WHOOSH!
A sharp burst of speed cut through the battlefield as Saponu became a blur, his movements too fast for the eye to track. The air cracked from the force of his acceleration.
BAM!
A devastating flying kick slammed into Epson's face, snapping his head backward with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed from his nose as he was sent hurtling through the air, crashing onto the ground with a heavy thud.
But Saponu didn't give him a second to breathe.
Without hesitation, he created two more clones.
FWIP! FWIP!
The battlefield shifted instantly. What had been a one-on-one battle had now turned into a brutal four-on-one onslaught?
Epson, dazed but not broken, pushed himself up, his body trembling. The curse seals on his arms pulsed violently, responding to his desperation. He wiped blood from his mouth and spat onto the dirt.
"You think this is enough to break me?" he growled, his emerald-green eyes blazing with defiance.
Saponu's clones surrounded him in a deadly formation.
"It's already over."
WHOOSH!
The first clone flashed forward, throwing a savage spinning elbow aimed at Epson's ribs.
Epson barely brought his arms up to block—but the impact sent him skidding backward, his bones vibrating from the force.
Another clone slipped behind him, attacking at the same time.
BAM!
A brutal knee strike crashed into his spine, sending a violent jolt of pain through his entire body.
Epson's breath hitched. Damn it…
Before he could react, the third clone was already above him.
"Copyeye Ability: Meteor Fist!"
BOOM!
A devastating hammer-fist crashed onto the back of Epson's skull, sending him face-first to the ground.
The earth shattered from the impact. Epson's vision blurred, his body barely responding to his will. Blood dripped onto the cracked dirt beneath him.
But he wasn't done yet.
"Seal of Repulsion!"
BOOM!
A violent shockwave of cursed energy exploded from his body, blasting all three clones backward like ragdolls!
Epson panted heavily, forcing himself back to his feet. His arms trembled, his chest heaved, but his spirit refused to break.
"You clone may be strong, but you're not invincible!" he snarled.
He slammed his hands together, activating another seal.
"Seal of Binding—Entangle!"
Dark green cursed tendrils erupted from the tattoos on his arms, twisting through the air like hungry vipers.
SCHLACK!
One tendril wrapped around a clone's leg, yanking it violently to the ground.
Another coiled around the second clone's torso, locking it in midair.
Epson smirked through the pain. "Gotcha."
He pressed his palms together.
"Seal of Rupture—Burst!"
BOOM!
The two trapped clones exploded into nothing, their bodies torn apart in a blast of energy.
Now, only two Saponus remain—the real one and a single surviving clone.
Epson took a deep breath. He still had a chance.
But then—
WHOOSH!
The real Saponu moved faster than lightning.
Before Epson could blink, a palm was already pressed against his chest.
"Wave Disruption."
A shockwave rippled through Epson's body.
His curse seals flickered—then shut down completely.
Epson's eyes widened in horror. "No—!"
BAM!
Saponu's knee slammed into Epson's gut.
BAM!
A devastating uppercut to his jaw.
Epson stumbled back, his world spinning.
BAM!
A final, brutal roundhouse kick sent him crashing to the ground, coughing up blood.
Saponu slowly walked forward, his gaze cold and emotionless.
"You rely too much on your seals," he said.
Epson tried to move, but his body refused. His vision swam. He was losing too much blood.
But he still had one last trick.
With the last of his strength, he slammed his palm onto the ground.
"Curse Seal of the Forbidden!"
A massive summoning seal ignited beneath him, glowing with an eerie green light. The earth shook violently.
Saponu's eyes narrowed.
BOOM!
A monstrous serpent-like creature erupted from the summoning circle, its massive, scaly body towering over the battlefield.
Its eyes burned a ghastly green, its fangs dripping with venom.
Epson let out a weak chuckle. "Let's see how you handle this."
The beast lunged.
But Saponu barely moved.
His Copyeyes gleamed.
"Copyeye Ability: Phantom Rend."
The serpent froze midair.
SLASH!
An invisible force ripped through it—slicing it apart in seconds.
The creature's lifeless body crumbled into nothingness.
Epson's heart sank.
"No… Impossible…"
Saponu cracked his knuckles. "That was cute. But we're done here."
He turned to his last clone. "Kill him."
The clone vanished.
Epson tried to react—but the clone was already behind him.
"Copyeye Ability: Heat Spike."
The clone's hand burned red-hot—
SCHLK!
And pierced straight through Epson's chest.
Epson gasped. His body froze. Blood poured from his lips.
The clone ripped its arm free.
Epson collapsed to his knees, shaking. His vision was blurred.
His hands weakly grasped at his wound, but it was too late.
Saponu walked forward, looking down at him.
"You were strong," he admitted. "But not strong enough."
Epson tried to speak, but only blood came out. His body refused to move.
Saponu slowly lifted his hand.
A crackling orb of condensed energy formed in his palm.
Epson's mind screamed. No! Not like that!
Saponu whispered,
"Copyeye Ability: Erasure."
BOOOOOOOM!!!!
A massive explosion of pure energy detonated from within Epson's body, tearing through his torso with devastating force.
Flesh burned. Bones shattered. The battlefield trembled.
Epson's body lifted off the ground from the sheer impact, his mouth wide open in a silent scream. Blood and energy surged out in every direction.
His eyes dimmed.
His curse seals flickered… then vanished.
Epson's broken body fell lifelessly to the ground.
Silence.
The wind howled softly, carrying away the last remnants of Epson's shattered existence.
His body disintegrated into ash, leaving behind a living and glowing stone.
From above, Wisdom Wokata's sinister smile deepened.
"Fascinating."
A familiar surge of power rushed through Saponu's body, sending a deep, satisfying shiver down his spine. His muscles pulsed, his aura expanded, and a sinister grin stretched across his face.
"Finally… my powers are back."
A low, rumbling energy radiated from him, distorting the air around his body. The battlefield, once chaotic with scattered battles, suddenly fell silent.
Monica Kwashi, locked in a fierce struggle with two of Saponu's clones, suddenly froze.
She felt it—the shift in power, the overwhelming presence of the true Saponu. It was unlike before. Something had changed.
Her golden eyes narrowed as she instinctively backed away from the clones.
And she wasn't the only one.
Across the battlefield, every fight stopped.
All eyes turned toward Saponu.
Even Wisdom Wokata, who had been watching from above with a sinister amusement, finally let out a low chuckle. "Now this… is interesting."
Saponu slowly turned his head, scanning the battlefield with predatory intent. His newfound power surged through his veins like fire, filling him with a dangerous level of confidence.
Then, his gaze locked onto Monica.
His smirk widened.
"You're next."