The battle tore through the mansion like a storm that had been trapped too long.
Ray's Shedox armor flared fully now, dark energy wrapping around his arms as he moved faster than before. Cally's alienoid suit shifted and adapted with every strike, blocking and countering with precise, mechanical force. Together, they fought back to back, no longer hesitating.
The beasts that once looked like Gothim and the guests roared and charged again.
But this time, they were ready.
Ray slid under a massive claw strike, the floor cracking beneath him. He drove a burst of Shedox energy upward, striking one of the beasts in the chest. The creature staggered, its form breaking apart into fragments of dark energy before collapsing completely.
Cally moved next, twisting mid-air and slamming both hands down. A pulse from his suit sent another beast crashing into the wall, where it dissolved into dust-like energy.
Cloud watched from behind the broken dining hall doors, trembling but unable to look away.
Ray shouted, "We have to finish this now!"
Cally nodded. "No more holding back!"
The remaining beasts regrouped, but the old man stepped forward calmly.
"You've already lost," he said quietly.
He raised one hand.
A wave of pressure spread through the room—not explosive, but absolute. The beasts froze in place as if time itself had locked them down.
Ray felt it too, struggling for a second before stabilizing his stance.
"What kind of power is this…?" he muttered.
The old man didn't answer. He simply walked forward.
One by one, he touched the beasts.
Each touch released a controlled burst of energy. No explosion. No chaos. Just clean elimination. Their bodies broke apart into fading shadows of light and then disappeared completely.
Within moments, the room went silent.
The transformed enemies were gone.
Only broken walls, shattered furniture, and fading traces of dark energy remained.
Ray's armor slowly dimmed, returning him to normal. He stood breathing heavily, trying to process what had just happened.
Cally deactivated his suit, stepping forward cautiously. "It's over…"
Cloud ran to them immediately. "Ray! Cally!"
Ray caught his breath and nodded slightly. "Yeah… it's over."
But his eyes stayed on the old man.
The man turned slowly, meeting Ray's gaze.
"This was only a test," he said calmly. "The real enemies have not even moved yet."