In zone 6...
Souta slightly turned his head, observing the distant collision. He descended to the ground and faced Red Mist.
He knew that Alice and the others were close to the device, so he didn't need to intervene. Souta had confidence in their abilities; he had trained them to become strong allies in battles like this. Their preparations were not in vain.
'I need to get ready. The moment the device is destroyed is the moment I'll take action. There's something off about this arrangement, so I must plan ahead,' Souta thought to himself as he focused on fending off Red Mist's casual attacks.
Bang! Bang!
Red Mist retreated momentarily, wearing an amused expression as she said, "Oh, you're not giving it your all. Is it because dealing with Boulder Jack took a toll on you?"
"It's not a big issue. Just a minor inconvenience," Souta replied with a smile before charging forward.
Boom!!
Inside the household of the Windi Clan...
Edmar and Schine continued their fierce battle, nearly transforming the entire territory into a desolate wasteland. Their conflict, while not as attention-grabbing as Souta's or Shen Yao's battles, raged within the confines of the Windi Clan's protective dome-like barrier. This barrier effectively contained the shockwaves and energy emanating from their clash.
Edmar roared as he broke free from the suppressive seal that sought to restrain him. With a wave of his hand, an ancient script materialized before him.
"[Seal: Dragon's Suppression]!!"
A dragon-like figure manifested behind Edmar and swiftly charged toward Schine.
Schine widened his eyes upon witnessing this spectacle. "I didn't anticipate that you would master our sealing techniques to this extent. However, our clan's expertise isn't limited to sealing alone; we are also adept in the art of unsealing."
Stepping back, Schine formed a complex pattern with his fingers. A tiger, boar, and ox materialized behind him, all composed of mana and winds.
The four energy constructs clashed fiercely in the air.
Boom!!
Simultaneously, Edmar charged toward his father. Schine narrowed his eyes, taking a step back, but Edmar's speed continued to accelerate.
In a mere second, Edmar stood before Schine. Winds coalesced in his hands as he hurled them toward his father, forcing Schine into close-quarter combat.
"Father, you adhere to the teachings of our god, which have kept us imprisoned in this land! I merely seek to break free from this confinement!" Edmar's face seethed with anger. He felt stifled within the land his father called home.
Edmar advanced, deftly avoiding his father's fist. He then contorted his body to launch a kick simultaneously.
Schine made a swift gesture in the air, causing Edmar's world to twist and his kick to land on empty air. The next moment, a fist was inches from Edmar's face.
Swoosh!!
Edmar tilted his head to the side, generating a wind pressure that deflected his father's punch to the side. He swiftly rotated in mid-air, seizing his father's wrist.
Bang!!
Schine swiftly maneuvered his elbow, sending Edmar hurling several meters away.
"Huh?"
Schine inspected his hand, realizing that he could neither move nor feel his left hand any longer. A peculiar symbol within his left hand glowed ominously.
"A seal..." Schine murmured, his eyes narrowing in understanding.
Meanwhile, Edmar, who had been blown away, chuckled as he wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Father, you still refuse to tell me everything. Ehe, then watch as the beloved country you hold dear descends into the flames of war. Today marks the day I break free from this prison."
Edmar laughed manically.
Boom!!
A massive explosion erupted above them, signaling the dispersal of the dragon conjured by Edmar's seal.
Schine remained composed, his gaze fixed on his son. He raised his right hand, causing the three beasts to transform into three small energy spheres that flew into his palm.
"Didn't I mention before that our clan specializes not only in sealing techniques but also in the art of unsealing?" Schine remarked.
Schine pressed the three energy spheres into his left hand, causing the enigmatic symbol that had sealed his hand to gradually fade away.
Edmar glanced at his father and replied, "Yes, you did, but what do you intend to do? Are you planning to seal me, Father? My mission is complete. The core and our clan's artifact are both gone."
"The clan artifact? You mean the [Seal of Bhumain]..." Schine's eyes narrowed. "You even handed the clan's artifact over to our enemies. You've fallen to a disgraceful depth, my son."
The [Seal of Bhumain] held immense significance within their clan, possessing potent sealing abilities and symbolizing the Windi Clan's authority in the country.
"Let me share something intriguing with you. Today, this nation shall fall, and..." Edmar smiled, pointing a finger skyward. "The true objective lies in the All-Filter Barrier Formation. The cores are an integral part of it, specifically the five cores of this formation. Ours holds the utmost importance, as we are entrusted with its guardianship. However, I've received a piece of information – our god, the Isolated Formation God, is an ancient entity."
Schine maintained a stoic silence, his gaze unwavering on his son.
"It's all interconnected, Father! The Deadly Sins provided me with information that our god has existed since the dawn of the gods! They claim that the Isolated Formation God was involved with various powerful entities that were sealed in this land, including the No God Emperor!" Edmar laughed manically. "I had no prior knowledge of the No God Emperor; I only discovered its existence when the Deadly Sins divulged this information to me. But judging by your expression..."
Edmar gazed deep into his father's eyes and slowly continued, "You must have been aware, right? Your lack of surprise says it all. You must know what they're seeking."
Schine advanced with a somber demeanor. "That's enough. Those individuals are ignorant about our god."
"You!! Father!!" Edmar ground his teeth and lunged forward. "Why won't you reveal everything to me?! You're still clinging to the past!!"
Schine raised both of his hands, channeling his energy to conjure a sharp gust of wind. Edmar sidestepped the attack skillfully. Then, he raised his right foot and delivered a powerful kick.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Father and son clashed relentlessly, engaging in a flurry of powerful blows exchanged thousands of times. Neither of them yielded, and the intense battle raged on.
Blood spurted between the two of them as their fists continued to land heavily, and their energies fluctuated wildly, causing winds to gather and form dozens of tornadoes in the vicinity.
Boom!
Edmar attempted to seal his father's body, but Schine, an expert in unsealing techniques, deftly countered almost everything his son hurled at him.
"The Isolated Formation God is entwined in numerous events, isn't it, Father?! That's why it perished in the incident hundreds of years ago! You've been alive since then, so I'm certain you know the truth!" Edmar roared.
Schine remained silent as he struggled to fend off most of his son's relentless attacks. He was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up. With each passing second, his reactions slowed.
Ugh!
Gritting his teeth, Schine absorbed a blow to his shoulder. His shoulder was sealed, but he quickly unsealed it using his technique. Gradually, he began to back away.
Edmar noticed it and smiled widely. "You've grown weak, Father."
A massive blade made of wind materialized in his hand, and he swung it at Schine.
[Aero Demolition Seal]!!
Schine took a step back, crossing his hands and forming a strange gesture with his fingers. The power of the wind gathered in front of him, manifesting as a protective turtle shell.
Bang!!
The sword collided with the shell, unleashing a tremendous gust of wind.
Suddenly, Schine sensed something was amiss. He turned his head to the side and saw another figure.
It was Edmar.
'A clone...?'
Schine's eyes widened, but before he could comprehend what was truly happening, thousands of needles materialized in the air.
In an instant, the needles pierced through Schine's body, rendering the turtle shell's protection ineffective.
Ugh!
Schine spat a mouthful of blood and felt a numbing sensation across his body. Edmar materialized at his side and delivered a powerful kick to his stomach.
Schine's body crashed onto the ground. He strained to open his eyes and saw two figures floating in the air, both resembling Edmar.
"How...?" Schine questioned, his gaze fixed on his son.
Edmar laughed and responded, "It's quite simple. You underestimated my sealing abilities, Father. I sealed my appearance within this doll, and with my elemental powers, I controlled it. Simultaneously, I sealed a portion of my energy inside this doll."
"You did this while we were fighting?" Schine inquired.
"Yes, you didn't even notice it. That's why I said you've grown weaker. When was the last time you fought someone? You haven't trained in the past decades. I've observed you and all the clan heads; you've relied too heavily on the All-Filter Barrier Formation!" Edmar explained. He raised his hand slowly, unleashing a massive wave of energy from his palm.
Boom!!
A massive explosion resonated, shaking the entire landscape. Schine was forcefully thrown back, tumbling across the rugged terrain, his form now stained with blood.
"You never anticipated that I could overcome you, did you?" Edmar grinned, and the duplicate figure beside him dissipated into nothingness. "You can remain here and witness as I shatter the barrier that has confined us."