"Viginti Tempora! Aeternum Dominare!" Circe's incantation swelled her magic. Three massive circles appeared beneath her and Gohan, who was barely holding on.
A surge of power coursed through Gohan as Circe's green lightning crackled around him.
Gohan instantly moved towards Merno. 'I feel twenty times stronger,' he realized, allowing Strix to pull back. I owe them for this.
"I can cut that boost by half," Enchantress remarked, readying herself.
"Checkmate," Circe declared. "Sanctum Nihil: Absolute—"
Enchantress's eyes widened in horror. "No! Sanctum Nihil: Absolute—"
"Silence of Sorcery!" Both sorceresses unleashed their magic simultaneously.
"Defend me!" Circe ordered. Strix and Diana immediately prepared, without hesitation.
The two sorceresses chanted in unison as the Destroyer and Angel zipped across the Time Nest:
"Arcana, caelumque terraque, exsilium ex loco hoc! Artes et formulae, spiritus et daemonia, ego invoco!
Vinctus sit voluntas omnium magorum,
Nihil restet in hoc sanctuario.
Oblivione et in tenebris magica iaceat,
Adventus nullitatis regnet hic!
Vocem magicae excutiam, et pacem silentii imponam,
Ne manus umquam iterum attollat in hoc loco!"
A shroud of darkness descended on the Time Nest as ten colossal circles materialized beneath everyone, generating immense pressure. Strix used her Ki to form a barrier against the oppressive force.
"This is the ultimate anti-magic spell," Circe gritted out. "While it's active, no one can cast anything. But with her godlike power, I'll always lose these power struggles. Luckily, I caught her off guard this time—so she's struggling as much as I am." Circe dropped to one knee, arms extended, as Enchantress mirrored her.
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Meanwhile, Gohan and Merno fought on, the boost from Circe's spell fading. 'With Circe I don't have to worry about Enchantress for now,' Gohan thought, thankful that his focus was fully on the battle.
Suddenly, Vermont appeared behind Merno and almost grabbed him, but Merno turned and struck Vermont's shoulder, knocking the wind out of him.
"Keep trying, little brother," Merno said coolly, "but you're still just a slightly above-average angel."
Gohan and Vermont tried to double-team Merno, but he dodged and weaved effortlessly, barely trying.
"This was fun," Merno said, "mostly because I got to see how much my little brother has grown. I may have knocked you out every time, but you're definitely a better angel than you were back then. As for you?" Merno glanced at Gohan, clearly unimpressed.
"You weren't completely disappointing, but I wasn't blown away either. I won't kill you or your lover, but I'll still leave you with a gift," he said with a grin.
"No thanks, I don't want anything from you," Gohan growled, his vision blurring from the strain. He hadn't fought long, but the beating was wearing him down.
"It's already done, my friend," Merno replied calmly. "What I'm interested in is seeing what happens when your power explodes."
In a flash, Merno appeared behind Diana, driving his staff through her chest, before glancing back at Gohan.
"Diana!" Gohan roared as his power spiked. Red electricity crackled around him as his Beast form took over. He charged at Merno to save her, but in that instant, his power fizzled out.
Merno and Vermont watched as Gohan's punch connected—yet nothing happened. Gohan's Beast form receded.
The fury on Gohan's face quickly turned to confusion. "That was... so pathetic, my body didn't even bother to dodge." Merno looked down at him, completely unimpressed.
The Omni-King watched from afar. 'If Merno knew what you were truly capable of, he'd kill you instantly. I need you.' The king mused as he raised his hand, Gohan's silhouette appearing on his palm, encased in a blazing red aura.
'Even that won't be enough... not yet. Placing the seal on him was the right call.'
In another corner of the Time Nest, a translucent Merno floated silently, a sly grin on his face. "This route's a bit longer, but at least I managed to dodge Chronoa and 'Rammy boy.' That crystal should be just ahead. Everyone's too preoccupied to notice me," he thought, his eyes narrowing as he pressed forward unnoticed.