few minutes earlier…
Olorun led the way through the thick brush, his hands casually parting vines and low-hanging branches. The air was crisp and cool, not freezing—just enough to make your breath fog a little.
Kenji followed behind with an annoyed grunt. "Olorun, you idiot, we're lost."
Olorun turned back with a grin. "We're not lost. I saw something just ahead. Trust me."
Eleo tilted his head. "You sure? You said that like… ten times."
Kenji snorted. "He just wants to look cool. This is the fifth 'shortcut' he's taken."
But just then, Eleo's eyes lit up. "Wait… I see something too. There—past those trees."
They pushed through the last of the foliage, and suddenly the forest opened up into a strange clearing. In the center was a wide, stone cave, but the space around it had been transformed—tropical plants lined the area, as if someone had built a fake paradise in the middle of nowhere. Crude structures lined the walls, and fire torches flickered in iron sconces.
Music thumped, and voices laughed wildly.
Agharna's crew was partying hard—tossing fruit, dancing, and drinking. They looked relaxed. Too relaxed.
And in the center of it all… a large iron cage.
Inside was DuDu, ranting and pacing, his rainbow hair bouncing with each dramatic stomp.
Eleo's eyes narrowed as they landed on Agharna, standing on a raised stone slab, barking orders and laughing. In Eleo's mind, a cold thought crept in.
Why… why does he look like Master Kuma?
Olorun stretched his arms and looked out toward the small stretch of water between them and the cove.
"Alright," he said, cracking his neck. "Let's swim."
Before Kenji could protest, Eleo leapt onto his back with no hesitation. "Swim, Kenji! Let's go!"
Kenji grunted. "Eleo, my chest still hurts from that last hit—"
"Oh come on, Kenji," Olorun interrupted, already kicking his sandals off. "Don't be a pussy now."
Kenji clicked his tongue. "Tch. Fine. But if I drown this bunny, it's not on me."
Olorun dove in with a splash, water rippling in wide circles as he swam with smooth strokes. Kenji followed, more reluctantly, with Eleo clinging like a monkey to his back.
"Faster! Faster!" Eleo shouted, smacking Kenji's head like he was urging a racehorse.
"I AM going fast!" Kenji barked.
They made it across and climbed up the damp rocks at the far end, dripping and panting. Just as they stood up, a loud voice echoed across the clearing.
"YO AGHARNA!"
A man stepped forward with confidence—decked out in a flashy fur coat and thick sunglasses. His hair stood up like it was defying gravity, and a camera crew scrambled behind him.
Agharna turned from the party and narrowed his eyes. "Ah... I know you. Umapin's famous actor... Mr. Doom."
Doom threw both arms in the air. "THAT'S RIGHT! I AM THE ONE AND ONLY DOOM! I'VE COME TO DEFEAT WORLD ONE'S STRONGEST ANIMAL!"
His cameraman adjusted the focus. "Yeah, you get him, Mr. Doom!"
From the cage, DuDu waved desperately. "Hey Mr. Doom! Could you please save me!?"
Agharna scoffed. "Shut up, DuDu. You shouldn't have come here."
DuDu puffed up. "Dude! I thought you were Kuma! If I knew you were the strongest animal alive, I would've left! My crew abandoned me, man!"
Agharna just shook his head. "That sounds like a you problem."
Doom stood frozen in place, sweat forming at his temples.
Oh god... I'm so fucking dead.
In the bushes, Olorun leaned over. "So... should we help or...?"
Kenji shrugged. "Yeah. Let's go."
Eleo jumped off Kenji's back and rolled his shoulders. "Let's beat 'em up."
Together, the three stepped from the shadows. The music stopped. Heads turned. Agharna's warriors straightened up.
Agharna's grin widened. "Well, well... If it isn't Kenji and his little friends. And that bunny kid."
Eleo pointed at him. "I'm Eleo! And I'm gonna become the strongest... after I kick your ass!"
Doom exhaled deeply, clutching his chest in relief.
Thank god...
From the cage, DuDu jumped and rattled the bars. "HEY! Bunny kid! Don't you remember me!?"
Eleo tilted his head. "Uhhhh... who are you again?"
"IT'S ME! DUDU! THE SPRING GUY! RAINBOW HAIR! BIG SHIP? PUNISHMENT WHEEL?"
Eleo blinked. "Mmmm... doesn't ring a bell."
"You bastard!"
Kenji narrowed his eyes and drew both of his blades in one smooth motion, the metal gleaming in the light. "Let's finish this fast," he muttered.
With a flash of silver, he dashed forward. Two guards raised their spears, but Kenji pivoted, sliding between them and slashing upward in a clean arc—both collapsed instantly. More guards swarmed, but Kenji held his ground, blades flashing like lightning.
Olorun cracked his knuckles and joined the chaos. "Let's party!" he shouted, grabbing one guard by the leg and swinging him like a flail into another, sending both crashing into the side of the cave wall. "Ten points for me!" he laughed, leaping into the fray.
Spears jabbed toward Eleo, but he grinned wide, bouncing lightly on his feet. "Too slow!" Two hyenas lunged at him—he kicked off the ground and spun midair, slamming both his feet into their skulls like a double meteor. The hyenas dropped like rag dolls. "Boom, bunny style!" Eleo shouted, sticking the landing.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, DuDu sat in his cage, rattling the bars with flair. "Hey! Mr. Doom!" he called out dramatically.
Doom glanced sideways while brushing invisible dust off his dramatic black coat. "What do you want? I'm trying to look cool for the camera," he hissed under his breath.
DuDu leaned forward. "Listen, darling, let me out, and I'll let you join me. World 2. You. Me. Fame. Fortune. Sparkles!"
The cameraman looked confused. "What good would that do, Mr. Doom?"
DuDu's rainbow hair bounced as he grinned. "I'll take him to World 2 and make him ultra famous. Do you want action shots? Drama? Ratings? I'm the full package, baby."
Doom sighed. "Fine. But if this ruins my shot, I swear I'm suing someone."
They crept around the back of the cave. Doom pulled out a small flick-knife and expertly picked the lock. The cage clicked open. DuDu leapt out with flair, arms raised. "I'M FREEEEEE!"
Agharna's head snapped around. His voice boomed across the clearing. "HEY!"
DuDu, Doom, and the cameraman screamed in unison and ran like children caught stealing cookies, vanishing behind the rocks and tents.
Back near the center of the fight, Olorun, Kenji, and Eleo stood victorious, the guards unconscious or groaning in defeat.
Eleo dusted off his hands. "Alright, big guy. Your turn."
Agharna didn't flinch. Instead, he chuckled, a deep, rumbling laugh. "You think that was it?"
He raised a finger and snapped.
From the mouth of the cave, three massive figures emerged—each one radiating raw power.
The first was a hulking sabertooth tiger with scarred fur and glowing red eyes. Its fangs were longer than a grown man's arm. It let out a growl that made the rocks shake. A thick chain collar hung around its neck, labeled "Ravager."
The second was a massive cobra, black and gold, its scales shimmering like obsidian in the light. Its body twisted and coiled as it slithered out, head rising up higher than the trees. A carved sigil was branded into its hood: "Slitherin."
The last was a huge, black-furred wolf with glowing green eyes and a deep snarl in its throat. Its limbs were thick and muscular, and it moved with the precise grace of a predator. A torn tag on its ear read: "Fenroth."
Agharna folded his arms. "I don't need to dirty my claws. These three should be more than enough."
Kenji stepped forward, blades still in hand. "We'll see about that."
Olorun grinned. "Dibs on the snake."
Ravager snarled as he charged Kenji, the ground trembling beneath each thundering step. He pulled a massive, jagged sword from the sheath across his back with a hiss of steel and slashed diagonally. Kenji barely managed to block the strike, sparks flying as their blades clashed.
"So you're a swordsman, huh?" Kenji muttered through gritted teeth.
Ravager grinned, long fangs glinting. "Indeed. A butcher of steel and blood."
Suddenly, Ravager twisted his torso and drove a boot into Kenji's chest. The blow sent him skidding back, heels dragging through the dirt. He barely stopped at the edge of the cliffside where waves crashed below.
Before Kenji could stand upright, Ravager reappeared, sword raised.
"Behind you," came the growl.
Kenji spun, slashing, but Ravager was already gone.
Suddenly, a sharp jolt of pain flared through his chest—the old wound acting up again. Kenji dropped to one knee, gritting his teeth as the pressure surged through his ribs.
"Damn it… not now," he growled.
Ravager materialized behind him, boot connecting with Kenji's face—once, then twice, with precision and force. Kenji hit the ground hard, dazed.
Meanwhile, Olorun faced off with the monstrous cobra, Slitherin.
"Finger Knife!" Olorun shouted, leaping into the air.
A flurry of jabs flew, each one precise—aimed at Slitherin's pressure points. But just as two fingers neared Slitherin's throat, the cobra moved.
In a flash, Slitherin's coils wrapped around Olorun's wrists. His fangs bared in a grin as he twisted—snapping both of Olorun's pinkies in his grip.
"AGH! My perfect pinkies!" Olorun shrieked.
Slitherin chuckled, dark and deep. "You'll need more than tickles to take me down, Mr. Assassin."
With a violent twist, he flung Olorun across the battlefield. Olorun tumbled through the air, slamming into the ground near Kenji.
"You okay?" Kenji rasped, struggling to rise.
"That snake is too fast... he even caught my signature technique."
Back on the other side, Fenroth stepped forward. His heavy paws cracked the earth beneath him. His green eyes locked onto Eleo with amused disdain.
"So... you're the little bunny kid, huh? This is gonna be too easy."
Eleo tilted his head. "Mister wolf, could you please move? I wanna fight the big guy."
"You don't tell me what to do, brat," Fenroth snarled.
"Alright then," Eleo said simply.
In a blink, he vanished.
A sonic boom cracked the air. Fenroth's jaw snapped shut just as Eleo appeared beneath him.
Eleo's fist buried itself deep in Fenroth's gut, compressing muscle, cracking ribs. The wolf's eyes bulged and saliva flew from his mouth as he was launched skyward, unconscious before he hit the ground.
Silence.
Even Ravager and Slitherin paused.
Agharna's eyes narrowed in shock.
Eleo brushed off his clothes and pointed across the field.
"You're next."