The air exploded with a sonic boom that cracked the sky. Techyon appeared out of a blur of blue lightning, his leg extended in a Maximum Speed Kick. The impact didn't just hit Gudmaro—it sent a shockwave across the entire continent, the sheer kinetic force rattling buildings thousands of miles away.
Gudmaro was sent skidding back, his heels carving two deep trenches into the earth.
"Did you drop her?" Neweland gasped, his skin turning pale as his mana veins began to dim.
"Mission accomplished," Techyon growled, his sparks intensifying. "Now we just have to keep this monster's eyes on us."
Gudmaro slowly straightened his neck, a sickening crack echoing through the canyon. He looked at the spot where Techyon's foot had connected. "That kick was... interesting. But in terms of kinetic energy? It was a drop of water in an ocean of void."
"WATER PULSE!" Neweland roared, pouring the last of his foundational reserves into a sphere of high-density water that rushed toward the virus.
Gudmaro didn't dodge. He stood with his arms wide, the water sphere hitting his chest and simply vanishing into his armor. "Look at my status window," he hissed, a digital projection flickering in the red mist.
[EVOLUTION STATUS: SECOND FORM — 91.78%]
"Hit me harder," Gudmaro mocked. "I'm almost there."
Suddenly, Neweland's knees buckled. His hydro-aura flickered once and died. "I'm... empty," he whispered, collapsing to the dirt. "I can't use any more techniques. Techyon... it's up to you."
Techyon let out a roar of frustration and charged, his hands glowing with Light-mana. But Gudmaro was no longer just adapting—he was faster. Before Techyon could land a strike, Gudmaro's hand shot out, palm flat against Techyon's face.
With a grunt of effort, Gudmaro hurled Techyon through the air. The young hero crashed into the side of a distant mountain, the impact burying him deep in the stone.
"You want to see real power?" Gudmaro placed his hand flat on the cracked earth. "ERUPTION."
The ground didn't just break; it liquefied. A massive vein of molten lava raced toward the mountain like a predator. In a single, blinding second, the entire mountain was swallowed by a volcanic explosion, turning stone into vapor and Techyon's position into a tomb of fire.
The lava hissed and bubbled over the remains of the mountain, a sea of molten death. But at the center of the heat, the magma began to swirl in reverse. A sphere of distorted space pushed the fire aside, revealing two figures.
Lapis stood tall, his scorched robes fluttering in the heat. He was holding a stunned Techyon by the collar.
"Long time no see, Gudmaro," Lapis said, his voice carrying a strange, melodic vibration.
Gudmaro tilted his head, his sensors whirring. "You again? You should be a pile of ash. But... you look different. Your mana signature isn't just divine anymore—it's unstable."
Lapis didn't answer. He simply raised his hand toward Techyon and the fallen Neweland. With a casual flick of his fingers, the space around them warped violently. In a blink, they were gone, teleported safely back to the roots of the Tree of Life.
Lapis let out a sudden, sharp laugh that echoed off the canyon walls. It was the laugh of someone who had just realized the universe was a joke. "You should have killed me when you had the chance, virus!"
Gudmaro scoffed, his red aura intensifying. "Did you drink too much of that Arcon nectar? You're still underage for that kind of talk, boy."
Lapis looked up at the darkening sky, his magenta eyes glowing so brightly they left trails in the air. "I didn't do anything. I just finally realized... exactly how powerful I actually am. I'm going to finish this right now."
Gudmaro's armor shifted, his evolution reaching the final stretch. "The fight has just started, boy."
"You really are a fool," Lapis whispered, a twisted, confident smile spreading across his face. He spread his arms wide, the gravity around him beginning to invert. Rocks floated upward, disintegrating into magenta dust. "The real fun is just getting started now."