"Well then, are these your final allies?" Watching this, Takeru found it amusing.
Hearing Takeru's words, Clayman frowned.
"Takeru-sama, my sister and I shall handle the rest." Seeing Clayman's last subordinates, Ram volunteered.
"No. I shall handle all of this myself." Hearing her words, Takeru directly refused. Then, to everyone's astonishment, Takeru's form split into five.
"This is?!" Watching Takeru's form divide into five, each emanating an immensely powerful oppressive aura, Clayman nearly broke down.
"Heh, this is merely five. Takeru can split into thirty or forty!" Seeing Clayman's shocked expression, Milim mocked lightly, a strange sense of pride in her voice, as if she herself had accomplished this.
Unbeknownst to Clayman, upon first witnessing Takeru's numerous clones, each possessing strength not far inferior to the original, Milim herself had been deeply shaken.
"Hmph! Surely a trick! Even if not, these clones cannot possess significant power! Attack!" Staring at the five Takerus, Clayman, unwilling to believe, rapidly commanded his monsters.
At Clayman's direction, the four monsters each engaged one of Takeru's clones. Yet, the moment they attacked, they discovered Takeru's terrifying strength and defense. Their assaults were utterly ineffective.
Clayman's mechanical puppet wielded ice, fire, and wind magic. Yet, compared to Takeru's own magic, its power was negligible, utterly unable to breach Takeru's defense.
Kamara likewise primarily employed magical attacks, their power comparable to the mechanical puppet's. They, too, could not penetrate Takeru's defense. Takeru showed no intention of harming them, otherwise, they would already be corpses.
"Well, you possess no further trump cards, do you?" Briefly surveying the surrounding engagements, Takeru's main body calmly addressed Clayman.
"Damn these worthless creatures! Hmph! A mere newly-risen Demon Lord dares provoke me? I shall show you the folly of this decision!" Seeing his subordinates prove useless, Clayman took a deep breath.
"Oh, is that so?" Hearing his words, Takeru was amused.
Thinking this, Takeru moved, instantly appearing before Clayman. Under his shocked gaze, Takeru's fist repeatedly struck his face. The immense force left Takeru's knuckles covered in Clayman's blood.
After over twenty consecutive blows, Takeru kicked him hard in the abdomen, sending him flying out of the hall, traveling over a hundred meters before stopping.
The next instant, Takeru appeared before him.
"Oh? What's wrong? Why do you not counterattack? Are you yielding to me? My apologies. You were yielding, and yet I was so smug." Looking at the agonized Clayman, Takeru murmured mockingly.
"Damn you! Damn you! Do not be so arrogant!" After a moment to recover, Clayman's wounds regenerated. As a Demon Lord, he possessed at least this much regenerative capability.
"Oh? Were you not yielding? Or are you simply unable to react?" Watching his pathetic state, Takeru taunted calmly.
"Damn you! Unforgivable! Go, Marionette Massacre!" Staring at Takeru, Clayman rapidly unleashed his attack. Five special puppets materialized before him, lunging menacingly at Takeru.
Yet, the moment they reached Takeru, his fists, clad in Armament Haki, struck out in rapid succession. These arrogant puppets, as if struck by catastrophic force, exploded into fragments from the immense power.
Subsequently, they reverted to their original forms, shrinking… in other words, reduced to shattered figurines.
"Ha! This is your attack? I see. You intend to bore me to sleep, then claim victory. Truly a formidable strategy!" Having effortlessly obliterated the puppet swarm, Takeru yawned and spoke calmly.
Hearing Takeru's mockery, Clayman's face flushed crimson. "Bastard! Nonsense! You rejoice too soon! Marionette Massacre instantly regenerates and strikes your vitals! The true battle begins now!"
"...!"
"And where is this true battle?" After a ten-plus second wait, the shattered puppets remained motionless. Takeru looked at him, amused.
"Why do they not regenerate?!" Staring at the inert puppets, Clayman was incredulous.
"So that you may die with clarity, I shall explain. This is Armament Haki. Besides enhancing one's offense and defense, it inflicts effective damage upon elemental and spiritual entities."
"It possesses spiritual attack capabilities?!" Hearing Takeru's words, Clayman was stunned.
"Oh? Even this astounds you? You truly are pathetically weak." Seeing his reaction, Takeru again mocked.
"I see. Then, be completely devoured! Demon Lord Domination!" As his words fell, orange threads rapidly bound Takeru.
Sensing the 'weak' domination ability within, Takeru passively allowed himself to be fully enveloped.
"Hahaha! Rejoice! I am destined to ascend to the pinnacle of Demon Lords! Behold my ultimate manipulation curse! From this day forth, serve me well!" Having bound Takeru, Clayman again laughed arrogantly.
"Ah, and then? It does not affect me in the slightest. Should I wait a little longer?" Watching Clayman laughing alone, Takeru tilted his head and inquired.
"Th-this cannot be! Impossible! This is the ultimate domination curse, capable of controlling even Demon Lords!" Seeing his attack utterly ineffective, Clayman could not believe it.
"Well, I had harbored a faint hope for you. If this is your final measure as a Demon Lord, then this farce should end." Watching the now-irrational Clayman, Takeru felt immense tedium.
Then, with slight exertion, he completely shattered the orange threads and landed.
"Unforgivable! You force me to reveal my true form! I shall make you regret this! Agh~!" Hearing Takeru's words, Clayman could no longer contain himself. He tore open his upper garment and roared. His form slightly expanded, and four special arms sprouted from his back.
His entire body became clad in armor, his skin turned brown, his eyes became pale red, and a slender tail extended from his rear.
"Indeed! I am a Demon Lord! Thus, I favor strategy, dispatching my opponents nobly and elegantly! But enough! Enough of this! This exhilaration, long forgotten! I shall, with my own hands, crush you!"
Having vented his outburst, Clayman condensed a special smiling mask and donned it. His energy became ferocious and turbulent.
"Somewhat improved. Yet still disappointing." Sensing the mana emanating from him, Takeru sighed softly.
"I shall kill you, Nara Takeru!" So saying, Clayman condensed a special energy sphere in both hands and rapidly launched it at Takeru.
Yet, the moment it neared Takeru, the sphere halted, transforming into countless energy threads that bound him.
Then, the arms on his back transformed into various weapons and swung heavily at Takeru.
Watching the excessively elaborate Clayman, Takeru shook his head. He effortlessly broke free from the energy threads, closed in, and, before Clayman could react, pressed his right hand onto his head and forcefully slammed him into the ground.
Boom!
With a tremendous explosion, Clayman's head made intimate contact with the earth. The impact, amplified by energy, created a massive crater.
As the smoke cleared, Clayman was utterly pathetic. His newly donned mask and armor were severely damaged, his body streaming with blood.
"I-Impossible! I, Clayman, am a Demon Lord!" Seeing his most powerful form effortlessly defeated in a single blow, Clayman was plunged into utter despair.