"You must really be something if you could kill my brother, but I am not to be underestimated. I am levels stronger than him in terms of power and versatility."

"Then...do you still remember this face of the guy whose sister was taken away from him by the despicable likes of you and your sibling?"

"So you were that young fool. Now you're no better than back then when you stand against me, I am still impress by your progress regardless. But everything...has an end, even this performance of mine. Hope this will mark an impression on my audience."

"I guess I underestimated you... but guess what?"

"?"

"So did you."

Crol lifted his hand and emitted multitude of laser beams from his fingers, which wounded Philip in his surprise. He tried to stand up even with the damage on his body. Luckily by the time, the staff wound on his back had recovered. Maya stood up as well, not wanting to fall behind a guy. Unexpectedly, she had a reputation to keep, one that people admired.

"I see, you could mimic abilities of other Apexes. And you over there must be the rumored water bender - Aqualass."

"Indeed I am. I've heard of your bad deeds as well."

"I am honored and I will be more so when I defeated you."

"Fat chance, I'm still standing."

The guards started ganging up on Crol and Maya at Philip's command. They attempted to attack but were overwhelmed by the two Apexes. Crol wiped them out with boomerangs while Maya sled her feet on the ground creating splashes on her trail. Having finished his preparations, Peacock pressed a hidden button on his suit and it revealed its true form - a developed battle armor.

As Philip decided to fight seriously, he revealed a new form of his in front of his audiences. That also display the might of The Apex Legion that he worked for. He was close to being promoted as another guardian who would protect their so-called divine being until they stopped breathing. That would mean his ability was commendable to the higher-ups, leading to a tough battle none of his enemies would have expected.

Philip flew up high and projected multiple beams and Crol did the same. While both of them were countering each other, Maya hurl a large water blade at Philip but he blocked of the attack with a golden barrier. The next thing that happened surprised everyone even more which was the area detached itself from the stronghold and became a sky stadium. That was the true stage that Philip prepared for his performance.

"Behold people! This is the real show I wanted to show you all. We could fight as hard as we wished for and you won't be damaged while being on your seat."

"This Peacock guy is insane."

"People should call him the Peanut instead."

"Now let's get the show going!"

The spectating people were victims and audiences at the same time, their lives or at least freedom were in the hands of the three combatants on the platform. Philip felt proud for the display of the stage he planned though it didn't concern his opponents. Maya projected three water beams but Philip evaded. Crol attacked with homing laser beams once more but his barrier made it futile.

Philip took out a gun and launched a huge laser beam, both Crol and Maya barely avoided it though it didn't bend. That was probably a limit his Apex ability had, yet he was still some force to be reckoned with. Even so, the two of them must not back down. Crol resorted to using Condor Crescent as he created a rain of boomerangs, yet he barrier endured the fierce attack.

"That was Ted's strongest wasn't it? But it was nothing for my impenetrable hardened light barrier. I guess I should return the favor for that right?"

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"Crol, he's about to do something. Be careful."

"Be in awe! Ballistic Burst!"

Philip flew close to the ground and extended his arms in to direction, at the same time his barrier launched multitude of rapidly firing laser beams in all directions. The attack wounded Crol and Maya despite their best effort to avoid it. Sadly, none of them had any healing equipment along. The Peacock had a prideful look, fully believing that his power was too overwhelming for those who could mimic it.

Although, the barrier of his would also prevent him from using any other attacks than what he just did. Giving his opponents no time to rest, Philip flew up in the sky and readied himself for one final attack that the suit he was wearing allowed him to perform. That might be the only chance Crol and Nova had before they got wiped.

While Philip was charging his attack, turrets were sent into battle so that his opponents wouldn't be able to evade. The audiences watched as their two saviors struggled with a large amount of deployed turrets. It was hard to come up with something to avoid getting blasted into oblivion.

Eventually, Philip finished charging as he pointed his gun downward and launched an enormous laser beam. Even Maya's father wouldn't dare to hope that she would survive an attack that sent people into a state of shock. After that, a large hole was created on the place where Crol and Maya were standing. Rufus mourned over his dead daughter and apologized to his wife in the afterlife.

Philip landed on the ground and looked at the big hole he created on the stage he planned prior. He referred his opponents demise as a sacrifice to his upcoming promotion. Suddenly something grabbed him from behind and stabbed him with a boomerang. To everyone's surprise, Crol and Maya were alive and well.

"How? You couldn't have survived that. That's not possible!"

"Well, conveniently one of your turrets had a drill so we used that."

"What?"

"He meant we dug our way out of your attack before you landed it."

"Then I used Glue Gripper to hang on the area out of your huge laser blast. Thank god I swung toward somewhere further. Afterward, we simply climbed our way up while you were busy with your performance."

"This is insane... for my Pillar of Judgement to be... evaded like that..."

Philip collapsed on the ground as he died. Crol searched through his corpse and found a switch that set his audiences free from the terrifying show. The stadium merged with the stronghold once more. All the remaining guards of the place were eliminated swiftly by the two Apex that just saved lots of people. Many thanked them and began going on their way home. Maya also went home with her father along with Crol.

Later on, Rufus wanted to thank them both and asked about Maya's identity as the rumor Aqualass rumored from town to town. But she simply brushed it off from him. He was also impressed by Crol's abilities but he gave him the same treatment. The night went on with nothing happened in particular.

In the following morning, Crol finished reparing the Garuda and was about to depart but Maya and the locals wished to have a proper goodbye. He decided to take time hearing the words of people whom he wouldn't meet for a long time.

"I'd like to thank you for helping me save everyone here."

"I'd thank you against for your deed as well."

"Don't thank me for getting what I came for. I initially had some business to do with Peacock anyway."

"Still, we hope to see you again someday. Maybe my daughter could come along with you in the future."

"Dad, I want to stay here with you. I might come along with him after I'm done with my wish."

"Which is..."

"She wanted to create a waterpark in the town, I believe. A large one to be exact."

"Wild."

"I heard that!"

"I have to get going now. Might visit this place again someday in the future."

"Goodbye, friend."

"Yeah, see you."

The Garuda set off and flew away as Maya and other townsfolks watched. The girl wouldn't change her mind about staying in the town, yet she would also like to venture around places with a companion like Crol. For the moment she should move on and do things she wanted and would want to.

Crol even when he completed his revenge, had yet to be able to locate where his sister could be. Digit reminded him that the only way was to gather more intel, to which he couldn't object. His nightmare days had long ended yet he still yearned for his beloved Tanya. He could only keep the spirit of wanting to find her no matter what, hoping that she had not gone from existence.

The hunger stopped him from his thoughts. Again he ate instant noodles for the meal, he was familiar with the taste. That didn't change the fact that it was good. He along with Tanya lived a poor life so they both never knew what it would feel like to live in luxury. Such thing reminded him of the life Maya and her father had. They were pretty poor but it was enough for both of them, even if the family was lacking a woman.

Suddenly a large aircraft was approaching his from behind. It launched several laser beams though he avoided it all. The unexpected enemy aircraft kept on firing. The line of fire forced Crol to use the untested function of the Garuda that Digit informed him about. As the only way to get out of the situation, Crol pressed the red button which caused the aircraft to leap into a different dimension as it moved with unfathomable speed. With that, Garuda was gone from the enemy aircraft rada.

After the uncontrolled leap, Garuda landed on what look like a cave. However, there was no entrance nor exit. Tired from the chase, Crol went to sleep. Whatever the underworld had, he could find out for another day. For the moment, he should rest.