[6th Apostle: Valgorth the Desolator]
[7th Apostle: Cerberus, The Protector of Hell]
[8th apostle: Malthus the Death Devil]
And though they had different placements in the [ApostleDex], each of them was level 375!
The massive chamber hummed with ominous energy as Stark's eyes flicked between the three apostles standing before him, their combined presence causing the very air to feel oppressive.
He immediately used [Perception], and it didn't take him long to pull up their status windows as he prepared for battle.
...
[Name: Valgorth, the Desolator]
[Level: 375]
[HP: 1,820,000/1,820,000]
[Strength: 16,500]
[Stamina: 15,900]
[Speed: 13,200]
[Defense: 17,000]
[Skills: Desolating Fist; Inferno Crush; Hellfire Aura; Dark Dominion; Demonic Charge; Earthshatter Blow; Titan's Rampage; Wrath of Valgorth; Hellbound Shackles (MYTHICAL)]
...
[Name: Cerberus, The Protector of Hell]
[Level: 375]
[HP: 1,292,626/1,750,000]
[Strength: 17,000]
[Stamina: 17,500]
[Speed: 12,800]
[Defense: 18,000]
[Skills: Triple Fang; Infernal Chains; Cerberus Howl; Flame Whip; Molten Fury; Hound's Charge; Underworld Sentinel; Guardian's Wrath; Cerberus's Bite (MYTHICAL)]
...
[Name: Malthus, the Death Devil]
[Level: 375]
[HP: 1,650,000/1,650,000]
[Strength: 14,800]
[Stamina: 15,200]
[Speed: 14,000]
[Defense: 16,500]
[Skills: Soul Cleaver; Reaper's Dance; Death Aura; Wailing Scythe; Spectral Strike; Undying Presence; Soul Drain; Phantom Blink; Death's Embrace (MYTHICAL); Blackened Harvest (GODLY)]
...
Stark's heart raced as he processed the stats in front of him.
Even though each of the apostles was just slightly weaker than Olikar, fighting all three of them at once was a different beast altogether.
"Damn," Stark muttered, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, "Didn't think it would be this... complicated."
But there was no turning back now.
This was the challenge he had been preparing for all along, and hesitation wasn't part of his choices.
He charged up a Crimson Purification energy ball, gathering divine light into his palm.
It hummed with raw power as he prepared to hurl it at the apostles, and when he did, expecting it to do serious damage...
Slash! Fwish!
The ball disintegrated in an instant, sliced cleanly by Malthus's scythe before it reached them.
"Divine light is nothing before the power of the Death Devil," Malthus said coldly, his skeletal grin widening as his weapon gleamed in the chamber's dim light.
Its three heads glowed with demonic energy as it lunged forward, jaws wide, intending to crush Stark in one bite.
Stark threw out his Domination Soul, his crimson heart slamming into Cerberus and then sending [Domi-Chain Restrain] on it.
-273612!
The beast roared in defiance, but Stark wasn't done.
He focused his energy, merging the chains tighter and tighter, causing the three-headed monster to writhe in pain.
But as Stark tried to restrain Cerberus, both Valgorth and Malthus closed in from either side.
"Hellfire Aura!"
"Blackened Harvest!"
Flames erupted around Stark, burning with demonic fury as Valgorth unleashed his hellfire aura.
At the same time, Malthus summoned a wave of spectral hands that clawed at Stark's body, draining his life force with each touch.
Stark roared as his health dropped dangerously low.
His body was battered and burned, the relentless onslaught of attacks leaving him with barely a fraction of his health remaining.
His vision blurred.
He could barely stand.
The apostles towered over him, ready to deliver the final blow.
[HP: 1/125000]
But suddenly...
[Crimson Healing activated, Full Health restored.]
Crimson Healing activated, bathing Stark in a burst of restorative energy. His health surged back to full, his body glowing with crimson light as he stood up, completely back to full health.
"Guess I'm not done yet," he muttered through gritted teeth, smiling at the apostles.
The apostles snarled, they knew it wouldn't be this easy.
They regrouped, their eyes glowing with murderous intent.
And then... Stark did something weird: he looked to his right, at one of the corners of the room.
"5 seconds..." he mumbled.
As the apostles began to converge on him for one final, combined assault, Stark tried to slam his [Soul Heart] at Valgorth.
Then he launched a barrage of Crimson Spears at Malthus, forcing him to dodge while he leapt backward, putting distance between himself and Cerberus's snapping jaws.
3 seconds.
Sweat dripped down Stark's face as he continued to dodge and weave through their attacks.
2 seconds.
Surprisingly, though, he didn't feel tired, not at all.
1 seconds.
The apostles roared as they prepared their ultimate abilities, demonic energy swirling around them.
0 seconds.
A grin split Stark's face as his Ultimate Clone finally activated.
The reason he had teleported to the edge of the chamber with [Crimson Ball Transmission] was to secretly place his [Ultimate Clone], doing everything in his power to get the apostles' full attention.
And it worked!
[The Ultimate Clone has been summoned.]
"Let's turn the tables, now," he grinned so mischievously the apostles were taken aback.
"What the hell?" the apostles saw the clone teleport right next the original Stark using its very own [Crimson Ball Transmission].
"=)" it smiled at them, as if mocking them for their stupidity.
"WON'T CHANGE A THING HUMAN," Valgorth positioned himself, taking the fight seriously.
"It is but futile... die... it will beautiful," and Malthus span his sight before pointing it at the two opponents.
"Grrrsskkrr..." Cerberus on the other hand was ready to attack at any point.
"Well, what are you waiting for," Stark laughed!