"Stay away from my dear diamonds!" the rock man roared, his voice echoing through the vast cave as he charged like a raging bull. His massive stone fists pounded the ground, sending tremors through the earth beneath their feet.
"Separate!" the leader commanded sharply, his eyes narrowing as the rock man barreled toward him with reckless fury.
Dodge
The team scattered in different directions just as the rock man's fist smashed into the ground where the leader had stood. Dust and debris exploded into the air, filling the cave with a thick haze.
"What?! You're so fast!" the rock man bellowed, swinging his arms wildly, trying to hit the leader as he dodged each blow with incredible speed. Frustration twisted the rock man's face as his fists missed their target repeatedly, slamming into the ground and walls with destructive force.
Theodore and Elara flanked him, their movements synchronized like dancers in a deadly ballet. With swift, precise strikes, their swords slashed against the rock man's stone skin. Sparks flew as metal met rock, but their blades barely left a scratch on his hardened exterior.
"This guy's skin is like iron!" Elara gasped, her chest heaving as she took a moment to catch her breath. "How are we supposed to break through?"
"Don't touch me!" the rock man snarled, swatting at his own body as though the strikes were mere insect bites. His massive hands scraped at his stone form, frustrated by the team's relentless attacks.
Max, meanwhile, shot a blast of ice at the rock man's feet, successfully freezing them. "Ahh! My feet! I can't feel them!" the rock man howled, stumbling as his frozen feet locked him in place.
"Now!" Max shouted to the team, forming a large electric orb in his hands. The crackling sphere of energy hummed with power as he hurled it directly at the rock man's chest.
Electrification
The electric blast struck the rock man, electricity dancing across his stone body. He screamed in agony, his muscles convulsing from the shock, but his fury only intensified.
"You pests!" the rock man roared, shattering the ice at his feet with a single powerful stomp. "I'll crush you all and swallow your bones!"
Fueled by rage, the rock man's stone armor began to shift and evolve. Chunks of rock fell from his body, revealing smoother, darker stone beneath. His movements grew faster, more precise, as he adapted to their attacks.
"Oh fuck..." Max muttered, eyes widening as the rock man's new form charged toward him. "This isn't good!"
With terrifying speed, the rock man lunged at Max. Max barely had time to react, his feet scrambling to escape, but the rock man was closing in fast. The entire team was now trapped in the massive underground chamber, the only exit blocked by rubble.
"This isn't working... His skin's too tough!" Max gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling over. "We need a new plan."
"You insects are nothing but fleas buzzing around me!" the rock man taunted, his voice full of malice.
Mia, seeing no other choice, summoned her ice magic and infused it into her blade. Frost spread along the length of the sword, its edge gleaming with cold energy. She moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, weaving between the rock man's massive swings.
Dodging his attacks, she positioned herself behind his leg. With a quick inhale, she steadied her stance and drove her ice-enchanted sword deep into his foot.
Roar of pain
The rock man howled, his body shuddering from the freezing pain radiating from his leg. But Mia's sword was stuck, embedded in the solid rock. She tugged at the hilt, but it wouldn't budge.
"Damn it! Come on!" she cursed under her breath, pulling with all her strength.
Suddenly, the rock man's shadow loomed over her. His massive hand came down toward her, intending to crush her where she stood. Mia looked up, her heart racing as the hand grew closer, knowing there was no time to escape.
She closed her eyes, accepting her fate.
But in the blink of an eye, she was lifted off the ground, snatched away just before the crushing blow landed. Theodore's strong arms held her as he darted out of the rock man's reach.
Mia blinked in surprise, looking up at him. "I didn't ask for your help."
"I don't care,if you ask or not." Theodore replied, his voice firm as he set her down gently before charging back into the fray without waiting for her response.
The battle raged on, and the team was quickly tiring. Each attack seemed to have little effect on the rock man's new form. Then, in a devastating blow, the rock man slammed his fist into Max, sending him flying across the cave. Max's body hit the wall with a sickening thud and crumpled to the ground.
"MAX!" the team screamed in horror.
Desperation filled the air. Fire, electricity, and ice were unleashed in a final, desperate assault, but the rock man's skin absorbed the magic like it was nothing. One by one, the team members fell, beaten and exhausted by the unrelenting force of the rock man's attacks.
Only Theodore, Mia, Jack, and John remained, hiding in the shadows as the rock man stalked toward them. Mia knelt beside her sister, tears streaming down her face, her hands trembling.
Theodore struggled to breathe, his body battered and bleeding. He leaned against the wall, barely able to stay on his feet. His thoughts drifted back to his old life, his team, and Kagura. "Maybe they were right… I'm not fit to live among humans."
The rock man's foot crashed down beside Theodore, casting a dark shadow over him. "You touched my diamonds, and now you pay the price, you pathetic worm!"
As the rock man lifted his foot to crush Theodore, a surge of electric energy
Sparks flew, and in a blinding flash, crashing into the cave wall with a thunderous boom.
Mia watched in disbelief, her heart pounding. Theodore stood tall, eyes glowing with raw power.
"What... What are you?" the rock man stammered. As he saw a red color comes out of Theodore's chest and electricity power around him.
With lightning speed, Theodore closed the distance his body a blur of electric energy.He grabbed the rock man by the throat, lifting him off the ground before slamming him into the floor with earth-shattering force.
"You are finished." Theodore growled, his voice cold and unforgiving.
With his bare hands, Theodore bagan tearing through the rock man's stone skin, breaking apart the seemingly invincible armor piece by piece. Finally, he plunged his hand a devastating surge of electric power that obliterated his heart in an instant.
The rock man's body went limp, crumbling into dust and rubble beneath Theodore's feet.
Mia stared at Theodore, her heart racing. He stood over the fallen enemy, his gaze cold and terrifying. Even though she knew he was on their side, the power he wielded was beyond anything she could comprehend.
He got down from the rock man and started walking toward Mia.
When he arrived at her side, he raised his hand toward his sister, channeling powerful healing magic.
Within seconds, she was completely healed. Mia looked on in shock as she saw her sister without any wounds.
He then moved to the leader and cast the healing magic on him as well, curing his injuries.
But after healing him, Theodore suddenly fell to the ground. "Theodore!" Mia shouted as she rushed toward him.