----


    Suddenly, thest puppet floating within the blue pir looked towards the ground and chuckled, "You shouldn''t have summoned this thing. Now, you''ll pay the consequences!"


    The puppet''s body split apart while retaining the core parts such as the internal energy system along with the crystal source embedded in its chest. Other than that, its body was akin to a hollow chasm. At first, Apollo didn''t understand why the puppet''s body was reacting this way, but when he realized the changes in the area, he started to piece everything together.


    ''Could it be that the next stage has changed and this singr puppet will undergo another transformation? If that''s the case, then wouldn''t its difficulty skyrocket to new heights? Hmph, as if I''ll let that happen, I''ve spent enough time here,'' Apollo thought, scrutinizing the pir of mes before ncing in Vc''s direction.


    "Destroy it," Apollo ordered, crossing his arms.


    "Tch, you can''t always order! You think I''ll always listen to you?" Vc scoffed. Despite his actions, he still rushed towards the pir of mes with an amused gleam in his eyes. Truth be told, even if Apollo didn''t order him, he already held an interest in destroying this pir.


    Vc moved swiftly, taking flight after summoning his other wings, dashing towards the pir of mes. As he flew, he avoided some of the heatwaves that undted from the pir. Although they weren''t strong enough to cause despair, they were undoubtedly strong enough to disrupt him.


    After all, this pir was even stronger than the one birthed to create this exceptional puppet, part of the reason why Apollo deliberated this order to Vc. With his current strength, breaking that pir was akin to suicide. And, as he stood now, he didn''t possess a death wish.


    On the other hand, he started topare the strength of the fluctuations against mes he sensed in the past. ''It pales inparison to Irauk, but it resembled the severity of Geneva''s me for now since hers is extremely damaged.''


    While Apollo made hisparisons, Vc reached the pir and thrust his spear forth. However, an odd sight took ce. Numerous reinforced panels focused on the area under attack appeared before Vc.


    Unlike a typical defense, it only covered that single area, but it was superimposed, generating a nonsensical defense value. Even Vc''s strike was only able to puncture 2 out of the 10yers.


    "Interesting," Vc muttered, raising an eyebrow. This type of barrier was new to him as he was used to an individual conjuring either a single barrier enveloping one''s entire surface or an external barrier, one simr to a dome or cube.


    Simrly, Apollo was intrigued as well, ''Individual use of the barrier, focusing it on one position to amplify the defensive ability? Astute disy of usefulness,'' Apollo thought, rubbing his chin in the process.


    While looking at Vc''s continued attempts to shatter the barrier, he learned a new way of distributing his Anima. ''This isn''t useful for enemies on the same level, it''s more practical to use it against enemies who possess a stronger offense. This should thoroughly neutralize their strike as long as they aren''t overwhelmingly strong.''


    In light of the pir''s barrier, Vc changed his course of action. Twin mes wrapped around his spear, encasing it in a sweltering blue light. Without hesitation, he thrust it forward, shattering 5yers of the barrier in the process.


    ''That''s it?! I was expecting more than this. What the fuck is up with the durability of this barrier. It''s harder than these damn puppets. Piece of crap," Vc swore, continuously impacting the barrier with unrelenting strikes. Despite his onught, the barrier still wasn''tpromised.


    When oneyer was shattered, a new recement appeared to reinforce any weakness from Vc''s attacks. Apollo noticed this thanks to the increase in his mind''s sensitivity.


    ''Is this a lost cause? Will we have to follow the instructionsid in ce, or will I just have to summon Fuhrer as well?'' Apollo wondered. Frankly speaking, he didn''t wish to summon Fuhrer right now and there were multiple reasons for that. The main one being the pir before them.


    Apollo was almost certain by summoning Fuhrer, he would elerate the process and maybe even worsen it. Although Fuhrer was strong, Apollo possessed an odd feeling about this ce, almost as if they were being watched by some unknown entity.


    If that was the case, then it would be convenient for him to reveal all of his cards in the beginning. Even if the entity''s purpose was to find someone worthy, he wasn''t interested. Unlike the rest, he could sense this area was rted to humans.


    Any methods learned from humans could easily be learned from the Demons and at a stronger level at that. Thus, rather than searching for another teacher, Apollo was more intent on fulfilling his vengeance. Until now, he still hadn''t forgotten his animosity with the Glories.


    Inside this space where the eyes of authority were blinded, it was the best time to take advantage.


    All of a sudden, before Apollo and Vc could react, the pieces of fragmented puppets levitated,unching towards the opened puppet. Its body grew as the pieces melding into its body, creating arger frame, but that was far from the astonishing part.


    Different from the rest of the puppets, this one was odd. It could even meld the energy within the cores on the ground into a liquid, injecting it into its own core.


    ''Those are my rewards,'' Apollo thought, ring at the pir. Regardless of what he thought, he was powerless to change it. The pieces simply moved too fast. From the flight path, it appeared an attractive force greater than their reaction speed was guiding it.


    "I suggest you prepare yourself. This is inevitable. We will just have to fight together," Vc uttered, floating back to Apollo''s side. Since his actions were useless, it made no sense to continue tiring himself out.


    "I can see that," Apollo replied, sparing Vc an annoyed nce.


    "W-what the fuck yer looking at me like that for?" Vc snarled. From his point of view, this look Apollo gave was almost condescending.


    "I''m looking at you because you''re weak. I should''ve summoned someone else. I''m sure Fuhrer would have dealt with this easily. Next time, I''ll think twice about allow you to stretch those useless bones," Apollo said with a sneer, infuriating Vc.


    "W--w-w-w-WHAT?! Useless? Yer FUCKING calling me USELESS?! How dare you. When have I Vc, ever been useless?" Vc scowled, his pupils shifting to a crimson tint. Anger circting in his eyes and the pale me that surrounding his body crackled in response.


    "Just now. After all, you did fail to destroy that barrier, right? As I said, useless. And, because of you, we have to wait for thepletion of this unknown transformation," Apollo grumbled, disgruntled by theck of control he held in this situation.


    "That''s it! Send me back! SEND ME BACK! I won''t deal with this shit from you as well," Vc growled, demanding Apollo to relinquish his summoning. Sadly, it wasn''t as easy as he wished. First of all, Apollo wasn''t in the best of moods.


    "You''ll stay right here and when that puppet appears, you fight alongside me. This is an Absolute Order, do I make myself clear?" Apollomanded while turning his head towards Vc. An ominous glow containing a pure Domination Intent spilled from within that his gaze.


    A chill traveled down Vc''s spine, prompting him to nod. When Absolute Order and Apollo''s Domination Intent fused as one, it was a terrifying sensation to experience. If he wasn''t the wiser, Vc would have assumed it was the First Monarch who stood before him.


    ''He''s even worst than Fuhrer and them. He can actually control me by force,'' Vc thought with a frown. Quietly, he stood next to Apollo and watched as the pir cracked apart.


    A golden figure was revealed. Its size wasparable to a demonized Vc but the energy signature it released was shocking. The moment its feet touched the ground, a ring indent formed on the ground, a wave of energy burst forth from within the ground.


    ''This pressure…'' Apollo marveled, raising his defenses. At the same time, the color of his skin changed, and his physique grew. He wasn''t willing to take any chances! To deal with this enemy he had to demonize!


    ''Fwoosh!''


    Without any indication, the new puppet made a move, his movement rivaling that of teleportation. Furthermore, despite how fast it moved, there was no disruption in space or a sonic boom apanying it.


    "Wait!" Apollo eximed, but it was toote. He could only cross his arms and prepare a shoddy guard.


    ''BANG!''


    Before he realized it, his body flew into a stone beam behind him. The strike was so sudden that the sound from the blow and the explosive noise from the collision blended as one. To achieve this, it required the utmost control of their strength.


    Standing in the position Apollo wasunched from, the golden figure opened and closed their hand, reveling at their power. "How exhrating."


    "Tch," Vc clicked his tongue. In that short window, he demonized as well, throwing a blow.


    However, it was effectively neutralized by the golden figure''s hand, holding his punch in ce. "Strong but also weak."


    ''BOOM!''


    The golden figureunched a devastating blow, winding Vc in the process. This was a first for him. Except for Fuhrer and a few other Noblesse, he had never been winded from a single punch. This was an odd urrence, one he couldn''t tolerate, but also couldn''t rectify.


    This opponent outssed them in all aspects, leading them to believe this stage would be unclearable by all others.