The wind around them began to blow fiercely. Leonardo da Vinci rose from his slumber after receiving an attack launched at him by Adam.
He slowly walked out of a cloud of smoke that still filled the area around them.
Swiftly—without warning, the three of them began to brace themselves for any situation that might arise.
"Adam…"
Jeanne d'Arc's voice was faint—holding back pain. Hearing that voice, Adam just held his head and told her to stay calm.
"Leave the rest to us," he said with a warm smile.
Jeanne d'Arc closed her eyes and lay down comfortably. Adam turned his gaze away from Jeanne d'Arc and began to focus on Leonardo, who was walking closer to them.
A man walked out from behind the slowly disappearing black smoke. The three of them were surprised when they saw the man standing upright, leaning on a staff he used to support himself.
"You…" Adam's eyes widened in disbelief. "Who are you!" he shouted.
"Eh? Isn't the one who trapped both of you?" Lu Bu said.
"No! We haven't met him before. There was only Leonidas, that Skeleton, and also a woman who always smiled—Mona Lisa!"
The three of them didn't know that the man standing before them now was the true Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci began to look up—towards the sky. His body slowly floated up. A colorful aurora emanated from beneath his feet and began to swirl around his body.
"W-what does he want to do?" Lu Bu mumbled.
Empedocles' eyes widened in disbelief. He was shocked by what he saw now. He knew that wasn't Mona Lisa.
'Who are you…'
Empedocles struggled, trying to escape Lu Bu's grasp, but Lu Bu held him firmly.
"Hey, what's wrong with you. Shut up! Or I'll kill you!" he snapped.
Empedocles wanted to speak and explain about the terrible things that might befall them. But alas, his mouth was bound by a piece of cloth.
Lu Bu took a small step forward. A savage smile graced his face.
Even though his spear was broken, the desire to fight still blazed within him.
Sasaki Kojiro slowly drew his katana. He stared at Leonardo with a sharp yet calm gaze.
Adam just took a ready stance and clenched his fists, trying to protect the weakened Jeanne d'Arc.
"Art…eternity…" Leonardo murmured softly.
When he reached the very top, a massive, immeasurable portal suddenly appeared behind him.
"W-what is that…" Adam mumbled.
The three of them were both shocked and awestruck.
The ground beneath them began to tremble. The portal behind Leonardo da Vinci began to spin like a vortex. Strong winds began to blow, carrying away the scattered debris of buildings on the ground.
Leonardo raised his hand to the sky. Dimensions began to collapse. The sky became an ocean of ink, and the world seemed to be repainted in darkness.
"Behold…the eternity of my dream…!!!"
A heavy, terrifying voice echoed throughout the place where they were fighting. The voice slowly created waves of illusion within their minds.
Adam began to fall from where he stood, followed by Lu Bu and Sasaki Kojiro.
"Arghh—"
For a moment, Adam looked back. He couldn't help but feel it when he saw Jeanne d'Arc lying weakly on the ground.
Forcing his body to its limit, he began to stand up again. Lu Bu and Sasaki Kojiro looked at Adam and followed his lead. Lu Bu threw Empedocles' head backward and began to smile again.
'Ouch! Damn it!!! I'll get you back later!!!' Empedocles thought furiously.
"Hehe, I don't know why, but I feel an extraordinary power coming from that man," Lu Bu said.
Sasaki Kojiro drew one of his katanas and put away the other. "Now it's your turn to shine, Endo!"
Instantly, the sword emitted a very terrifying aura.
Adam clenched his hands tightly again. A golden light began to stretch and fill his body. The streak of light crossed his face and extended down to his feet.
Whoosh!
"I will destroy this dream world of yours!!!"
– –
Adam shot towards Leonardo, who was standing upright with his staff. With his full power, Adam launched a powerful punch. Unfortunately, Adam's punch was blocked by Leonardo, who created a transparent wall made of mosaic.
A swirling portal behind Leonardo conjured a giant hand with an eye in the center of its palm. The hand slowly moved towards Adam, trying to catch him.
Sasaki charged from the left, his sword trembling like an illusion, creating a slash that crossed time.
"Siryu!!"
Slash!
The hand that came out of the portal was cut into several pieces, but in a moment, everything returned to normal—as if nothing had happened.
"What!?"
Sasaki Kojiro was very surprised to see his attack had no effect on the giant hand. Likewise, Adam seemed a little annoyed when he couldn't get close to Leonardo.
"What kind of Stark does he actually have!" Adam said, full of bewilderment.
Slowly, an octopus tentacle, golden chains, a gigantic spear, and several statues emerged from the constantly spinning portal.
"This is bad, our attacks have no effect on him."
"What in the world is all that…" Lu Bu said, stunned as he saw a group of strange creatures emerging from behind the portal.
"Behold…" Leonardo began to act, "The Eternity…of Dreams and Illusions…!!!!"
Slowly, the tentacles emerging from the portal approached them—followed by statues and a hand with an eye in its palm, seemingly glaring with vengeance.
The statues began to attack the three of them. Adam, Lu Bu, and Sasaki Kojiro swiftly dealt with the statues. Their numbers were overwhelming, making them struggle.
"Terwelu!!!!" Lu Bu shouted.
Terwelu came from an unexpected direction. Now, Lu Bu could only rely on him, "Let's play again, buddy!"
Hearing that, Terwelu screamed very loudly and shot forward at full speed, piercing and destroying several statues that blocked their path.
The tentacles coming out of the portal were suddenly enveloped in lava. The tentacles descended at full speed, targeting Sasaki Kojiro, who was busy dealing with the statues aiming for him.
Sasaki Kojiro swiftly avoided the lava tentacle's attack and leaped backward. He put his katana back into its sheath and moved like a leaf falling in the wind.
Whoosh!
Instantly, the statues and lava tentacles were cut into several pieces. It didn't stop there! Suddenly, a massive spear fell directly onto his head.
"Destroy!!!!!"
Crash!
Lu Bu and Terwelu suddenly appeared out of nowhere and crashed into the spear, shattering it into pieces.
"Sorry, it was my fault for being careless," Sasaki Kojiro said.
"It's okay, at times like this, teamwork is essential. Besides, Terwelu has now recovered his strength."
Hearing that, Sasaki Kojiro smiled gently, "Then, please help me deal with them!"
"Alright!!!"
– –
Jeanne d'Arc had returned to normal—becoming Sylvia. She slowly began to open her eyes. She had exhausted her strength and couldn't move her entire body. There—right in front of her, she saw Adam fighting the statues deployed by Leonardo da Vinci to attack him.
Unable to bear it, Sylvia tried to move her body again. It was useless; no matter how hard she tried, her body completely refused to move. It felt like being chained and confined in a narrow room, making even breathing painful.
Sylvia could only shed tears. For a moment, a voice-over appeared in her head.
'Believe…'
Sylvia was a little confused by the voice, which came from nowhere.
'Believe in them…'
"Who?"
'Divine light has guided you to victory…'
"Divine light?"
A statue stood and raised its axe towards Sylvia, who was lying weakly. As the statue began to attack her, Adam swiftly delivered a powerful kick that sent the statue flying backward.
"Sorry Sylvia… I was careless. Calm down! I'll protect you now!"
'Adam…' Sylvia murmured to herself.
Leonardo began to raise his staff. An eye staring at them from the palm of the hand suddenly glowed. The light slowly grew brighter and larger.
Seeing this, Adam, Sasaki Kojiro, and Lu Bu's attention was instantly diverted.
WHZZTTT!!!
A black light shot out from that eye and headed directly towards the three of them at incredible speed.
DUAR!!!!
The light was fired in quick succession. The statues around them were also hit. The three of them were forced to find cover. Lu Bu and Terwelu merged, creating a fiery shield made from Terwelu's body. Sasaki Kojiro was forced to block every light directed at him. Adam swiftly embraced Sylvia's body and carried her away.
As Adam was about to run away with Sylvia, a light suddenly approached them, making them both fall. Sylvia rolled and fell from Adam's grasp. Adam also collapsed weakly from the attack.
"Sylvia…" Adam stretched out his hand—reaching towards Sylvia, who was lying weakly right in front of him. "Sylvia…."
– –
The world around them began to collapse. Leonardo da Vinci still stood tall in the sky, raising both his hands—followed by a rain of light beams emanating from the eye.
Lu Bu saw Adam and Sylvia in a critical state. He wanted to go there, but then a very powerful shot hit them, causing Lu Bu and Terwelu to fall.
"Lu Bu!!!" Sasaki Kojiro shouted from a distance.
Sasaki Kojiro rushed towards Lu Bu, deflecting all incoming attacks.
"Thank you… sorry for troubling you…"
"It's fine, besides, all of this is getting quite difficult."
"Yes, even Adam is having a lot of trouble."
As the two of them began to converse, a pair of eyes embedded in the palm of the hand suddenly stared sharply at them.
"T-that…"
"The situation is worse than I thought…"
Both eyes began to glow, their pupils dilating. A mass of light began to fill the entire eye.
BAMMM!!!
A devastating shot was launched by the intensely staring eye. The spot where Lu Bu and Sasaki Kojiro stood was utterly destroyed—becoming a massive crater. But behind the smoke that filled the area, a wave of light grew brighter and brighter.
In the middle of the swirling light wave, Adam stood tall, staring at Leonardo without fear.
"Adam?" Lu Bu mumbled.
"Sorry. My mind went blank for a moment when I saw Sylvia lying helpless. Now, I understand a bit more how to use my Stark!"
"Sasaki Kojiro! As you said before, my imagination greatly affects my Stark. I'll try my best. I will surpass the limits of my own imagination!"
Sasaki Kojiro smiled slightly upon hearing Adam's words. He stood up and slowly approached Adam—followed by Lu Bu.
"Then please defeat that man up there for us. And don't worry too much about this child, we will protect her."
Adam smiled with relief, then took a small step forward and prepared to attack. He turned around and looked at them both with a warm gaze, "Then, please take care of my precious friend."
"Yes!"
Adam dashed at full speed. His body suddenly vanished from Sasaki Kojiro and Lu Bu's sight—as if swallowed by the wind. In an instant, he was right in front of Leonardo, who was still standing upright with his staff.
Adam stood directly in front of him and stared deeply at Leonardo.
They both stared at each other. Sharp, without any sound.
Suddenly, Leonardo da Vinci raised his staff. A cluster of golden chains extended high into the ceiling and descended—towards Adam.
CRACK!
The cluster of chains successfully bound Adam's body. Adam closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
As he exhaled, his eyes suddenly glowed—golden yellow. Instantly, the cluster of chains binding Adam shattered into pieces.
Leonardo stared in awe, "This is it… You are… you are the one I've been looking for!!!"
Leonardo leaned forward and lunged at Adam with full force.
"Give me your soul!!!!"
When Leonardo was right in front of Adam, time seemed to stop. Leonardo couldn't move his body. Somehow, Adam was suddenly right above him.
Adam raised his right hand. Slowly, the air around him seemed to help him gather all the remaining natural energy. Adam aimed a powerful blow—hitting Leonardo's back.
As a result of Adam's punch, Leonardo da Vinci fell and lay sprawled on the ground.
Adam stretched out his arms and stood tall—staring at Leonardo da Vinci, who was still lying on the ground. His hands slowly began to emit a light. The light was suddenly enveloped in flames. Adam began to bring his palms together and fired something from his hands.
"NENMAA!!!"
WHOOSH!!!
A fiery lightning bolt successfully landed where Leonardo da Vinci lay. The statues around Lu Bu and Sasaki Kojiro were also thrown back and shattered into pieces. The fiery light continued to emanate from Adam's hands, causing the surrounding sky to glow and create a beautiful aurora.
Sasaki Kojiro and Lu Bu watched in disbelief. They were shocked by Adam's true power.
"So that's his true power? How elegant…" Lu Bu mumbled.
Seeing a warm light envelop her body, Sylvia slowly opened her eyes again. She began to look up and saw Adam from a distance.
"Andri…"
The fiery light slowly faded and vanished in an instant. As Adam focused his gaze on the hole he had created, a powerful kick suddenly came towards him.
CRASH!
He was thrown back, crashing into the towering structures.
Leonardo da Vinci stood, encased in a mechanical armor surrounded by an aurora.
Without hesitation, Adam immediately got up and leaped towards Leonardo da Vinci, who was laughing heartily, experiencing immense pleasure.
BOOM!
Each of them exchanged blows. Occasionally, Leonardo fired illusory sketches that turned real and directed them at Adam—fortunately, Adam easily avoided all of them.
Adam pulled one of his legs back. The leg suddenly extended long, and then he pushed it with all his might.
"Take this!!!"
BAMM!!!
His leg shot out at incredible speed—like a bullet.
Leonardo da Vinci couldn't dodge it. Adam's leg hit the core of the armor Leonardo was wearing.
CRASH!!!
His body was thrown back, crashing into the towering structures, causing some of them to collapse.
Adam was not satisfied, so he chased Leonardo. When he was close enough, Adam raised his hand. Then, a hammer made of golden crystal suddenly appeared.
"Die!!!"
CRASH!
A powerful blow landed on Leonardo da Vinci, sending him flying back. Adam followed Leonardo's trajectory and launched a continuous barrage of attacks.
When the hammer he was holding slowly shattered, he discarded it. Adam extended his right hand and opened his palm. Suddenly, Jeanne d'Arc's longsword, which was stuck in the ground, flew towards Adam, and now the sword was in his grip.
Adam raised the sword. A shimmering light began to illuminate every side of the blade.
"This is for Sylvia…"
Adam began to lower it and fired a divine light directly at Leonardo da Vinci, whose body was still floating in the air.
WHZZTTTT!!!!
"ARGHHHH!!!!"
"ARGHHHH!!!"
They both screamed, but with different dispositions. Adam's scream was full of vengeance and divine power. Leonardo da Vinci's scream, on the other hand, was filled with pain and illusion.
The light stretched quite long, piercing through the illusory space Leonardo da Vinci had created earlier.
CRACK!
The illusory space slowly cracked and shattered. The light still extended high into the clouds, and then it slowly dimmed before exploding, splitting the surrounding clouds.
BAMMM!!!
Time returned to normal. People around the shopping center were captivated and amazed to see a massive hole splitting the clouds, Now they had all returned to their original place, the place where their world originated.
After launching such a massive attack, Adam slowly lowered himself and descended—approaching Lu Bu and Sasaki Kojiro. His steps faltered slightly when he touched the ground. Just as he was about to fall from exhaustion, Lu Bu suddenly appeared and caught him.
"Thank you, it feels like déjà vu…"
"What are you talking about… even so, you managed to defeat him."
Hearing that, Adam smiled, and now he had returned to his normal self.