Daimo blocked every tentacle strike from Jackson, his reflexes razor-sharp despite having Bash still tied to his tail. With a vicious grin, Daimo used Switch Mode, warping from one tentacle to another, slicing them down one by one.
But Jackson stood firm.
"Sorry to disappoint you, old monster," he shouted, his breath heavy. "They won't disappear unless I want them to. I won't let you kill him. He's our only hope of getting out of here!"
Daimo chuckled darkly. "Then I'll knock you out and drag you to my lady. You'll thank me later."
"Give it a shot, monster."
In a flash, Daimo switched behind Jackson and delivered a crushing punch to his back. Jackson collapsed, unconscious.
"Jack! Hey, Jack!" Marcel screamed as he sprinted toward him.
Daimo turned, smiling wickedly. "Guess I'll shut you up too."
He switched to Marcel's front and aimed a punch—but was stopped mid-swing.
Bash had caught his wrist.
"That's… enough… you monster," Bash growled. "I thought there was a piece of the old you left… but no. The LALABO Daimo I knew… is long dead."
In a burst of sheer will, Bash shattered the grip of Daimo's tail. A massive wave of Renshical pressure exploded from him, coating his body in a glowing red aura.
He activated Switch Mode, instantly appearing beside Marcel taking in to Jackson.
"Take care of your friend," Bash said. "I'll deal with mine."
He returned to face Daimo.
"You've hit some kind of death-wish breakthrough," Daimo mocked. "But it won't help you for long. I drained most of your Renshi. You're a shell of your former self!"
Bash smirked. "I only need what's left… to send you to the afterlife."
He switched again, materializing beside Daimo and forming a Renshical sword, its blade made of reddish smoke.
Daimo reacted quickly, swinging his sword. But Bash feinted, merging the smoky blade into his own arm and ducking low. With a surge of power, he slammed his cloaked right fist into Daimo's torso from below, launching him skyward.
Daimo stabilized in mid-air and dove down feet-first. Bash raised one arm to block the strike and used the other to grab Daimo's leg. In a fluid motion, he spun Daimo in the air and slammed him into the earth.
BOOM.
A deafening shockwave rippled out. A quarter of the forest floor shattered, and towering trees toppled like dominoes.
Bash approached calmly, forming a massive bow of red Renshi. He drew a giant arrow, its form crackling with energy, and aimed at Daimo's chest.
"Goodbye… old friend."
The arrow swelled larger and brighter with every second.
But Daimo only smiled. "Don't worry, Bash. I'll come for you again."
Then he dissolved into dust—gone.
Bash stood frozen.
"…What the—he wasn't even here?" His eyes widened. "It was just… a tentacle clone? I've been fighting a fake all this time?"
He clenched his fists. "Just how strong have you become, Daimo?"
With a sigh, he dissolved the bow and turned back. He walked over to Jackson and Marcel.
"Let me take a look," Bash said, kneeling beside Jackson and checking his pulse.
"Don't worry, kid. He's alive. Just unconscious."
As Bash reached to lift him, Jackson's hand gripped his wrist weakly.
"No… no time… a kid and a woman—they're in trouble. We have to go now."
"Wait—who?" Bash asked, surprised.
"It's a long story," Jackson muttered, standing unsteadily. "I need you to cast a spell for us—me and Marcel—we have to reach my papa."
"Oh," Bash said, nodding. "You want your father to help rescue them. That's clever."
Jackson shook his head. "No… it's the other way around. My papa's the one putting them in danger. We're going there to stop him."
"We followed him all the way from our kingdom," Jackson continued, "trying to hijack his teleportation spell. But things didn't go as planned in this kingdom."
Bash's expression darkened. "Where exactly are you boys from? And how long have you been tailing him?"
Jackson stepped forward. "My papa… is a pro darkside knight of the Kingdom of Guhan. Marcel's papa is the special darkside knight of Guhan. And both of them… are making a huge mistake. We have to stop them."
Bash fell silent.
Marcel muttered under his breath, "Great, now he thinks we're just a pair of kids messing with things we don't understand…"
But in Bash's mind, the pieces were already falling into place.
> "What a small world," he thought.
"Exca's and Lyon's sons… and they've chosen the right path.