The monster scanned the area with a slow, careful movents until its gaze landed on Asmodea and Barbatos.
The mont it registered them, the monster stiffened.
Then Zagreus chuckled.
"Yo," he said, tilting his head, "looks like you're in so deep trouble."
The monster shifted its gaze to him, puzzled.
Why was one of the invaders acting like he wasn't involved in all this?
Zagreus grinned wider.
"Those two people you're afraid of? They're just guards. For him."
He pointed toward Naless Death.
"That guy is a Heavenbreaker. He's picking his personal guard, so he wants to see how they fight."
The monster blinked slowly, processing the words.
"Pick one of them," Zagreus said. "If you lose… well, you know the rules of this place. But if you win, we'll grant you a wish."
Naless Death was more confused than the monster.
"What are you doing? I told you—"
Before he could finish, the monster let out a tallic snarl.
"If I win, you'll let fight that Heavenbreaker," it shouted with its voice grinding like gears. "I'll kill him! And that will make stronger!"
It didn't know what exactly a Heavenbreaker was.
But everyone in the jungle and the cosmos had heard their title.
And Cole Calloway, and Ultris were both Heavenbreakers.
This was one too?
If it could kill him, then it would gain imnse power, enough to go deeper into the jungle.
Naless Death wasn't even watching the monster anymore. His eyes were fixed on Zagreus.
'Is this guy the king of scamrs or what?' Naless Death thought.
Since the monster would attack Naless Death due to its own greed, Naless Death couldn't even say the monster was innocent.
'I think people like him should be called demons instead of that octopus.'
Zagreus ignored his stare and raised a hand toward the monster.
"Go on. Choose one."
The monster turned back to the group.
It could tell Asmodea was far too strong for it. And Barbatos? It couldn't even sense his presence.
That left only one option.
It pointed at Leonora.
"She's too weak. Is she going to be alright?" Naless Death asked Zagreus.
Zagreus didn't answer. Instead, he looked to Asmodea.
The Grim Reaper's eyes narrowed, but her voice was calm. "She is the Blessed of Water."
Naless Death didn't know what that ant. He had heard the term "Blessed", but he didn't know what it could do.
Could it let soone at Stage 2 face a Level 9?
He decided to watch and find out.
Asmodea lifted one hand and spoke a few words.
Form an unbreakable terrain. It will remain until one victor stands."
Golden light shimred across the field.
A massive, transparent do erged from the ground, growing higher and wider until it covered both Leonora and the monster.
The do glead like polished crystal, faintly reflective, but clearly reinforced with power.
Naless Death's eyes narrowed.
'Did she use Truth?'
Truth was an ability only a few in the cosmos possessed, used to command the world with words that could not be denied.
As long as you had enough Energy, anything could be done with Truth. Anything.
Inside, Leonora adjusted her stance, trying to steady her breathing. Her heart hadn't stopped hamring since she entered the crater.
The monster paced slowly across from her.
Then, without warning, it dashed forward.
The air split with a deafening crack as its fist rushed toward her skull, fast enough to leave a tear in the space.
Leonora barely had ti to blink.
This was it.
She couldn't dodge.
She wasn't fast enough. She knew she couldn't win, and her master wouldn't help her.
As the monster's arm descended, Leonora heard a calm voice.
"Leonora." Her master's voice echoed faintly within her mind. "Call the Supre."
Leonora's stomach twisted.
Call the Supre?
She wanted to cry. Doing hurt far too much, and it would give her body ache for weeks, but then again, her master was doing this to punish her. Of course, there was going to be pain.
Her body moved before her mind caught up.
She closed her eyes. Her voice cracked, but she spoke clearly.
"O Supre," she whispered, "O Mother of mine, grant your blessing once more. Stand with in this place of ruin."
The mont the words left her mouth, everything changed.
The monster's fist never landed.
Leonora opened her eyes, and her aura underwent terrifying changes.
The space around her bent subtly, like gravity had loosened its grip.
She wasn't touching the ground anymore. She floated just above it, surrounded by faint glimrs of blue light.
Water shimred into being around her, spiraling upward like smoke, twisting through the air as if it had a will of its own.
The monster backed away instantly.
It moved to the far edge of the do and pressed its back against the barrier, visibly trembling.
Its body, which had moved with chanical certainty before, now shook like a leaf in storm.
It stared at Leonora with fear.
Leonora's expression had changed too.
Her eyes glowed faintly, as if touched by sothing divine.
A sly smile curled at the edge of her lips. She looked the sa, but her presence and aura were completely different.
"W-who? Are you-"
The monster raised its hand as if it were about to speak, but Leonora didn't wait for it to finish.
She simply raised her right hand and slowly turned her palm counterclockwise.
And then the world responded.
Before Naless Death's eyes, the monster body convulsed.
It was getting younger.
Each second that passed erased more of it, and then it was gone.
Completely erased.
The golden do cracked and dissolved into nothing.
The barrier Asmodea had created with Truth faded as its condition had been t. A victor had erged.
Leonora turned to Asmodea.
The sly, yet mysterious smile had never left lips.
"Asmodea," she said, "I hope you don't give my daughter this much trouble. She's a bit lazy, yes, but sending her to fight a Level 9? Isn't that pushing it?"
"I wouldn't have to do this if she were diligent with her training."
Leonora – no, the one possessing her body chuckled softly, hearing Asmodea's response.
Then, her eyes flicked over to Naless Death and Zagreus. Her smile deepened, just a little.
Barbatos stepped forward. He didn't bow, or kneel. But he showed a certain respect in the way he carried himself.
"O Supre," he said, voice steady, "there is sothing I wish to ask of you."
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