"Hehehehaha."
Jericho let out a disdainful chuckle.
"Don't compare me to those lowly imitated demons. I possess the true power bestowed by the mighty Trigon!"
Jericho's face was consumed by fervor as he spread his hands wide, showing no reaction to Yuri's attacks. "I don't even need to fight you all, because you can never breach the barrier of Trigon's power!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the energy beam Yuri had fired arrived within ten centimeters of Jericho.
However, in just an instant, the blood tendrils entwined with Yuri's tendrils moved to Jericho's front, forming a solid wall of blood.
During this process, Yuri couldn't even discern the trajectory of the blood's movement.
Gurgle!
The energy beam Yuri had released with all his might wasn't scattered like the energy wave before. It wasn't deflected by Jericho's defense either.
Instead, it gradually got consumed by the wall of blood, and the energy beam seeped into the barrier. Jericho's blood shield grew larger and harder bit by bit.
Yuri realized the situation wasn't favorable. He was about to stop releasing energy when a thought occurred to him.
If the blood wall was growing harder, didn't that mean it could be shattered?
"Conner!"
Yuri mentally communicated with Conner's soul. "Quickly, try to break through that wall!"
Conner immediately understood and rushed toward the blood wall at his fastest speed. He punched right in the middle of the barrier.
To the surprise of both, the once unyielding wall softened the moment Conner's fist made contact, becoming elastic and making a "DuangDuang" sound upon impact.
The soft yet elastic wall instantly enveloped Conner's fist and then reverted to its previous hardness.
Conner attempted to retract his hand, but the blood wall showed no response.
The next moment, a strange feeling of exhaustion and powerlessness enveloped Conner, making him sense his strength was rapidly draining away.
Unlike Jericho and Ghostfreak, Conner's soul itself didn't possess power. His strength stemmed entirely from his body. When he felt his soul's power diminishing, it signified a significant loss of control over his body.
Once he lost complete control over his body, Conner would lose any ability to resist, plunging into a perpetual slumber. Jericho would then gain control of Superboy's entire power.
Yuri immediately ceased emitting energy, reaching Conner's side and extending the tendrils from his chest to entwine Conner's arm, attempting to pull him out.
He didn't dare touch the blood wall directly, considering that Ghostfreak's energy had already been absorbed. Yuri couldn't be certain if he touched the wall, he wouldn't experience the same fate as Conner.
However, the Ectonurites were not known for their physical strength. Even with Yuri and Conner exerting their utmost effort, they couldn't free Conner's hand.
This blood wall, constructed by the Trigon's power, stood like an insurmountable mountain, stretching between Yuri and Conner.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Jericho's maniacal laughter pierced into Yuri and Conner's ears. "You'll never fathom how magnificent my god's existence is. The day of Trigon's coming is near, and no one can thwart my god's arrival. At that time, the whole world will bask in endless beauty under the will of Trigon!"
"I feel like he's become a completely different person," Conner mused. "The previous Jericho, even though he was a bit crazy, still retained a hint of the rationality he had as a Titan. His methods were extreme, but he had his own logic."
"But ever since he uttered that oath to devote his soul, he's transformed into a fanatical adherent of some extradimensional malevolent deity," Yuri added.
Yuri furrowed his brow. "Conner, hasn't Superman told you about these things? I find it hard to believe that the Justice League would have no information about these extradimensional cults that have developed beliefs on Earth. Such as weaknesses of this Trigon deity, for example."
Conner shook his head. "Superman talks more about milking cows than his experiences in the League. I don't know if the Justice League is aware of the Trigon's existence, but I've never heard of this cult."
Not knowing the opponent's weaknesses was problematic. Yuri fell into contemplation.
"Yuri."
Suddenly, Conner called out Yuri's name.
"Have you remembered some intel?" Yuri quickly inquired.
"No, I just want to say thank you. I appreciate that you were willing to come to this place at great risk to save me," Conner's expression was unexpectedly serious. "But Jericho's power is too formidable. Even if we join forces, we can't even touch him. So, you mustn't endanger your soul here. Jericho's attention is currently diverted outside. You need to leave this place quickly."
Upon hearing this, Yuri finally understood why Jericho had only been repelling their attacks without counterattacking. It turned out that Starfire and Beast Boy had arrived and had already engaged in combat with the controlled Superboy.
Evidently, the battle was not going well for Starfire and Beast Boy.
Jericho, Conner, and Yuri coexisted within Superboy's body, with varying degrees of control.
Jericho held dominance over the body, naturally being aware of everything happening externally.
Conner had lost control but still retained a connection to his body. He could sense sensory information shared with his soul.
Only Yuri was an entirely foreign presence, lacking control over the body. He was completely in the dark about external events.
"Starfire and Gar won't be a match for 'me'. If this continues, they might die at 'my' hands," Conner anxiously conveyed to Yuri.
"Yuri, quickly take Starfire and Gar out of here. Don't confront Jericho head-on. Go seek help from the Justice League!" Conner urged.
For Superboy, who had never been fond of involving the Justice League, to actively call for their assistance, the actual situation might be even more grim than Yuri had imagined.
"Okay, Conner, take care!" Yuri replied without any pretense, immediately setting out to exit Superboy's body.
Just as Ghost was about to leave the soul space, a sudden change occurred!
"Running away? Dream on!"
Jericho suddenly shouted, and half of the blood wall in front of him detached from the surface, reforming into a thick mass of blood.
"Feel the greatness of Trigon's power! Hahaha!"
This mass of blood instantly moved behind Yuri. Countless tendrils shot out, tightly binding Ghostfreak.
Simultaneously, a blood-red energy emanating an extremely sinister aura surged from the tendrils, gradually infiltrating Yuri's body.
Unnoticed by anyone, the omnitrix on Yuri's wrist suddenly turned yellow...
...
On the other side, in a secure location on the coastline unaffected by the earthquake, where Tim and the others were situated.
Tim, with a worried expression, gazed toward the distant horizon. His vision couldn't reach far enough to perceive just how intense the battle between the Teen Titans and Superboy was.
Yet, he understood Conner's capabilities, even if not perfectly.
"Conner, you mustn't forget our agreement. Always remember who you are, and that no one can control your destiny," Tim muttered to himself.
"Mmmhmm!"
Suddenly, a voice resonated from beside him. It sounded female, certainly not Nightwing's voice.
Tim turned to look, only to see Raven, who had previously been unconscious, slowly opening her eyes...
°°°
Hungry for more chaps? Then check out our pătreon!
Link: Påtreon.com/BaphometFiction
I post 10 advanced chapters of this fanfic there.