As the silence returned, the sudden sound of cracking rocks echoed through the battlefield, creating tension among the remaining fighters.
"CRACK! CRUNCH!"
The noise grew louder as the pile of rubble shifted, and from within the debris, two powerful hands suddenly emerged.
"THWACK! GRRRAKK!"
The hands clenched tightly, muscles tense and covered in wounds, yet still radiating immense strength. Slowly, Linggis brought both hands together in front of his chest with a resounding impact:
"BOOMPH!"
With a slow but determined movement, he rose from the ruins, his body still covered in dust and dirt. Halfway upright, he resembled someone waking up from a long battle-induced slumber. Yet his eyes burned with hatred and resolve.
Then, suddenly, Linggis let out a roar that shook the ground:
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
His voice thundered across the battlefield, making the air tremble. Everyone nearby, including Elyssia and her group, stood frozen, unable to believe that Linggis still had the strength to rise.
At that moment, something dark and dense emerged from Linggis's hands. At first, it was only the size of a fist, but it slowly expanded, transforming into a swirling abyss like a black hole.
"WHOOOOOOOM!"
Winds raged violently around it, pulling in everything nearby, including scattered rocks and debris.
"W-what is that?!" Seo shouted in panic, struggling to keep himself from being dragged in.
The Demon General, who had begun to depart with confidence, now displayed fear for the first time. "What are you doing, Linggis? Stop this!" he shouted, but his body was already being pulled toward the vortex.
"SHHHHRRRROOOOM!"
The black vortex grew larger, consuming the Demon General entirely.
"NOOOOOO!"
His final scream echoed before his body was completely swallowed by the dark abyss.
Then, as the dark mass reached its peak, a massive explosion erupted:
"BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!"
The explosion unleashed a deadly black light, sweeping across the battlefield with destructive energy. Elyssia swiftly conjured an S-rank energy shield, expanding it to protect Seo, Han, and the High Priest Saint.
"WHUMPH! CLANG! KRRRSHHH!"
The shockwave struck their shield with overwhelming force, causing small cracks to form on its surface. Though they managed to withstand it, the impact devastated the surrounding area, leaving behind a vast crater.
Amidst the chaos, Linggis once again lay where he had been.
"THUMP."
His exhausted body collapsed onto the ground as if deliberately avoiding the blast he had just unleashed. His breathing was heavy, yet his expression remained calm, as if everything had gone exactly according to plan.
Elyssia slowly lowered her shield, her gaze fixed on Linggis, who lay motionless. "He knew exactly what he was doing," she murmured, her voice laced with both admiration and caution.
Seo, still weak and sitting on the ground, could only stare at Linggis in confusion. "What… is his true intention?"
No one could answer that question. But one thing was certain—Linggis had shifted the course of the battle once again, leaving them in uncertainty about who he truly was.