"It's now or never!" Paltio and Rykaru exclaimed in unison. Both unleashed a flurry of relentless attacks on the beast's critical points. With one hand, the creature tried to knock Paltio off its head, while with the other, it sought to capture Rykaru. However, its efforts were in vain. Father and son were too fast, shielded by a powerful aura that enveloped them. The bond between them, strengthened by the Domadoin, had fused into an almost unbreakable connection.
Finally, they reached the climax of their assault. Paltio delivered a devastating blow that pierced the beast's lower jaw, while Rykaru sliced through the last part of its neck with his sword. The creature made its final desperate attempt, but it was futile. Together, they managed to sever the beast's head completely.
The beast began to fly erratically over the area, like a headless chicken, after being decapitated. It spun wildly in the air until, finally, it crashed with a deafening roar in the same place from which it had emerged. The impact was so strong that it caused a tremor that resonated across the entire battlefield. It was as if the earth itself vibrated under the weight of the fall. Those present watched in awe as the beast's body began to slowly transform, taking the shape of a volcanic mountain. Only this time, it no longer emitted lava.
Shortly afterward, Paltio and Rykaru emerged from the remains of the defeated and now motionless beast. Seeing their friends and allies celebrating, they felt a wave of gratitude and relief. They had achieved the impossible.
Once they descended from the remains of the creature and approached the group, they noticed something surprising: the beast's body continued to transform. What had once been a fiery threat has now become a silent mountain, as if it had returned to its original state.
"Wow, that was strange," Lukeandria commented, observing the scene in amazement.
"Yes, it was poetically beautiful," Alita said with a nostalgic smile. "It's like that story we read in literature class."
"Really? Which one?" Paltio asked, pretending to understand what she meant, though he had no idea what Alita was talking about.
"Who are you even saying that to, Alita? You know Paltio never pays attention," Ron interjected with a light laugh.
"You're right," Alita replied, returning the smile.
Meanwhile, the soldiers began returning to the city to check for survivors among the rubble. Paltio, still recovering from the effort, commented, "Using 80 percent of your power doesn't tire me out like it used to." As he spoke, the pieces of Golden's power began to fade from his body.
"Wow, that means if you train for one more day—or rather, a month in my mental plane—you'll finally be able to fully control that power," Golden said, visibly proud of Paltio's progress.
"You did great, Rykaru," Paltio said, gently stroking his son's fur.
"Right, Daddy! Rykaru and his daddy are the strongest!" the little one exclaimed, excited and full of pride.
Ariafilis approached the group with an expression of gratitude. "Thank you for your support. Without your help, we would never have been able to defeat that thing or drive away the forces of the Black Shadows."
"There's no need to thank us. I always love helping," Paltio responded with a sincere smile.
"True enough, I completely forgot to call the professor!" Alita exclaimed, suddenly remembering her oversight. Amid all the commotion and the battle against the beast, that detail had slipped her mind.
"Don't worry, it's already been taken care of," Lukeandria replied calmly. "I contacted him while evacuating people. He mentioned he's developing a device with Karpi that could help us locate those things."
"That's amazing!" Alita said, visibly excited by the news.
"I just hope they don't send in that thing he called a 'rocket,'" Ludra commented with a grimace, recalling the crash-filled journey they'd had before.
"Hey, don't you think we should've used your bag to carry people inside?" Ron interrupted, directing his question at Paltio.
"Oops! You're right, I forgot," Paltio admitted with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Well, regardless, you all did a great job, my grandson and great-grandson. I'm proud of you," Rodelos said, embracing Paltio and Rykaru affectionately. Despite the kingdom's destruction, the atmosphere began to be filled with joy and hope.
"How did you know what to do, Paltio?" Mok asked, having already gotten back on his feet with Lucca's help.
"Well, the last piece spoke to me and told me to use it," Paltio explained, recalling the pivotal moment in the battle.
"Interesting," Ron and Alita said in unison, impressed by the revelation.
"Wow, kid, you're full of surprises," Ban commented with a smile as he listened to the conversation.
"Well, this is just the beginning. We still need to defeat them completely and free the world from the Black Shadows," Paltio added seriously.
"That's true," Paltio agreed. "I still need to return to Avocadolia to face Tejod, and I'll need all the help I can get."
"Right, but for now, I need to reorganize my people, tend to the wounded, and search for the missing," Ariafilis said, taking charge of the situation.
"Perhaps I can help heal the injured with the sphere," Paltio offered.
"Thank you so much," Ariafilis responded gratefully.
For the rest of the day, Paltio dedicated his time to healing the wounded citizens. His friends, meanwhile, focused on finding food, setting up tents for everyone, and organizing search teams to locate the missing.
Once they finished helping the people, Paltio took a moment to breathe and relax. The atmosphere was calmer, though the echoes of the recent battle still lingered.
"Paltio, how are you feeling?" Golden asked in a calm tone, taking advantage of the brief moment of peace.
Paltio looked up thoughtfully. "Tired, but good," he answered honestly. "There's still a lot to do."
Golden nodded solemnly. "I think we should start the final part of your training. Only 20 percent of my power remains to be polished. If you master it, you'll be ready to face any challenge that comes our way."
"Yes, I think you're right. Just that remaining 20 percent of your power stands between me and being able to fight at full strength against the dark forces," Paltio reflected. "Maybe we can finish it on the way to Avocadolia, but first, I want to assemble the scepter."
Paltio took out all the pieces of the scepter he had collected so far. The five pieces began to shine intensely, as if recognizing each other, radiating palpable magical energy.
"So those are the pieces of the scepter… Fascinating," Ban commented, admiring the relics alongside Dall and the others.
Prince Paltio carefully assembled the pieces of the scepter, forming the Scepter of Avocios. As he united them, a brilliant light erupted from the artifact, illuminating the area as if, for the first time, everything was returning to how it had been before the shadows darkened the skies. The phenomenon lasted only a few seconds, but its impact was unforgettable.
When the light faded, the scepter hovered in the air, emanating a renewed and magical glow. Paltio took it into his hands and, gazing at it in awe, exclaimed: "Wow! So this is what the complete scepter looks like… I was never allowed to see it." He then glanced at his grandfather, who pretended to be distracted by whistling innocently.
"Now that you have it, you can seek out Avocios," Golden said, hopeful of reuniting with his lord.
However, Paltio did not follow that suggestion immediately. Instead, he placed the scepter into his seed. Both objects began to shine with an intense, radiant golden light. It was something the young man had wanted to try for a long time.
Suddenly, Golden appeared beside him—not as a hologram, but in the flesh. Everyone looked on in astonishment at the newcomer.
"Golden?" Paltio asked, incredulous.
"The one and only, live and in person, kid!" the golden being replied with a proud smile.
"Wow… How did you know it would work like that?" Golden asked, looking at Paltio with curiosity.
"I don't know, it was just a hunch," Paltio responded with a shrug.
"Typical Paltio," the others commented amidst laughter.
Golden, thrilled to be back in his physical form, decided to try something else: removing his helmet. Slowly, with both hands, he lifted it, revealing a glow that seemed to contain ancient letters. Finally, he showed his face to everyone present for the first time.
"So this is you, Golden… What exactly are you?" Paltio asked, visibly confused.
"I'm a cheetah," Golden replied proudly. His humanoid appearance bore distinctive feline traits: skin resembling that of a cheetah, golden hair with black tips, lines extending from his eyes to his mouth, and large amber eyes with black irises.
"A cheetah?" Paltio asked, still processing the information.
"Yes, a cheetah—or a swift cat, if you prefer. The fastest animal in existence. My lord Avocios created me inspired by those characteristics."
"I'm so excited to see my face again," Golden said, gazing at his hands with nostalgia.
"My lord is back in the real world, meow!" Toco-Toco exclaimed, overjoyed to see his companion restored.
"Then now you can fight by my side," Paltio said, thrilled to have Golden physically present.
"Yes, I believe I can, kid," Golden responded with determination.
But before they could continue talking, Ron interrupted with a logical question: "If you're out here, then… does that mean Paltio won't be able to use your power anymore?"
Golden was about to respond when a voice interrupted the conversation: "That won't be necessary."
Turning around, they saw Meliradal, Krasper, Silver, and Kilibur standing before them. The four had serious yet hopeful expressions.
"It's time, Golden," the four said in unison.