Ivan stepped forward first, surrounded by three perfect copies of himself, moving with astonishing agility and precision.
"Come, let's see what you can do... Knight," he said with a mocking smile as his clones formed a triangular attack formation around the knight.
Whoosh!
The first clone lunged with its sword, but the knight caught the strike with one hand as if it were nothing.
The second jumped from behind while the third pounced from the left flank.
Clash!
The knight shoved the first clone away, then pivoted his metallic body and crushed the second clone with his glowing sword—vanishing like a puff of green smoke.
Meanwhile, Sergei lunged from behind.
BOOM!
He wrapped his arms around the knight in a crushing bear hug, roaring:
"Now, Vadim! Hit him with everything you've got!"
BAAAAAAAAAM!!
Vadim unleashed a barrage of magic-infused punches, each strike exploding on impact.
One to the chest, another to the shoulder, then the jaw... the blows came in a frenzied onslaught until the knight staggered back, his feet cracking the hall's tiles under the pressure.
Suddenly, the knight's chest opened again—dark blue energy pulsed like lightning as he slammed his sword into the ground, releasing a violent shockwave that repelled everyone backward.
But Ivan's last clone leaped at the perfect moment, stabbing the knight's flank, followed by the real Ivan shouting:
"We won't give you any chances!"
Attacks rained from all sides, the pressure intensifying.
At the rear, Sergei retreated two steps, raising both hands as complex incantations spilled from his lips.
His eyes glowed dark orange, and magic circles materialized in the air before him.
"Playtime's over..." he muttered, the surrounding heat spiking.
"Brace yourselves—this attack won't be gentle!"
Sergei's fireball exploded against the knight's chest, hurling him into the stone wall. Dust billowed, rubble scattered, and the heavy metallic body collapsed with a muffled thud—as if the entire palace gasped at the impact.
Without wasting a second, Vadim charged toward Jonathan. His eyes never left the boy standing alone in the corner, shrouded in shadows with a faint yellow aura trembling around his small frame.
Though exhausted, Vadim's steps remained steady, his eyes burning with unbreakable resolve.
"I won't let you take him... No one will take him from me again," Vadim whispered, a fire unlike Sergei's blazing within him.
As he neared Jonathan, rapid footsteps echoed from the stone staircase. The children emerged from a side corridor, panting heavily, their faces ash-streaked and weary.
"There's Jonathan!" one shouted.
Sarah spoke first, her voice quivering as she scanned for familiar faces.
"Where's Lena? Where's Emma?!" she demanded, glaring at Vadim.
Vadim didn't turn, answering gruffly: "Don't worry... They're fine. In the basement. Resting."
Before he could finish, a familiar, terrifying sound shattered the calm. A metallic screech rang out, and the entire hall trembled. Through the dust, the knight rose again.
His footsteps sounded heavier now, yet his metallic frame stood unwavering. He spoke no words—none were needed.
He lunged once more, this time straight for Jonathan, a dull blue glow flickering in his partially exposed chest.
"I won't let you take him!" Vadim roared, leaping between the knight and Jonathan, fists raised, shielding the boy.
Sergei moved too, his strides rapid, eyes locked on the gap between the knight's armor and neck. Behind him, Ivan summoned another clone, slinking ghostlike between the pillars.
Another battle was about to ignite—but this time, Jonathan stood at its center.
Vadim collided violently with the iron knight, a dim flare of dark green energy erupting as both staggered back—once, twice—before locking eyes like two tigers poised to strike.
Ivan's clones surged suddenly: one grappling the knight's arm, another his leg, the third attempting to pin him from behind. The real Ivan vaulted diagonally toward the knight's head, his fist sheathed in shimmering dark energy—but the knight raised his metallic arm, blocking at the last second with a hollow metallic clang.
Sergei didn't hesitate; he swung his arm, conjuring a magic circle around his palm, and launched an unusual fireball—a blue core wreathed in dancing red flames—straight at the knight.
Simultaneously, Vadim channeled all his energy into one devastating punch, slamming the knight's chest with magic-charged force.
The impact shook the hall... yet the knight didn't fall. Only retreated.
Across the room, the children huddled around Jonathan, shielding him desperately. But the battle was inching closer... too close. It was clear none could stop this madness.
"He's coming...!" Sarah muttered, clutching Jonathan's arm.
Then abruptly... everything stopped.
An eerie silence, brief as a blink... before the impossible happened.
Jonathan's eyes shimmered radiant gold, and a pure energy aura began radiating from his body, rising like heatwaves. He floated upward—yes, levitating slowly, as if freed from gravity.
"W-what's this?!" Nour gasped, awestruck.
Jonathan whispered faintly: "Maomao..."
Elsewhere... in the mirror world, Maomao sprinted through reflections, each mirror showing fragmented, nonsensical scenes—until he halted.
Before one tranquil mirror... emitting a soft blue glow.
Maomao leaned closer, hesitating. Inside, he didn't see himself. Instead, a sixteen-year-old boy with brown hair and blue eyes laughed while running with Jonathan across a grassy hill—as if they'd known each other forever.
"This..." Maomao murmured.
He pressed his paw to the mirror. For a heartbeat, silence reigned... then the mirror swallowed him whole.
Back in the battle hall, amidst screams, fire, and explosions... the air split like a transparent curtain, and out stepped Maomao, landing gracefully between the knight and Jonathan.
Smiling as he flicked his tail, he said coolly:
"Finally... I'm back."