"Sigh, things aren't easy on my end either. Let's regroup."
As the sigh rang out, the blade light froze in midair. The people who had leaped into the air wore grave expressions, traces of surging energy still visible around their outstretched fists.
All the sharp, violent power froze in midair, as though an invisible hand had grasped it and placed it inside an exquisite picture frame, preserving the most soul-shaking instant as a work of art.
They could clearly still think, yet they could not quickly break free of this restraint.
A Calamity appeared wearing a black hat, its brim hiding his expression. Blood dripped continuously from the hand gripping the brim, and a bone-deep wound extended from his elbow to the back of his hand.
[Cycle] opened his hand, and the bandages on his body flew out to wrap around the other's injury. His cold gaze fixed on the wound, and the crunch of his gritted teeth was clearly audible.
"Brother, who hurt you?"
"Heh, some extraordinary people, of course. They're weak, yet they can't be underestimated. Little brother, let's merge our Origin Worlds. Otherwise, our chances of winning won't be high enough."
[Cycle] frowned. His brother's ability had always been formidable. Even without reaching the Fourteenth Tier, he was strong enough to handle most Level Thirteen Calamities. How could those people possibly have forced his brother to suffer an injury?
Though he did not understand, he did as instructed.
They stood with their palms facing each other, their powers mingling and converging. Countless ripples stirred through the tranquil Origin Worlds, growing larger and larger as their surroundings twisted and warped.
The sky contracted inward, and the ground drew together.
An invisible hand was kneading the area into a sphere. Finally, the turbulent ripples became a battered pocket watch,