Lenny raised his arm high, the queen of slimes mirroring his movement as if she were merely an extension of his body. With a single, deliberate gesture, he directed her to strike the ground where Theodore was standing. The queen's massive, gelatinous hand slammed down with incredible force, sending shockwaves through the earth. Theodore leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding the impact, but the sheer force of the attack made the ground beneath him quake, throwing him off balance.
"Damn it!" Theodore muttered, his mind racing. He steadied himself just in time to see the queen rear back, her enormous mouth opening as she spit a torrent of acid toward him. Theodore dodged, the burning liquid hissing against the ground where he had just been standing. Taking advantage of her brief pause, he darted forward and slashed at her body. But the moment his sword met her gelatinous form, it disintegrated, the blade reduced to ash in an instant.
"Damn it!" Theodore cursed as he jumped back, his eyes scanning the situation. "That technique earlier… It melted the sword. Ugh, at least it helped against the smaller slimes, but now I'm defenseless."
From across the clearing, Lenny smirked, clearly relishing Theodore's struggle. "Oh, would you look at that," he taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "No sword left, no mana left. What's the plan now, prince?"
Lenny motioned with his hand, and the queen let out a thunderous roar. The sheer force of it sent a wave of fear crashing over Theodore. His body froze as if paralyzed, his trembling legs refusing to obey him. His breath quickened as panic clawed its way into his chest.
"Move! Damn it, move!" Theodore yelled at his own body, but his legs refused to respond. He gritted his teeth, slamming his fists against his thighs in desperation. He could feel his control slipping further and further away as his fear consumed him.
The ground trembled with each step the queen took toward him, her towering figure casting an ominous shadow over his trembling form. Her gelatinous mouth stretched into a grotesque smile, her body dripping acid as she raised one massive, slimy leg into the air.
"Well," Lenny said with a cruel laugh, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I expected more from you, Theodore. But I guess this is the end. Such a shame—it's almost pitiful, really. You didn't even know the principles of a real fight, and yet you threw yourself into a battle you couldn't win. I hope you enjoy what's left of this world while you can."
Theodore clenched his fists, his mind racing. (Think, Theodore. Think!) He analyzed the situation in the split second he had left. But no matter how hard he pushed himself, his body simply wouldn't respond.
The queen's massive leg, dripping with acidic slime, came crashing down toward him. Theodore braced for the inevitable, his heart pounding in his chest. But before the blow could land, a sharp curve of water sliced through the air, severing the queen's leg cleanly.
"What the—?!" Lenny's eyes widened in shock as the queen howled in pain, her massive severed limb collapsing to the ground with a wet thud.
Theodore looked up, equally stunned, as Noah, Elisa, and Vivian came running into view. "Noah…? Guys…?" Theodore couldn't believe what he was seeing. The very same kids who had been paralyzed with fear earlier were now charging straight into danger, determined to stand by his side.
The queen's severed leg, now falling toward Theodore, was suddenly lifted into the air by a surge of green aura. Elisa, her eyes glowing with determination, had activated her reverse gravity technique. "Get up, prince!" she shouted, her voice firm yet tinged with concern. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the gelatinous limb hurtling toward Lenny.
"Not so fast!" Lenny snarled, dodging the flying limb with a leap. His smirk was gone now, replaced by a grim expression as he watched the children regroup around Theodore.
Theodore, still shaken, found himself smiling despite the situation. "You… you idiots," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "What are you doing here?"
Noah stepped forward, his water aura pulsating around him as he glared at Lenny.
"What does it look like, prince? We're here to save you."
"You were terrified earlier," Theodore said, his voice wavering.
"Yeah, and maybe we still are," Elisa shot back, her swords raised. "But we're not running anymore. Not when you're out here fighting for all of us."
Vivian stepped up next, frost forming at her fingertips. "We figured out the truth about Lenny, and we're not letting him hurt you—or anyone else."
Lenny's expression darkened, his eyes darting between the group. "You're just children playing hero," he spat. "Do you really think you stand a chance against me? Against her?" He gestured to the queen, who was already regenerating her severed limb, her grotesque smile returning.
Theodore finally stood, his body still trembling but his resolve firm. "They don't have to stand a chance," he said, gripping the hilt of his melted sword. His crimson eyes flared, burning with renewed determination.
"Because I'll finish this myself. You all just make sure he doesn't escape."
The group nodded, their fear replaced with determination as they prepared to face the battle ahead. The tide of the fight had shifted, and for the first time, Theodore felt like he wasn't fighting alone.