Chapter 57
The cavern trembled violently.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
The massive sealing formation continued spreading across the obsidian floor like glowing veins of light.
Closer.
Closer.
Almost complete.
At the center of the battlefield—
John stood surrounded by black lightning and burning crimson aura.
Opposite him—
the commander's golden aura burned brighter than ever.
Neither moved.
For a single moment—
the entire cavern held its breath.
Then—
BOOOOOOM.
John vanished instantly.
Black lightning exploded across the battlefield as he shot directly toward the sealing formation.
Not the commander.
The ritual.
The commander's eyes narrowed immediately.
Commander: "…So that's your target."
CRACK.
Golden chains erupted from the cavern walls instantly.
John twisted sideways mid-motion.
The chains barely missed his body before shattering volcanic stone behind him.
Too slow.
John raised his hand.
Black lightning erupted violently toward the ritualists.
Several justice worshippers immediately stepped forward.
Holy barriers expanded together—
BOOOOOM.
The lightning exploded against layers of divine protection.
The entire cavern shook again.
But the ritual continued.
Still expanding.
Still sealing Dumase.
John's expression darkened slightly.
Then—
he disappeared again.
Faster.
The red aura around him distorted violently as he moved through the battlefield like a storm.
One ritualist widened his eyes.
Too late.
CRACK.
Black lightning pierced directly through his chest.
Another turned—
A wall of crimson fire swallowed him instantly.
Screams echoed through the cavern.
Justice worshippers rushed forward immediately.
Holy light burst across the battlefield.
Barrier after barrier formed around the ritual circle itself now.
The commander stepped directly between John and the formation.
Golden aura burning violently around him.
Commander: "You're not reaching it."
John didn't answer.
BOOOOOM.
Their collision shattered the ground beneath them instantly.
Black lightning screamed against holy energy.
The commander blocked John's strike—
but the impact still forced him backward several meters.
John attacked again immediately.
No pause.
No hesitation.
Faster.
More brutal.
The commander raised multiple holy barriers rapidly—
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
John shattered through them one after another.
The commander's expression tightened.
Too much pressure.
Too fast.
Then suddenly—
golden symbols lit across the cavern walls.
Commander: "DIVINE DEVOUR."
The formations activated instantly.
Golden chains shot across the battlefield from every direction.
John moved instantly.
Black lightning exploded around him violently—
but the chains devoured the magic upon contact.
Several wrapped around his arm briefly—
before John tore through them physically.
BOOOOM.
The chains shattered apart.
But the delay mattered.
Behind them—
the ritual expanded further.
White symbols spread wider beneath the volcanic stone.
Closer.
Closer.
Almost complete.
John noticed immediately.
And for the first time—
his expression truly darkened.
BOOM.
The volcanic floor shattered as John lunged directly toward the ritual itself.
The commander's eyes widened slightly.
Too direct.
John ignored every attack now.
Golden chains wrapped around his body repeatedly—
only to be ripped apart moments later.
Holy spears tore across his side.
Black lightning exploded in retaliation.
Justice worshippers were thrown violently across the cavern.
One crashed directly into the ritual circle itself.
The formation flickered briefly.
John saw it.
An opening.
CRACK.
Black lightning gathered violently around his arm.
Enough power to destroy part of the formation completely.
Several ritualists panicked instantly.
Ritualist: "Stop him!"
The commander's golden aura exploded outward violently.
BOOOOOOOM.
Holy energy swallowed the battlefield.
Dozens of Divine Devour formations activated simultaneously.
Golden chains erupted everywhere.
This time—
not toward John's magic.
Toward John himself.
The chains wrapped around his arms instantly.
Then his legs.
Then his chest.
The holy symbols burned violently against his body.
John's eyes narrowed immediately.
CRAAAAACK.
Black lightning exploded outward in every direction.
Several chains shattered instantly.
But more replaced them.
Endlessly.
The commander slowly stepped forward.
Breathing heavily now.
Blood running from multiple wounds.
Yet his eyes remained focused.
Commander: "…You're too dangerous to leave unchecked."
John pulled violently against the chains.
The cavern shook from the force alone.
Several justice worshippers stared in disbelief.
Even restrained—
he still looked monstrous.
The red aura around John erupted harder.
Violent.
Unstable.
The chains began cracking again.
Commander: "…Hold him!"
Every remaining justice worshipper poured holy energy into the chains simultaneously.
Golden light flooded the cavern.
The chains tightened harder.
Burning.
Restraining.
For the first time since the battle began—
John stopped moving.
Not defeated.
But trapped.
Temporarily.
Behind them—
the sealing formation spread across nearly the entire cavern floor now.
Almost complete.
The ritualists raised their hands higher.
Holy energy pulsed violently through the formation.
The volcanic island trembled again.
And deep beneath the cavern—
something ancient shifted.
Far away—
inside the hidden sanctuary beneath Dumase—
a hooded figure slowly opened his clam blue eyes.
The Lord.
Silence filled the massive chamber around him.
Yet even here—
he could feel the disturbance above.
The instability.
John's anger.
The resistance.
The Lord's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lord: "…So the Justice worshippers moved sooner than expected."
A pause.
The distant tremors continued through the sanctuary walls.
Then—
very quietly—
the Lord spoke again.
Lord: "…We don't have much time."
Several hooded followers immediately lowered their heads.
The Lord slowly rose from his throne.
Ancient symbols glowed faintly beneath the chamber floor.
Lord: "Bring the princess."
The atmosphere darkened instantly.
Lord: "…We begin the awakening earlier."
Far above—
the volcanic island of Dumase trembled beneath the growing seal.
And inside the cavern—
John slowly lifted his head while bound by burning divine chains.
His eyes darkened.
Because somewhere deep below—
he felt it too.
Something had begun.
…CHAPTER 57 ENDS…