Suddenly, the heavy doors of the church were pushed open, and a figure stepped inside. Spotting his chance, Otto fired several shots toward the doorway, while a barrage of chains lunged in the same direction.
"You really know how to give me trouble!"
With a flick of Yeye's wrist, the surrounding fragments instantly shifted their trajectory.
Seizing the opening, Otto snatched up the Light Cone that Yeye had left behind.
"My old friend, I win!"
Otto grabbed the Light Cone and crushed it in his hand, shattering it into pieces that scattered across the floor.
At that exact moment, a system notification chimed in Yeye's ear:
[Light Cone: Tree of Imaginary has been damaged.]
"Time to get serious."
The moment the Light Cone was destroyed, the figure that had just entered the doorway vanished.
Yeye recalled all the fragments, drawing them back to orbit closely around him.
Otto unleashed a relentless flurry of attacks of every imaginable form. Yeye used the fragments of the Blade of True Self to parry the assault.
However, the fragments of the Blade of True Self were finite and could not block every single attack. Moreover, due to Otto's connection with the Tree of Imaginary, his divine authority had grown even more formidable. Though he could not strip Yeye of his power, the mere restraint of Otto's authority threatened to bind Yeye with every movement he made.
Relying on his domain, Yeye barely managed to resist being completely immobilized within the constricted space.
Facing Yeye, Otto could no longer afford to hold back; after all, Yeye had hijacked control of the Tree of Imaginary for quite some time, and the Tree was furious with him now.
"Old friend, you really know how to keep me busy," Yeye muttered.
"The Tree is starting to get angry? It actually has some awareness. Go all out against Otto, I still have a trump card," Kiana said.
Yeye wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. Thanks to his Reverse Cursed Technique, these attacks posed no immediate threat to his body. Yet, he could feel the authority of constraint slowly eroding him, his body constantly fighting back against the corrosion.
"He really isn't holding back at all. I have to come up with a new plan. In True Self Mode, I seem to be immune to all status effects. But activating True Self Mode right now is too early; I can only try infusing the Blade of True Self into my body to force myself into a pseudo-True Self Mode."
Suddenly, the fragments of the Blade of True Self blocking Otto's attacks dissolved into particles of light and surged toward Yeye, instantly merging into his body.
Yeye felt his physical form beginning to transform toward the True Self Mode. Right at the threshold of entering that state, he exerted absolute control over his power and forcibly halted the transformation.
The toll of this forced interruption, however, was immense: his body felt as though it were being constantly torn apart from within by his own power.
"Hah, a bit painful, but now I can finally let loose without worrying about the authority of constraint."
Moving at blinding speed, Yeye closed the distance to Otto in an instant and delivered a punch that knocked the Seed of Imaginary right off Otto's back.
He followed up with a kick to the Seed of Imaginary, shattering more than half of it, though it began to heal itself moments later.
The instant Otto recovered, Yeye kicked him flying, sending him crashing through multiple stone pillars.
In the sky, a shower of golden swords rained down toward Yeye. The moment they were about to strike, swirling currents of air wrapped around Yeye, instantly shattering every single blade into dust. He then launched himself straight back toward Otto.
On his way, Yeye caught sight of Kiana and Durandal, who had just arrived.
"Too slow. Kiana, stand back—I'll handle that guy."
Yeye stepped in front of the two of them. Before Kiana could say a word, Yeye teleported away.