Verte eyed October, assessing his readiness against Acrodontayay. "October, this guy is a mortal god. Do you think you can handle him?"
October paused, gears whirring as his eyes blinked in calculated rhythm. "Processing… processing. October bot has no data on 'mortal gods.' Please check again."
Verte let out a heavy sigh. "Oh boy."
Acrodontayay's lips curled into a smirk. "You know what? Now that I think of it… you'll make a good new throne."
Verte's focus sharpened. "October!"
"Target acquired," October replied with machine precision, his sensors locking onto Acrodontayay.
Acrodontayay grinned, amused. "Oh, he sees me!"
"Charging: Laser Cannons," October announced. His eyes glowed, intensifying until twin beams of pure, searing energy shot from them, striking Acrodontayay directly. The beams continued past him, vaporizing an entire row of lizard people in its wake.
Verte's eyes widened. "Oh."
When the light faded, Acrodontayay stood there unharmed, his expression unfazed. He cast a glance over his shoulder at the charred remains of his followers lying in smoking heaps. "Why are y'all still standing around?" he barked at the rest. "Go get your prey!"
With a hiss, the remaining lizard people surged after Kinrui, who was already sprinting away, his voice echoing back. "I'll lead them off!"
Acrodontayay refocused on October, his movements swift. With a powerful swing, he punched October squarely in the face, sending him skidding across the ground. He then turned to swipe at Verte, but she vanished, reappearing behind him in a shimmer.
Acrodontayay's eyes narrowed. "You're a gnat."
With a snarl, his appearance shifted, his skin hardening into a scaly, reptilian hide and a long tail unfurling behind him. He whipped around, attempting to strike Verte once more, but she had already teleported above him.
"Oh, no," Verte replied, her tone edged with defiance, "I'm definitely a fighter, but—"
Before she could finish, October returned with renewed resolve. "Activating: Iron Gauntlets." His fists transformed into solid iron, then glowed red-hot. "Activating: Heat Fists."
October launched a flurry of blazing punches into Acrodontayay's back, each strike igniting sparks on contact. But Acrodontayay merely stood there, hardly acknowledging the blows. His head tilted down at October, mild exasperation shadowing his expression.
"I can't even be mad at you," Acrodontayay said. "You're a robot. You simply can't fathom the concept of a god." With a swift motion, he swatted October away as if brushing off an insect.
Turning his attention back to Verte, he sneered. "At least that makes you better than elves—those creatures who hold themselves above others."
Verte's jaw tightened. "I'm not one of those elves."
In a sudden leap, Acrodontayay launched himself toward her, aiming to crush her beneath him. She vanished, reappearing behind him in the blink of an eye.
"Then why won't you fight me?" he taunted, his voice simmering with challenge. "Are you too strong to be bothered? Or are you just scared?"
Verte's voice rang out, firm and defiant. "I told you. I'm not one of those elves!"
Acrodontayay scoffed, his mouth twisting in a dark grin. "Hah."
He turned, his fist swinging toward her once again. "It sounds like you're ready to fight!" His punch struck the ground with a violent impact, debris flying as Verte evaded, reappearing behind him once more.
Frustrated, he sneered. "But all you do is evade."
Across the scorched ground, October was getting back to his feet. "Activating: Electro-Rods." Two rods extended from his shoulders, crackling with electric energy before unleashing bolts toward Acrodontayay. The lizard god stood in place, enduring the assault as arcs of electricity danced across his body, illuminating his sinister grin.
Unfazed, he began walking toward October, muscles tensing against the current, each step steady and deliberate. "You… are you made of some rough type of metal?" he asked, still immersed in the electric surge.
October whirred. "Processing… Processing…"
With a sudden, forceful strike, Acrodontayay hammered October down to the ground. His eyes gleamed with a wicked thrill. "You're a durable thing."
October's voice crackled, sparks flying from his damaged frame. "S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-Self repair: Activating."
Acrodontayay chuckled darkly, observing the robot's tenacity. "You can self-repair? I suppose I can smack you around for a little bit longer while she watches." He shifted his gaze to Verte. "What do you say, elf? Enjoying the show?"
Verte's hands clenched into fists. "You… bastard."
Acrodontayay's grin widened. "Cowardice doesn't suit an elf. I've never seen one without pride in my day, but today changes that. No magic tricks? No dazzling techniques?" His tone dripped with mockery.
He's a god of war, Verte thought, her mind racing. Do I fight, or do I wait for Hiyoku?
Meanwhile, Kinrui was a whirlwind of destruction, weaving through the endless wave of lizard people with precision and ease. His moss sword glimmered with green energy as he sliced through his foes, dodging and countering their attacks with surgical accuracy.
"This isn't too bad!" Kinrui called out, dodging a poorly aimed swing and slashing another lizard in half. "These guys have literally no durability. It's like slicing through butter… but there's so many, it's like eating a massive bowl of beans."
With a leap, Kinrui vaulted into the air. "Speaking of beans… Salami! Feast time!"
Salami morphed into a massive, gaping mouth, devouring a chunk of the horde in one swift chomp. As Kinrui released it, Salami transformed into a colossal snake, slithering through the masses and consuming lizard people whole. Those that tried to fight back were absorbed into its shifting, sticky body.
Landing gracefully, Kinrui switched to hand-to-hand combat, easily decapitating his enemies with precise punches and kicks. "At this rate, I'll be able to help Verte in no time."
Reaching skyward, Kinrui summoned Salami, now in the form of an enormous sword. Grasping its hilt, he charged through the horde, cleaving dozens of enemies with effortless swings. "What are they doing?" he muttered, glancing over at Verte, October, and Acrodontayay.
Kinrui paused, watching Acrodontayay smack October in the head like a toy. "What are they doing?" he repeated, more exasperated this time. Letting go of Salami, he watched as it split into multiple spears that impaled dozens of lizard people, clearing a path to Acrodontayay. Kinrui dashed forward but was intercepted by another wave of enemies, forcing him to fight through.
Back in the fray, Acrodontayay lifted October by one arm, swinging him around effortlessly. "You're sturdy. What kind of metal are you made of?"
October's voice sputtered. "Error occurred."
Acrodontayay smirked. "Sounds about right." With a flick of his wrist, he hurled October into the air.
"Initiating: Rocket Boosters," October declared, stabilizing himself mid-air as flames erupted from his feet and arms. "Activating: G R E N A D E L A U N C H E R."
Hatches opened on October's shoulders, releasing a barrage of grenades that rained down on Acrodontayay. The explosions erupted in a deafening roar, shrouding the battlefield in a cloud of smoke. As the dust settled, Acrodontayay stood in a smoldering crater, entirely unharmed.
The cage around Acrodontayay's head shattered, revealing his massive lizard-like face and gaping maw. He stared up at October with a chilling grin. "Do you have any stronger toys?" he taunted before leaping skyward at blinding speed. "Those aren't weapons of war."
Acrodontayay struck October with a powerful blow, sending him hurtling to the ground. Landing with a heavy thud, Acrodontayay pointed at Verte. "Elf, why must you send a weapon that feels no pain to fight me?"
October began to rise, sparks flying from his damaged frame.
Acrodontayay sneered. "A weapon that fights without thought or choice. No nerves to tell it right from wrong. That truly is the elf way! Do you think you're the main course?"
Verte's voice cut through his mockery, firm and unyielding. "I'm not one of those elves."
Acrodontayay sneered at Verte. "Then what are you? You're no warrior. As far as I can tell, you're the weakest here."
October's mechanical voice cut in. "Activating—"
Acrodontayay vanished, reappearing in front of October with blinding speed. He grabbed the robot by its face and effortlessly hoisted it into the air. "You're no better than a liability."
Verte stepped forward, her fists trembling. "I am a fighter."
"Then why aren't you fighting me?" Acrodontayay asked, his voice cold and condescending. "Nervous? Do you feel out of your league, or is this just a fight you believe you can't win? At least try to help."
With a flick of his wrist, Acrodontayay hurled October aside, the robot crashing into the ground with a metallic thud. He turned back to Verte. "I'll see if you run or not after I'm done dismantling this toy."
Toruri and Hiyoku stood in front of the throne in Acrodontayay's chief building, eyeing the cages hanging from the ceiling. Inside dangled Yamori and Gnari, bound and silenced.
Toruri crossed his arms. "Should we free both of them?"
Hiyoku shrugged nonchalantly. "Why not? You really think we should respect that lizard jerk's rules?"
"Better safe than sorry," Toruri replied, his tone cautious.
"Fine, if he's still standing, I'll burn him down myself." Hiyoku casually lobbed a fireball at the chains holding Gnari's cage. The flames consumed the links instantly, sending the cage crashing to the floor. As the cage broke apart, the two walked over to free Gnari from her bindings.
Gnari gasped as her restraints were removed. "Thank goodness!"
Toruri shook his head. "We can't free Yamori. The chief said not to, so we'll leave that to the others."
Gnari frowned. "So, what's the plan now?"
Toruri's expression didn't waver. "Fight the dark lord."
Gnari blinked in disbelief. "The dark lord? Right now?"
Both Toruri and Hiyoku answered in unison. "Yeah."
Gnari's voice rose in panic. "Are any of you even strong enough to fight him?!"
Hiyoku smirked smugly, pointing to himself. Toruri silently gestured to Hiyoku with a blank expression.
Gnari sighed. "Well… I guess you were the only one to damage Nevorra."
Hiyoku waved dismissively. "I wasn't even trying with that ghost. He just caught me in a bad mood. If I'd actually wanted to, I'd have burned him and the entire fog down to nothing."
Gnari shook her head. "But the dark lord is on a whole other level!"
Hiyoku raised an eyebrow. "Have you fought him?"
"No…" Gnari admitted hesitantly.
"Then how would you know? I'm gonna go kick his ass." With that, Hiyoku walked over to the throne, effortlessly pushing it aside to reveal a hidden door. Without hesitation, he stepped through.
Toruri sighed. "Jeez, he's going to leave us behind." He hurried after Hiyoku, with Gnari reluctantly following.
The group entered a crumbling dungeon, its dark halls covered in vines and broken stone. The air was damp and heavy with an eerie silence.
Gnari looked around nervously. "This is a dungeon… What's it doing here?"
Toruri's eyes scanned the ruins. "Any chance there's still treasure in it?"
Gnari shook her head. "No. This dungeon is ancient—millions of years old, from the look of it. Everything's broken down."
Hiyoku strode confidently ahead. "Creepy lair. Fitting for someone called the dark lord."
Gnari called out as he stepped further in. "Where are you going?!"
"To fight the dark lord," Hiyoku said, not looking back.
Gnari groaned. "You can't just walk in like that! There could be a creature lurking in there!"
Hiyoku glanced over his shoulder, unimpressed. "That's a dumb reason. If I'm going in to fight the dark lord, why would I be scared of something weaker than him?"
Toruri nodded in agreement. "He has a point." Without hesitation, he followed Hiyoku, and Gnari reluctantly trailed behind.
The interior of the dungeon was dark and overgrown, vines hanging from the ceiling like forgotten memories. The walls were cracked, and the air reeked of decay.
Gnari's voice trembled slightly. "It's not that… Dungeons all have bosses. There's probably one still lurking in here."
Hiyoku laughed. "Ain't this place millions of years old? The boss probably died of lung cancer or something."
Gnari scowled. "Dungeon bosses are immortal creatures. They grow stronger with each defeat. There's still one here."
Hiyoku smirked, fire dancing in his palm. "Good. I'll burn him down too."
Toruri glanced at the dimly lit room around them. "What does the dark lord even do again? Eat humans and stuff?"
Hiyoku smirked, a flicker of fire illuminating his face. "Humans of a certain blood quality. I assume high enough for him to actually enjoy it."
Toruri raised an eyebrow. "What even determines blood quality?"
Gnari chimed in, her tone matter-of-fact. "For fairies, blood is actually very sweet to them. The richer the bloodline, the sweeter the blood."
Toruri tilted his head thoughtfully. "I'm the son of a god, I guess."
Hiyoku nodded. "My father's a great wizard."
Toruri's eyes widened slightly. "He is?"
"Yeah," Hiyoku said nonchalantly, then smirked darkly. "And he's gonna get burned too."
Toruri frowned. "Gnari, what makes you special?"
Gnari hesitated. "I'd like to keep that a secret."
Hiyoku leaned closer, his grin widening. "What are you, a riser too?"
"I'd like to keep it a secret," Gnari repeated firmly.
Suddenly, the walls surrounding them groaned and snapped shut, sealing the group inside a smaller chamber.
Toruri glanced around, his hand moving instinctively to his chest. "Is this the boss room?"
Hiyoku snorted. "Pft, what is this? A dungeon glitch? There's no boss here."
Gnari shook her head, her tone tense. "This isn't the boss room. It'd be much bigger than this."
Toruri's brow furrowed. "So what's happening? Is this a trap?"
Before anyone could answer, a pile of bones began to rattle and shift in the corner of the room. Slowly, they assembled into a skeleton clad in a blackened skull and a steel helmet.
Hiyoku squinted. "A skeleton?"
The skeleton's hollow voice echoed through the room. "I died here millions of years ago and became a monster bound to this dungeon."
Hiyoku's smirk deepened. "A venting skeleton?"
"I was skipped over for so long… ignored, forgotten…" The skeleton's voice grew louder, tinged with frustration. "Until the dark lord himself granted me power. Mystical power!"
Hiyoku tilted his head mockingly. "A venting mystical skeleton?"
The skeleton slammed a bony foot on the ground. "For millions of years, I've honed my magic, waiting for someone to—"
"A venting mystical POWERFUL skeleton!!!" Hiyoku declared, clearly enjoying himself.
"OH, WOULD YOU SHUT UP!?" the skeleton snapped.
Hiyoku crossed his arms. "As soon as you get to the point."
The skeleton straightened up, glaring at the group. "My name is Cheddar."
Toruri and Gnari both froze, their faces contorting as they tried their hardest to suppress laughter.
Cheddar's head tilted in confusion. "What's with the faces? Are you holding in a sneeze or something?"
Toruri inhaled deeply. "Dude… were you named Cheddar by your parents?"
Cheddar stood taller, his voice defensive. "Yes, why? Is that a problem?"
Gnari leaned toward Toruri and whispered horribly, "Maybe cheddar cheese didn't exist in his time…"
Cheddar snapped, "I CAN HEAR YOU!"
Hiyoku stepped forward, clenching his fists. "Enough! Skele-cheese, are you gonna fight us or not?"
Cheddar's jaw rattled. "Did you just call me Skele-cheese?"
"Yeah," Hiyoku said flatly.
"...Ironically or unironically?" Cheddar asked, his tone cautious.
Hiyoku's patience finally broke. "WHY DOES IT MATTER?! ANSWER THE QUESTION, BONE HEAD!"
Scene: Cheddar's Defeat
Toruri let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Damn, Hiyoku, these puns are not matching your tone."
Hiyoku's glare intensified. "What, do I sound angry?"
Toruri shrugged. "You always sound angry."
Hiyoku threw his arms in the air. "Because I always am!!!"
Cheddar raised his skeletal arms dramatically, the faint glow of magic emanating from his body. "Alas, you fools! It's time I show you the true power of a skeleton!!!"
Hiyoku crossed his arms, stepping forward eagerly. "Alright! Go at it!"
Cheddar boomed, "The ultimate power! Dark Magic: Bone Armor!!!"
Bones from the ground and walls rattled violently, magnetizing to Cheddar's frame. They fused into his body, causing him to grow three times his size. His limbs bulged with thick layers of bone, his chest expanded into a massive plated shield, and his helmet sprouted menacing spikes.
Hiyoku's eyes lit up. "Alright, you look like a worthy challenge now!"
Cheddar brandished his new form proudly. "Ah, yes! Now, witness the greatness of my true abilities! Bone Edge!!!" From his hand, a massive broadsword made of fused bone materialized, sharp and gleaming.
Hiyoku grinned, the excitement building. "Oh yeah!"
Cheddar's voice grew even more theatrical. "And now, the moment you've been waiting for… time to show you my true TRUE ability!"
Hiyoku clenched his fists. "I'm ready!"
Cheddar inhaled deeply, his voice thunderous. "Slime Magic—"
Hiyoku blinked, his grin faltering. "Slime Magic?" he muttered under his breath, his excitement deflating.
Cheddar ignored him. "Sticky Spout!!!" He spat a blob of greenish slime at Hiyoku, only for it to evaporate instantly upon contact with Hiyoku's blazing hot aura.
Hiyoku's left eye twitched. "You're supposed to be strong… AND YOU SPIT OUT SLIME!?"
Cheddar puffed up his chest indignantly. "This slime magic has been trained for longer than you've been alive!"
Hiyoku's teeth clenched, his eyes twitching with frustration. "I don't know… slime magic doesn't really scream POWERFUL WORLD-ENDING MAGIC to me!"
Cheddar raised a finger in defiance. "Just you watch!"
Hiyoku froze, his expression blank with rage. He took a deep breath, turned on his heel, and walked to the corner of the room. He plopped down on the ground, arms crossed.
Toruri leaned over cautiously. "Hiyoku, you good?"
"I don't want to fight this guy," Hiyoku said flatly, staring at the floor.
Toruri blinked in disbelief. "What? Really?"
"Yes. Go ahead, beat this guy. Have fun," Hiyoku said, waving dismissively.
Cheddar chuckled triumphantly. "Your friend seems intimidated by my power!"
Gnari stepped forward, a glimmer of determination in her eyes. "I'll fight this skeleton."
Hiyoku waved her off. "Have fun."
Toruri sighed and drew his weapon. "Alright, I'll step in too, just in case this guy is some actual ancient god or something."
Cheddar roared, his broadsword raised high. "This is where you'll all meet your end!" He swung his massive weapon down toward Gnari, but she leaped gracefully over it, her movements swift and precise.
Gnari hovered in midair, summoning her magic. "Door Magic: Door to the Unknown!" She hurled a glowing, pulsating door straight at Cheddar.
Cheddar scoffed. "A door? That won't be any problem—"
Before he could finish, the door expanded, engulfing him entirely. Cheddar's massive form was consumed by the glowing frame, and within seconds, he vanished into the portal. The door shimmered faintly before fading from existence.
Toruri stared at the empty space where Cheddar had stood. "Uh… where'd you send him?"
Gnari dusted off her hands. "I don't know."
The walls around them groaned and shifted, reverting to their original positions.
Hiyoku peeked over his shoulder from the corner, smirking. "So much for mystical skeleton powers."
Toruri sighed. "Well, at least we didn't have to find out if slime magic actually does something."
Meanwhile, a tense battle unfolded between October and Acrodontayay. The air was thick with the echoes of conflict, and October's battered form was a testament to the punishment he had endured. Once again, Acrodontayay's fist connected with brutal force, sending October flying backward like a broken marionette. His metallic body was mangled, his surface dented and charred, with sparks erupting erratically from his frame.
Acrodontayay loomed over him, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "How haven't I knocked the circuit connecting you to your consciousness loose yet?" he mocked, his voice dripping with contempt.
Despite the damage, October's processor sputtered to life. His voice stuttered and fragmented, each word choked out between bursts of static. "Oc-Oc-Oc-Oc-Oc-Oc-Tober bot here is for-for-for a G-G-G-G-G-General audience-ence-ence-ence," he managed, his speech garbled but defiant.
Acrodontayay sneered. "Oh, never mind," he said with a dismissive wave. "I'm getting close."
Sparks exploded from October's eyes, his limbs jerking with spasmodic movements as if his body was resisting the inevitable shutdown. Yet, with a determination only a machine could muster, October forced himself upright. His damaged joints groaned as he rose, but he faced his opponent head-on.
Acrodontayay tilted his head in mock pity. "Poor thing," he said, his tone venomous. "Let me put you out of your misery. Magical Weapon: Nokku No Isu!" With a dramatic flourish, he summoned a foldable plastic chair into existence, gripping it tightly by the leg as if it were an artifact of immense power. He brandished it with a smirk. "This weapon right here is much more dangerous than you are."
October's damaged voice box crackled. "Activating-" But before he could finish his sentence, Acrodontayay moved with lethal precision. The chair swung through the air with surprising grace, the motion so swift it was a blur. It struck October at the waist, slicing through his metallic frame like a blade through butter. Sparks and fragments of metal sprayed out as his torso separated from his legs.
The upper half of October's body landed neatly in front of Acrodontayay, his flickering optics still functional.
Acrodontayay leaned down with a look of cruel satisfaction. "I know that isn't enough to destroy a robot, though, so—"
Before he could finish, a sudden burst of movement caught his attention. From the shadows, Kinrui's moss shot out, snaking around October's upper half and yanking him away from Acrodontayay's reach.
Acrodontayay straightened, his expression darkening. "A new challenger?" he growled, his voice a low rumble. His gaze shifted to Verte, and his eyes narrowed. "Another challenger before the elf?"
Kinrui stepped forward, calm but resolute. In one fluid motion, he transformed Salami into a gleaming sword, holding it firmly in his grip. He spoke with a sharp edge in his tone. "Your men were delicious."
Acrodontayay froze, his sharp eyes darting around. It was then that he noticed the carnage. His lizard-like warriors were gone, their bodies reduced to blood trails and remnants. His jaw clenched, his voice trembling with rage. "You killed my people. You… MONSTER!"
Kinrui remained unfazed. "Hey, you're the one who tried to sacrifice us," he said evenly.
Acrodontayay's fury boiled over, his voice rising into a roar. "Everyone you just killed had emotions, feelings, ambitions, family! They fought you to live, but of course, you selfish humans killed them all out of selfish thoughts!"
Kinrui opened his mouth to respond, but Acrodontayay cut him off, his voice a thunderclap of indignation. "No, no, no, no, NO! You are NOT going to try to make me look like the bad guy here! You can't justify MASS GENOCIDE in any shape or form. We hunt and kill the same way any other species would. We do it to survive. But is it because we're not humanoid? Is it because we don't have skin like you all? Are we too big, too dangerous?"
Kinrui faltered, his voice quiet. "I… I'm sorry."
"Sorry will never satisfy the hunger of a civilization!" Acrodontayay bellowed. His towering form seemed to swell with wrath. "Now, you must deal with the wrath of an angry god." His voice echoed, a promise of unrelenting vengeance.