Chapter 298: Nigh Impossible to Crush

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The moment Valac's attack phased through Apollo's body, he knew something was wrong. Due to the type of attack he used, he was immediately put in an unfavorable position. Furthermore, Valac couldn't retreat because the phantasm he attacked almost instantly started to solidify around his weapon.

Naturally, this was due to the assisting properties of Chaos Energy. Everything that it touched became unpredictable. Hence, there was no easy way for Valac to discern what would happen next.

While he was shocked by this development, Apollo appeared at his side with a ruthless gleam in his eyes. Both of his hands were pressed together as a compressed attack materialized in his hands. Based on the fluctuations, it seemed to be a variation of the Devouring Nebula Strike.

However, the was also another purpose of this attack.

"Master, I can sense it. Attack his head! That's where a majority of his power happens to be flowing through. If we disrupt it, I'm sure we'll be able to win this battle. Then we can deal with the very bad guy!" Ouroboros exclaimed within Apollo's mind.

Apollo then focused on Valac's head before making a move. He split his hands apart which caused the orb to disperse into clouds of aura that covered his hands. Fortunately, this didn't cause Apollo to feel any discomfort. After all, it was Apollo's first time dealing with this type of attack.

Without hesitation, slapped his palms against Valac's ear. This caused his eyes to widened as he felt different types of energies bombard his mind. First of which was a strong stream of Gula. Not only was it extremely pure, but it even seemed to bypass the guards his Superbia erected.

The energy continued to dissolve it by devouring its basic structures. This was why Gula was so dangerous, while it didn't seem violent, it was a truly malicious Sin. It was just covered by other factors that would disgust people.

"Get off of MEEE!!!" Valac bellowed, roaring to the sky as he tried to throw Apollo off his body. Unfortunately, Gula was accompanied by an extremely strong suction ability. In other words, no matter how much he tried to toss Apollo aside, he couldn't do so.

And, when he tried to launch a devastating blow at Apollo's body, a large portion of the force was diverted by the midnight blue scales covering his body. Additionally, every time he received a strike, the scale seemed to shimmer, almost as if it was absorbing and storing it.

"Dammn! Offf...offf...OFFFF!!!" Valac screeched. His eyes turned blood red as he felt his mind become increasingly chaotic. If he didn't get Apollo off him soon, this whole spectacle would shift into a grand embarrassment. No matter who Apollo was, he couldn't allow this to be so.

As a result, he was pushed to desperate straits. All of the Superbia in his mind bubbled. Dark golden runes lit up on Valac's body as his aura started to surpass that of a Great Demon. He was entering the realm of Archdemons! However, it wasn't through natural means.

Unique to every piece was a seal hidden deep inside them. It was put in place to keep their strength at a low level to refrain from drawing attention. However, should they enter precarious situations, then they all possessed the ability to shatter a portion of it.

Only under the permission of the Monarch could the complete seal be abolished. Nevertheless, that small portion proved sufficient to raise all of their power to another level. But, the aftereffects would be just as terrible as the benefits were euphoric.

Meanwhile, as Apollo realized the spike in Valac's aura, he knew it would become dangerous. Thus, he immediately released his Domination Intent. It became a race against time, could he damage Valac's mind fast enough before he reached the level of quelling his attempts, or would he perish trying?

Although it was an important question, Apollo didn't want to squander the opportunity Ouroboros had given him. Furthermore, as a piece, Apollo felt an innate sense of superiority over Valac. Therefore, if he failed to bring him under his grasp, he would feel like a failure.

'No. Break, break, break!' Apollo roared in his mind as he looked at Valac's head with a crazed intent. The Domination Intent rampaged, bolstering the corruption by a large margin, however, Valac's wasn't someone with meager tenacity. He held on despite the immense pain he felt.

All of a sudden, his wings inverted and each of them stabbed into Apollo's back. Unlike before, this strike broke through the defenses of the scales and pierced his back. Apollo gasped as the pain caused him to momentarily falter.

Be that as it may, the struggle was far from over. Through pure grit, Apollo continued his actions, finally bringing Valac to one knee. Despite the streams of blood flowing from his back, Apollo felt his excitement thrum as Valac failed to stand erect.

"Yes, crumble beneath me! You are my follower, you can't defy my orders. So, kneel and BREAK!" Apollo roared before smashing Valac's head into the ground. In the eyes of others, it seemed as if Apollo was beginning to lose his reasoning.

One of Valac's wings went limp as Apollo picked up his head and smashed it once again. Afterward, he didn't pause in the slightest before starting to pummel Valac's head. Just as he was knocked unconscious earlier, he wished to do that same to Valac.

Without a tinge of mercy, he switched between brutal elbows and fierce stabs until the top of Valac's head was a mess. Finally, he grabbed his arm and flipped him over his shoulder. As Valac's body slammed into the ground and made the whole area tremble, Apollo continued to heave.

Yet, as he stared at Valac he realized he was still giving him a murderous gaze, "How aren't you unconscious yet? After all this, you can still retain clarity of your mind?" Apollo muttered in slight shock.

On the other hand, Valac spat to the side, "I...will not lose. If so, we will have a pyrrhic victory. You...are unworthy to be my master." Even though Apollo had driven him to the edge of defeat, he still didn't believe Apollo to be strong. For one, this was his personal strength. He was currently fused with another entity.

In his eyes, until Apollo beat him with his own power, he would never believe him to be worthy. This was just Valac's personality. He was as headstrong and stubborn as they come. This was a large contributing factor to his terrible days as an infant demon.

"I will make you realize your words are incorrect," Apollo responded before standing over him. At the same time, he also glanced in the corner of his eyes and noticed his dangerously low reserves. Every single power he used was near the point of exhaustion, but he didn't care. To him, accomplishing this task was greater than overwhelming exhaustion.

One after another, Apollo reinforced his strikes with every type of energy he possessed until it was sapped dry. Even then, Apollo didn't use any big moves. He launched simple punches, but aimed them all at a single point—Valac's bloodied face! 

After the first punch, there was no effect. Valac still gazed at him with the same resolute gaze. He was adamant in not admitting his allegiance. Thus, Apollo continued without any further thought.

The second punch, the same result.

The third punch, the same result.

The tenth punch, the hate within Valac's eyes grew.

After the twenty-fifth punch, Valac's eye could barely remain open as most of the bones in his face had become disfigured. Yet, through his slitted eyes, he still showed his towering defiance.

As this took place, Fuhrer chuckled. He was truly amused by what he was watching, 'It seems this fool hasn't changed in the slightest. Nevertheless, this type of treatment is truly the only 'words' that get through to him. The question is, does this lad have enough energy to push him to his breaking point?'

In light of his curiosity, Fuhrer watched attentively. He could tell with ease that Apollo was becoming tired. After 50 blows, each of his punches grew both slower and lighter.

However, Valac still muttered in a half-unconscious state, "I...will not..give in."

"Damn! You will!" Apollo roared in return. He locked his hands together and slammed them down causing both him and Valac to burrow deeper into the ground. It was clear he sought to crush Valac as he continued to do so. 

Even when his own consciousness barely holding together, Apollo just continued. When it came to stubbornness, it seemed Valac had met his match.

"I..." Valac muttered before his whole body convulsed. A large change happened as Apollo froze completely.