The black smoke was so thick it covered half the Core, and the flickering red light from the crackling heart reflected off the metallic wreckage like the beating of a dying heart. Sparks rained down from above, and the sounds of distant explosions echoed through the collapsed corridors, while the air itself grew heavy—hot on one side, freezing on the other.
Amidst all this devastation, the black entity stood. But it was no longer the same.
Its cracked body was rebuilding itself in a terrifying way, layers of black energy wrapping around it, fusing inside like new flesh being forcibly created. The rift in its chest had half closed, but the light within was now more intense, more stable.
Then it slowly raised its head. Its eyes settled on Lloyd. "I admit…" he said, his voice heavy and shaking the ground beneath them, "that you have gone beyond what was expected."
He took one step forward, and the metallic floor crumbled beneath his feet. "That's why…"
Black threads erupted from his back, but they were no longer mere threads—enormous limbs resembling the claws of an ancient creature. "…I will finish you off myself."
Immense pressure exploded within the Core; the very air itself ripped apart.
Riorno had to dig his hand into the ground to keep from falling. The flames around him flared violently but flickered under the immense pressure. Mizuno tightened his claws on the metallic floor, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the true danger.
But Lloyd…
He didn't move. He just stood there, silent… his red eye watched the entity without blinking. Then… the entity vanished, appearing directly in front of him.
A blow came with terrifying speed, stronger than anything before. BOOOOOOM! The floor exploded. The metallic platform split in two. Dust and debris covered the entire area. "Lloyd!" Riorno screamed.
But from the midst of the smoke… something moved. One step, then another. Lloyd slowly emerged. But… something was different. His left arm was trembling.
The glowing marks on it were no longer steady… they were moving, stretching, as if alive. Steam escaped from his skin. A faint sound, like bones cracking, echoed in the silence. Crack… crack… Lloyd suddenly clutched his head. His breath grew heavier. Deeper, more dangerous. "No…" he murmured, his voice broken. Then he sank to his knees. Pain coursed through his entire body. It was as if something inside his bones wanted to burst out. The entity stood watching silently. Then, it smiled: "…at last."
Riorono took a step forward: "Lloyd?" But Mizuno stood in front of him quickly: "No… wait."
His eyes narrowed… he understood this sensation… it was the same sensation that preceded the predator transformation, but stronger, more dangerous.
Inside Lloyd's mind… everything went black.
Silence and emptiness. Then a red eye opened in the darkness, the old voice returned. "Stop resisting."
Step: "You know…" A second step. "…that the power you need…" Two new eyes appeared in the darkness.
Fangs and a massive shadow: "…are here."
Lloyd clenched his fist. "If I let you out…" He raised his head. "…I'll lose control." A smile appeared in the darkness.
The entity raised its hand. A dense black energy gathered above them, greater than any previous attack. The entire Core began to crumble.
Time was up.
Rioron prepared his fire. Mizuno crouched, ready to charge.
But Lloyd… slowly raised his head. His red eye blazed fiercely. "…just once." Then, the marks on his body exploded.
BOOOOOOOOOM!!!
A wave of energy erupted from him, crushing everything around him. The ground shattered, the walls cracked.
Even the entity took a step back. Then the transformation began. His white hair grew slightly longer and became wildly disheveled. Luminous lines spread across his entire body like glowing fissures. His left arm began to change first. The bones lengthened. The muscles swelled. The fingers grew longer…
Then, sharp, black claws slowly emerged. His teeth became sharper. The pupils of his right eye vanished completely. They transformed into a full-blooded red glow. A terrifying pressure enveloped the space. Even the fire around Riorno dimmed for a moment. Even Mizuno… took a half step back. "…This…" he whispered. "…is not normal."
Lloyd stood up slowly. He lowered his head. His breath came out like a beast's exhalation. Slow, heavy.
Then he raised his eyes to the entity. Then Lloyd's voice came out… but it wasn't his full voice.
It was deeper. More dangerous, "…the final round." And behind him… a power like the shadow of a colossal predator began to slowly form.