The scene that unfolded with the black hole was difficult to explain using simple terms.

It was nerve-racking to witness.

Mountains that would take weeks for modern equipment to break down were sucked into the black hole at alarming rates.

Dents deeper than ancient wells appeared at the spot where the mountains once stood.

Marlon's clone was sucked in as well.

It first disintegrated into visible particles of blood, flesh, and bone before being completely consumed.

Marlon swallowed coldly. Despite not experiencing the pain of his own clone, it was an entirely different thing to witness his exact replica undergoing such an inhumane fate.

Mrs. Victoria was even more traumatized, in the sense that her own son was the one causing it.

Nonetheless, her hands were wrapped in bright purple Illumination as she stretched them toward the direction where her son stood.

Her soul-healing powers found their target, and a very thin layer of purple energy, easily negligible, formed around him.

She drastically poured all her aether into the skill, boosting its effect as much as she possibly could.

She shut her eyes to focus and channel even more power, trusting her skill with her life and trusting Marlon's ability even more.

The black hole, after sucking in everything around it, snapped and vanished with a sharp zapping sound.

But it was not the end.

Stormis instantly noted the strangeness of everything that had taken place.

His eyes snapped toward the hiding spot where he could feel different vessels.

Two were familiar.

Marlon, and someone else.

But his only focus was Marlon.

The familiarity tied to his mother existed only within his senses. He did not recognize it.

Marlon, spotting his gaze, leapt off the hiding spot and stood atop a rocky boulder.

He saw a hint of rage on Stormis' face.

But that was exactly what he needed.

He stepped down from the boulder and, with steady and confident steps, moved in another direction, attempting to draw Stormis' attention away from the clones and Mrs. Victoria.

'It is as she said. No one under her powers can feel it.'

That was the reason even Stormis had not sensed the soul-healing powers acting on his being.

'I just need to buy enough time for the skill to reach its full effect on him and deactivate his form.'

And so, Marlon lifted his hands.

He channeled aether, created a ball of blood energy, and released it.

This was his first long-range attack ever.

The attack flew toward Stormis, who casually lifted his hand and swatted it away as one would a fly.

A hint of irritation appeared on his face.

Stormis formed his own blood magic attack in retaliation. It was many times larger than Marlon's and far more potent, concentrated with thousands of aether points compared to Marlon's, which had consumed only a few hundred.

While the attack was still swirling toward him, Stormis released another four in close succession.

The sheer pressure made it feel as if Marlon's entire aether reserve would be expended at once.

It made him wonder just how much aether Stormis truly possessed.

But in the meantime, he evaded.

The area had now become a vast plain compared to its former state, which had once been surrounded by towering mountains.

Dozens of massive dents littered the land where the mountains had once stood.

This revealed an even broader view of the entire pocket world.

On one side, a beautiful forest was visible, a peaceful contrast to the current situation.

On another side, calm springs drifted quietly.

The remaining regions appeared peaceful compared to this devastated zone.

Marlon used Swap with his four clones positioned in different locations, all of them remaining in stealth mode to evade Stormis' attacks.

He would swap to evade, return once successful, and continue deceiving him in that manner.

In the meantime, Mrs. Victoria continued channeling more aether into her skill.

'He is more powerful than before,' she noted.

'Last time, it took less than two minutes to calm him down. But even after five minutes, I feel as though I am still only at the beginning.'

'Has he been leveling up against his father's orders?'

She thought.

Her son had become more rebellious.

She needed to discuss everything with her husband once he returned.

'Maybe he can finally find a solution to this. Stormis needs to live a peaceful life, like other children his age.'

She thought.

A line of tears slipped from her eye.

She recalled memories of her son.

Memories of how he had been denied a life outside the house.

Ever since he awakened his talents and blessings at the age of four, they had been forced to keep him indoors at all times.

He never attended school like his mates.

His education until now had been entirely online or through lessons she personally tutored.

He never had friends.

The only people he had grown close to, aside from their family members who knew of his existence and powers, were the Sterling siblings and Marlon.

Among them, Marlon was the youngest, so he naturally became closer to him despite the short time they had spent together.

And now that Stormis had threatened to end Marlon's life, she would not be shocked if Marlon began avoiding him.

Tears streamed down her face even more heavily.

Her emotions pushed her aether output even further.

The layer of soul-healing power over Stormis grew stronger and more visible.

Marlon noticed this and kept Stormis more engaged.

'Keep going, Mrs. Victoria. You can do it.'

He cheered inwardly as he used Swap once again.

The soul-healing power surged further and further.

And after a minute, its effects finally took hold.

Stormis' attacks began to slow.

The thick jet-black magical armor covering his body weakened.

It glitched randomly.

Switching abruptly from jet black to pure white.

And then the glitch stopped.

The dark power within Stormis fought desperately to maintain dominance.

Mrs. Victoria sensed it.

Her expression tightened.

She channeled more and more power, her body trembling as she pushed herself beyond anything she had done before.

"Ahhh!"

Stormis' hands grabbed at his shoulders as he let out a blood-curdling scream.

It was the same fragmented chorus as usual, but this time, his childish voice carried far more power.

He lifted his hands and released several dark energy balls toward his mother.

Marlon commanded his clones, and ten of them threw themselves into the attack, absorbing it.

Half of them died.

But they continued.

The dark powers fought for dominance even more.

But Mrs Victoria soul healing powers subdued them.

It continued and finally.

It ended.

The thick dark armor dispersed into smoke and vanished.

Stormis reverted to his normal form and fell on the ground.

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