Instead of red, the symbols covering the entire city were white, emanating a solemn light that replaced the oppressive heaviness with calmness and serenity.
But the Mayor thought these symbols were the work of his so-called Master.
He believed in his hope and fate, convinced they had succeeded, that he would finally et his Master, beco the sole ruler, and conquer everything in sight.
However, this was a false hope he should never have clung to. His dream shattered as Klown stared at the beggar in disbelief.
"It hurts, right?" Apollo asked with a smirk. "You should see your face."
With a snap of his fingers, water materialized and ford a mirror-like surface in front of the Mayor.
Klown's gaze was drawn to the mirror, where he saw his mangled and burned body. His once-massive stomach had burst from the fall, muscles had ruptured, and bones lay crushed. It was a wonder he was still alive.
"No… no!" Klown scread toward the sky. It was then that he saw the cause of the white symbols emitting their strange forces, relentlessly attacking the cocoon of red smoke.
High above, at the center of the symbols, floated a man in midair. His body radiated an intense, bright light, with the symbols interconnected around him.
Klown realized this man was the reason his Master couldn't erge. As ti passed, the red cocoon grew smaller and smaller. If this continued, the ball of red energy would vanish entirely.
"Everyone was skeptical about this thod," Apollo said, his tone almost casual. "Hundreds of Array Masters working together to pull this off, using Mathias' stored Refined Qi as their power source… Anyway, it works."
"The Ancient… Demon Sealing… Technique…" Klown whispered, his voice weak.
"Oh, so that's the na of this technique," Apollo said, catching the Mayor's words. He nodded as if gaining newfound understanding. "Being part of a family with thousands of years of recorded knowledge definitely has its perks. So, what do you think? Like the view?"
Klown didn't respond. Instead, his head lowered.
From Apollo's height, he noticed the Mayor's vacant, dead-fish eyes. He had given up. It was understandable, after all. Years of preparation and hope, painstakingly cultivated in the hearts and minds of many, crushed in an instant. The psychological toll was imnse.
But Apollo wouldn't let this hideous Mayor rest in peace.
"Hey, I have sothing to tell you," Apollo said, stepping closer to Klown. "Do you know who I am?"
Klown slowly lifted his gaze, likely out of curiosity.
"Let enlighten you." Apollo reached up with a finger, removing the contact lenses from his eyes. Suddenly, his jet-black irises turned into the most srizing blue.
At first, the Mayor looked confused. But as he stared more closely, realization dawned.
"Froi… Gina?" Klown stamred.
Those were the nas of Apollo's parents—the original ones. The mont the words left the Mayor's lips, a storm of powerful emotions swirled within the beggar.
For so reason, Apollo wanted to cry. No, it wasn't for so reason. The emotions of the original body were surfacing, and unlike the cold detachnt he'd felt when facing the butler, the beggar now wanted to burst into tears.
Why?
Why ? What have I done to deserve this? My family… why them?
These thoughts surged through Apollo's mind, attacking him like a dam breaking under pressure. He'd been holding it all deep inside, and now, it burst.
"I won't be able to see their smiles anymore," whispered 'Apollo.' The voice was soft, small, and… different. It wasn't him—it was the original.
The child was speaking. Apollo allowed the original to take over.
"It's because of your fault. You are a bad guy," the original said, staring at the Mayor with tearful eyes.
Klown, noticing the sudden change in the beggar's deanor, tilted his head in confusion. "You… How did you manage to do it? How did you beco so strong? You're just a ki—wait, did you also find a Demon as your Master? Tell ! I'll join you!"
"Demon… so this is what it's all about," the original replied, the tears in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a cold, steely gaze.
Apollo felt his body moving on its own. Without fighting for control, he allowed the original to take the lead. The boy stepped closer to the Mayor, and suddenly, his body began to float just like Klown's.
"I will kill you, on behalf of my parents."
These words ca from a seven-year-old boy, a statent so chilling that even Apollo, observing from within, found it hard to believe.
The original raised his hand and pulled it back. Lightning flashed from the beggar's palm; fire erupted alongside it. Wind enveloped his fingers, while water blades covered his arm. Techniques upon techniques stacked atop one another, and in an instant, variations of each technique materialized.
A small Great Serpent materialized, coiling around his hand. The snake roared, and its head split into two, then three. The Great Serpent transford into a legendary three-headed beast.
Apollo, watching this unfold within his ntal space, was stunned—completely and utterly stunned. The intricate variations of cultivation techniques he had only casually thought of before were now fully realized. And the person wielding them was the original Apollo Leone.
But if his mory was correct, the original Apollo Leone had no knowledge of cultivation. He was just a kid through and through.
How is this happening? Apollo thought. Is it because of ? Or is the original truly talented? He was baffled.
Hey, do you think my arm can handle this? Apollo asked the original. But the real owner didn't respond.
"Kill ," Klown said, his plea having failed.
"I will," the original said coldly. With an icy gaze, he drew his hand back and unleashed a punch.
Apollo braced himself for the excruciating pain that would undoubtedly follow. But seconds passed, and it didn't co. Opening his eyes, he realized he was back in control of the body.
At the sa ti, the dozens of techniques and their variations covering the beggar's right hand dissipated into particles of Qi.
I'm not a killer.
The real owner's voice echoed in Apollo's mind, and he let out a sigh of relief. He couldn't afford to lose an arm.
The kid is maturing fast, Apollo thought, shaking his head. Then he smirked. "But I am."
With a swift slash of his hand, a head flew through the air before landing and rolling across the grassy ground.
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