Chapter 325: Soul Suppression Formation

A portal tore open—RIP—the fabric of space splitting apart in a shimmering disc of violet energy. Three figures stepped through.

The Clown came first, his painted grin stretched wide, his hands in his pockets. Sebastian followed, his arms crossed, his face twisted with bitter satisfaction. Behind them walked Isabella Vorn—her eyes soulless, her portal closing behind them with a soft HMMM.

The Clown looked down at Kael’s broken, bleeding body face-down in the dirt. He tilted his head, giggling. "Oh my, oh my. The little Vorn is taking a nap. How adorable. I thought he’d put up more of a—" His grin widened. "Well, I suppose even monsters need their beauty sleep."

Sebastian stepped forward, looking down at Kael’s crumpled form with visible relish. Blood pooled beneath his brother’s body—SPREAD—dark and thick. Sebastian’s lips curled into a sneer.

"Serves you right, you bastard," Sebastian said, his voice dripping with years of suppressed venom. "Always acting like you’re untouchable. Look at you now. Bleeding in the dirt like the dog you are." He crouched slightly, staring at Kael’s blood-matted hair. "I’ve been waiting years to see you like this."

The Clown giggled. "Now, now, Sebastian. Don’t get too comfortable. We need him alive—"

Kael stood up.

The movement was silent. His body rising from the ground like a puppet pulled upright by invisible strings. His frame trembled—SHAKE—blood still streaming from his nose, eyes, and ears. His black eyes stared at them.

The Clown’s grin faltered.

For the first time, the painted smile cracked. His eyes widened—WIDEN—and he took an involuntary step backward—STEP.

"Impossible," the Clown whispered, his voice stripped of its usual theatrical lilt. "That soul attack should have shattered his consciousness entirely. I struck him with a Peak Soul Condensation Realm attack." He stared at Kael’s trembling but standing form, his grin replaced by genuine shock. "He must have a powerful soul or a powerful soul treasure to withstand an attack from a Peak Soul Condensation cultivator and still remain standing. What kind of monster is this kid?"

Sebastian stumbled backward—STUMBLE—his earlier bravado evaporating like mist. "How is he still standing?! He should be dead!"

Claude floated down from the sky—DESCEND—his cracked mask barely clinging to his face, burns covering his arms and torso. Draxos landed beside him—THUD—his true demon form diminished, his exoskeleton cracked in dozens of places, dark blood seeping from wounds that refused to fully close.

The mindless Kael turned toward the Clown. His mouth opened.

He roared.

FWOOOOOM.

The Dragon’s Roar thunder technique erupted from his throat—a visible shockwave of sound and lightning exploding outward in every direction. The air itself cracked—CRACK—the ground beneath Kael’s feet disintegrating from the sonic pressure. Lightning arced through the shockwave—ZAP, ZAP—blue-white bolts weaving through the concussive force like serpents.

The Clown immediately raised a powerful soul shield—HUMMM—a dome of condensed spiritual energy materializing around him. The Dragon’s Roar struck—BOOM—the shield holding but cracking—CRACK—under the combined sonic and electrical assault.

Sebastian wasn’t so lucky.

The shockwave hit him full force—BOOM—launching him backward like a ragdoll—WHOOSH, CRASH—his body slamming into a boulder, cracking it down the middle. Blood erupted from his mouth—SPLAT—his ribs fracturing—CRACK, CRACK. He crumpled to the ground, gasping, his face pale with shock and pain.

Isabella was thrown—BOOM—her body tumbling across the ground like a discarded doll, her soulless eyes staring blankly at the sky as she rolled, coming to rest face-up in the dirt.

The Clown’s shield barely held. He turned to Claude, his painted face contorted with urgency.

"Claude! Use the soul-suppression formation! NOW!"

Claude’s hands moved, his fingers forming rapid, precise hand signs. Draxos mirrored him, his four arms creating additional seals simultaneously. Both of them slammed their palms toward the ground—SLAM.

HUMMM. FWOOOM. CRACK.

The Soul-Suppression Formation activated. A massive circular array erupted from the ground beneath Kael’s feet—BLAZE—purple-black runes spreading outward in concentric rings, each layer inscribed with ancient suppression glyphs. The formation was a Shadow Vatican masterpiece, designed specifically to cage powerful souls. Four layers of suppression worked in harmony: the first layer suppressed mana flow, disrupting the connection between Kael’s soul and his mana core. The second layer targeted spiritual energy, creating a dampening field that hindered soul power manifestation. The third layer was a binding matrix—chains of condensed spiritual energy that materialized around the target’s body, restricting physical movement. The fourth and final layer was a consciousness dampener—a field of numbing energy designed to force the target’s mind into dormancy.

Purple-black chains erupted from the formation—CRACK, CRACK—wrapping around Kael’s arms, legs, and torso, tightening with each pulse of the formation’s energy.

Kael roared—ROAR—his body surging with dark energy. The chains cracked—CRACK—the first layer of mana suppression failing against the Void Core’s output. Darkness exploded from his body—FWOOM—corroding the second layer’s spiritual dampening field.

Draxos quickly poured his demonic mana into the formation—SLAM—his demonic mana flooding into the array. The runes blazed brighter—BLAZE—the chains thickening—THICKEN—wrapping tighter. His Wrath Intent reinforced the suppression field, adding emotional pressure to the spiritual cage.

Kael tore one arm free—RIP—chains shattering. He fired a Pulsar at Claude—FWOOM—forcing Claude to break formation and teleport—FLASH. The Pulsar missed, striking the ground—BOOM—carving a crater.

The formation weakened. Kael’s darkness surged—SURGE—his Astraeon bloodline pushing back against the suppression with primordial force.

Then Claudia arrived.

The Viper limped onto the battlefield—SHUFFLE—her healed arm still bearing burn scars, her serpentine eyes burning with venomous hatred. She had recovered enough from the Heavenly Flame’s eruption to rejoin the fight. Her poison mana flared—HISS—sickly green energy swirling around her hands.

She slammed her palms into the formation—SLAM—injecting her corrosive poison mana into the array. The formation absorbed her energy—GLOW—the runes turning from purple-black to sickly green. A fifth layer was added. Toxic energy seeped into the chains, burning Kael’s skin on contact—SIZZLE—the poison eating through his aura barrier.

Kael screamed—AGH—a raw, primal sound of rage and pain. His darkness pushed back—FWOOM—but the combined assault was mounting.

Claude teleported back, rejoining the formation. Draxos reinforced his section. The Clown added his own soul power—HUMMM—the Peak Soul Condensation energy strengthening the consciousness dampener.

The chains tightened, layer upon layer of suppression wrapping around Kael’s body. His mana flow disrupted—FZZT. His soul power dampened and his physical movement restricted.

Kael fought.

His body was failing. Blood poured from every orifice, his Void Core flickering—FZZT. His Slaughter Intent wavered—DIM—the Heart of the Carnage Deity sputtering as his slaughter energy reserves ran dry. The Astraeon bloodline pulsed erratically, its primordial power surging and receding like a dying heartbeat.

Kael roared one final time—ROAR—his darkness exploding outward in a desperate burst. The chains cracked—CRACK, CRACK—three of them shattering. He took one step toward Claude—STEP—his black eyes fixed on the masked man.

Then the chains reformed—WRAP—tighter than before. Five layers of suppression clamped down simultaneously. The consciousness dampener activated fully—HUMMM—a wave of numbing energy flooding Kael’s mind.

His legs gave out—THUD—his knees hitting the ground.

The dark ring behind him flickered—FZZT—and vanished. His black eyes slowly faded—DIM—the endless void receding, replaced by silver-flecked gray that rolled upward as consciousness left him.

Kael collapsed—THUD—face-first into the dirt, motionless.

Silence.

Draxos stared down at Kael’s unconscious form. His dark red eyes were wide—WIDE—with an emotion that didn’t match his demonic features. Fear.

"That’s definitely the pure Astraeon bloodline," Draxos said, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "What the fuck is it doing here?"

Claude nodded slowly, his cracked mask barely hanging on. "What’s that? Well, I don’t even care at this point. We need him alive. The Shadow Vatican has plans for this one." He turned to Sebastian. "Pick him up."

Sebastian, still recovering from the shockwave—GASP—limped forward. He grabbed Kael by the collar and hoisted him over his shoulder—GRUNT—his face twisted with disgust.

"Unbelievable," Sebastian muttered. "He nearly killed all of you, and we’re keeping him alive?"

The Clown giggled, his composure restored, his painted grin stretching wide. "Orders are orders, little Vorn. Besides, the Shadow Vatican doesn’t waste valuable assets. And such a powerful bloodline? That’s the most valuable asset I’ve seen in centuries."

Claudia limped toward the group, her ruined arm still smoking faintly. She looked at Kael’s unconscious body with venomous hatred.

"He destroyed the Soul-Sealing Jar. He nearly killed me." Her voice was cold. "I hope the Shadow Vatican breaks him slowly."