Blow after blow, the two warriors held their ground—but their enemies weren't just strong, they were coordinated, forcing Peter and Randy onto the defensive. The ground beneath their feet quaked with each impact. Dust clung to the sweat on their faces. The metallic scent of blood and scorched earth filled the air.
Peter's fist crashed into an enemy's chest, sending him flying. But before he could follow through, another ancestor appeared behind him, energy blade drawn. The hum of the blade vibrated through the air, razor-sharp and charged with malice.
BOOM!
A thunderous shockwave erupted as Randy clapped his hands together, staggering their attackers. The sound cracked like a thunderclap in the narrow battlefield. Peter dodged just in time, feeling the heat of a near-miss graze his back.
"We can't keep this up forever!" Randy shouted, rolling to avoid another blast. His boots scraped over fractured stone, barely catching traction as another bolt whizzed past.
Peter gritted his teeth. He was strong—ridiculously strong—but even he had limits. These ancestors weren't just powerful. They were veterans. One of them spun, unleashing a crescent-shaped energy slash that split a boulder in half—but Peter ducked low, countering with a shoulder tackle that cracked ribs.
Then, with a burst of light, David and Saponu's clone landed on the battlefield. The arrival knocked a gust of wind through the ruins, kicking ash into the air.
David crouched beside Peter, breathing hard. "Need a hand?"
Peter smirked. "Took you long enough."
The clone appeared next to Randy, its Copyeyes glowing with silent authority. A faint hum radiated from them—low, steady, ominous. It didn't speak, but its presence shifted the entire battlefield.
One of the ancestors narrowed his eyes. "Reinforcements? Hmph. Doesn't matter. You're all going down."
David stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Try me."
The fight reignited with brutal intensity.
Now free from being overwhelmed, Peter charged forward. He weaved past a blade and landed a crushing uppercut that launched his enemy into the air. A shockwave rippled out, sending loose stones skittering.
David was already there, twisting midair and delivering a spinning kick that slammed the ancestor into the ground. The impact left a crater, dust and energy sparks bursting out like fireworks.
Randy and the clone fought in perfect sync. Randy's sonic blasts disoriented their enemies while the clone landed sharp, surgical strikes. The clone's eyes narrowed, copying a technique instantly. It crouched and then exploded into motion, appearing above an ancestor mid-air and slamming him down with precision.
One ancestor tried to shield himself with an energy barrier—but the clone teleported behind him, striking the base of his neck. The shield shattered like glass. Randy followed up with a sonic wave that sent the ancestor flying into a stone pillar, which cracked under the pressure.
Another ancestor leapt forward, his arms turning into chained whips of pure shadow. He struck wildly—but David summoned a wall of wind, dispersing the attack before it could reach Peter.
Within minutes, the tide had turned.
The last of the enemies dropped, groaning in defeat.
Peter rolled his shoulders. "Well, that was fun."
David wiped sweat from his brow. "Speak for yourself."
Randy grinned. "We actually pulled it off."
The clone said nothing. Its Copyeyes scanned the field one last time before its body flickered and dissolved into glowing energy, like smoke caught in golden light.
Peter raised a brow. "That thing creeps me out."
David stayed silent, his gaze fixed ahead.
At the far end of the battlefield, Saponu stood alone, facing Rosamund Quansha and the remaining eight ancestors. The ground was torn apart. Cracks split the stone, spiritual energy sizzled in the air, and the underground prison trembled under the weight of their power. Sparks danced across the floor, mixing with the smell of burnt stone and broken pride.
Rosamund wiped blood from her mouth and gripped her spear tighter. Her golden aura flickered—but it refused to fade. Around her, the last ancestors stood battered but unbroken. Her knees shook. But she refused to back down. These people—these warriors—they fought because she believed. She couldn't abandon them.
Saponu smirked. "Still standing? Impressive. But pointless."
His Copyeyes flared. The sound was like a blade being drawn from an invisible sheath. He had already adapted to their abilities. He knew their movements. Now it was time to finish this.
"We're not done yet," Rosamund snapped.
She lunged, her spear blazing with divine light, aiming straight for Saponu's chest.
With a calm step to the side, he caught the spear between two fingers. "Predictable." He twisted and ripped it from her grip.
Isaiah roared, sending a wave of molten fire, while Naomi threw up a barrier of hardened light to protect Rosamund. The air shimmered from the heat, flames licking at the ceiling.
Saponu raised his hand. Time itself seemed to stall.
Then—snap—he redirected the flames. Isaiah's fire twisted around, reversing direction and slamming back into their caster.
Isaiah screamed as the fire consumed him.
"ISAIAH!" Naomi screamed.
She rushed toward him—only for Saponu to appear in her path.
"Where do you think you're going?" His palm strike slammed into her chest, sending her crashing into a wall. Dust and sparks shot out from the impact.
From the shadows, Darius lunged with twin daggers aimed at Saponu's back. The blades were coated in venom, humming with lethal promise.
Saponu didn't even turn.
His Copyeyes flashed.
In a blink, he was behind Darius, gripping him by the throat.
"Your tricks don't work on me."
He slammed Darius into the ground. The floor cracked beneath the impact, echoing like thunder in a tomb.
Selene gritted her teeth and bent gravity itself to pin him down. The very air around Saponu seemed to buckle.
"Stay down!" she shouted.
Saponu's feet sank into the ground under crushing force—
Then he walked forward. Each step cracked stone and sent ripples through the floor.
Selene's eyes widened. "No way…"
He appeared in front of her.
A tap to the forehead.
BOOM!
She flew backward like a ragdoll, landing in a heap.
One by one, the rest fell.
Gideon's lion was shredded apart by invisible force. The creature howled as it dissolved into light.
Jonah's golden blades turned on him again, slicing across his limbs before vanishing.
Miriam's time bubble shattered as Saponu walked out of it unfazed. He barely blinked.
Hassan's lightning couldn't even touch him—redirected into the earth with a flick of his finger.
Only Rosamund remained.
She stood, barely. Bloodied. Gasping. Surrounded by fallen allies. Her heart pounded like a war drum. Every part of her screamed to run—but she stayed.
Saponu approached slowly. "This was over before it started."
Rosamund raised her trembling hand. Her spear reformed in a golden light. It flickered like a dying flame.
She roared—and charged.
Saponu sighed.
He vanished and reappeared behind her.
SLASH!
A deep gash split across her chest. She froze—then dropped to her knees.
Saponu flicked away the blood on his hand. "You fought well… just not well enough."
Rosamund coughed, blood staining her lips. "You… won't win…"
He crouched beside her. "I already have."
She collapsed forward—unconscious.
The battle was over.
Saponu stretched, cracking his neck. "Now… what's next?"
Just then—
David, Peter, and Randy stepped into the clearing.
David scanned the fallen enemies. "You did all this alone?"
Saponu smirked. "Of course."
Peter let out a low whistle. "Damn."
Randy chuckled. "So… that's it, right? Are we done?"
David didn't answer. His instincts screamed. A chill crept down his spine.
A deep rumble echoed through the prison. Dust fell from the ceiling.
The air grew heavy. A pressure thick enough to drown in settled on their shoulders.
Above them, seven powerful presences descended.
David stepped back instinctively. A new pressure pressed into his chest—crushing, ancient. Shadows shifted. A hum buzzed through the air, almost like chanting. Seven figures, silhouettes of raw force, hovered above them.
The true battle was only just beginning.