"Alright, Paltio, here we go with twenty percent of my power," Golden announced calmly. "Receive it."
Paltio felt Golden's power emanate within him once again, this time like a cascade flowing through his entire body. His skin began to glow intensely, adopting an even more radiant golden hue than before. The young prince tried to withstand the torrent of energy; his feet dug into the ground as he clenched his fists tightly, struggling to maintain control. A great flash erupted from him, illuminating everything around him, until finally his figure became visible again. This time, in addition to his usual gloves and boots, emerald-green gauntlets adorned his arms, shimmering with a unique design.
"And? How do you feel?" Golden asked, observing him closely.
But Paltio didn't respond immediately. Golden feared the boy had passed out, but after a few seconds, he saw him move slowly.
"This is amazing," Paltio said, admiring the gauntlets. He noticed slots running along their edges and wondered what they might be for. However, before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, he heard Golden's voice calling him. He had been so absorbed in the new energy coursing through his being—especially concentrated in his hands and feet—that he lost track of time.
"Alright, kitty, it's time for round three," Paltio declared with a confident smile.
The cat purred and prepared for the confrontation, arching his weapons and unsheathing his sharp claws.
Toco-Toco went straight on the attack, hurling his two weapons at Paltio before delivering a powerful tail swipe. The prince used his gloves to block the weapons and quickly raised a foot to stop the feline's tail.
"Not bad... Meow!" Toco-Toco exclaimed, licking his whiskers as he adopted a determined look. This time, he meant business.
The cat accelerated his movements, unleashing a flurry of lethal blows. With each strike, his attacks grew faster and more precise. Paltio tried to dodge them, but it was impossible to avoid them all. Toco-Toco took advantage of every opening to deliver additional hits with his tail, increasing the pressure on the young prince.
Finally, after an incessant barrage of attacks, Paltio lost focus. The cat, ever opportunistic, seized the moment to slam him against a nearby wall.
"You need more concentration! You're still weak... Meow!" Toco-Toco taunted smugly.
However, Paltio stood up without showing any injuries. At the last moment, he had managed to place his gloves against the wall to cushion the fall, demonstrating his growing control over his abilities.
"Not bad," Golden commented, noting how Paltio had used his wits to break his fall against the wall.
The cat attacked again quickly, but this time Paltio didn't stay still. With renewed determination, he ran toward Toco-Toco to face him head-on. They clashed once more, blocking each other's moves with precision.
The feline was convinced that twenty percent of Golden's power would make the boy faster and stronger, but he still seemed just as vulnerable. Deciding to push his own limits, Toco-Toco increased his own power, launching even faster and more forceful attacks.
Paltio tried to block the cat's blows, but some managed to land directly on his stomach, knocking him to his knees. Before he could recover, Toco-Toco delivered a powerful tail swipe to his face.
"Damn it!" Paltio muttered, frustrated. He began to think that increasing his power was pointless if everything remained the same. However, when he saw the cat laughing arrogantly again, something inside him ignited. He extended his hand forward as if throwing an invisible punch, and from the slots in his gauntlets, luminous needles shot out into the air, briefly illuminating the surroundings.
But Paltio didn't stay still. He rose furiously, wiping the dust from his face with renewed determination. He wasn't going to let Toco-Toco underestimate him for another second. He examined the slots on the gauntlets curiously, wondering exactly what those flashes were that he had just unleashed.
"What are these things?" he wondered mentally, trying to understand the origin and purpose of this new ability.
Golden intervened in his mind, explaining: "Those are my energy needles. They'll help you immobilize your enemy for brief periods of time."
"You've given me an idea... thanks, Golden," Paltio replied with a slightly unsettling smile.
With renewed confidence, the prince ran toward where the cat stood, who was still laughing at him for failing to counter his attacks. Toco-Toco prepared to repeat his strategy, but suddenly he felt something momentarily holding him back. That was when Paltio seized the opportunity to deliver a couple of precise punches, sending the cat flying.
"How did you like that, kitty?" Paltio said mockingly, enjoying the surprise on the feline's face.
Toco-Toco got up, bewildered. Not only had he been hit, but he also felt something strange briefly restraining him. "What was that? It must be my imagination," he thought, trying to ignore the sensation. He lunged at Paltio again, determined to defeat him.
When he reached the prince and tried to strike, he once again felt that invisible force holding him back. Before he could react, Paltio struck him again, sending him flying through the air and landing on the ground with a dull thud.
The cat, now completely frustrated, tugged at his fur in desperation. "What is that?! This is maddening!" he shouted, visibly annoyed.
"Hey, Paltio, I think that's enough. Don't drive my cat insane," Golden interjected in the young man's mind.
"I thought that cat could see everything," Paltio replied sarcastically, enjoying the moment.
"Yes, he can see things... but those needles can only be perceived by their wielder," Golden explained calmly.
"Alright, just let me give him one more," Paltio said with a mischievous smile.
"I don't want any more, meow!" Toco-Toco protested, clearly confused. "I think I'm feeling unwell..."
Paltio let out a small laugh at the cat's reaction, which made Toco-Toco look at him strangely, wondering if the prince had lost his mind.
A few minutes passed, and Paltio observed the cat sitting to one side, pensive and somewhat irritated. The young man began to feel remorse and decided to tell him the truth about his new ability.
"I thought you were crazy," Toco-Toco said, crossing his arms with feigned indignation. However, before Paltio could respond, the feline swiped quickly at his face as payback for mocking him with that "dirty trick."
Golden also laughed from afar, though he couldn't help but lightly scold the prince. "That's what you get for playing such a tasteless game with a cat. Sometimes they can be very vengeful, you know?"