"Anyway, we’ve been forced to interrupt the transformation, why not devour you and start over."
The mass of flesh suddenly surged, like boiling magma, with large bubbles swelling on its surface.
In the next moment, countless tentacles extended, carrying purple-black slime, directly attacking the clone, Ron.
Those tentacles were not only astonishingly fast, but also highly versatile in form.
Some transformed into sharp bone spurs at the tip, some became small mouths that sprayed acid, and others displayed eye-like structures, evidently possessing some perception ability.
The clone seemed to have anticipated this, nimbly dodging away.
At the same time, with a wave of his hand, a flowing metal barrier formed in the air, blocking another wave of attacking tentacles.
The layer of flowing shield wall was smooth as a mirror, yet as resilient as steel, automatically adjusting its structure with every impact, perfectly dispersing the force.
The tentacles collided with the barrier, making a "sizzling" corrosion sound, but were unable to penetrate the seemingly thin yet tough shield wall.
"Flowing shield wall... Hayek taught that spell to the kid as well."
Oliver cursed, evidently familiar with this defense method: "The Holy Disc was right, this kid really is troublesome."
A trace of malice flashed in his eyes, yet his voice was peculiarly calm:
"Cynthia, don’t waste your strength. This clone clearly inherited the original’s traits and requires more direct means."
The clone, Ron, did not respond, but suddenly accelerated, passing through the gaps between the tentacles like a phantom, aiming straight for the core of the flesh mass.
His movements were so fast they almost left afterimages, each step landing precisely, avoiding all possible attack paths.
"Sound Wave Oscillation - Erosion State!"
Invisible ripples spread from his palm, carrying eerie whispers, striking the mass of flesh directly.
The syllables belonged to no language Eliot recognized, yet they held some ancient and formidable power, as if from the depths of the universe.
The surface of the flesh mass immediately sprouted countless black spots, as if corroded by venom, with purple-black liquid seeping from the cracks.
Oliver and Cynthia both issued cries of pain, their voices mixed with anger and disbelief.
The flesh mass instinctively contracted, its tentacles recoiling inward, seemingly protecting the core area.
"You think you’re the only one who can use those ancient languages?"
Oliver’s voice suddenly changed, becoming older and more bizarre, like some non-human creature imitating human speech:
"We have our own means too!"
His eyes turned completely black, like two bottomless abysses, his lips parted and closed, uttering a sequence of dizzying syllables.
It was another kind of sound wave attack, but unlike the Starry Sky Ravings used by the clone, Ron, this sound wave bore some continuous echo.
Every frequency left dark red afterimages in the air, like some kind of congealed toxic gas.
The clone, Ron, was visibly slowed, a trace of pain flashing in his golden-red eyes.
"Abyssal Echo?" He grinned, revealing overly sharp teeth: "Interesting... but not enough."
In the next instant, the silhouette of the clone, Ron, shot forward like lightning, his right hand forming a claw aimed directly at Oliver’s eyes.
The claws underwent some transformation in motion, the tips becoming exceptionally sharp, the surface covered with a metallic sheen.
Cynthia screamed, a wall of purple light formed between the two, attempting to block this lethal strike.
The light wall contained a mix of multiple elements, with the heat of fire, the flow of water, the resilience of earth, and the sharpness of wind.
The light wall tore like paper under the claws of the clone, Ron, but this brief obstruction granted Oliver enough time to react.
His facial muscles suddenly twisted and deformed, rearranging like a liquid.
His eye sockets suddenly expanded, eyes bulging as if to pop out, staring straight at the clone.
"Curse... triggered..."
Eliot felt his vision blur, the clone, Ron’s form suddenly frozen mid-air, as if bound by invisible chains.
— First Ring: Death Gaze
Oliver’s voice carried a hint of triumph:
"This requires the combined magic power of Cynthia and me to unleash, even a monster like you cannot break free."
Cynthia also wore a victorious smile, her charming face carrying a certain pathological excitement:
"Now, let’s see what you really are."
Her fingers turned into sharp blades, slowly approaching the frozen face of the clone, Ron:
"I will tear you apart and see if, like ordinary clones, you’re hollow and void inside."
But just as her fleshy blade was about to touch the clone, Eliot sharply "heard" a peculiar energy fluctuation.
It was a pure vibration, like the sound of a crystal being gently tapped.
The next moment, countless tiny golden patterns surfaced on the clone, Ron’s body’s surface, swiftly expanding to form a complete energy field.
"This is..." fear flickered in Oliver’s eyes: "Impossible! No one at the same stage can break the Death Gaze!"
The clone, Ron, slowly raised his head, his golden-red eyes seemingly burning with stars: "You think your curse works on me?"
While speaking, his body had completely broken free from the curse’s bonds, regaining his mobility.
Oliver and Cynthia simultaneously retreated, their expressions shifting from triumph to terror.