The Monster chose a head-on collision against Marito's pulsating energy sphere. With a roar that shook the very foundation of the forest, the giant channeled the surrounding air into his massive fists. His hands began to glow with a blinding, divine radiance as the sheer density of the atmosphere was compressed into his grip. The clash between the shadow-lightning sphere and the radiant fists sent a shockwave of raw energy ripping through the clearing.
"CRAAACK!"
The environmental destruction was absolute. Ancient trees were splintered into kindling, and the ground itself cracked like glass under the pressure of the duel.
Seizing an opening in the chaos, the Monster moved with unnatural speed, reappearing above Marito. He brought his massive fist down like a falling mountain. Marito reacted instantly, discharging a dense, inky black smoke from his palms to obscure the Monster's vision and blunt the impact. However, the Monster's raw power was too great—the smoke was swept aside as the blow connected, sending Marito crashing deep into the earth.
A distance away, Anne wiped the sweat from her brow. "That's fifteen candles gone! Five more to go!"
The sound of the battle was getting louder, the explosions more frequent. Rio looked back, his face etched with worry. "Will Marito be okay, Anne? It sounds like he's taking a beating out there."
Anne didn't look back. She extinguished another violet flame. "Don't underestimate him, Rio. He has a secret reservoir of power that none of us have truly seen yet. Right now, Marito isn't just fighting—he's leading that thing into a trap. He's no longer on the main road; he's entering his own domain."
True to her words, Marito stood up amidst the settling dust, a chilling smile playing on his lips. Then, his transformation began. His pupils vanished, his eyes turning a stark, Haunting White. A thick, ethereal mist began to spiral upward from his feet, wrapping around him like a spectral shroud.
Anne's expression suddenly sharpened as she sensed a shift in the magical flow. "Everyone, stay alert! We aren't just facing one enemy. There are two!"
"Two?" Rio gasped.
"Yes," Anne confirmed, her voice grim. "Marito is engaging the Monster directly, but there is someone else—another entity hiding within the mists, funneling energy into the Monster to sustain its strength. We have to finish these candles, or Marito will be fighting an uphill battle against an infinite supply of power!"