The remaining wolf-bears fled into the darkness, their growls fading into the distance. Eleo jumped up, throwing his fists into the air. "Yahoo! We did it!"
Kenji sheathed his sword but stopped, his sharp gaze locking onto the towering figure of the King Wolf-Bear still standing in the clearing. He pointed at it with a frown. "Uh...what about that one?"
Eleo froze, following Kenji's gaze. "Oh..."
Tony narrowed his glowing eye sockets at the massive creature. "Why hasn't it attacked us yet? Why is it just standing there like some sort of fool?"
Kenji shrugged, his tone dry. "Who knows? Maybe it'll just leave us alone or something."
As if on cue, the King Wolf-Bear let out a deafening growl, its golden eyes gleaming with fury.
Kenji sighed. "Never mind."
In a flash, the King Wolf-Bear lunged at Tony with terrifying speed, its massive claws slashing across his skeletal form. Tony was sent hurtling through the air, crashing into a cluster of trees with a loud crack.
"Tony!" Eleo screamed, his voice shaking with a mix of anger and panic. His ink-covered fists began to glow as he charged forward. "You're gonna pay for that!"
Eleo unleashed his Ink Barrage, firing a relentless series of punches laced with dark energy. The attacks landed squarely on the King Wolf-Bear's chest, creating bursts of black smoke with each strike. But the creature didn't even flinch.
The beast roared, the force of its cry creating a powerful shockwave that hurled Eleo into the air. He spun uncontrollably, shouting, "Weeeee!" before landing headfirst in a nearby bush.
Kenji stood alone now, gripping his sword tightly. He glanced at Eleo, who was struggling to untangle himself from the branches, and at Tony, who was slowly picking himself up from the ground.
"Great," Kenji muttered, cracking his neck as he stepped forward. "Looks like it's just me."
The King Wolf-Bear growled low, its massive claws digging into the dirt as it locked its glowing eyes on Kenji.
Kenji smirked, raising his sword. "Let's see if you're as tough as you look."
The King Wolf-Bear lunged forward, its claws slicing through the air with terrifying force. Kenji sidestepped the attack with ease, his movements precise and calculated.
"You're big, but you're slow," Kenji said, his voice calm but taunting.
The beast snarled, spinning around and swiping again. Kenji ducked under the attack and countered with a powerful upward slash, his blade glowing faintly as it cut deep into the creature's front leg.
The King Wolf-Bear roared in pain, stumbling slightly but recovering quickly. It retaliated with a flurry of swipes and lunges, its speed and power increasing with each attack.
Kenji met each strike with precision, his blade deflecting the creature's claws in a shower of sparks. He dashed around the King Wolf-Bear, delivering a series of swift, calculated slashes to its sides and back.
"You're tougher than the others," Kenji admitted, dodging a massive paw that gouged deep trenches into the earth. "But I've fought worse."
The King Wolf-Bear roared again, its eyes burning brighter as its movements grew more erratic and aggressive. It leaped high into the air, aiming to crush Kenji with its full weight.
Kenji rolled to the side at the last moment, the ground shaking as the beast landed. He seized the opportunity, slashing at its exposed flank, his blade glowing brighter with each strike.
The creature howled, its blood staining the ground as it stumbled. Kenji stood a few feet away, breathing steadily, his sword at the ready.
"Not bad," Kenji muttered, his tone almost bored. "But this ends now."
Just as Kenji prepared to deliver the finishing blow, the King Wolf-Bear let out an earth-shaking roar. Its body began to glow with a fiery crimson aura, its muscles bulging as it entered a frenzied rage mode.
Kenji's eyes narrowed. "Great. A second wind."
The King Wolf-Bear's speed doubled as it charged at Kenji with a savage intensity. Its claws came dangerously close, forcing Kenji to block with his sword. The impact sent a shockwave through his arms, nearly knocking him off balance.
Kenji leaped back, barely avoiding a swipe that tore through the ground like paper. "You're making this interesting," he said, his grip tightening on his sword.
The beast roared again, slamming the ground and sending a wave of debris flying toward Kenji. He dashed through the cloud of dust, appearing behind the creature in a flash.
With a powerful swing, Kenji delivered a devastating slash across the King Wolf-Bear's back. The beast howled in rage, spinning around and swiping wildly.
Kenji ducked under the attack, closing in once more. "You're strong," he said, his voice steady. "But I've already figured you out."
He jumped high into the air, his blade glowing with a golden light. With a single, precise strike, he drove his sword into the King Wolf-Bear's shoulder, pinning it to the ground.
The creature thrashed wildly, its glowing eyes dimming as it struggled to break free. Kenji twisted his blade, the golden light spreading through the beast's body.
With one final roar, the King Wolf-Bear collapsed, its massive frame falling still. Kenji stepped back, pulling his sword free as he watched the creature's crimson aura fade away.
Tony and Eleo approached cautiously, their eyes wide with amazement.
"That...was incredible," Eleo said, his voice filled with awe.
Tony smirked. "Not bad, Kenji. Not bad at all."
Kenji sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "Let's keep moving. There might be more of them nearby."
As they walked away, the forest grew silent once more, the fallen King Wolf-Bear lying motionless under the pale moonlight.
As they continued to walk, they finally found the castle.
Eleo exclaimed, "We finally found it—the castle!"
Kenji sighed in relief. "Finally."
Eleo, Tony, and Kenji stood outside the massive iron gate that loomed before them, its towering structure casting long shadows under the dim moonlight. Kenji furrowed his brow, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.
"How the hell do we get in there?" Kenji asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Tony rubbed his bony chin thoughtfully. "Maybe we could climb up?"
Kenji snorted. "Or destroy the gate."
Before either could argue further, Eleo, ever the energetic one, bounded high into the air with his powerful bunny legs, easily clearing the gate. He landed gracefully on the other side and spun around to face them, grinning from ear to ear.
"Ta-da!" Eleo cheered.
Tony gave him a thumbs-up. "Great job, Eleo."
Kenji nodded, albeit with a hint of reluctance. "Yeah, but now how do we get in?"
"I'll look for a way to open the gate!" Eleo called out as he dashed off into the castle, his small figure quickly swallowed by the darkness within.
As Eleo explored the castle's interior, he was struck by the sheer opulence of the place. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and the floors gleamed with polished marble. The air was filled with the scent of rich, savory food that made his stomach growl. Unable to resist, Eleo hurried over to a lavishly set table and began to wolf down some of the food.
After a few minutes of indulging himself, he plopped down on a plush, velvet chair, sighing in contentment. That was when he noticed a large painting of an angel hanging on the wall. The image stirred something in his memory—a reminder of why he was here. He quickly shook off his momentary lapse and continued deeper into the castle.
Despite the castle's deceptively small exterior, the interior seemed impossibly vast, stretching on for what felt like miles. Eleo's curiosity was piqued as he ventured further, eventually stumbling upon a lever. His eyes lit up as he realized this might be the key to opening the gate for Tony and Kenji.
Just as he reached for the lever, three heavily armored knights emerged from the shadows, their spears crackling with holy energy. Their presence was imposing, their armor gleaming with a divine aura that made them appear almost ethereal.
"You guys look like that one knight I met when Tony and I were with the Demon Princess," Eleo said, trying to lighten the mood.
The knights didn't respond. Instead, they lowered their spears, which now radiated with divine power. The room seemed to buzz with energy as they advanced on Eleo, intent on striking him down.
Eleo's instincts kicked in, and he dodged the first spear strike with ease, then the second, and the third. He retaliated by transforming his left arm into an Ink Hammer, swinging it with all his might into the chest of one of the knights. The blow sent the knight staggering back, but it wasn't enough to take him down.
Another knight took advantage of Eleo's brief distraction, landing a powerful hit that sent Eleo reeling. Pain coursed through him, and he realized he was outmatched in raw strength. But strength wasn't all that mattered—Eleo had his own tricks.
"I've got to be smarter about this," Eleo muttered to himself, retreating a few steps. He quickly activated his Ink Regeneration ability, channeling ink to heal his wounds and restore some of his lost stamina. The process was slow, but it gave him a chance to catch his breath.
The knights advanced again, and Eleo knew he needed to think fast. He released a cloud of Ink Smoke, obscuring the vision of the knights and causing them to hesitate. Taking advantage of their confusion, Eleo laid down several Ink Traps on the floor, careful to conceal them well.
The knights, driven by their holy mission, charged through the smoke, only to trigger Eleo's traps. Ink exploded from the ground, entangling their legs and blinding them. Eleo didn't waste a moment—he rushed forward, his fists becoming a blur as he unleashed an Ink Barrage of rapid punches. Each strike was precise, each move calculated. The knights, already weakened and disoriented, stood little chance. They crumbled under the relentless assault, their holy aura flickering out like a dying flame.
With the knights defeated, Eleo breathed a sigh of relief and pulled the lever. The massive gate creaked and groaned as it slowly began to open.
Outside, Tony and Kenji watched as the gate lifted, revealing the castle's grand entrance.
"Wow," Tony said, his eyes wide. "I didn't think a castle could look this good on the inside."
Kenji's expression was more serious. "We need to stick together."
They entered the castle cautiously, their senses on high alert. The opulent interior stood in stark contrast to the grimness outside, but the beauty of the place only made it feel more dangerous. After a few moments of searching, they heard a rustling noise from around a corner.
"Boo!" Eleo jumped out, now wearing a helmet he had picked up somewhere in the castle.
Tony laughed, but Kenji wasn't amused. "This is no time to be playing around. We need to find my sword and get out of here as soon as possible."
Tony turned serious. "Any clue on where your sword might be?"
Kenji shook his head. "No, but maybe Taki has it for some reason."
Eleo's ears perked up. "We should be careful. Those knights were alive somehow."
"Is it magic?" Tony asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
"No clue," Kenji replied, his tone resolute. "But it doesn't matter. Let's keep looking."
They continued exploring the castle, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Every room they entered seemed to hold its own mysteries—hidden passages and strange symbols etched into the walls.