Finally, both assailants lost their minds.
They were like hollow puppets. Derek was waiting for this outcome. He grabbed the head of one of the attackers and channeled his light energy inside them.
He enacted the divine ascension technique. This technique would convert anyone affected by it into devout believers.
As both of them were two small ranks above him, Derek needed to channel a bit more mana to take them under control.
This placed suggestions inside their minds that Derek was their god and they needed to obey him.
This would make them flourish, their actions and purpose now intrinsically bound to Derek's will.
The assailants' struggles ceased as the divine energy coursed through them. Their eyes, once wild with anger and despair, now held a vacant reverence.
Their minds, once consumed by vengeance, were molded into unwavering devotion.