In the small ship orbiting Kheris at a safe distance, Lola was in complete panic. Her communication sensors were flashing frantically, and her voice, usually so cheerful, now carried a sharp tone of comical desperation.
Ling had asked her to contact Instructor Kira before they entered the bar, but the situation had escalated far beyond expectations. Now, Lola no longer had visual contact, only fragmented data and muffled sounds.
"Instructor Kira! Emergency call! Priority Alpha Omega Seven!" Lola exclaimed, her robotic arms waving in the air as if she could force the connection.
"I'm losing the recruits' signal! The audio data indicates explosions and screams! And a sound... a very, very loud growling sound! It seems they're fighting something huge! And Zugiy's signal is... it's moving away from the main battle! He's with the prisoners, I think! But what's happening down there?! Are they okay?! I need an answer! Please, Instructor! They're in real danger!"
Kira listened, her expression unchanged, though a flash of concern crossed her eyes.
"Lola, calm down. Breathe. I already know who Crismon is. Grux informed me about him and the factions supporting him. I'm on my way. But you will stay on the ship. Your role is to monitor the situation and be ready for any emergency. Do not engage directly on the surface. Your safety is crucial for their extraction."
"But Instructor! They... they're my recruits! I need to help!" Lola protested, her robotic arms twisting in frustration. "They could get hurt! And what if they need a hug?! I'm great at hugs!"
Kira nodded, her voice softer now.
"I know, Lola. And I understand your concern. But you are essential for the ship's safety and for a possible extraction. Trust them. They are more capable than you imagine. Keep the line open and inform me of any changes. I'll be there as quickly as possible."
Lola sighed, producing an electronic sound of resignation.
"Understood, Instructor. But if they come back with scratches, I'm filing a complaint against Grux!"
Kira ended the communication with a faint smile on her lips. Lola's concern was genuine, and the instructor knew that despite her eccentric personality, the AI was loyal and dedicated. But now, the priority was reaching Kheris.
Inside the main cave, Ling, Victor, and Melissa were making a strategic retreat, though it was no less dangerous. Crismon, furious about the scratch on his leg and the audacity of the "insects," pursued them relentlessly. He hurled chunks of rock, ship debris, and even unconscious mercenaries at them, turning their escape into a deadly obstacle course.
With every attack, Melissa used her control over solid matter to deflect objects or create barriers, making the escape possible, though exhausting.
"He won't stop!" Victor shouted, launching a blast of fire to destroy a boulder Crismon had thrown. "And he's surprisingly fast for such a huge guy!"
"Thanks to Melissa, we're managing to dodge his attacks!" Ling replied while narrowly avoiding a sword strike that would have turned him into paste. "But we can't keep running forever!"
"It's not easy!" Melissa grunted, raising a stone wall to block one of Crismon's attacks, only for the giant to smash it apart with a punch. "He's a mountain of muscles and rage! My powers aren't dealing enough damage!"
They ran through a narrow tunnel with Crismon right behind them, his energy sword scraping against the walls. The exit to the surface was only a few meters away. The giant was gaining ground, his heavy footsteps shaking the earth. Every second, the distance between them grew smaller.
"We need to slow him down!" Ling gasped, his super strength and agility being pushed to their limits. "Victor, Melissa, I need you to distract him. I have an idea, but I need concentration. Let's combine our attacks!"
"Distract a four meter monster? Easy!" Victor joked sarcastically while already shaping a massive fireball in his hands. "Melissa, let's make a Crismon sandwich!"
"Understood!" Melissa replied, already feeling the vibrations beneath the ground. "Ling, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to use a technique that requires precision. I need an opening. A clean target," Ling explained seriously. "When I say so, Victor, blind him. Melissa, immobilize him. Even if it's only for a second. We need a weak point, something that will make him stop."
Victor and Melissa nodded, their trust in Ling overcoming their fear. They reached a wider section of the tunnel, a transition chamber before the exit. Crismon was only a few meters away, his sword raised for a final strike.
"NOW!" Ling shouted.
Victor unleashed the largest fire explosion he could gather, a wave of flames that engulfed Crismon and temporarily blinded him. The giant roared in pain and surprise, his eyes burning.
At the same time, Melissa made the ground beneath the giant twist and rise, trapping his legs inside a prison of solid rock. Crismon roared with pain and fury, struggling to break free, but the stone held him with immense force.
Ling closed his eyes, concentrating all his energy. His sword shone with a bright light blue intensity as he swung it in one precise arc.
"Secret Technique: Clean Energy Slash!"
A wave of pure energy, as thin as a laser thread but carrying the force of a hammer strike, shot from Ling's sword. It struck Crismon in the back of the thigh, where the skin was thinner and the muscle more exposed.
The giant released a scream of excruciating pain, a sound powerful enough to shake the cave itself. The cut was not deep enough to incapacitate him, but it tore through muscles and tendons, making him stagger and collapse to his knees as the rock prison shattered beneath his weight.
"That won't hold him for long!" Ling shouted. "Run!"
They ran, leaving Crismon behind as he howled in pain and rage. The exit to the surface was only a few steps away.
They emerged into the lilac light of Kheris, breathing heavily and exhausted, but alive.
The first thing Melissa did was try to bury the tunnel entrance, causing a massive amount of rock and earth to collapse over it. She concentrated all her willpower, and a mountain of debris piled up, sealing the passage.
But the effort was useless.
With a roar that shook the ground and vibrated through the air, Crismon burst out of the rubble, his colossal body covered in dust, dark green liquid flowing from his injured leg, his eyes locked onto them with murderous fury.
Crismon's roar echoed across the entire area, a primal sound of rage and vengeance.
Far away, Zugiy, who was guiding civilians to safety, heard the sound. He knew the battle was far from over.