Arrival in Indonesia
After the fleeting peace of the holidays, Gok and Wu-Ji set off to Indonesia. Their goal: to meet Dino, the legendary Dog Ranker who had mysteriously mutated after coming into contact with a fragment of the Infinite Blade.
The humid air of Jakarta greeted them as they stepped off the plane. The city's neon lights illuminated the night, a stark contrast to the rustic villages and barren battlefields they were used to.
"Think this Dog Ranker will talk to us?" Wu-Ji asked, adjusting his coat to hide the faint glow of his Infinity Dagger.
"If he doesn't," Gok replied with a smirk, "we'll make him."
---
Meeting Dino
The duo tracked Dino to an underground fighting arena known as Cerberus Pit, where Rankers competed for fame and fortune. The roar of the crowd was deafening as they entered, the air thick with tension.
In the center of the pit stood Dino—a towering figure with canine features, his skin faintly shimmering with golden and black energy from the fragment embedded in his chest. His piercing eyes locked onto Gok and Wu-Ji as if sensing their purpose.
Dino grinned, baring sharp teeth. "You must be the infamous MAD and the rogue Zodiac. What brings you to my domain?"
Wu-Ji stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "We need information about the fragments. And we hear you've got one."
Dino laughed, a deep, guttural sound. "Information? It's a dangerous game you're playing. But I don't give anything for free."
Gok rolled his shoulders, the air around him crackling with Infinite energy. "How about we flip a coin? Heads, you tell us. Tails... we take it by force."
---
The Flip
Dino raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A coin toss, huh? Fine." He pulled a gold coin from his pocket, its surface etched with intricate runes.
The crowd fell silent as Dino flipped the coin into the air. Time seemed to slow as it spun, glinting under the arena lights.
When it landed, Dino caught it deftly and revealed the result: tails.
Dino smirked. "Looks like you'll have to take it."
---
The Fight Begins
Dino charged forward with incredible speed, his claws slicing through the air. Wu-Ji barely managed to dodge, countering with a burst of Zodiac energy. Gok moved in tandem, their teamwork seamless despite the chaos.
Dino's mutated power made him a formidable opponent. He unleashed shockwaves of energy that shattered the arena floor, forcing Gok and Wu-Ji to fight defensively.
"This guy's no joke," Wu-Ji muttered, narrowly avoiding a devastating blow.
Gok grinned, his beard bristling. "Good. I was starting to get bored."
---
The Turning Point
As the battle raged on, Dino revealed the full extent of his mutation. His body grew larger, his canine features becoming more monstrous. The fragment of the Infinite Blade in his chest pulsed violently, spreading cracks of golden and black energy across his body.
"You think you can take this power from me?" Dino roared. "It's mine!"
But his transformation came at a cost. The energy began to consume him, his movements growing erratic.
Wu-Ji seized the opportunity, channeling his Zodiac power into a concentrated strike. "This ends now!"
His attack hit Dino square in the chest, dislodging the fragment. The arena erupted in a blinding light as the fragment's energy dissipated.
---
Aftermath
When the light faded, Dino lay on the ground, his body reverted to its original form. Gok picked up the fragment, studying its faint glow.
"You were right," Dino said weakly, his voice filled with regret. "The power isn't worth it. Take it... and stop whatever's coming."
Gok nodded, pocketing the fragment. "We will."
As they left the arena, Wu-Ji glanced at Gok. "That coin toss... you rigged it, didn't you?"
Gok smirked. "What do you think?"
Wu-Ji shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. "Classic."