BOOOOOM!
The Domain of Light expanded again, enveloping all the Shields.
Yet, the Shields didn't die.
Instead, the Domain of Light strengthened them.
The Champion's white eyes looked downward.
Then, he swung his sword.
BOOOOM!
He destroyed several kilometers of flesh.
At that moment, an uncountable number of tentacles came out of the surrounding walls.
The Maw realized that the Champion was attacking it, and it struck back.
The tentacles stretched into the Domain of Light, but they were turned into nothingness as soon as they touched it.
The Champion felt his Zephyx draining.
The Champion had a choice.
Would he ask his friends to sacrifice themselves so that he could become a Savior?
Or would he fight the Maw with them?
He had chosen the latter.
He had enough of sacrifices!
He didn't want to sacrifice anyone anymore!
Humanity couldn't keep growing by consuming the corpses of their innocent sacrifices!
The Sun had given him this power, and he would use it for the good of humanity!
He was not the Champion of Light.
He was the Champion of Humanity!
As more tentacles appeared, the other Shields started to help.
They all struck the tentacles, but even with all of their powers combined, they could only deal with 60% of them.
The other 40% still reached the Domain of Light.
"Deploy the Star Grenades!" the Champion ordered.
Mirana immediately took out several grenades from the Space Bag and threw them out of the Domain of Light.
As soon as they exited the Domain of Light, the Champion deactivated his ability.
Almost immediately, the tentacles reached the Shields.
BOOOM!
The grenades exploded, covering everything in Star Energy.
The tentacles started to turn into white dust, but the Maw immediately cut them from its body.
"Ferguson down!" one of them shouted.
Ferguson had been one of the Shields.
While humans could deal with some Star Energy, if there were too much around them, it could affect their Zephyx.
Because of that, while the Star Grenades exploded, everyone wasn't allowed to use any Zephyx.
They had to isolate their bodies.
Otherwise, the Star Energy would turn their Zephyx into Star Energy, which would then extend to their Zephyx Synchronizer and turn that into Star Energy as well.
Of course, between the moments when the Domain of Light deactivated and the Star Grenades exploded, they were vulnerable.
Ferguson had died during that moment.
The Champion activated his Domain of Light again.
Even though the Maw managed to deal with the Star Energy, it still lost a huge chunk of its body and Zephyx.
"Continue!" the Champion shouted as he unleashed another strike.
BOOOM!
The strike extended further down.
After breaking through almost ten kilometers of flesh, it started to hit hard metal.
They had broken through the Maw's outer shell!
The Champion grabbed all the other Shields with telekinesis, and they didn't resist.
Then, he charged down.
More and more tentacles attacked his Domain of Light, and his Zephyx was dropping rapidly.
They were approaching the exit, but the Champion's Zephyx was critically low.
"Star Grenade!" Mirana suddenly transmitted to everyone.
Then, she threw the Space Bag to one of the Shields before rushing out of the Domain of Light with tens of Star Grenades.
"I hope I won't see any of you soon!" Mirana said with a smirk.
Everyone watched as Mirana was surrounded by tentacles.
BOOOOM!
Then, another explosion of Star Energy happened, and the surroundings cleared.
Mirana had sacrificed herself to allow the other three to escape.
The others gritted their teeth.
Another Shield had died!
There were now only two Shields and the Champion left.
However, thanks to Mirana's sacrifice, the remaining three managed to get out of the Maw's domain.
Several Shields died, but if they had just sacrificed themselves to allow the Champion to advance in peace, there would be no Shields left.
They would only have one Savior.
But now, they had one Savior and two Shields.
As soon as they were out, they could finally see the Maw.
It was a gigantic ball of flesh, eyes, and tentacles.
The Champion deactivated his Domain of Light, and his Zephyx recovered.
The next moment, several maws appeared below the three of them.
BANG!
But the Champion destroyed the three maws with his sword.
Then, more and more maws appeared around them.
The Maw wanted to pull them back into its domain!
The Shield who had caught the Space Bag retrieved more Star Grenades, and he threw them into the distance.
Since they were no longer surrounded by the Maw, they could now detonate the Star Grenades from a safe distance.
BOOOOOM!
A gigantic crater appeared on the Maw's body.
As the Champion fought the maws, he looked at how the Maw regrew.
More Star Grenades were thrown.
That was when the Champion's perception picked up something.
He didn't see it perfectly, but he could tell where the Specter Core was based on how the Maw defended against the attacks.
The Champion gathered his Zephyx and swung his sword.
BANG!
A huge cut went through the Maw, perfectly hitting its Specter Core.
And yet, its Specter Core was not damaged in any way.
The Champion's control of his powers had reached incredible levels, and he could cut through the Maw's body without injuring the Specter Core despite hitting it dead-on.
"You saw it! Use the bomb!" the Champion commanded.
The Shield pulled out a huge grenade and threw it towards the Maw's left side.
BOOOOOM!
An incredible amount of Star Energy exploded, and half of the Maw's body was turned into Star Energy.
The Champion struck several times with his sword, and the Specter Core was exposed again.
Then, the Champion charged in and used his Domain of Light.
The regrowing tentacles attacked him, but the Maw's regeneration couldn't keep up.
A moment later, the Domain of Light enveloped the Specter Core.
Immediately, the Maw's body stopped moving as the connection between its body and Specter Core was cut.
The other Shield threw several Zephyx Suppressors to the Champion, and the Champion enveloped the Specter Core in them.
Silence.
They had done it!
They contained the Maw!
So many Shields had sacrificed themselves, but it had been worth it!
Everyone looked with shock and triumph at the Specter Core.
Then, they saw a small metallic spider crawling on the Specter Core.
Huh?
What was that?
"I wouldn't use any Zephyx if I were you," they heard in their minds.
They all recognized that voice!
It was the Trickster!
Then, they looked with horror at the metallic spider.
Bang.
The spider released a tiny explosion, barely a couple of centimeters wide.
Yet, that explosion was filled with Star Energy.
The Champion watched in horror as the Specter Core in his hand turned into Star Energy.
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