The air in the palace courtyard was thick with tension as Madagascar stood before Titan, his presence exuding confidence despite the formidable opponent. The monkeys on his shoulders chattered among themselves, their high-pitched voices carrying hints of strategy. Ma, the wiser of the two, reiterated what he had deduced earlier: The Titan's earthen body could absorb and deflect physical and magical attacks, but not without limitation.
Madagascar gripped his warhammer tightly before slamming it into the ground. The massive weapon crackled with energy before distorting, elongating into his signature monkey staff. He twirled the staff with one hand, the momentum creating a sharp hum in the air. With a playful smirk, he whispered, "Let's see if you can keep up now."
With a sudden burst of speed, Madagascar blitzed toward Titan, his feet kicking up shards of broken tiles as he closed the distance. He swung the staff in a vicious arc aimed at Titan's center. Titan dodged with surprising agility, leaning back just enough to avoid the strike. But Madagascar was prepared for this. Using the momentum of his swing, he spun mid-air with the grace of a predator, his staff whistling through the air.
The rotation gave him the angle he needed, and this time the staff connected squarely with Titan's side. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the courtyard, powerful enough to rattle the palace walls. Titan absorbed the majority of the force, his earthen body dimly glowing as it redistributed the energy. Yet, the sheer strength of Madagascar's strike still sent Titan flying, his massive frame crashing into the palace walls, leaving a crater of stone and debris.
Madagascar planted his staff into the ground, the monkeys on his shoulders hooting triumphantly. "So, it works," he muttered to himself, watching Titan pull himself from the rubble. Ma's chattering voice cut through the moment. "The staff bypasses his absorption for just a moment. Enough time to send him flying, but we'll need precision."
Madagascar nodded, gripping his staff tighter. This was going to be a battle of wits as much as strength.
Meanwhile, across the city, the battle between Jingwei and the Vanguard's Viper and Shade reached a fever pitch. With his one remaining hand, Jingwei stood tall, his expression resolute despite the pain coursing through his body. Blood trickled from the wound where he had severed his decayed arm, but his focus was unwavering.
Jingwei extended his hand forward , his fingers splayed as he uttered a low chant.
The earth beneath him trembled before bursting open. From the cracks, a swarm of toads erupted, hundreds of them leaping into the air with slimy grace. Their croaks filled the battlefield, an overwhelming cacophony that seemed to suffocate the space. The technique was unmistakable—
The Toad Swamp Summon.
a signature move that was as terrifying as it was effective.
The toads swarmed toward Viper and Shade, their sheer numbers making escape impossible. Shade's eyes narrowed, and he unsheathed his venom-coated daggers, preparing to cut through the creatures. Viper raised his firearm, locking onto the nearest toads. He fired once, the bullet ripping through one of the amphibians, but Jingwei's voice cut through the chaos, cold and sharp.
"If I were you," Jingwei said, his tone heavy with authority, "I wouldn't do that."
Shade hesitated mid-strike, his daggers dripping with venom. Viper lowered his weapon slightly, his expression tense. The toads, now glowing faintly, surrounded the two Vanguard operatives, their croaks intensifying into a deafening roar.
Jingwei uttered a single word:
"Release"
The battlefield erupted in a series of synchronized explosions. Each toad detonated with the force of a small bomb, the chain reaction consuming everything in the vicinity. The ground quaked violently as fire and smoke rose into the air, creating a massive crater where the Vanguard operatives once stood. The destruction was absolute, leaving behind nothing but scorched earth and a gaping void.
Jingwei hovered above the devastation, his breathing heavy but steady. He surveyed the destruction with a grim expression, his gaze scanning for any trace of his enemies.
In another part of the city, Jin walked through the wreckage of his latest confrontation. His footsteps echoed softly against the charred ground, each step deliberate and heavy with purpose. His blade, now sheathed, rested against his hip, but the faint aura of power that surrounded him hinted at the battle he had just fought.