The meeting hall buzzed with tension. Zarko stood at the center, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of the gathered Warrior Hunters. "Prepare yourselves," he commanded, his voice cutting through the murmurs. "We leave for Cyclon Mountain soon."
Every hunter straightened, a ripple of anticipation passing through the crowd. One by one, they nodded, ready to face whatever awaited them. Zarko's gaze hardened. "Our mission is simple—capture Zak Zee Zed. Everyone must go."
A captain furrowed his brow. "Why so many, Zarko? Can't the three of us handle it?"
Zarko's jaw tightened. "No. The Rock Org members will join us. We need every advantage to capture him."
Another voice, hesitant, tried to reason. "But he's—"
"Foolish!" Zarko snapped, cutting him off. "You let Wox Zee Zett slip before. Look where that mistake has brought us—the government now openly challenges us. Do not make that error again. Zak Zee Zed is as dangerous as Wox Zee Zett ever was. Whether you believe it or not, this is the truth."
The hall fell silent, the weight of his words settling in. Zarko paused, then leaned forward slightly. "And one more thing—devil. I need to know the truth. Is he alive or dead?"
A head shook. "Why are you searching for him?"
Zarko's eyes narrowed. "I must answer one question—why, the first time Zak met him at IceHeat, did devil not strike? That moment could have changed everything. This is crucial."
Three days later, the scene shifted to the 20th floor of Cyclon Mountain. Zak had moved at an alarming pace. In just three days, he had cleared seven floors with his team, and now they advanced toward the 21st.
On a high ledge, Zarko consulted with his vice head. "How much longer?"
"If they keep this pace, roughly three days," the vice head replied.
Zarko shook his head. "I cannot wait that long. I need to face Zak sooner."
Meanwhile, Zak pressed forward relentlessly. Maria's voice called out from behind, warning him, "If you keep this up, we'll reach the 100th floor in just a few days."
Zak chuckled, determination clear in his eyes. "Then we'll keep going. Nothing will stop us."
Suddenly, a roar echoed across the floor. A massive beast, the floor's guardian, charged toward Zak. He adjusted his stance, activating an ionic walk that propelled him forward. The beast's attacks were fierce, each strike like a king testing him. Zak dodged nimbly, while Dook engaged the beast's soldiers, and Maria used her healing skills to keep them all standing.
Zak faced the beast, calm yet resolute. "That was a mistake," he muttered. His fist ignited with energy, and a single laser punch struck the beast directly. It fell instantly, the force of Zak's power undeniable.
Maria and Dook stared in awe. Zak's strength had multiplied. Compared to the 14th floor, he was now four times stronger. Defeating the beast had elevated his inner sense to level two, matching the mastery he achieved after the 19th floor. Dook now utilized his own inner sense with precision, while Maria slowly trained to harness it herself.
The focus shifted back to Zarko. He advanced with his captains and vice heads, confronting waves of enemy beasts aboard massive ships. Monkey Beasts, Gorilla Beasts, and the imposing Grilla King stood in their path. Zarko struck the Monkey Beast with a single, precise attack, eliminating it instantly.
Zak, watching from a distance, addressed his companions. "Prepare yourselves. It won't just be beasts. The government may intervene."
Maria's brow furrowed. "Are we going to fight them too?"
Zak's expression hardened. "Not yet. Our priority is to protect Querry. Avoid conflict if you can. But if it comes to it, show no mercy."
The team pressed onward. Three days later, Zak had reached the 49th floor, fatigue etched across his features. He had not slept for countless nights, pushing himself to the limits. Maria and Dook, still alert, watched as he stirred awake suddenly.
"We have to move," Zak said, his voice sharp. "The government has reached this mountain. They are coming. We cannot fight them here."
Without hesitation, Zak led them toward the next floor's boss. The government's forces were visible, moving with precision. Rock Org's leader, accompanied by his right-hand man, Kook, advanced in coordination, ready to clash with Zarko's ranks.
Three hours later, Zak emerged victorious, having defeated the 49th floor's beast boss. His body was battered, but his resolve remained unshaken. "The government could arrive at any moment," he warned Maria and Dook. "We cannot engage unless absolutely necessary."
Zak activated his teleportation laser, a risky technique that instantly moved them to the 98th floor. The strain on his body was immense; blood flowed freely, his muscles screaming in pain. Maria and Dook were injured as well, struggling to stay conscious.
The teleportation had a brutal side effect. Anyone within its path experienced severe trauma—Zak, as the caster, suffered four times the damage of those accompanying him. Healing was impossible mid-transit; only natural recovery could restore him. Yet he bore the pain silently, unwilling to let his team fall behind.
As they stood on the 98th floor, Zak's mind raced. Would the government pursue them here? Could he recover in time to face them? These questions remained unanswered, lingering like a shadow over the trio.
Despite the injuries, Zak's determination was absolute. He clenched his fists, his body trembling but unbroken. "We will survive. We must. Every step brings us closer to Querry, and I will not fail him."
The battle was far from over. Cyclon Mountain still held countless floors, each more dangerous than the last. Beasts, the government, and the relentless Rock Org forces threatened their progress. But Zak, Maria, and Dook moved forward, a unified force against insurmountable odds.
The scene faded with tension thick in the air. Zak's bloodied yet unyielding figure stood ready, the path ahead uncertain, the stakes higher than ever. The question lingered—would Zak heal, could they face the government, and would Cyclon Mountain finally yield its secrets?
The story paused on the edge of chaos. To be continued.