Stunned by Gip's unpredictability, Flex finds himself ensnared, struggling to break free. Yet, to his surprise, Gip, now wracked by the repercussions of earlier injuries, coughs up blood, impeded by the toll of his previous encounters.
As the battle reaches a critical point, Tago, with a heavy heart, watches Gip's overpowering stigma energy threaten his very life.
Amidst this chaos, Tony unsheathes his sword – a slicing wave of air release hurtling towards Tago, who deftly evades, only to realize that Gip stands in the path of danger alongside Flex.
"Look out, Gip!" Tago's desperate warning fills the air, but it's too late. The slicing wave strikes where Flex stood, triggering a thunderous explosion.
Recovering from the blast, Gip lands with a smirk, questioning Tago's allegiance, "Which team are you playing for? Confusing your enemies with your friends, human?"
Unsheathing his sword and locking eyes with Tago, Tony's silence speaks volumes, his intent palpable. "You have no idea, beast," Tony states with a steely gaze.
With earth release, Tago conjures a formidable stone sword, readying himself for the next phase of battle.
As the dust settles, Flex is injured, trapped in frozen mud, his legs immobilized. Gip, reveling in his triumph, approaches Flex, taunting him about his vulnerable state.
A chilling standoff ensues as Flex, unable to speak clearly, whispers something inaudible.
"What's that?... am sorry, maybe am not close enough, here….let me come
closer,"
Leaning in closer, Gip falls victim to Flex's unexpected retaliation, his ear viciously bitten off. Stunned, Gip recoils, only to see his severed ear contemptuously spit out by Flex.
"Whyyyyy...you!!!," Consumed by rage, Gip summons a massive mud river, intent on unleashing a fatal assault. But to his bewilderment, the trapped Flex inexplicably fades into nothingness, leaving Gip disoriented and vulnerable.
"What now....."
From an unexpected vantage point, Flex's voice pierces the confusion,
"Bang...." an arrow speeds toward Gip. With a heart-wrenching realization, Gip braces himself for the impact, an explosion engulfing the area.
In the aftermath, Tony, astounded by the turn of events, witnesses a surprising act of compassion between the combatants.
"I…I can't believe my eyes"
"So…even you beasts are compassionate to one another huh!... disgusting " Said Flex
Meanwhile, Gip, slowly opening his eyes, sees the ground cover in blood and Tago gravely wounded.
In a poignant exchange, Tago's last breaths evoke tears from Gip, shattered by the loss of his only friend and ally.
"Gip!!! Why...why " He shouted in tears. "I… I am… sorry… I… could… I couldn't pro… protect you"
"It's.. ok...i did it...Becau… because, you… you are my… my fri-end," replied Tago as he coughs blood on Gip's face before falling on his shoulder and his body lied on the ground with a huge hole on his back.
Overwhelmed by grief and regret, Gip is consumed by Tago's memory, stirring emotions that pull him away from the battlefield. His form shifts back to his base state, revealing a vulnerable, young beast-man.
"Worthless," Flex, mocking Gip's apparent weakness, is taken aback when Gip transforms into an imposing, final form, exuding immense power and emitting potent waves of stigma.
Shaken by Gip's transformation, "No way!!...Impos… impossible!!!." Flex's fear is palpable as he expresses disbelief at the unfolding spectacle.
Stricken with dread, Flex reels in disbelief. "How could he still possess such formidable power?" he stammers, retreating cautiously.
Rising to the challenge, Tony strides purposefully towards Gip, acknowledging the lingering reserves of strength within his opponent.
"so he's still got some reserve left huh!... fine by me, let's see what he can do," said Tony.
But Gip, depleted and powerless, reverts to his base form, immobilized and bereft of his formidable abilities. Overwhelmed by a sense of failure and remorse, Gip stands, unable to move, trying to convey his thoughts of regret to his fallen friend.
Before he can articulate his thoughts, Tony, with solemn resolve, brings Gip's valiant struggle to an abrupt end, severing his head.
Even decapitated, Gip's head and body remain defiantly upright, embodying unyielding determination, refusing to fall before his enemies, even in defeat.
Reflecting on Gip's tenacity, Flex recognizes the cunning strategy at play. "He had me worried for a second there… but he was preserving his strength. In his home planet, I would have stood no chance," Flex ponders, acknowledging Gip's unwavering spirit.
With the confrontation concluded, Tony proposes their next move. "Let's alert the kingdom knights about this. If we don't act, there will be no one left," he urges.
"Right," Flex agrees, as they depart swiftly, heading towards the kingdom.
..
..
..
In the western reaches of the village, Akihiro and his mother, Amelia, find themselves encountering two mysterious figures when all seems lost.
As the figures materializes before them, Sarah recognizes two familiar faces – Amelia and Noah.
"Amelia… is that you?" Sarah's voice echoes in disbelief.
"Yes, Mom, it's us," Noah reassures, their family bond rekindling amidst the chaos.
"Where is your father?" Sarah asks.
"He was fighting some monster at the house… and Mom, why didn't you tell me that he is a black knight?"
"We will talk about that later. For now, we have to get to Old Man Tom's place,"
Before they can take a single step, a forbidding figure materializes before them.
"Well, well, well… We finally meet… Akihiro!" Pengo declares, freezing the group in terror.
"Huh!!..." All of them were surprised.
"How do you know him?" Sarah questions.
"I have no time to waste explaining to you anything. You don't even deserve the air you breathe … but I offer you a deal," Pengo asserts, his tone threatening.
"What!" Sarah exclaims in confusion.
"You give me Akihiro, and I spare your little pathetic lives,"
"No way you are taking me, am not going anywhere with you, monster," Akihiro refuses defiantly.
"We will see about that," Pengo sneers menacingly.
"Amelia, be on guard… he might attack us at any moment now, and don't hold back," Naoh advises.
"Got it," Amelia replies, her energy radiating as she raises her stigma pressure, "Summon Lighting Spirit".
"She…amazing!!" Akihiro observes silently, marveling at his sister's display of power.
"Elemental release, Yellow lightning!" Noah bellows, surging with full power.
"Oh, please, don't involve adults in your child's play. I don't play well with others," Pengo taunts.
"Amelia, now!!" Noah directs, as both he and Amelia unleash a combined lightning strike at Pengo, exclaiming, "Combined lightning strike!!
Blue and yellow lightning merge and strike Pengo, triggering an explosion with a shockwave that knocks Akihiro and Sarah to the ground, leaving Noah and Amelia alone amidst the chaos.
"Did we get him brother," Asked Amelia.