Saponu's grin widened as he stood among the charging clones. His dark aura pulsed, warping the air around him.
Thomas's duplicates wasted no time.
BOOM!
The Super Strength clone lunged first, the ground splitting under his feet as he launched forward. His fist, packed with raw force, tore through the air—
But Saponu tilted his head slightly.
The punch missed.
Before the clone could recover—
CRACK!
Saponu's knee slammed into his gut, sending him rocketing into the sky.
Midair—
ZAP!
The Lightning clone struck, palms crackling with electricity as he blasted Saponu's chest.
CRACKLE—BOOOM!
A blinding flash lit up the battlefield. Smoke curled off Saponu's skin.
But instead of falling—
He vanished.
"Where—?!"
The Rock Skin clone turned, but too late.
BAM!
Saponu reappeared behind him, his fist crashing into the clone's hardened chest.
"Tch. Tough."
Saponu's eyes gleamed.
SHLIIIK!
His hand morphed into a blade, slicing straight through the rock armor. The clone gasped—then crumbled into light.
"One down."
The Weapon Conjuration clone seized the moment, summoning a massive spear and hurling it at Saponu's head.
But—
SWOOSH!
Saponu snatched the spear midair, spun, and hurled it back—twice as fast.
SHNK!
It drove through the clone's chest, pinning him to the ground.
Two down.
The Fire Manipulation clone roared, unleashing a wall of flames.
Saponu raised a hand.
FWOOOSH—
The shadows around him shifted, swallowing the fire whole.
Before the clone could react—
SLASH!
Saponu appeared behind him, a shadowy blade ripping through his back. The clone stiffened—then dissolved.
The ground trembled.
But six clones remained—and Wisdom wasn't idle.
WHOOSH!
Wisdom blinked behind Saponu, hands glowing with telekinetic energy.
BOOM!
He blasted Saponu off his feet, slamming him into the earth.
Before Saponu could move—
BAAAM!
The Gravity clone activated his power, making Saponu's body a hundred times heavier.
Saponu sank deep into the cracked earth, pinned by crushing weight.
Wisdom didn't stop.
He teleported above, dropping a boulder the size of a house.
KRAKOOOM!
Dust and debris exploded upward.
Silence.
A heartbeat passed.
Then—
SHOOOOOM!!!
A dark pulse ripped through the battlefield, scattering the rubble like paper.
Saponu rose from the crater, untouched.
"You think rocks and weight can hold me?" His voice was cold, his aura thicker now.
He smiled faintly. "Let me show you why they call me the Shadow King."
The ground twisted.
Shadows stretched unnaturally. The air bent. Darkness swallowed the battlefield.
Thomas's clones staggered, struggling to stay intact.
Saponu lifted his hand—
Reality tore open.
A swirling black rift loomed above them.
"Fall."
The Illusionist clone screamed as he was sucked into the void, vanishing.
The Time Acceleration clone moved—but froze instantly.
Saponu tapped his forehead with one finger.
SHATTER!
The clone exploded into shards of light.
Wisdom's heart pounded.
Thomas was down to three clones.
And Saponu was just getting started.
Wisdom clenched his fists. Enough.
He teleported again, slamming a devastating telekinetic blast through Saponu's back.
BOOM!
Saponu staggered, coughing up black energy.
Finally, a real hit.
But he turned, smiling wider through the pain.
"That actually hurt, Wisdom."
Something about his voice—
Excited.
Before Wisdom could move, Saponu's shadow lunged, coiling around his leg.
It yanked him skyward.
"!!!"
Wisdom twisted midair, teleporting out just in time.
He reappeared beside Thomas.
The last three clones tightened formation, bloodied but standing.
Saponu rolled his shoulders. His grin was gone now.
Only deadly focus remained.
"You lasted longer than I thought."
Far off, the sounds of battle still raged on.
Monica and Epson were gone.
Only five remained.
Saponu took a step.
CRACK!
The ground shattered.
WHOOSH!
He vanished.
CRACK!
His fist smashed into Wisdom's face, launching him across the field.
Wisdom flipped, reappearing midair, boot slamming into Saponu's jaw.
SLAM!
Saponu skidded backward—right into the clones' assault.
The Metal Manipulation clone's blade-arm slashed at Saponu's neck.
The Speedster flickered behind him, a punch aiming for his spine.
The Explosion clone lunged, hands glowing bright.
"NOW!" Thomas shouted.
All three struck at once—
BAAAM!
Saponu's hand snapped backward, crushing the Speedster's throat.
SHLIIIK!
He caught the Metal clone's blade-arm and ripped it free.
Blood sprayed.
BOOOOM!!!
The Explosion clone detonated himself, fire engulfing everything.
Smoke billowed into the sky.
Silence.
Then—
SHOOOOOM!!!
A blast of black energy vaporized the flames.
Saponu stood, untouched.
The Metal clone collapsed, blood pooling beneath him.
The Speedster's body lay broken.
Only Thomas and Wisdom remained.
Thomas staggered, pain flaring in his ribs.
Wisdom wiped blood from his mouth, eyes darkening.
SZZZZZHHH!
Wisdom teleported.
BOOM!
He crashed his fist into Saponu, hurling him into the ruins.
Wisdom raised his hand, pulling every shattered stone and metal beam into the sky.
"CRUSH HIM!"
He hurled the debris down.
THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!
The ruins buried Saponu.
Wisdom panted, waiting.
Maybe—
BOOOOM!!!
A shockwave blasted the wreckage apart.
SLASH!
A shadowy tendril speared through Wisdom's abdomen, flinging him into a distant boulder.
Saponu walked free.
Untouched.
Wisdom coughed blood, vision blurring.
Thomas was alone now.
No clones left.
Only him.
Thomas gasped for breath, heart hammering.
Saponu tilted his head.
"You're out of tricks."
Thomas gritted his teeth.
No ,No. Not yet.
With the last of his strength, he activated Randomized Duplication.
A single unstable clone appeared.
A Suicide Clone.
It charged, body already glowing, ready to detonate.
But Saponu raised a single finger.
"No."
SNAP!
Reality bent—and the clone vanished before it could explode.
Thomas's heart sank.
Saponu appeared before him.
SHLAAAK!
His hand plunged into Thomas's chest, fingers closing around his heart.
Thomas gasped, blood dripping from his lips.
Saponu leaned in, voice low.
"You fought well."
Then—
CRUSH!
Thomas's heart burst.
Blood sprayed.
Thomas shuddered—then went still.
Saponu pulled his hand free, letting the body collapse.
Blood dripped from his fingers.
Wisdom, broken and bleeding, watched in horror.
The playful glint in his eyes was gone.
Only cold fury remained.
Saponu turned, slow and deliberate, with a wicked smile on his face.
His gaze locked onto Helena Gyan across the battlefield.
A new darkness stirred.
And it was coming for her.