King of my heart

Seeds of Discord - Part III

With all of the Fingers defeated, the battle against Baal crackles to life with an intensity that immediately consumes the battlefield. Electricity arcs wildly, the air thick with static and the scent of ozone as Baal stands in the eye of his self-made storm, his power radiating with an almost oppressive force. His sneer cuts through the chaos, cold and mocking as he levels his gaze at Iruma.

"You think this is your moment, don't you?" Baal's voice booms, each word carried on the crackling hum of his energy. "But this is where your little rebellion ends. All of you, nothing more than dust in my storm."

Iruma doesn't flinch. His heart pounds in his chest, but his feet remain planted. The weight of his friends' trust and the lives they're fighting for fuel his resolve. He grips the Ring of Gluttony tighter, its hum of power pulsing through his hand as Ali-kun's voice cuts through the storm in his mind.

"This guy's no amateur, Iruma-kun," Ali-kun warns, his tone sharp and analytical. "You can't face him head-on—not yet. He's got too much raw power. We have to wear him down. Break his rhythm."

Iruma nods faintly, his sharp eyes locked on Baal. "Then we need a plan," he murmurs under his breath. His voice remains steady, though his chest feels tight with the weight of what lies ahead.

"That's what I'm here for, kid," Ali-kun replies, his tone edged with a wry determination. "This is why I chose you. Trust me, and we'll bring him down together."

Baal raises his hand, and with a crack like splitting stone, a bolt of lightning shoots from his palm, aimed directly at Iruma. Without hesitation, Iruma dives to the side, the bolt striking where he'd just stood and leaving a smoking crater in its wake. The sheer force of the attack sends shockwaves rippling outward, nearly toppling Clara and Sabro, who scramble to recover.

"Keep moving!" Gaap shouts from across the battlefield, his voice cutting through the roar of electricity. Picero manipulated the terrain to create a barrier around them to deflect another errant arc of energy. "Do not give him a stationary target!"

Sabro growls, slamming his fists together as he charges toward Baal, his axes roaring to life. "I don't care how strong he is!" he bellows. "I'm going to break him!"

But as Sabro closes the distance, Baal barely lifts a finger, sending a wave of lightning that crashes into Sabro's axes and shatters them like leaves in the wind. Sabro staggers back, his teeth gritted in frustration.

"Too reckless," Baal taunts, his voice like a knife's edge. "Is that all the so-called Abnormal Class has to offer?"

Iruma clenches his fists, his mind racing as he watches Sabro retreat, panting but unbroken. He glances around at his friends, their determination unshaken despite the overwhelming power they face. We can't fight him the way he wants, Iruma realizes. If we do, he'll keep overpowering us. But if we can disrupt him, force him to split his focus...

"Spread out!" Iruma shouts, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Don't give him a single target! Work together, keep him off balance!"

His words ripple through the group, and one by one, they adjust their positions, moving fluidly to circle Baal. Clara bounds unpredictably, drawing his attention with bursts of chaotic movement that force him to redirect his attacks. Alice unleashes precise, controlled bursts of fire magic, aiming for the gaps in Baal's defenses. Sabro strikes from the opposite side, his raw power hammering at Baal's guard.

Baal's sneer falters, his eyes narrowing as he realizes the strategy at play. "Clever," he mutters, his tone laced with irritation. "But you're still nothing more than pests."

He raises both hands, summoning a massive surge of electricity that spirals outward, threatening to engulf everyone in its path. Iruma's heart pounds as the wave of energy rushes toward him, faster than he can react.