Chapter 6: The Valley Of Nightmares

Yaxoc and Yaxocara dashed through the twisted landscape, Olnu clinging tightly to Yaxocara's hand. The sound of crashing trees and distant roars echoed around them.

"This guy is relentless!" Yaxoc yelled, glancing over his shoulder.

"Lucius is getting bolder every second!" Yaxocara shouted back, her grip on Olnu firm.

Suddenly, a portal erupted before them, swirling with chaotic energy.

"What now?" Yaxoc muttered. Before they could react, the portal's pull yanked them in, sending them tumbling into another dimension.

The pair landed hard on a rocky surface, surrounded by an eerie valley of twisting shadows and decayed trees. The air was thick with dread.

Yaxoc pushed himself up and looked around. "Wait... where's the kid?"

Yaxocara's eyes widened in alarm. "I swear I had him!"

A terrified scream cut through the air.

"That must be him! But... I can't sense his energy," Yaxoc said, scanning the valley.

"Since when could you even sense energy?" Yaxocara asked, exasperated.

"Does it matter? Let's go!" Yaxoc shouted, sprinting toward the sound.

The valley twisted unnaturally as they ran.

"This place is giving me the creeps," Yaxocara muttered, her hand resting on her sword.

Yaxoc frowned. "Feels like we're in the Valley of Nightmares. Just saying."

The pair barely had time to process when enormous, grotesque monsters emerged from the shadows.

"Those things are huge!" Yaxocara gasped.

"Stay back!" Yaxoc yelled, leaping into action. He charged with his angelic essence, striking down the towering beasts with precision.

"HAAA!" Yaxoc roared as he obliterated the final monster. "Okay, not as tough as they look."

"Speak for yourself," Yaxocara muttered, catching her breath.

Another scream rang out, this time louder and closer.

"It's coming from the right!" Yaxoc said, leading the charge.

As they ran, smaller creatures lunged at them, but Yaxocara dispatched them with swift, clean slashes.

Finally, they reached a clearing near a lake. A colossal, 500-foot monster loomed before them, its grotesque form writhing with dark energy.

"That thing is massive!" Yaxocara shouted.

"Let's take it down!" Yaxoc yelled, summoning his energy and leaping toward the beast. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, but the monster's wounds regenerated instantly.

"Are you kidding me?" Yaxoc said, narrowly dodging a massive tentacle that slammed him to the ground.

"Stop being reckless!" Yaxocara scolded, charging in to strike with her blade. Her attacks proved equally futile.

"This thing is unstoppable! We need to retreat!" Yaxoc yelled, pulling her back.

"Agreed!" Yaxocara nodded, and the two fled as the monster roared behind them.

As they regrouped, a dark figure descended from the sky—Yurgion, clutching a struggling Olnu.

"You!" Yaxoc snarled.

"Put the kid down!" Yaxocara demanded, drawing her sword.

Yurgion smirked. "Too late, saviors. This child is the perfect bait for Ogamak's plan."

Before they could act, another figure stepped out of the shadows—Malevolent Yaxoc.

"Put the child down," Malevolent said coldly, his piercing glare fixed on Yurgion. "I'll let you walk away if you do."

Yaxoc and Yaxocara froze, their eyes widening.

"Wait... how are you here?" Yaxocara stammered.

Yurgion scoffed. "I don't take orders from you."

Malevolent's expression darkened. "You're endangering that child's life. Last chance."

Before Malevolent could act, a sharp pain struck him. He gasped, looking down to see Ogamak's blade piercing his chest.

"You interrupt my plans, I interrupt your heart," Ogamak sneered, erasing Malevolent Yaxoc from existence with a flick of his hand.

Ogamak turned to Yaxoc and Yaxocara. "The child is ours now. Try to stop us—if you dare."

Yaxocara charged forward, but Ogamak slammed her into a tree with brutal force.

"Damn it..." Yaxoc growled, his fists clenched in frustration.

"Helpless, aren't you?" Ogamak taunted, his smirk widening.

Suddenly, a glowing portal appeared, and two figures emerged—Bambon and Lanais Yasy.

"Thanks for the ride, Lanais," Bambon said, cracking his knuckles.

"Anytime. Call if you need me," Lanais replied, stepping back through the portal.

Bambon surveyed the scene and spotted Yurgion fleeing with Olnu. "Looks like he's trying to use the kid as bait."

Bambon lunged forward, but Ogamak intercepted him with a devastating blow. The two clashed fiercely, their strikes shaking the ground.

Bambon turned to Yaxoc and Yaxocara. "You two! Go after the kid—I'll handle this!"

"You're insane! You can't fight him alone!" Yaxoc protested.

"I'm not dying that easily. Just go!" Bambon roared, blocking another attack from Ogamak and countering with a powerful spinning kick that sent him crashing through the trees.

As Yaxoc and Yaxocara sprinted after Yurgion, Bambon powered up, his aura shifting to a brilliant cyan.

"Aqua Form," he said, stepping forward. "Let's see if you can keep up."

Bambon lunged at Ogamak, landing a flurry of precise blows that sent him careening through the jagged, spiked trees. The impact splintered the terrain, but Ogamak emerged unscathed, radiating raw power as he obliterated the surroundings with a single burst of energy.

Bambon wiped the sweat from his brow, his confidence faltering. "This guy… he's a monster." he muttered under his breath. "Aqua Form might not be enough. Unless… I use my Infinity Technique…"

Ogamak roared and unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, forcing Bambon into evasive maneuvers. Each dodge was calculated, each counterattack razor-sharp, as Bambon retaliated with destructive energy discs. Yet, Ogamak lunged forward, smashing through the discs with brute force and delivering a thunderous punch to Bambon's face.

The follow-up blast sent Bambon flying. "AAAHHH!" he cried out in pain, spiraling through the air.

Ogamak teleported above him with terrifying speed and drove Bambon into the ground with a devastating slam. Before the dust could settle, Bambon managed to counter with a desperate kick to Ogamak's face, springing to his feet with a fiery resolve. He struck back with a flurry of punches and a powerful uppercut, but Ogamak barely flinched. One bone-crushing punch from Ogamak stripped Bambon of his Aqua Form.

"AHHH!" Bambon shouted as he crashed into a cluster of boulders, panting heavily.

Ogamak loomed over him. "Pathetic little warrior," he sneered. "You're the anomaly I've been searching for."

Before Ogamak could strike again, a shadow streaked across the battlefield. Black Bambon appeared in a blur, delivering a punch that hurled Ogamak into a nearby cliffside.

Black Bambon turned toward Bambon, his expression cold. "Seriously? This is what passes for strength now?" he scoffed.

Bambon glanced up with a nonchalant shrug. "Why should I go all out? I've been holding back the whole time."

Groaning, Bambon pushed himself to his feet.

"I'll step in," Black Bambon declared, his tone begrudging. "But don't get the wrong idea. We're not friends. You're still my rival."

As the two warriors faced Ogamak, Black Bambon's aura darkened, his hair shifting to a deep purple as an ominous glow enveloped him.

Bambon closed his eyes, calming himself, before his body radiated a brilliant light. When he opened them, his gaze was sharp, his eyes glowing as he activated Divine Reflex.

Ogamak climbed out of the rubble, his face twisted in disdain. "Tch. Weaklings," he spat, before charging at them like a relentless storm.

The battle erupted in chaos. Ogamak struck first, aiming for Black Bambon, who deflected the blows with his blade, retaliating with a slash to Ogamak's torso. Yet, Ogamak shattered the blade with sheer force and smashed Black Bambon into a tree, shaking the dimension itself.

Bambon intervened, engaging Ogamak in a blur of dodges and counterattacks, each move enhanced by his Divine Reflex. He unleashed a series of energy blasts, forcing Ogamak to snarl in frustration.

"YOU INSOLENT WHELP!" Ogamak roared, abandoning Black Bambon and lunging at Bambon with a ferocious barrage. Yet, Bambon's reflexes outpaced Ogamak's attacks. With precision, he delivered an uppercut that staggered Ogamak and followed up with a powerful kick that sent him crashing into the horizon.

Black Bambon teleported behind Ogamak and unleashed a flurry of rapid strikes—sixty slashes in total. "Explode," Black Bambon intoned coldly, and the air erupted with chain reactions as each slash detonated, engulfing Ogamak in a massive burst of destruction.

Panting, Bambon joined Black Bambon, observing the carnage.

"Think that's enough?" Bambon asked, catching his breath.

Black Bambon narrowed his eyes. "Doubt it. He's stronger than he looks."

As the dust cleared, Ogamak emerged, standing unscathed amidst the devastation. His menacing aura seemed even stronger than before.

Bambon and Black Bambon stared in disbelief.

"Damn it!" Black Bambon growled. "I could've sworn those slashes would've torn him apart!"

"This is impossible," Bambon muttered, his voice trembling. "How strong is he?! Not even Divine 50 or 41 could match this power…"

Ogamak smirked, his eyes glowing with ominous energy. "You haven't even scratched the surface of what I'm capable of."

Ogamak lunged forward, his fist colliding with Black Bambon's face in a devastating blow that sent him crashing to the ground, unconscious.

"Black!" Bambon's eyes widened in alarm as he witnessed his ally fall.

Ogamak wasted no time, pivoting toward Bambon and launching another powerful strike. Bambon narrowly dodged, retaliating with a series of swift punches and finishing with a divine blue beam. The beam struck Ogamak head-on, but the behemoth remained unfazed.

Ogamak grinned darkly, his hand snapping out to seize Bambon by the neck. "I thought you'd put up more of a fight. How disappointing."

Before he could land a finishing blow, a powerful kick struck Ogamak, sending him stumbling backward and forcing him to release Bambon. Sukorian emerged from the shadows, his stance poised and ready.

Bambon collapsed, unconscious. Sukorian glanced at him with a mix of frustration and concern. "That idiot... He should've waited for backup."

Nova materialized beside Sukorian, surveying the scene. "What's going on here?"

Sukorian's tone was sharp. "Ogamak nearly killed Bambon and Black Bambon. This isn't going to be easy."

Ogamak straightened, his glare locking onto the newcomers. His grin returned, more menacing than ever. "So, the reinforcements are here. Let's see if you're any better."

Sukorian shrugged off his robe, revealing a sleek combat suit. "Nova, stay sharp. This won't be a walk in the park."

Nova smirked, removing his jacket to reveal his own battle-ready gear. "Don't worry. I've got this."

Ogamak wasted no time, charging at them. Nova stepped forward, his hands forming intricate signs. "Limitless Technique: Infinite Barrier!"

An invisible barrier materialized around Ogamak, halting his advance. For a moment, it seemed effective—until Ogamak roared and shattered the barrier with sheer strength. The backlash dazed Nova, leaving him vulnerable.

"You really thought that would work on me?" Ogamak sneered. "Pathetic."

Ogamak launched a series of brutal strikes at Nova, who managed to block them all. Sukorian seized the opportunity, summoning his power. "Ice Technique: Ice Spikes!"

Hundreds of glistening ice shards hurtled toward Ogamak, but with a casual swipe of his finger, he shattered them mid-air.

"Is that all you've got?" Ogamak taunted before barreling toward Sukorian. His punch connected, sending Sukorian hurtling through a grove of trees.

Nova retaliated, teleporting behind Ogamak with a glowing green orb on his fingertip. "Green Technique: Serpent Burst!"

The orb detonated, releasing a horde of spectral snakes that lunged at Ogamak. But Ogamak destroyed them effortlessly, slashing through each one with precision.

"Enough of these games!" Ogamak roared, unleashing a barrage of strikes at Nova. Nova deflected them with precise kicks before countering with a powerful slam that drove Ogamak's face into the ground.

Breathing heavily, Nova retreated. "This guy… He's stronger than anything we've faced."

Sukorian appeared at his side, bruised but determined. "Leave him to me."

Nova nodded, stepping back.

Sukorian's eyes glowed red as he lunged at Ogamak with rapid blows. Ogamak countered each one, landing a lethal slash that Sukorian barely evaded by leaping above him. Hovering mid-air, Sukorian began to chant.

"Shrine Technique: A Thousand Cuts!"

Blades of energy rained down from the heavens, striking Ogamak relentlessly. Yet, Ogamak stood unscathed, laughing as he punched upward. Sukorian blocked the strike with his arms, the sheer force sending shockwaves through his body.

"Enough!" Sukorian growled, channeling his remaining strength. A flurry of kicks and punches knocked Ogamak off balance, leaving him momentarily dazed.

"This ends now! Domain Expansion!" Sukorian bellowed.

A black orb enveloped Sukorian and Ogamak, revealing a towering temple at its center. From the temple, bolts of energy struck down upon Ogamak. Yet, he remained unmoved, his laughter echoing ominously.

"Is that all you've got?" Ogamak sneered. His demonic aura erupted, shattering the domain and launching Sukorian into a distant tree.

Sukorian crumpled to the ground, bloodied and battered. Nova rushed to his side, panic etched on his face.

"We can't beat him… not like this," Sukorian muttered, his voice weak but defiant.

Ogamak loomed over them, his grin widening. "Pathetic. I expected more from saviors like you."

As Ogamak wiped the remnants of dust from his shoulder, the air around him grew tense. Suddenly, two figures stepped forward, their presence commanding the battlefield.

"I see you've handled the small fry without breaking a sweat," said Xavy, his sharp gaze locked onto Ogamak.

"Enjoy the warmup while it lasts," Fate added, his tone cold and resolute. "This ends now."

Ogamak let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. "You think you're ready for me? Bring it on."

Without hesitation, Xavy and Fate unleashed their true power, their bodies radiating an intense blue aura. Ogamak responded by summoning a fraction of his immense strength, the ground trembling beneath his feet.

"Let's finish this," Xavy said, his voice steady as he nodded to Fate.

In perfect sync, the two lunged at Ogamak. They landed a flurry of rapid strikes, forcing him to momentarily stagger. In response, Ogamak erupted with a burst of energy, teleporting behind Fate.

But Fate was ready. With blinding speed, he countered Ogamak's attack with a sharp kick, rewinding time to deliver five more strikes in rapid succession before slamming Ogamak into the ground.

Xavy seized the opportunity, teleporting in front of Ogamak and slamming his foot into the earth. A massive boulder erupted from the ground, pulling Ogamak toward him with an unstoppable force.

"Gotcha," Xavy muttered, a confident smirk on his face.

He delivered a brutal beatdown, each punch reverberating through the battlefield, before finishing with a devastating blow that sent Ogamak hurtling through the air.

Fate was already there, teleporting behind Ogamak mid-flight. Grabbing Ogamak by the face, Fate hurled him to the ground and smashed into him with unrelenting force.

"Was that a WWE move?" Xavy quipped with a soft laugh. "You never fail to surprise me."

Fate straightened, brushing off his hands. "He's gone," he said flatly, scanning the area.

But Ogamak wasn't finished. He reappeared behind Fate in a flash, his eyes blazing with fury.

Before Ogamak could strike, Fate spun around with inhuman speed, his kick connecting squarely with Ogamak's face, sending him stumbling forward.

"You little brat..." Ogamak growled, his voice dripping with rage as he steadied himself. "You're going to regret that. I'll kill you!"

Ogamak shook his head in frustration. "You know what? I'm done wasting time with you idiots. Find someone else to bother."

With that, he vanished in a flash of light, leaving Xavy and Fate standing alone.

"I guess that's the end of him," Fate said, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, for now. Let's get out of here," Xavy replied, and the two walked off into the shadows.

Elsewhere...

Yurgion sprinted toward the portal, Olnu close at his side, their desperate escape unfolding.

"Yaxoc! The portal!" Yaxocara shouted, urgency lacing her voice as she pointed toward the glowing vortex.

Yaxoc clenched his fists. "We need to stop them! Now!"

Without hesitation, Yaxocara unsheathed her sword, the blade gleaming with a faint magical aura. She swung it forward, chanting with fierce determination:

"Artificial Magic: Vine Rope!"

A glowing, writhing vine shot out from the blade, snaking toward Yurgion. Just as it was about to entangle him, a shadowy figure emerged from the portal—Lucius.

With a single, precise slash, Lucius severed the vine, a mocking smirk spreading across his face. "Oh, Yaxocara... Always so predictable. If you want him back, why not surrender? Or would you prefer losing that precious boy forever?"

Before Yaxoc or Yaxocara could react, Yurgion and Olnu disappeared into the portal, its energy swirling shut behind them.

"Damn it! They're gone!" Yaxoc shouted, slamming his fist into the ground in frustration.

"This is bad!" Yaxocara exclaimed, gripping her sword tightly. "What do we do now?"

"I don't know! But staying here won't solve anything!" Yaxoc yelled. "We need to regroup and figure out our next move!"

With no other options, the two turned and fled the scene, their minds racing for a solution as the stakes grew even higher.