As the orange-haired girl named Adira sprinted toward Ruby in the blink of an eye, Ruby stood frozen in fear, beads of cold sweat forming on her brow. She was stunned by the girl's speed and terrifying strength. But just as Adira's fist was about to connect with Ruby, Nerio dashed in front of her, intercepting the attack and deflecting her with a powerful motion, sending her tumbling away into the darkness. With a graceful backflip, Adira regained her footing, a smirk dancing across her lips.
"Seems like they called you the 'prince' for nothing~" she taunted, her smile sending shivers down Ruby's spine.
Nerio grunts in response and shifts into another defensive stance. With a gentle push, he guides Ruby toward Amelia, he turns his head on ruby, his expression serious yet filled with a protective instinct. Ruby comprehends his unspoken message and moves to a safer distance with Amelia, ensuring their safety. Meanwhile, the white lion's warning echoes through the tense atmosphere: "Remember, we're aiming at the humans, not him." His words serve as a caution to Adira.
The girl chuckles darkly. "Oh, don't worry... I won't hurt him~" With renewed determination, she charges at Nerio with astonishing speed, poised to deliver a jumping kick.
Nerio swiftly blocks her kick with his forearm, but Adira retaliates with a surprise attack, landing a punch to his face. In a split second, she positions both feet on his chest mid-air and delivers a powerful kick, sending him flying backward. With remarkable agility, he twists his body in mid-air and claws at the ground, ensuring he doesn't collide with Ruby and Amelia behind him. Despite the impact and the blows he endured, he rises to his feet slowly, maintaining a defiant smile, silently challenging Adira to do her worst.
Adira glared at him, her irritation evident as she scoffed and retorted, "You think you're stronger than me? We'll see about that..." With newfound determination, she dashed even faster than before, her movements becoming a blur to the naked eye. Nerio focused intently, analyzing her every move and anticipating her next action. As she charged towards him once more, she unleashed a powerful punch, but Nerio swiftly blocked it with his palm. The girl's frustration was palpable as she intensified her assault, throwing a barrage of furious punches, yet Nerio skillfully deflected each one with precision and grace.
Ruby was mesmerized by Nerio's fighting skill. "Wow… he's amazing," she murmured, unable to tear her eyes away from Nerio's graceful movements. Her cheeks flushed slightly with admiration. Suddenly, Amelia's urgent voice snapped Ruby out of her reverie. "Ruby, there's no time to watch him! The white lion guy just disappeared!" Startled, Ruby refocused her attention, scanning the area frantically, but the white lion had vanished without a trace.
After enduring Adira's relentless assault and constantly blocking her strikes, Nerio spotted an opening. With lightning speed, he jabbed right at her chest, causing her to stagger back. Adira clutched the spot where she was hit, momentarily stunned, before Nerio seized the opportunity to deliver a powerful shove, sending her crashing into a nearby tree. Without hesitation, Nerio sprinted toward her, launching another forceful punch. However, Adira reacted just in time, shattering the tree behind her as she dodged his attack. Enraged, she unleashed a flurry of punches, but Nerio effortlessly evaded each blow before finally tackling her with incredible force.
Adira soared through the air, a blur of motion against the night sky, before crashing violently onto the forest floor. She struggled to rise, her movements labored and pained, coughing harshly as she clutched her abdomen, the impact of Nerio's powerful tackle taking its toll. Meanwhile, Nerio, his expression unwavering, advanced toward her with deliberate steps, his presence emanating a sense of impending resolution.
"NERIO, WATCH OUT!" Ruby's urgent cry pierced the tense air, prompting Nerio to whirl around just in time to see the white lion charging a shimmering blue sphere directly at him. In an instant, the sphere hurtled toward him, colliding with a deafening explosion upon impact. The force sent Nerio hurtling through the air, his body crashing against a nearby tree with bone-jarring force, the ancient wood splintering and cracking under the immense pressure.
The white lion sprinted to Adira's side, his expression filled with concern as he knelt beside her. Gently, he lifted her head, his large paw cradling her delicate form. "Adira… are you alright?" His voice carried a mixture of worry and determination. She coughed, blood staining her lips, but mustered a weak smile. "This is nothing… Go, capture that shark guy… He's stronger than I expected, but I know you can do it…" Her hand clasped his briefly before she succumbed to unconsciousness. "Yes, I will…" he vowed softly, tenderly placing her head on the ground, ensuring she could rest peacefully.
Meanwhile, Nerio rose to his feet once more, but something had shifted within him. His presence exuded an aura of primal power. His muscles seemed more defined, and his hand had transformed into a claw-like appendage. Fiery red light emanated from his eyes, casting an ominous glow as his expression morphed into something primal and fierce. He was no longer the gentle companion they knew; a formidable force had awakened within him.
Nerio's primal roar echoed through the forest, a guttural symphony of raw power and ferocity. Rising to his feet, he adopted a predatory stance, his body poised like a beast ready to pounce. Behind him, the white lion turned, his eyes wide with astonishment and a tinge of apprehension. "How is he still conscious?" he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with disbelief.
With lightning speed, Nerio lunged forward, his clawed hands poised to strike with lethal precision. But before he could reach his target, the lion swiftly intercepted, scooping up Adira and leaping to safety. He gently placed her beside a sturdy tree, his movements fluid yet urgent.
But before Nerio could deliver his next strike, a shimmering magic circle materialized on the ground, conjuring a formidable rock wall around Adira. The white lion's voice, calm yet resolute, cut through the tension. "Get ready…" he murmured, his gaze fixed ahead as he vanished once more, disappearing into the darkness with an elusive swiftness that left no trace behind.
He dashed around him, one attack after another, moving at the speed of sound. Nerio snarled and turned his head in random directions, unable to keep up with the lion's lightning-fast movements. Despite the relentless assault, Nerio stood his ground, enduring each magical bolt with grim determination. "You can't defend forever," the lion taunted as he continued to unleash his spells.
Nerio focused, predicting the lion's next move. With a swift motion, he clawed deeply at the lion's chest, drawing blood that quickly stained his clothes. Coughing, the lion realized his strength waning. "Shit… I'm about to faint sooner…" he muttered weakly, preparing to cast one final spell.
But just as Nerio sprinted towards him, Ruby intervened, sprinting towards Nerio with all her might. "Ruby!" Amelia's voice rang out in a desperate plea, but Ruby was undeterred. She reached Nerio in time, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Nerio... Please... Wake up!" Ruby's voice cracked with emotion as she pleaded with him, her grip tightening.
As Nerio succumbed to unconsciousness, Ruby felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her, her vision blurring. In the distance, she saw Amelia collapse to the ground, also succumbing to the spell's effects. "Amelia..." Ruby's voice trailed off weakly before she too fell unconscious, cradling Nerio close to her.
The white lion watched with a mix of triumph and exhaustion as his spell took effect, putting them all into a deep sleep.