Paltio, with renewed energy, unleashed a devastating blow that destroyed everything in its path. The pile of bones and the balls of hair disintegrated completely, finally freeing Toco-Toco. The cat, feeling Paltio's hand touching him and seeing him in front of him, slowly opened his eyes. "Is it really you, boy? Meow," he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
"Yes, it's me, Toco-Toco. It's Paltio," the young man responded with a weary smile, but before he could say anything more, his strength left him entirely. He collapsed onto the feline, who looked at him with a mixture of surprise and annoyance.
"Meow! Get off me, boy, you're too heavy. Although... yes, you're real," said Toco-Toco, shifting to adjust under Paltio's unconscious body.
"I'm glad I made it..." Paltio murmured weakly before losing consciousness completely.
Desirnight observed the scene with amusement. With an elegant flick of its tail, it opened a dimensional rift and pulled both Paltio and Toco-Toco out of the place. Upon waking up, the cat found himself in a dark and unfamiliar space, with Paltio's body beside him.
"What happened? Where am I?" Toco-Toco asked, looking around anxiously. He quickly approached Paltio and began shaking him. "Paltio! Kid, are you okay? Meow!" he exclaimed, trying to wake him up.
"Calm down, he'll be fine. He just fainted," Desirnight replied, appearing before them. Its imposing presence filled the space, though its tone remained relatively calm.
"What are you?" Toco-Toco asked, eyeing the dual entity distrustfully.
"For now, I'm a friend of yours and the kid," Desirnight answered with a half-smile on its white mask.
The entity approached Paltio and placed its hands over him. Toco-Toco, alert, quickly stepped in between them. "Hey, don't you dare do anything with those sharp claws!" the cat said, trying to protect his friend.
"Calm down, cat. I'm not going to do anything. Besides, he owes me something," Desirnight replied calmly. It retracted its claws and, with a gentle touch, a warm light emanated from its hands, reviving Paltio.
The young man slowly opened his eyes, startled to see Desirnight so close. But upon noticing Toco-Toco by his side, a relieved smile spread across his face. "You're okay," he murmured, feeling a wave of gratitude.
Desirnight briefly explained to Toco-Toco how Paltio had saved him from his prison. The feline moved, approached Paltio and, in an unusual gesture, hugged him. "You can pet my fur if you want; I thank you for saving me. Even though I sometimes treat you badly, meow," Toco-Toco said, his voice full of affection.
"It's okay, everything's fine," Paltio responded, trying to sit up. Though still weak, he felt a renewed determination.
"Well done, boy, you're quite the feat," Desirnight said, crossing its arms. "Now rest a little, because I'll begin your training as soon as possible. Although I see you have already reached one hundred percent for a moment, you just need to sustain it."
As if sensing what they needed, Desirnight conjured food in front of them. Both Toco-Toco and Paltio were hungry, and their stomachs growled in gratitude. They ate until they were full, regaining their strength.
"Alright, according to the terms of the contract, I will now proceed to train you," Desirnight announced. Suddenly, the place began to transform, becoming a tournament platform surrounded by vibrant energy.
"Alright, boy, let's begin," the entity said, gesturing toward the center of the platform.
"What contract is that being talking about?" Toco-Toco asked, looking at Paltio curiously.
Paltio was about to respond, but Desirnight interrupted. "No time for explanations."
Desirnight, with an elegant flick of its claws, began to transform the surrounding space. The air vibrated with energy as shadows twisted and took shape, giving rise to an imposing structure: a fighting arena that seemed to emerge from the very darkness itself. The stands were irregular, as if made of black obsidian, and the floor of the ring glowed with a reddish hue, like lava contained beneath a layer of glass. The walls of the stadium were adorned with ancient runes that emitted a faint glow, as if pulsing with life.
"Welcome to your training ground, boy," said Desirnight, spinning its body to reveal both masks. The white one smiled calmly, while the dark one radiated subtle malice. "Here, you will test not only your physical strength but also your willpower and ingenuity. Get ready, because this won't be a simple game."
Paltio observed the stadium in awe, feeling how the atmosphere shifted around him. It was as if the place itself were alive, watching him, judging him. He could feel the weight of expectations, but also a strange sense of opportunity. "I'm ready," he finally said, though his voice trembled slightly at first.
Suddenly, from one of the fighter tunnels, a muscular and powerful shadow cat emerged. It was a stronger, more menacing version of Toco-Toco. "This will be your opponent, cat. Defeat it, and you'll unlock powers you didn't even know you had," said Desirnight, sending the feline to a nearby platform.
"Now that your friend is gone, let's begin," said Desirnight, its voice resonating like a sinister echo. Without warning, it extended its massive claws and lunged toward Paltio at full speed. The young prince barely managed to dodge the attack, rolling to one side just in time. Seeing how agile and powerful the entity's movements were, he decided not to underestimate it. With a determined roar, he activated Golden's power to 80 percent, his body enveloped in a golden aura that illuminated the training field.
"Not bad," commented Desirnight, pausing briefly to observe Paltio. "But get ready, because for two years in this world, we'll be like this. Meanwhile, in your world, only two days will pass." Its white mask smiled faintly, though its tone remained serious. "So prepare yourself, boy... Just don't die. If you do, you won't be able to get me out of here."
Paltio nodded firmly, his heart beating fiercely but filled with determination. "Yes!" he exclaimed, bracing himself for the fight he knew would be long and grueling.
Paltio's friends were also immersed in their respective training sessions, each facing unique challenges that would lead them to reach new heights of power.
Alita and Ron trained hard under the guidance of their mentors. Alita had already mastered the complete art of magic, combining spells and incantations with impressive precision. Every movement of her hands generated flashes of energy that danced around her like magical fireflies. Nakia, her mentor, watched with pride as she dodged her apprentice's attacks. "Not bad, Alita. You've become powerful," said Nakia, sidestepping an energy blast that whizzed past her.
"I owe it all to you," Alita responded humbly, though her eyes shone with confidence as she cast another spell.
On his part, Ron was carrying a million rocks on his back while climbing a steep cliff. Chiki, his mentor, observed him from above, launching magical projectiles to keep him alert. "Come on, boy! I still don't see your super armor. How long are you going to keep this up? Remember, we only have one day left to reach your hometown!" Chiki shouted, teasing him lightly.
"Don't bother me, you mangy dog!" Ron retorted, panting under the weight of the rocks. Suddenly, his body began to glow with a crimson radiance, and partial armor materialized over his skin. It was a clear sign that he was close to mastering his ultimate power.
"Apparently, it won't be long before this kid reaches his final stage," Chiki thought to himself, smiling with satisfaction. "You can do it, porcupine hair!" he shouted from above, launching another magical projectile.
Meanwhile, Lukeandria had successfully mastered the technique of combining her clones with real illusory attacks. Each of her clones could throw energy daggers, magical arrows, and even wield enchanted swords. Lume, her master, watched attentively as she faced multiple imaginary enemies.
"Not bad," Lume commented, crossing his arms as he observed the number of clones Lukeandria could create simultaneously. "Everything is going well. We need to be prepared because we'll soon arrive in Avocadolia, and I'll face that evil badger," she thought to herself, focusing even more on her combat.
Mok, the loyal butler and protector, had mastered the techniques Geki had taught him. He could now conjure weapons like kunai and knives directly from his coat, throwing them with lethal precision that shattered all the surrounding rocks. Additionally, he had learned to use the sword Geki had given him, placing his special rings in its slot to enhance its power.
"Not bad," Geki said, observing with pride as Mok took down a series of targets with his attacks. "You're ready to face any challenge that comes your way."
Rykaru, unable to find Paltio, decided to continue training in the hope that they would reunite someday. "I must become stronger," he repeated to himself as he unleashed bursts of energy from his fists and legs. Each strike resonated with determination, as if every movement were a reminder of his promise to protect those he loved.
Golden had pre-recorded opponents in this training plane, specifically designed to challenge him to his limits. Rykaru fought against them one after another, facing enemies that grew stronger and more skilled as the days passed. Though exhausted, he didn't allow himself to rest. He knew every second counted. "Almost there, almost... Poor Rykaru was becoming self-sufficient," he thought as he pushed himself to the limit, but in his heart, he still hoped to reunite with his "daddy."
In their respective locations, they all shared the same thought, though separated by great distances. "We must become stronger so we're not a burden to Paltio and can help him defeat the shadows," they said in unison, as if their hearts were connected by a shared purpose. Each of them knew that the fate of Avocadolia depended on their unity and strength.
In the meantime, Lucca remained vigilant inside the carriage, watching over his friends at all times. His eyes scanned every corner during stops, ensuring nothing and no one endangered his companions. His posture was firm, always ready to act against any threat. Though he didn't speak much, his silence was a declaration of loyalty and protection.
There was now less than a day left to reach Avocadolia, where the marine dawn awaited them. Everyone felt the pressure of time, but also the hope that their efforts would bear fruit. They knew they would soon face the evil badger and his army of red shadows, and that every second of preparation would be crucial.
"Not long now," Lucca murmured to himself as he watched the landscape pass by. "We'll be there soon."