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Gohvis rocketed up the pillar, running up the ninety-degree angle as if gravity were of no consequence to him, even while being battered by a storm of brilliant crystals along the way.

The other pillars grew out and spidered together, creating an interconnected network--an enormous dome over the whole area, but also one that bridged each of the pillars. And then Vanderberk’s cage shot along one of the bridges toward a different pillar, then to another pillar, then still another, moving so rapidly that Axiolis’ senses quickly lost track of it.

The Monster of the East did not, however, and it was somehow easier to follow his movements amid all the sensory chaos, perhaps because his soul was so profoundly different to everything else that surrounded him. Like a pitch black marble in a storming sea of pure light--one that seemed entirely unimpeded by the ferocious waves.

Gohvis zigged and zagged throughout the great dome, apparently undeterred by any of the visual noise or confusing stimuli popping all around him. He didn’t even seem to be following the pillars at times, just zooming through open air on pure momentum, instead.

Zeff wanted to help, to contribute to this clash some way, but he couldn’t even begin to imagine how he might do so.

Then another surge of light arrived, this time with real force behind it--enough to throw Zeff off his feet and send him sliding across crumbling rock. He didn’t stop until he hit the wall of the prison, which was itself already half gone.

He needed a moment to regather his wits, and by the time he did, the situation had greatly changed.

Gohvis was stuck. A cage of light had trapped him, too, and was compressing against his flesh like a tightening net. And the same thing was happening to Vanderberk.

Zeff could sense the intensity of the strain. The cages were emanating more soul power than ever before, and the rest of the dome--pillars and all--were quickly diminishing, as if all of their power were being rerouted to this one, singular task of crushing the two Abolishers.

And Zeff was incredulous. Doubting his own senses.

Graves had gained the upper hand? Could this be true? Zeff could hear the Monster roaring now, but the ropes of light around him did not budge.

Where had Graves even gone? Zeff had lost him in the shuffle of all the frenzying soul power and leftover ardor from the lava.

Ah, no, there he was. Much clearer now. Most of the soul power in the area was flowing through him, and even--wait.

The ardor, too?