[5 Participants Alive]
[3 Monsters Remaining]
The trial was reaching its final showdown, and everyone, including the participants, wondered what would happen once all monsters died.
If the rules were correct, only one of the participants could enter the [Hollow Tower] to win, meaning that by the end of it all, only one could remain.
For the Gardenis family, it meant the huge possibility of their daughter dying.
For Lana, it meant that Stark or Sora would die, and no matter who it would be, they would be devastated.
And for the entire world, it meant that among all of those still alive, only one would rise to be the strongest.
The millions of screens displaying the trial were perfectly connected, meaning that those in the outside world could see all of it happening thanks to smooth cameras that followed everything.
For example, while Stark and Heartless One were fighting, the cameras were all on them, leaving out everybody else.
This was how this trial allowed those outside to see everything.
"Hey," the Mayor was the first to speak, and all the attention turned to him.
In contrast to his usual calm demeanor, the mayor had a bad feeling about all of this, and when he stared at Stark, it was almost as if he saw a terrifying presence.
Almost just as scary as the [Godless Demon].
’That kid... the more he fights... the more he gets fed up with all of this, the stronger he gets,’ he realized, ’And so that means that...’
Mayor smirked as he pointed at Stark with his disgusting hands.
"I say we eliminate that guy first."
He was talking to not only the remaining monsters, meaning the [Butler Trio] and [Tormented One], but also the participants.
Mainly to [Clever] and [Follower] though, as it was unlikely Lilith and Sora would betray him.
"Are they fucking serious?"
"NO FUCKING WAY?!"
People in the real world were shocked: these monsters were quite literally asking humans to team on someone else.
This was unheard of in humanity, as monsters ALWAYS fight humans, no matter what happens, yet here they are, trying to gang up on one simply because they fear he might be too strong.
Plus... wasn’t Clever the strongest?
That old man could summon his golden statue and smash all of them at the same time if he felt like it.
And yet...
"This might be a good idea," the old man smiled, "I say we tear him apart."
He was totally in, the idea of all of them fighting that kid fascinating to him.
"I’m in too, as long as I get the final blow," Follower appeared from the shadows, quite literally next to Mayor.
Yet, as expected, Mayor didn’t attack Follower, meaning that he was actually serious about fighting and killing Stark together.
Tormented One nodded his head too, taking a few steps toward Stark to indicate he was in on the idea.
"Oh, and before we can start the massacre," Clever smiled, "Let’s take care of the other two," he pointed at Sora and Lilith.
"I wouldn’t do this if I was you, old man," through all of this, Stark was strangely calm, looking at them with the most neutral of expressions.
"Do we kill them?" Follower pondered, he didn’t care about the other two, but if they could meddle in his plan then he would get rid of them.
"Don’t worry," Clever kept smiling as he snapped his fingers, two massive golden arms emerging from the ground beside the girls and grabbing them both, "They can’t escape anymore."
Sora and Lilith tried to escape, obviously, but not only were none of their skills working, but every time they resisted, the grip on the golden arms tightened.
And even people in the real world could now understand why they decided to gang up on him.
But through all of this, Stark kept smiling.
He asked the question one last time.
"Are... you... sure?"
"Yes," Clever grinned.
"Affirmative," The Mayor confirmed.
"If sir decides to kill you, then we are with him," The butler trio nodded.
"Why wouldn’t I?" Follower laughed.
"..." Tormented One nodded.
All of them agreed.
The entire world held its breath as they waited to see what Stark could possibly do.
"You should be happy, you know?" Clever spoke as he pointed at the restrained girls, "At least your two little girlfriends are going to be able to get out of here alive."
"..."
"Just give up, you can’t beat us, no matter what," Follower advanced, his dark aura taking over his body.
"..."
"It was nice fighting with you, human, but we have more important things to do," Mayor bowed out of respect, "You shall be remembered."
"..."
And then... Stark laughed.
"You guys are so... stupid, hahaha," he held his stomach, actually thinking all of this was funny.
"Did he go insane?"
"No, I’m not insane," he wiped the tears from his eyes, "But..."
Stark’s expression suddenly became so serious, and his aura so powerful, that all the others took their defensive stances
"I guess all of you are going to die now."
Clever’s golden statue loomed behind him, its massive arms ready to crush anyone who defied him.
Follower’s shadowy aura twisted unnaturally, a monstrous figure hovering just behind him, exuding pure malice.
The Mayor’s grotesque form pulsed with dark energy, and the Butler Trio’s synchronized movements were sharp and calculating.
Even the Tormented One, silent and deadly, glared at Stark with glowing eyes.
The camera focused on Stark as he placed his two hands together, his eyes still closed.
And then...
He pointed at the sky.
"Huh?"
"What is he doing?"
Those outside the trial, and that had never seen it, were confused, but on the other hand, all of those inside suddenly tensed up.
That’s when Stark whispered the words that could crush anyone who fought him.
"Heaven’s Spear," he smiled, calm as ever, "Angel of the Spear, come to my rescue."