Peter and Randy were still locked in battle against the remaining ancestors. Despite their overwhelming strength and abilities, their enemies were relentless, using coordination and strategy to keep them on the defensive.
Peter's fists crashed into an opponent's chest, sending the ancestor flying back. But before he could press the attack, another opponent appeared behind him, aiming a sharp energy blade at his back.
Randy reacted instantly, clapping his hands together with a deafening BOOM. The sonic shockwave blasted through the battlefield, staggering their enemies just long enough for Peter to dodge.
"We can't keep this up forever!" Randy shouted as he rolled to avoid an incoming energy blast.
Peter gritted his teeth. He was strong—damn strong—but even his endurance had limits. The ancestors weren't just powerful; they were experienced.
Then, in a flash of movement, David and Saponu's clone arrived.
David landed in a crouch beside Peter, his breathing heavy but determined. "Need a hand?" he asked.
Peter smirked. "Took you long enough."
Saponu's clone appeared next to Randy, its Copyeyes glowing with unreadable power. It said nothing, but the shift in the battlefield was immediate.
One of the ancestors facing Peter narrowed his eyes. "Reinforcements?" He scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "Doesn't matter." You're all going down."
David cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. "Try it."
The fight resumed with even greater intensity.
Peter, now freed from being overwhelmed, charged forward with renewed strength. He met his opponent head-on, dodging a blade strike before countering with a devastating uppercut. The ancestor was sent airborne, but before he could recover, David was already there.
David twisted midair, delivering a brutal spinning kick that sent the enemy crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.
Randy and the clone fought side by side. Randy's sonic blasts disoriented their foes, while the clone used precise, calculated strikes to dismantle their defenses.
One of the ancestors attempted to use an energy barrier to shield against Randy's attacks, but the clone teleported behind them, delivering a sharp strike to the base of their neck. The barrier shattered instantly, and Randy followed up with a powerful sonic wave that sent the ancestor tumbling backward.
Within moments, the tide of battle had completely shifted.
David, Peter, Randy, and the clone stood together as the last of their enemies collapsed, groaning in pain.
Peter exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Well, that was fun."
David wiped sweat from his brow. "Speak for yourself."
Randy grinned, looking at the defeated ancestors. "We actually pulled it off."
Saponu's clone remained silent, its Copyeyes scanning the battlefield. Then, its body flickered before dissolving into energy, vanishing without a trace.
Peter crossed his arms. "That was creepy."
David didn't respond. He was too focused on what came next.
At the far end of the battlefield, Saponu stood amidst the wreckage of their battle, facing Rosamund Quansha and the remaining eight ancestors. The battlefield was in ruins—cracks split the ground, spiritual energy crackled in the air, and the very foundation of the underground prison trembled under the immense pressure of their clash.
Rosamund wiped blood from the corner of her mouth, gripping her spear tightly. Her golden energy flickered but did not fade. Around her, the other ancestors struggled to their feet, battered but refusing to fall.
Saponu smirked. "You're all still standing? Impressive. But pointless."
His Copyeyes glowed once more as he scanned his remaining opponents. He had already adapted to their attacks, learned their movements, and now… he was ready to end it.
Rosamund narrowed her eyes. "We're not done yet."
She charged, her spear crackling with divine light as she thrust it forward, aiming for Saponu's chest.
With effortless grace, Saponu sidestepped, catching the spear with two fingers. "Predictable." He twisted, yanking the weapon from her grasp and flipping it in his hand.
In an instant, Isaiah unleashed another wave of molten fire, while Naomi reinforced Rosamund with a barrier of hardened light.
Saponu exhaled. With a flick of his wrist, Rosamund's own spear morphed into a surge of energy and exploded, blasting her backward. He turned his gaze toward Isaiah's flames and raised his hand—the fire reversed, coiling into a massive inferno and surging back at its creator.
Isaiah barely had time to react before he was consumed by his own attack, his pained scream echoing through the battlefield.
"ISAIAH!" Naomi cried out, rushing toward him—only for Saponu to appear in front of her in a blink.
"Where do you think you're going?" He struck her with a devastating palm strike to the chest, sending her crashing into a wall.
Darius, still lurking in the shadows, lunged from behind, daggers aimed at Saponu's back.
Saponu didn't even turn around. His Copyeyes flashed, and suddenly he was behind Darius instead.
Before Darius could react, Saponu grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground. "Your tricks don't work on me." With a crushing grip, he slammed Darius into the earth, creating a crater beneath them.
Selene gritted her teeth, bending gravity once more to pin Saponu down.
"Stay down!" she shouted.
For a moment, the force actually worked—Saponu's feet sank into the ground as the surrounding gravity increased a hundredfold.
But then—
He simply walked forward.
Selene's eyes widened in horror as Saponu pushed through the overwhelming gravitational pressure as if it were nothing.
"Nice try," he said, appearing before her in an instant.
A single tap to her forehead—BOOM!
Selene was sent flying, crashing into a pile of rubble.
One by one, the ancestors fell.
Gideon's spiritual lion was torn apart.
Jonah's golden blades turned against him once again, forcing him to retreat.
Miriam's time distortion collapsed as Saponu willed himself free.
Hassan's lightning failed to even touch him before being redirected onto the ground.
And then, only Rosamund remained standing.
She panted heavily, her entire body aching. Her allies lay defeated, some unconscious, others barely moving.
Saponu walked toward her slowly. "This fight was over before it started."
Rosamund clenched her fists. She refused to let it end like that. Summoning the last of her strength, she raised her hand—her spear reformed in a flash of golden light.
With a fierce battle cry, she lunged.
Saponu sighed.
In a single motion, he appeared behind her.
SLASH!
A deep cut formed across Rosamund's chest. Her eyes widened, her body going rigid.
A moment later, she collapsed to her knees.
Saponu flicked his hand, shaking off the energy residue. "You fought well," he admitted. "But not well enough."
Rosamund coughed, blood dripping from her lips as she glared at him. "You… won't win…"
Saponu crouched, tilting his head. "I already have."
He stood, turning away as Rosamund fell forward, unconscious.
The battle was finally over.
Saponu stretched his arms, cracking his neck. "Now… what's next?"
Just then—
David, Peter, and Randy arrived, stepping over the remains of their own battlefield.
David's eyes locked onto Saponu, then the fallen ancestors around him.
"… You took them all down by yourself?"
Saponu smirked. "Of course."
Peter let out a low whistle. "Damn."
Randy chuckled. "I guess that means we're done here, right?"
David, however, wasn't so sure. He looked around, his instincts telling him something wasn't right.
Then—
A deep rumbling shook the underground prison.
The air grew heavy.
And far above them, seven powerful presences descended.
The true battle was only just beginning.