The mountain trembled.
A deafening roar echoed through the cave as a giant Fire Lion emerged — magma pulsing from its skin and fire swirling around its mane.
Gakhuyi immediately extended her enormous tail, shielding the entire team behind her.
The lion charged.
🔥 Its tail burned with heat so intense that even Gakhuyi winced. As pain surged through her body, she was forced to release her grip on the beast.
The lion roared again — this time unleashing a fire-shaped soul blast toward the team.
Everyone froze.
> Was this the end?
But just before impact —
🌊 A powerful hydro-blast surged from behind, colliding with the lion's attack and canceling it out.
The team turned.
Behind them stood a massive Water Dragon, its scales shimmering like glass under the torchlight. And sitting gracefully on its back was a beautiful figure…
> "That's a new problem," Zimi muttered. "Now there's a dragon... with a mermaid on top!?"
Suddenly, Hanu's voice echoed:
> "She's not a problem—she's my friend! Her name is... Jalpari!"
Zimi smirked:
> "Naming a mermaid Jalpari is like calling a human... Human."
NiZo:
> "She's kinda cute, though…"
Jalpari blushed, bowing slightly:
> "Nice to meet you all."
But her eyes then drifted to Gakhuyi.
For a moment, the air froze.
Their eyes met — a subtle tension crackled between them.
---
🔥🔥 Fire Awakens
Suddenly, the lion heated its body, evaporating all water around it, and launched another blazing roar.
Zama rushed forward with his sword, but the air around the lion was so scorching that it pushed him back, burning his skin.
The Water Dragon retaliated, launching a high-pressure water cannon, while the lion roared back with a fire blast. The two attacks collided, creating a massive explosion that blew apart the cave ceiling — revealing the open sky above.
Laitho's voice trembled:
> "These two… they're some of the strongest beings we've seen. I think this lion was born when the mountain shook last time."
Jalpari nodded:
> "Don't worry. My dragon is the third-strongest creation of the mountain. And that tremor earlier... that was a Level 4 awakening."
The Water Dragon charged up and released a powerful spiral hydro beam, slicing through the air and striking the lion, turning it into solid stone.
Everyone exhaled in relief.
But Laitho didn't relax.
> "Something's not right... That stone lion… looks too lifelike."
---
🧊🔥 Awakening of the Hell Lion King
Jalpari narrowed her eyes.
> "It still has energy inside. Dragon — finish it."
The Water Dragon soared into the sky.
Jalpari gave the signal — a final crashing water meteor attack.
The dragon reached high altitude and came crashing down like a blue comet.
Suddenly, the lion's eyes ignited.
Its stone body began heating up, burning away the solid shell. The surrounding rocks melted.
It roared.
> The Fire Lion had reawakened.
Laitho stepped forward, shocked:
> "No... this isn't the Level 4 creature anymore. It's beyond that…"
> "This is... the Hell Form."
The lion launched upward — 1200 km/h speed — and collided mid-air with the dragon.
A blast of blue water and red flames erupted like a meteor crash.
But behind the lion... something monstrous appeared:
A giant shadow, shaped like a crowned beast.
Laitho whispered:
> "The strongest creature of this mountain... The Hell Lion King."
---
⚔️ Final Clash Begins
As the two giants collided, the dragon transformed its body into an iron spring, absorbing the impact.
It then froze the surrounding area with a 10-meter ice burst, hoping to slow the lion.
But the lion shattered the ice with sheer rage.
Jalpari was thrown off the dragon — but Hanu leapt midair and caught her.
The Water Dragon crashed to the ground, heavily injured. The lion stomped on its neck and let out a thunderous roar.
Now, the lion turned toward the team.
Its burning red eyes locked onto them.
> The true battle was only just beginning.