Mrs. Victoria narrated the past incident from when Stormis was younger, explaining how she had once managed to calm him down in that unstable state.

She also stated that when he reached the final stage, there was nothing she could do. Only her husband had been capable of holding him down at that point.

After hearing everything, Marlon was able to grasp how the situation truly operated.

To calm Stormis down, he either needed to possess a skill that could instantly soothe the mind or allow Stormis to kill him.

The first option was impossible.

The second option was far more achievable.

"He is already fighting my clones," Marlon said, turning his gaze toward the battlefield.

He continued, "I can make my clone put up an even better fight and allow him to kill it."

He finished speaking and waited.

Mrs. Victoria nodded slowly.

"That should work," she said.

Marlon noticed the look on her face. It was not the expression of someone who was fully convinced.

"Is there anything else?" he asked.

"I am not sure how he would react if he finds out that he defeated a clone instead of the real you," she replied after a short pause. "No one has ever tried something like that before. Tricking him might do more harm than good."

"So what are you suggesting?" Marlon asked.

Mrs. Victoria looked at him without responding.

Marlon's thoughts raced as he processed her silence, and realization dawned on him.

"You're a soul healer, You're planning to use your powers on him. Is that right?"

She nodded.

Marlon nodded in response.

That might work.

However, the chances were lower than the chances of Stormis killing her in the process.

Still, her plan was better than taking an even bigger risk that might provoke Stormis into reaching the final stage.

All Marlon needed to do was surround her with enough clones while she used her power.

Enough clones.

At least three clone units.

He checked his aether reserve.

[ AP: 4,555/20,000 ]

He needed more aether points.

Fortunately, Mrs. Victoria had a large supply of high-grade aether potions in her reserve. When Marlon asked, she transferred twenty to him without hesitation.

Marlon gulped down enough potions for his aether points to fill up completely.

He summoned three additional clone units.

When he turned toward Mrs. Victoria, she was already preparing herself.

Marlon explained his plan in detail. She grasped everything quickly, and the two of them moved into action without delay.

===

Ground-wrecking explosions rocked the entire area one after another as Stormis relentlessly fired potent dark magic spells, each one stronger than the last, at the fleeing clone.

He had noticed the slight reduction in movement and reaction speed from the clone, but he simply assumed that Marlon was finally growing exhausted.

As a result, his rage gradually settled.

Very soon, his goal would be completed.

In his current state, he did not grow impatient.

He continued releasing spells in rapid succession.

To him, it felt as though he was playing with a strong toy.

Marlon's remaining clones and Mrs. Victoria arrived at a location far from the ruined battlefield and hid behind a massive boulder.

From their hiding spot, they observed the unfolding chaos.

"He is more composed than usual," Mrs. Victoria said.

Although her voice remained calm, her face told a different story.

Marlon did not ask what she meant. Right now, he only wanted everything to end.

There were many things he needed to correct about himself after this fight ended, starting with his lack of strength.

He used Inspect on his clone.

Its health was still intact due to the effects of the Sovereign Crimson Physique.

However, its stamina had dropped to fifteen percent.

Very soon, it would be too weak to even move.

"I will leave now to replace my clone," Marlon said. "The others will protect you."

Mrs. Victoria nodded.

She positioned herself carefully and twisted her hands gently as she prepared to cast her spell.

Beside her, Marlon activated Swap.

In an instant, his vision shifted, and his body felt weightless and midair.

The clone he had swapped with was leaping toward a different position.

Marlon adjusted immediately, twisting his body skillfully before landing firmly on the ground.

The moment his feet touched the surface, another attack arrived.

The impact released a powerful shockwave, but he remained unscathed.

Just as Marlon was about to evade again, he noticed something unusual.

Stormis was no longer focused on him.

Stormis' head had turned toward the hiding spot.

Marlon's eyes narrowed as he watched Stormis analyze the location, sensing the aether radiating from that direction.

"Shit. How did he find out so quickly?" Marlon muttered, grinding his teeth.

This discovery alone made the entire plan far more difficult.

"YOU!!"

Stormis' voice echoed across the land in a layered chorus, sending chills down the spines of anyone who heard it.

He turned fully toward Marlon, his earlier composure shattered.

His eyes gleamed with hatred and killing intent so intense that it felt as though it pierced through flesh and bored directly into the soul.

Stormis said nothing further.

He slowly stretched out both hands.

A fist-sized ball of shadow energy formed between his palms.

It immediately began sucking in everything around it. Dust, sand, and shattered debris were dragged toward it at an alarming pace.

The shadow energy expanded rapidly, growing to the size of an adult torso and then to the size of a car.

The atmosphere grew heavy as chaotic aether drifted wildly, disrupting the natural flow of everything nearby.

"Oh no," Mrs. Victoria exclaimed from the hiding spot.

The clones around her moved instantly, circling her and forming a defensive barrier.

Their blank eyes showed neither fear nor emotion, only a cold and absolute determination to act.

As she watched, four of them suddenly vanished.

Or so she thought.

"Send them at me, Stormis," Marlon shouted. "Show me what you've got."

Marlon stood his ground and bellowed at the top of his lungs, his voice managing to reach Stormis despite the violent turbulence caused by the attack.

The spell had now grown to the size of a truck, swallowing everything around it.

The taunt worked.

Stormis released the attack without mercy.

The spell, which could only be described as a black hole, surged toward Marlon faster than any spell he had used so far.

Massive debris, some as large as three-story buildings, was instantly devoured in its path.

Even before it reached him, Marlon could feel the terrifying suction force pulling at his body.

"SWAP!"

Marlon exchanged places with one of the clones beside Mrs. Victoria.

He appeared next to her and turned sharply.

She had frozen in place, unable to act due to overwhelming motherly concern.

With a serious expression and a voice filled with urgency, Marlon spoke.

"Now."

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