From the walls emerged several enormous eyes, and from them shot beams directly at Paltio and his team. They were on the verge of annihilation when Mok, with astonishing speed, used his knives as reflective mirrors to deflect the attacks, saving them from certain death.
"Thank you, Mok," Paltio said, exhaling in relief.
"That was too close," Paris murmured, still trembling with fear.
"We need to get Kilibur out of there soon," Golden urged, his voice tense with urgency.
"No! Friend, run… That monster is extremely dangerous," warned the young fox, his voice heavy with anguish.
"We're not leaving you here," Paltio responded firmly.
The eyes fired laser beams again toward the group, but Mok once more countered them with his knives.
"Master, if you're going to free him from that machine, do it quickly. I can't keep this up for much longer," Mok cautioned, his tone betraying a hint of fatigue.
Paltio ran toward where Kilibur was seated, determined to remove the helmet. But as soon as he tried to touch it, a powerful electric shock threw him backward, leaving him sprawled on the floor.
"I'm sorry… I forgot to mention that this thing is protected by a strong electric current," Kilibur said, guilt evident in his voice.
"You could've told me before…" Paltio groaned from the ground, his body still aching from the electrocution.
"Now how do we get him out?" Ron asked, worry etched across his face.
"Alita, can you cut those cables? I think they're the power source," Nakia suggested, pointing to the thick cables connected to the machine.
"Which ones exactly?" Alita asked, examining them closely.
"Cut them all, girl!" Chiki exclaimed impatiently.
Alita summoned her water magic, hardening it into razor-sharp spikes resembling metal, and launched them in every direction. The spikes struck the cables, severing the flow of energy. One by one, the cables began to explode, releasing sparks and smoke as the machine destabilized.
"Great job, Alita!" Ron praised admiringly. "You've improved so much in these three months of mental training."
"Yeah… Thanks," she replied shyly, scratching the back of her neck with an embarrassed smile.
Ron approached Paltio, who was still recovering from the electrical blow that had sent him flying moments earlier, and said, "Leave it to me."
Ron closed his eyes and focused his energy. His body began to be enveloped in shining armor—though this time it was different from the one he had displayed before with Troba. It was lighter and more refined, similar to what members of the Fuerte family wore.
With his body fully armored, Ron advanced toward where Kilibur was trapped in the machine. With precise movements, he tore off the devices as if they were made of paper.
"Not bad, kid. After that training, at least you managed to use your first layer of armor," Chiki remarked, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, yeah… Whatever," Ron replied dismissively, though his slight blush betrayed his pride.
"Foolish boy! And here I was giving you a compliment!" Chiki growled, pretending to be annoyed.
"Well, you did great too," Alita added with a smile, offering another compliment. Ron blushed even more, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly in an attempt to hide his discomfort.
Finally, after removing the helmet, they saw for the first time the true face of Kilibur. He was a humanoid fox with orange fur, his ears adorned with small circular earrings on each side. His large yellow eyes gleamed with intensity, and his tail, decorated with a bracelet, ended in a white tip. He wore a lead suit, like a prisoner's uniform, which only emphasized his fragile yet dignified figure.
"Wow, you really are a handsome fox," Alita said kindly, smiling at Kilibur.
Kilibur blushed slightly, but before he could respond, his eyes closed, and he collapsed unconscious.
"What happened to him?" Ron asked, worried.
"Get Kilibur out of here, quick!" Mok instructed, continuing to defend them with his knives, which now shimmered under the light of the laser beams.
Ron hoisted the young fox onto his back, and together with Alita, they began retreating from the chamber. Paltio, still recovering from the electric shock, slowly got to his feet.
"I think what we saw on the search plane was real… And those eyes have been there all along," he murmured, observing the scene with seriousness.
Golden gazed at Kilibur thoughtfully.
What have they done to you, my friend? He wondered silently.
Suddenly, the eyes intensified their laser beams, causing Mok's knives to lose their formation and scatter across the floor.
The group was nearing the exit with Kilibur when, suddenly, an enormous frog leg blocked the only way out.
"What do we do now?" Alita asked anxiously, watching as their path was cut off.
The eyes began advancing toward them, and under the dim light, they could make out the silhouette of a massive purple toad from which multiple eyes protruded.
"What is that hideous thing?" Paris exclaimed, instinctively stepping back.
Kilibur, who had regained consciousness, struggled to his feet.
"It's a Sapurus," he explained, his voice weak but resolute. "Yes, that thing is dangerous. It doesn't just shoot lasers from its eyes—it has the power to inhibit my abilities. I'm useless here, with that beast nearby."
"How do you know that?" Golden asked, frowning.
"Beware its tongue," Kilibur continued, ignoring the question. "That's how it blocked my powers before. Don't let it touch you, Golden."
The massive purple toad let out a deep, mocking laugh before launching its tongue at Paltio. The prince barely managed to dodge the attack in time—just narrowly. Had he not heeded Kilibur's warning, he would likely already be in serious trouble.
"That tongue is incredibly fast!" Paltio shouted, tensing his body to stay alert.
The monster attacked again, flicking its tongue toward the prince once more. This time, Paltio moved with greater agility, narrowly avoiding the impact by mere inches.
"Golden, it's time. Give me twenty percent of your power," Paltio urged.
Golden nodded without hesitation and channeled his energy into him. Suddenly, gleaming gloves appeared on Paltio's hands, accompanied by wristbands and boots—all an intense emerald green.
"Wow! That's new!" Ron exclaimed, marveling at his friend, now clad in radiant emerald-green gear.
With the enhancements, Paltio moved with increased speed, but the toad's tongue remained just as swift. Moreover, the laser beams it unleashed assaulted them from all directions, leaving them no room to breathe. Alita summoned a water barrier to block some of the attacks, while Ron positioned himself at the front, shielding the group with his shining armor. Lukeandria also drew her sword and shield, guarding Paris as he frantically searched for a solution in his book. However, the attacks seemed to multiply, ricocheting off the walls as if the creature were strategically directing them.
Mok unsheathed his sword and began deflecting the rays that closed in dangerously. The onslaught came in relentless bursts, giving them no time to recover.
"Damn it! If this keeps up, we'll all wear out before we can do anything," Paltio growled, scanning for an escape route.
Determined, Chiki charged toward the toad, intending to strike it, but the creature touched him with its tongue. Instantly, Chiki felt his body grow heavy, his movements slowing down. The monster glowed intensely, absorbing the dog's energy, and its laser beams grew even more powerful.
"Your friend is right, Golden," Paris said, observing the scene with concern. "If that tongue touches you, it doesn't just strip away your powers—it amplifies the monster's strength."
Golden nodded thoughtfully, his gaze lost in the chaos surrounding them. Suddenly, an idea sparked in Paltio's mind. His eyes lit up with determination as he turned to Golden.
"Golden," he said urgently, his voice firm yet laced with worry, "I have an idea, but it's a bit risky if we're going to defeat this thing. I'll need to get as close to it as possible."
Golden observed him silently for a moment, weighing his words. Finally, he responded:
"I see what you're planning, boy. Alright, let's do it."