Five Accretion Charges ignited across Shaiapouf's body, signaling that his life had entered its final countdown.
Unless he could trigger another transformation in his Nen ability amidst this life-or-death crisis...
Such a feat was indeed possible.
Especially for species like the Chimera Ant Royal Guards, born with extraordinary innate talent.
For Youpi, Neferpitou, and Shaiapouf, growing through combat to break desperate situations or refining their Nen abilities within short timeframes wasn't particularly difficult.
But the problem was... the emergence of the five Accretion Charges had genuinely pressured Shaiapouf.
Yet this pressure stemmed more from the unknown.
The Accretion Charges were like rootless flames, burning continuously but devoid of temperature or physical damage.
They weren't daggers already plunged into Shaiapouf's chest, so they naturally didn't pose an immediate threat of death.
Thus, Shaiapouf's reaction to the "unknown" was predominantly suspicion and panic.
This almost entirely eliminated any possibility of him surviving this desperate situation.
Two more Accretion Charges...
Morrow adeptly distanced himself from the swarm of sacrificial pawns, coalescing another fluorescent green Nen sphere in his palm.
Having confirmed that Shaiapouf couldn't reclaim the Beelzebub clones parasitizing the sacrificial pawns, igniting all Accretion Charges was now a certainty.
The only thing left to confirm was the instant-kill mechanism of Stellar Collapse...
Whether it could instantly affect all of Shaiapouf's Beelzebub clones, down to every single cell in his body, upon activation.
There should be no issues.
Even before the final outcome, Morrow was confident of this.
Deceptive Shooting Star · Star Rain
Morrow hurled another fluorescent green Shooting Star into the sky.
If the second large-scale assault couldn't ignite the final two Accretion Charges, he'd simply launch a third, a fourth...
Morrow would never grant Shaiapouf any breathing room, nor allow him more time to think.
High above in the sky.
Shaiapouf's eyes trembled violently.
He was completely clueless about these suddenly appearing, harmless azure blue flames. He'd attempted to separate the flames using his clones, but failed.
The flames have no damage or heat... what kind of ability is this?
If attacking the sacrificial pawns can transfer the ability's effect...
Why did he wait until now?
Shaiapouf wavered between shock and doubt.
From the start of their confrontation, every move and decision Morrow made had been within his expectations.
But when changes occurred, looking back at Morrow's actions and decisions left him perplexed.
The sole turning point that led to the situation spiraling out of control was when he'd confirmed Morrow was exhausted, only for him to suddenly regain strength.
And then things developed into the current state.
Even if Shaiapouf racked his brains, he'd never conceive that Morrow possessed an ability to level up.
Naturally, he'd never imagine that his meticulously refined ability would become Morrow's grinding tool for leveling up.
He'd been so confident of victory, firmly believing Morrow's ultimate fate was to be worn down to death.
But with the appearance of the deep blue flames, that once crystal-clear outcome...
Was now shrouded in thick fog.
I should do something... No, I must do something! Shaiapouf glanced down at the Accretion Charges quietly burning on his body.
Whatever this ability was, as long as he ensured some Beelzebub clones remained outside when the ability effect triggered, there was no need for excessive concern.
'Hmm?'
Just as Shaiapouf was rapidly analyzing the situation, Morrow's second wave of Shooting Star · Star Rain slammed into the numerous sacrificial pawns on the ground.
With the fulfillment of the ability conditions, another cAccretion Charge abruptly ignited on Shaiapouf's abdomen.
This was the sixth cluster.
Only one final cluster remained to activate Stellar Collapse's instant-kill mechanism.
But Shaiapouf remained completely unaware of this.
Given the current circumstances, Shaiapouf could only determine that Morrow was transferring some ability effect to his body by attacking the sacrificial pawns.
Under such conditions, immediately recalling all Beelzebub clones could prevent the appearance of the eerie blue flames.
Unfortunately, Shaiapouf couldn't accomplish this.
All he could do was push all sacrificial pawns directly into their life-burning phase.
This way, once the sacrificial pawns self-destructed, he could reclaim the Beelzebub clone shares to handle any unforeseen situations.
Those split attacks clearly lack the destructive power of the sacrificial pawns' unleashed aura intensity...
Shaiapouf's face tightened as his eyes continuously scanned the battlefield below, frowning: Yet they can transfer flames regardless of attack and defense outcomes. From this perspective, I actually don't need to worry too much.
Any ability condition that could be fulfilled while ignoring combat outcomes...
In terms of difficulty, was far too simple.
Therefore, according to the fundamental logic of Vows and Limitations, there was no need to excessively fear this unknown ability's lethal effects.
Shaiapouf's observation-based conclusion truly aligned with a deep understanding of Nen.
Unfortunately...
The phenomenon of triggering Accretion Charge by attacking sacrificial pawns completely obscured Stellar Collapse's most stringent Limitation.
Specifically, the requirement to attack the same position multiple times.
The corresponding Vow effect for this Limitation was the ability to inflict "instant death" on the target.
Vow and Limitation always maintained fairness.
They adhered to the principle of equivalent exchange.
Without stringent Limitations, one couldn't expect powerful Vow effects.
Since Shaiapouf couldn't "see" Stellar Collapse's harsh Limitation, he naturally assumed this ability lacked lethal potency.
This was a perfectly reasonable judgment.
It wasn't that he had ultimately been careless; rather, it was simply fate unfolding.
As the first batch of sacrificial pawns collapsed after burning through their lives, Shaiapouf finally reclaimed partial usage of his Beelzebub clones.
Without hesitation, he mobilized a small portion to deploy Spiritual Message toward Morrow.
Instantly, scale powder drifted with the wind, enveloping Morrow's position.
For Shaiapouf, regardless of whether he could gather information, he had to attempt it.
Reclaiming some scale powder and immediately trying to seize initiative with 'Spiritual Message'... How could I let you have your way?
Watching the approaching scale powder, Morrow maintained his offensive while ensuring he wouldn't let the powder reach him.
After all, he couldn't determine whether Shaiapouf had enhanced the powder with additional ability effects. Earlier, Morrow had deliberately positioned himself downwind to give Shaiapouf an opportunity to use his scale powder, primarily to verify whether Shaiapouf could freely retract his Beelzebub clones.
But now the situation had changed.
Morrow would not give Shaiapouf any chances.
「Astral Step」
Even though the sacrificial pawns had not yet fully encircled him, Morrow decisively used Astral Step the moment it came off cooldown.
Whoosh!
Morrow's figure vanished instantly, only to reappear a hundred meters away.
「Deceptive Shooting Star · Star Rain」
After withdrawing beyond the range of the scale powder, Morrow raised his hand and fired his last Deceptive Shooting Star into the sky behind him.
He had even considered the possibility that Shaiapouf might intercept the Shooting Star at a critical moment.
That's why he always aimed the Deceptive Shooting Star toward the sky behind him.
This approach might have been overly cautious.
But Morrow deemed it necessary.
"This bastard...!"
Shaiapouf gritted his teeth in frustration, then involuntarily glanced up at the glowing green Shooting Star hovering in the distant sky.
The next second.
The glowing green Shooting Star split apart once more, bursting like fireworks into countless sparks. Guided by the Star-Marked Divine Script coins, they rained down upon the numerous sacrificial pawns below.
Morrow's eyes reflected the starry rain of light, calmly awaiting the "outcome."
He had even anticipated the possibility that Shaiapouf, out of caution, might reposition his puppets away from the battlefield.
It seemed now that he had worried unnecessarily.
Under his watchful gaze, the final meteor shower descended upon the many sacrificial pawns.
Boom, boom, boom...
After the relentless explosions, the struck sacrificial pawns remained unscathed.
But the seventh Accretion Charge arrived as scheduled.
It materialized out of thin air on the last remaining spot on Shaiapouf's body.
Morrow looked up.
He saw the seven Accretion Charges on Shaiapouf's body suddenly connect, transforming into raging flames that completely enveloped him.
Simultaneously,
Shaiapouf's soul drifted out of the flaming body.
The emergence of the soul instantly drew the eerie blue flames toward it.
The effect of Stellar Collapse had begun.
Even as the eerie blue flames blazed fiercely, Shaiapouf had already split off numerous Beelzebub clones.
He then gazed from a distance at his main body, now engulfed in flames.
"That is... my soul?"
Shaiapouf's current sensation was bizarre.
Due to the ability effect where his main body and clones were indistinguishable, he could transfer his primary consciousness at any time.
And that's exactly what he had done.
So, witnessing a soul-separation phenomenon occurring on "one of his main bodies" meant to absorb damage, he felt an uncanny sense of déjà vu.
Soon, the soul gradually turned to ashes under the scorching flames.
"This ability... is more troublesome than I anticipated."
Shaiapouf watched as "his" soul was burned to cinders.
In theory, his soul could also split, so he wasn't particularly worried at the moment.
A few seconds later.
The soul completely turned to ashes.
As the soul vanished, Shaiapouf's clone plummeted from the sky.
During the descent, the eerie blue flames enveloping the body dissipated.
Witnessing this, Shaiapouf, who had already transferred his consciousness to his numerous clones, burst into laughter.
"So this is your trump card?"
Countless clones, each the size of a bee, turned their gaze toward Morrow on the ground.
"Hahaha!"
They burst into synchronized laughter, then spoke in unison: "Useless, useless!"
"..."
Morrow remained silent, merely raising a hand to point.
"Huh?!"
The numerous Shaiapouf clones followed Morrow's pointing finger and suddenly looked down, only to see ethereal blue flames erupting across their bodies.
Before they could react, the flames surged violently, engulfing their bee-sized forms.
In that moment, clusters of Accretion Charges ignited across the sky.
Watching Shaiapouf's numerous clones being simultaneously consumed by the blue flames, Morrow calmly stated: "The mechanism is absolute. Once conditions are met, the outcome becomes irreversible. Your current fate once again proves this point."
"How... is this possible?!"
Shaiapouf's multiple clones cried out in agony within the blue flames.
Their tiny bodies seemed to endure even more intense suffering when subjected to burning.
"If you were truly this confident... why... didn't you... use this method from the beginning?!"
All the clones stared at Morrow with incredulous expressions, their gazes piercing through the distance.
Facing Shaiapouf's dying question, Morrow suddenly exaggeratedly curled his lips into a contemptuous smile.
"What an excellent question. The reason, of course, is that you were too confident, so confident that you believed everything was under your control, as if victory was already in your grasp. And every time I encounter opponents like you..."
The mockery in his smile deepened.
"I can't help but want to see whether you'll show that 'this shouldn't be happening' expression when the outcome overturns all your expectations. To be honest, toying with a self-important person like a puppet is an unparalleled pleasure."
"...!"
These words served as the final barb piercing Shaiapouf's burning consciousness.
His flame-engulfed face twisted completely with rage and humiliation.
"You... pathological... human bastard!"
The realization that all of Morrow's previous disadvantages had been mere acting, just to toy with his confident self, filled Shaiapouf with an indescribable shame that burned even more intensely than death.
Damn it...
He should have been the one looking down upon the defeated!
Carrying this unforgettable humiliation and intense resentment, Shaiapouf's numerous soul clones vanished together within the blue flames.
Seeing this outcome, Morrow immediately glanced swiftly at the numerous sacrificial pawns nearby.
They too hosted Shaiapouf's Beelzebub clones, and thus had also ignited with Accretion Charges.
If even you cannot generate Post-Mortem Will under these circumstances, then that means...
Morrow's gaze shifted from the successively collapsing sacrificial pawns back to the falling Shaiapouf clones, murmuring to himself: "The Stellar Collapse ability's effect eliminates the possibility of leaving behind Post-Mortem Will."
This was why Morrow had provoked Shaiapouf.
He believed that given Shaiapouf's personality, there was a high probability he would leave behind Post-Mortem Will when facing such a situation.
「Lv.92→Lv.94」
While waiting for the outcome, Morrow suddenly sensed an increase in his aura amount and glanced at the Tree Rings on the back of his hand.
Only two levels up? Is it because of 'Splitting,' or has the difficulty of the experience decay mechanism increased again?
Morrow speculated to himself.
Just then, a surge of Post-Mortem Nen abruptly rose within the arena.
'Hmm?'
Morrow immediately followed the aura's trail and saw black, powder-like aura continuously emerging from the numerous scattered corpses of Shaiapouf, swiftly gathering in one place at a visible pace.
Excellent.
A faint smile curled at the corner of Morrow's lips. Without hesitation, he blinked forward and reached out, grasping the coalescing black powder aura in his hand.
Absorb!
In an instant, the fourth ring of the Tree Rings energy bar surged dramatically.
Easily breaking through 20%, 30%...
---------------
Bonus chapter @1200powerstones