As the battle raged in the underground prison, Saponu, despite having his abilities sealed, proved to be a formidable force using only his Copyeyes. With each clash, he adapted, replicating the abilities of those around him with unnerving precision.
Peter and Randy stood their ground, their combined might keep their opponents at bay. Peter's overwhelming strength sent shockwaves through the battlefield, while Randy's sonic explosions carved through the air, forcing their enemies to stay on the move.
Meanwhile, David, who had already amplified his body to the maximum, struggled against the three ancestors attacking him simultaneously. Their coordinated assault forced him into a defensive stance, each blow threatening to break through his enhanced durability.
The battle was far from over, and the balance of power teetered on a knife's edge.
As David lay on the ground, struggling to rise, desperation flared in his chest. His muscles burned, his body felt like it was reaching its limit. He clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him.
"I can't… do this alone. "I need help!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the underground prison.
Saponu, locked in combat against Rosamund and the eight ancestors, turned his golden gaze toward David. Without hesitation, he activated his Copyeyes, scanning his own essence before forming a perfect duplicate of himself.
The clone materialized beside David, radiating an identical presence to the original. Without wasting a moment, it lunged forward, engaging the three ancestors and attacking David. The shift in balance was immediate—David, though exhausted, found a brief opening to catch his breath as the clone fought beside him.
The three ancestors, momentarily surprised by the sudden reinforcement, quickly adapted. One of them, an elder with the ability to manipulate gravitational pressure, raised a hand, and the surrounding air grew dense, forcing both David and the clone onto their knees.
But David gritted his teeth. If he had learned anything in this fight, it was that giving up wasn't an option. With renewed determination, he pushed against the overwhelming force, his amplified body straining as he prepared to retaliate.
Meanwhile, within the towering halls of the Ancestral Council, the air was thick with tension. The circular chamber, illuminated by ethereal light, pulsed with the combined energy of the ancestors seated around the grand table. Their expressions were grim, their voices hushed but urgent.
They had gathered to decide the fate of Saponu Sebastian and the newly captured prisoner, David Nyamewero. After much deliberation, a decision was reached—only seven of them would go forth to battle and eliminate the two enemies for good.
Monica Kwashi, her deep brown eyes filled with restrained fury, was the first to speak. The golden amulet around her neck pulsed faintly as her warm brown skin seemed to glow under the chamber's mystical light. Her dark brown hair, neatly pulled into a low ponytail, framed her face as she rose from her seat, her voice steady and unwavering.
"I volunteer to deal with Saponu and the prisoner—whatever his name is called. He will pay for what he did to my son."
Beside her, Joseph Obuko folded his arms. His dark skin was smooth and flawless, and his black down-cut hair, slightly tousled, gave him an air of effortless confidence. The numbers shifting within his eerie white eyes flickered unpredictably as he glanced at Monica. "If my wife is going, then I go with her," he said simply, his voice final.
Richard Mawunyo leaned back in his chair, his large, broad frame radiating faint warmth. His pale, albino-white skin shimmered ever so slightly, and his short, white hair, neatly combed back, made him look almost ethereal. His light-red eyes, filled with both amusement and excitement, darkened momentarily. "I've been itching for a good fight, so I guess I'm in," he said, cracking his knuckles in anticipation.
Thomas Mills sat tall and still, his lean, athletic frame exuding silent strength. His dark, rich black skin was smooth, and his sharp white hair created a striking contrast against it. His deep brown eyes narrowed with cold calculation. "Count me in. I have a score to settle with Saponu, and I won't miss the chance for anything."
Across the table, Helena Gyan tilted her head slightly, her short, neatly styled black hair remaining undisturbed. Her deep-black skin had a glossy sheen, exuding quiet authority. Her brown eyes, always calm and calculating, scanned the room before she gave a small, dismissive shrug. "I guess I have nothing important to do, so I will join," she said, her voice even, as if deciding on something trivial.
Epson Nii Nortey exhaled sharply, his muscular frame tense with barely restrained anger. His dark complexion was flawless, his thick black hair slightly tousled from the energy that always seemed to swirl around him. His deep green eyes flickered with a faint supernatural glow, and the intricate sigils on his arms pulsed beneath his long, dark robe. "No one messes with my curse seal and gets away with it," he growled. "I'm going to teach him a lesson he will never forget."
For a moment, the chamber was silent. Then, from the far end of the table, a quiet voice broke the stillness.
"I will also join."
All eyes turned toward Wisdom Wokata. His fair complexion looked slightly paler than usual, his deep blue eyes tired yet sharp with intelligence. His long black hair, tied back neatly, had several strands falling over his face, a sign of his obsessive research habits. His dark research coat, layered over his traditional battle attire, bore wrinkles from his lack of concern for appearance. He had remained silent throughout the meeting, lost in thought, yet now his declaration carried an undeniable weight.
Epson narrowed his glowing green eyes at him. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism. "You look like you need rest."
Wisdom didn't respond, his piercing blue eyes unwavering.
Epson leaned forward, his strong jaw set with concern. "Hey, didn't you hear me? You—"
Joseph raised a hand, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. His ever-shifting white eyes flickered with disinterest. "If he wants to go, allow him."
The decision was sealed. Seven warriors would face Saponu and David. Seven against two.
The battle ahead would be one for the ages.
Deep within the underground prison, David and Saponu's clone stood side by side against Ezekiel, Rebecca, and Solomon. The air was thick with tension, every breath charged with the energy of the battle.
David gritted his teeth as the weight of Solomon's gravitational pressure threatened to force him down again. Even with his body fully amplified, the sheer force pressing against him made every movement a struggle.
The clone moved first, its Copyeyes flashing as it analyzed the battlefield. In an instant, it vanished, reappearing right behind Ezekiel. Before the sound-wielding ancestor could react, the clone struck, delivering a precise palm strike to the base of his spine. The impact sent Ezekiel staggering forward, his sonic energy momentarily disrupted.
Seizing the opportunity, David surged forward, ignoring the crushing weight pressing down on him. He drove his fist into Ezekiel's gut with enough force to send him crashing into a wall, dust and debris exploding around him.
Rebecca reacted instantly, her crystal spears forming midair before launching toward David at deadly speed. But the clone was faster. With a flicker of movement, it appeared in front of David, raising a single hand. The spears stopped inches away, suspended in the air.
Rebecca's eyes widened. "Impossible—"
With a flick of his wrist, the clone sent the spears hurtling back at her. Rebecca barely managed to form a barrier of crystal in time, the force of her own attack slamming into her defenses.
David lunged at Solomon next. The gravity-wielding ancestor was already raising his hand, intensifying the pressure in an attempt to pin David down completely. The ground beneath David cracked from the force.
But David pushed forward. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest, but he clenched his fists and kept moving. His veins bulged as he forced himself to close the distance, each step feeling like wading through an ocean of stone.
Solomon's eyes flickered with alarm. "That's—"
David didn't let him finish. He twisted his entire body into a devastating punch aimed at Solomon's jaw. The impact sent the ancestor skidding backward, his control over gravity momentarily breaking.
The clone appeared beside Solomon in an instant, driving a palm strike into his chest. A shockwave rippled outward, and Solomon was hurled across the battlefield, slamming into Ezekiel just as the sound manipulator was recovering.
Rebecca, breathing heavily, tried to summon another wave of crystal spears, but before she could release them, the clone teleported right in front of her. Its golden eyes locked onto hers,
The moment stretched between them. Then, with terrifying speed, the clone struck.
A single precise hit to her stomach.
Rebecca gasped as the air was driven from her lungs. Her crystal constructs shattered midair as she crumpled to her knees.
David, panting but standing firm, looked over at the fallen ancestors. They were still conscious, but barely.
The battle was over.
Saponu's clone straightened, its gaze flickering toward David and gave a small nod. "That's how you fight."
David exhaled sharply. His body ached, his limbs felt like lead. He turned his gaze toward the battlefield ahead, where Peter and Randy were still locked in combat against the remaining ancestors.
We have to help them.