As the beams cleared the fog, several people could finally see what lay beyond. The devil cicadas controlled by the Dark Sonata seemed almost to challenge the terrifying beams head-on.
In a flash, the entire swarm was reduced to ashes, unlike before, there was no loud explosion or chance to scream. Because the three beams were fired simultaneously, even the devil cicadas' usual golden escape technique couldn't save them. If these cicadas had any awareness, they'd probably feel incredibly unlucky to have encountered Larry as their opponent.
If it had been Morel, Cluck, or others, their golden cicada escape might have been devastating, effectively giving them a second chance at life. But against Larry, whether they had one life or two, the outcome was the same. The shield formed by cicada swarm was like fragile paper, and even the weakened Destructive Death Light cut straight through, heading directly for the heart of the Dark Sonata.
Boom!
The deafening explosion shook the air, sending dust and gravel flying. The blast pushed the gray fog aside, scattering it further out. The strong wind carried the remains of the devil cicadas far away.
Thanks to its unique body structure, the three-headed dragon could launch three attacks at once, essentially using three S-level moves simultaneously. Of course, this meant consuming three times the amount of aura, but judging by the results, it was more than worth it. The attack tore open the fog's encirclement, creating a clear path straight to the Dark Sonata's location.
Using Gyo, they clearly saw what lay at the end of the path, an incredibly strange figure. It wasn't even quite right to call it a figure; it was more like a bizarre black shadow.
This shadow was outlined with thick black lines and filled with snowflake-like patterns that made anyone who stared too long feel dizzy and uneasy, much like the static pattern on an old TV screen when there's no signal. Next to this shadow was a violin, also outlined in black lines. The haunting music that seemed capable of stealing the souls of living beings came from there.
Dark Sonata was clearly in bad shape after being hit by the destructive death ray. The shadows surrounding him kept slipping away, and the outer black shadows pulsed up and down like sound waves.
If it weren't for the protective buffer created by the swarm of devil cicadas, the damage from the attack would have been far worse. Despite Dark Sonata's severe injuries, the aura it projected was even more terrifying than before. It felt like a trapped beast, fully aware of its disadvantage but ready to fight to the death.
The black shadow trembled violently, like a tree's shadow swaying in the wind, and the violin's mournful wail echoed through the air. This chilling sound pierced straight into people's hearts, making Morel and others shiver with fear. Dark Sonata didn't say a word, but its music spoke volumes: it was determined to fight until the very end.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Larry and the others trembled slightly, and the entire space seemed to ripple with the same energy, as if a monstrous force had been unleashed.
"Are there really this many?" Larry frowned, sensing more and more devil cicadas flying toward them. Dark Sonata was pouring all its remaining strength into controlling them, otherwise, death awaited it.
Larry hadn't expected so many devil cicadas to be in the Demonic Realm, but he relaxed when he realized what this meant. These cicadas were like experience points for Pokémon! He could release his Pokémon and take advantage of this chance to rapidly gain experience. Thanks to Dark Sonata's sacrifice, a huge amount of experience points was immediately rewarded.
If Dark Sonata had known what Larry was thinking, its aura might have surged even more fiercely.
The sudden, violent movement made Morel and the others realize something was off, and they immediately raised their guard to the highest level. They focused intently on every detail around them, fearing danger could strike at any moment. Unfortunately, Dark Sonata didn't take their caution seriously.
All the Devil Cicadas had one clear target: Larry. As soon as Larry was taken care of, dealing with the others would be much easier.
Coincidentally, Larry wasn't taking Dark Sonata seriously either, treating it like a treasure chest just waiting to be opened.
"You all stay here for now. I'll handle this," Larry said calmly, turning his back to the group.
Hands casually in his pockets, he walked down the path cleared by the destructive beam, his face showing no sign of worry.
The swarm of cicadas seemed fearless, darting in from both sides, zeroing in on Larry as he moved straight ahead. The harsh buzzing grew louder and louder, filling Larry's ears and signaling their rapid approach.
Morel and the others stood perfectly still, following Larry's orders without making a move. They weren't him, and acting recklessly against such a swarm would be foolish. Their hopes rested entirely on Larry.
The two apprentices couldn't help but worry silently, especially given the terrifying aura of Dark Sonata. But those who had witnessed Larry's full power knew one thing for sure, he'd only used two of his five breaths so far. He was far from finished.
As they closed in, Larry's expression stayed steady, a faint sneer tugging at his handsome features. The apprentices could only glimpse the dark silhouette of Dark Sonata at the end of the path, and for them, the swarm wasn't worth a second glance. Ten meters... eight meters... until the cicadas were just five meters away, then finally, Larry made his move.
With a mighty roar, a massive flame burst out from the side, engulfing the swarm. The explosive firestorm instantly wiped out countless Devil Cicadas, and the shockwaves pushed many more back. It was the fierce blaze of the three evil dragons igniting, their dark and menacing aura perfectly matched for this strange, magical battlefield.
Larry continued moving forward as another swarm of cicadas charged at him from the opposite side. Suddenly, Arcanine appeared by his side, its proud head held high and surrounded by blazing fireworks. It looked like a god of fire descending to earth, its majestic presence lighting up the dim, eerie surroundings.
The flames soared into the sky, glowing intensely in the dark environment, signaling their extreme heat.
With a sudden burst of aura, Arcanine darted through cicadas like a red flash, the crackling sound of burning insects filling the air. This was its fire skill, Flash Charge, quickly wiping out another group of cicadas.
Larry smirked slightly and kept walking. Then, with a flash of white light, Lucario materialized beside him. Its body was infused with powerful wave energy, glowing with a rich blue aura.
Flames flickered on its legs as they tensed, and with a fierce kick, Lucario unleashed its fire skill, Flame Kick, sending another group of cicadas flying. The haunting music of the Dark Sonata grew more urgent as Larry approached its source, though he still hadn't taken any direct damage.
Suddenly, sand began appearing out of thin air, quickly piling into small dunes. The battlefield was swept by a violent gust, stirring up a powerful sandstorm.