If any Rank 2 Transcendent was put in my current situation there's no doubt that they would fail and die when being surrounded by five Rank 3 Transcendents.
Even if these Transcendents weren't real and were just an emulation of the person they're based on, just the pressure they were exuding was enough to make someone like that fall to their knees.
Fortunately, I have my Energy Control.
Utilizing that ability to the full extent, I managed to swim out of the Wisp's grasp and through the phasing of my Energy Incarnate Transformation, I got out of the modern woman's invisible hands.
The Elemental Arrow of the elven woman passed through where my head was earlier.
As soon as I got some distance from them, my Pillar Guardians and clones were all summoned to keep them busy.
Following that, I did a leg sweep, knocking down the elven woman who blinked in front of me.
I had no time to follow up another attack because the Black Knight and the red-furred beast were now back on their feet, their eyes glowing as they charged towards me.
The Black Knight brandished his heavy sword and the unlucky clone who got hit by the black-colored energy slash he sent was cut into two.
As for the red-furred beast, it howled in my direction. Kael tried to block it. However, it howled towards him and the purple miasma-like substance covered the Pillar Guardian.
A few seconds after that, Kael crumbled into dust, not able to withstand the corrosion brought by that red-furred Rank 3 Transcendent beast.
"Do you really think any Rank 2 Transcendent can pass this shady trial of yours?"
Since it's surely watching what's happening here, I threw it a question.
Nonetheless, with these five, I couldn't truly relax while dodging.
That's right. At the moment, aside from dodging, countering any of them was kind of hard.
I could influence them with my Energy Control but with how dense they were made, I could at most influence two at a time, making them sluggish and miss their attacks aimed at me.
With the Source Energy in this room being already under the influence of my Energy Control, they're actually having a hard time activating more skills to corner me. Most of the skills they had shown me were cut from the Source Energy composing their bodies.
[They won't be able to pass. But if it's you… I know you can find a way.]
"Yeah right. What if I have you replace me here?" I answered after kicking the red-furred beast on its head.
Before it flew towards the other side of the room, Energy Explosions successively activated from where my feet hit it.
However, being an Energy Clone, targeting its head or even beheading it wouldn't result in death. The only way to defeat them was to deplete the Source Energy in their bodies.
[Unfortunately, I'm a powerless digital entity]
"Powerless, my as—Anyway, can you give me a brief history about you and the previous owner of this place. You know, just to keep my head working."
[You're indirectly telling me that even with these five, you're not the least bit bothered. There's no chance for them to defeat you, huh?]
"Not really, I only need someone who will keep me from overthinking. It's a precaution not to execute the wrong judgement of the situation."
With the beast knocked out for the moment, I then turned towards the Wisp that was about to creep towards me again. Flashes of lightning could be seen streaking along its spherical body.
When it charged enough energy, a lightning bolt shot towards me.
Energy Nullification!
From in front of me, a hexagonal plate made of the surrounding Source Energy was instantly conjured.
The way I could concentrate the Energy Nullification on a certain area was now more precise than before and it's not as taxing anymore.
After blocking that lightning bolt, I drew out my Dispelling Bow and shot multiple Dispelling Arrows with Nullification properties towards the elven woman that had just stood up after I swept her on her feet.
Even if she tried to dodge it, it's actually an arrow shower. With the burden of maintaining Domain of Valor now removed from my shoulders, I could now do more using the breathing space it left behind.
Following that, I used a Water Element variation of Flash Steps to fool that Wisp.
Along with the splashing sound as if I was submerged in a pool of water, I instantly reappeared behind the modern woman whose invisible hands were quickly alerted.
Before I could stretch my hand to take a hold of her, the hands instantly zoomed into my position, some of them were even holding invisible weapons to stab or hack at me.
Only those with high sensitivity to Energy would be able to see them coming. At most, Transcendents at the same level would be aware of her attacks right before it hits.
If this woman was still living 'til this day, she's a menace to those weaker than her but also quite useless to those stronger or those who could see those transparent hands.
They didn't have the speed that was apt for a Rank 3 Transcendent after all.
Dodging every hand and cutting off those I could cut, I arrived behind her and enclosed her in my arms, restricting her movements.
No. This wasn't me trying to flirt with her, she's not a living being!
This was just a preparation to take them down.
As the woman kept on struggling. I activated the full extent of Energy Nullification, submerging her in a sphere that was filled with Source Energy with nullifying properties.
If Ele was watching this time, she would find it similar to how she did it during the first time she showed me this skill.
In a split second, blades of nullifying energy came slashing towards the woman. Her hands that were already slow for my eyes became even smaller as they all slowly disintegrate into nothingness.
At this point, the only one who could save this woman was the Black Knight.
However, he's being blocked by another set of clones and the remaining three Pillar Guardians.
[Hey, that's cheating!]
Suddenly, the voice of the Artificial Intelligence rang out once more after being silent for a while.
"This is my skill. How is this a cheat? Look at her, isn't it nice that the blades could even emulate her bleeding from her wounds?" I pointed at the woman's abdomen that was leaking the Source Energy contained in her body through the stab wound from an Energy Blade.
With me restraining her easily, her strength that should've been superior to mine slowly deteriorated.
I thought of using the second Sword Skill I thought of but with that sword skill needing me to free myself for a few seconds, it's not viable.
That's why… I better pick them off one by one for now.
As long as they're beings made of Energy, I am their nemesis.
Well, just until one reached the Divine Stage though.
Either way, I better finish this now and complete this trial and Legacy Acceptance. I want to check on the progress of my Companions.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel