Fourteen ancestors sat around a grand, circular table woven from pure energy, its surface swirling with spectral light. The air in the chamber was heavy with power, the weight of eternity pressing down upon them as their voices clashed in heated debate.
"This is impossible!" boomed an elder ancestor, his spectral form flickering with agitation. We sealed Saponu's abilities away. "My power is absolute—no one can break my curse seal unless I break it myself!" His eyes blazed with indignation as his fists clenched against the floating table.
"And yet," came the calm but sharp voice of another, "he attempted an escape." A younger ancestor leaned forward, her golden aura pulsing with restrained intensity. "That fact alone means something we overlooked has come into play."
The chamber hummed with murmurs of discontent. Some nodded in grim agreement, while others exchanged wary glances. It was Monica, the newest member of the council, who finally broke the tension.
"It will be the newly joined prisoner," she said, her voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "Someone who hasn't even awakened their abilities yet… someone who doesn't belong here… had the power to aid in his escape. How?"
The words hung in the air like a storm cloud waiting to unleash its fury. A ripple of energy surged across the table, and one of the elderly ancestors struck the surface with his palm, sending a sharp wave of spiritual pressure through the chamber.
"If that is true, then we have a greater problem than Saponu himself," he growled. "Someone among the condemned… is not what they seem."
Silence settled over them, heavy and ominous, as the realization sank in.
A mystery was unfolding within the depths of the Ancestral Spire, and the balance of power was shifting in ways none of them had foreseen.
Saponu's Copyeyes flared with raw energy, his gaze scanning the upcoming battlefield with cold precision.
Rosamund stood at the forefront, her presence radiating authority as she and eight powerful ancestors faced Saponu. Their spectral forms pulsed with raw energy, each one a beacon of immense power. The chamber trembled under the weight of their combined might.
Saponu chuckled, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "I was wondering when you'd finally join the fight," he said, rolling his shoulders as dark tendrils of energy coiled around him. "This will be fun."
Rosamund's gaze remained unwavering. "You've gone far enough, Saponu. "This ends now." Her hand crackled with golden light as she conjured a spear forged from pure energy, her soul item.
The surrounding ancestors ignited their powers in response:
Isaiah, a towering figure with molten veins, raised his hand, summoning streams of liquid fire that danced like serpents around him.
Naomi, her body shimmering like crystal, extended her arms, forming an impenetrable barrier of hardened light.
Darius, wreathed in black smoke, clenched his fists, causing the shadows in the chamber to lengthen and twist, ready to ensnare their enemy.
Selene, with eyes glowing silver, levitated slightly, the surrounding air vibrating as she manipulated gravity itself.
Gideon, his arms etched with glowing glyphs, muttered an incantation, summoning a spectral lion that roared with pure spiritual force.
Hassan, his form flickering with electricity, cracked his knuckles as arcs of lightning danced between his fingers.
Miriam, bathed in a soft blue glow, stretched her hands outward, warping time slightly around her allies, sharpening their reflexes.
Jonah, his body laced with golden veins, let out a slow exhalation, his breath forming swirling constructs of energy blades.
Saponu smirked. "Interesting. But none of this will be enough."
A sudden explosion shook the battlefield as, elsewhere, David clashed with three ancestors assigned to stop him, while Peter and Randy fought off the others who had come for them.
Peter roared as his fists collided with an enemy, the sheer force sending shockwaves through the air. Every strike shattered the ground beneath him, his super strength overwhelming even the most seasoned warriors.
Randy, grinning, clapped his hands together, sending a deafening sonic explosion outward. The soundwaves ripped through the battlefield, disorienting his foes as cracks formed in the very air.
The battle had begun.
A charged silence filled the battlefield as Saponu faced Rosamund and the eight ancestors. The air crackled with energy, heavy with the weight of fate itself. They knew what was at stake—Saponu could not be allowed to escape.
Rosamund planted her feet, her spear glowing with divine energy. "We fight together. He must not break through."
With a unified battle cry, the ancestors launched their attack.
Isaiah ignited, his entire body engulfed in raging blue flames. He thrust his hands forward, unleashing a wave of fire hotter than the sun straight at Saponu.
Darius melted into the shadows, reappearing behind Saponu with a dagger forged from pure darkness, aiming for his spine.
Selene extended her hands, bending gravity around Saponu, trying to pin him to the ground.
Gideon summoned his mighty spiritual lion, which roared and charged at Saponu with terrifying force.
Miriam stretched her arms, distorting time to slow Saponu's movements.
Hassan blurred forward, moving faster than the human eye could track, his fists striking like lightning.
Jonah summoned thousands of golden blades, raining them down upon Saponu from above.
Naomi, the eighth ancestor, summoned chains of holy energy, attempting to bind Saponu's limbs.
For a moment, it seemed like their coordinated assault would overwhelm him—fire roared, shadows bound his limbs, and time itself slowed his reactions.
But then—
His golden eyes burned with power.
Saponu extended his hand, and Isaiah's fire suddenly reversed, exploding backward and engulfing its own creator in an inferno.
Darius's dagger stopped inches from Saponu's back before an unseen force hurled him away, slamming him into the ground.
Selene gasped as her gravity hold shattered, sending her staggering backward.
Gideon's spiritual lion leaped forward—but Saponu grabbed it by the mane, twisting its energy into nothingness before crushing it with his bare hands.
Jonah's golden blades hovered in midair, then suddenly turned on him, forcing him to barely dodge as they sliced toward him at deadly speed.
Naomi's chains wrapped around Saponu's arms—but he flexed, and they shattered like glass.
Miriam's time distortion broke, and Hassan's speed meant nothing as Saponu caught his fist mid-strike and crushed it, forcing him to scream in agony.
Through the chaos, Rosamund saw her chance.
Her spear glowed brighter than ever before, crackling with divine energy. She moved like a blur, appearing before Saponu in an instant, her spear aimed straight at his heart.
For the first time, his expression changed.
Saponu raised his hand to catch the spear—but the impact shook the entire battlefield.
The ground cracked beneath them. A shockwave rippled through the entire Spire, sending echoes of their battle through the realms.
Saponu's arm trembled under the force of the attack.
"NOW!" Rosamund roared. "HIT HIM WITH EVERYTHING!"
Despite their injuries, the ancestors rose again.
Isaiah, burned but determined, reignited his flames.
Gideon summoned another lion, even larger than before.
Hassan, ignoring his shattered hand, launched himself forward with his remaining strength.
Miriam bent time once more, trying to hold Saponu in place.
Darius emerged from the shadows with ten daggers, each one aimed at a lethal point.
Jonah released his most powerful blades, thousands of them slicing through the air.
Naomi's shattered chains reformed, twisting around Saponu's neck.
Selene increased gravity a hundredfold, pressing Saponu down into the earth.
For the first time, pain flickered across Saponu's face.
He let out a furious roar, golden energy bursting outward in an explosion.
The battlefield trembled under the force.
When the dust settled, Rosamund struggled to rise, her spear cracked but still intact. Around her, her allies lay battered, some barely conscious.
Saponu exhaled slowly, his chest rising and falling steadily. He rolled his shoulders, cracking his neck as if preparing for the next round.
"That was entertaining," he said with a smirk. "Shall we continue?"
Rosamund tightened her grip on her spear.
The fight was far from over.
The battlefield rumbled as David clenched his fists, his muscles swollen with raw power. He had already pushed his body amplification to the max, yet despite his enhanced speed, strength, and reflexes, he was still struggling.
His enemies weren't fighting him like brutes. They were using strategy, overwhelming him with different abilities all at once.
The first ancestor, Ezekiel, manipulated sound, sending shockwaves through the air that distorted David's movements, making it impossible to dodge properly.
The second ancestor, Rebecca, wielded crystal constructs, forming razor-sharp walls and spears that closed in on David from all sides.
The third, Solomon, was the most dangerous—he controlled pressure. His ability increased gravity, slowed David's movements, and made every step feel like he was sinking into the earth.
A Desperate Defense
David roared as he charged at Ezekiel, but a sonic burst hit his ears like a hammer, making his vision blur.
Rebecca's crystal spikes erupted from the ground, forcing him to leap—only for Solomon's gravity shift to slam him back down.
He crashed onto the ground, his bones rattling from the impact.
"This isn't working," David muttered, gritting his teeth. Even at max amplification, he was still on the defensive.
Ezekiel smirked. "Your brute strength won't help you here."
David breathed heavily, sweat dripping down his face. He was starting to lose focus.
That was it. If he couldn't figure out a way out, he would be crushed under the pressure. He needed a breakthrough, but it wasn't coming from his own strength. His amplified body wasn't enough.
Desperation flared in his chest. "I can't… do this alone, I need help".