Gangsters: Mri V The Cosmic Tyrant[3]

Chapter 7: The Flame Panther

The air was thick with tension as Mri's yellow aura crackled around him, illuminating the jungle like a miniature sun. The panther stood firm, its own fiery orange aura burning like a living inferno.

It was a battle of raw speed and power.

The beast lunged first, a blur of orange light tearing through the jungle. Mri barely dodged, feeling the heat of its aura sear his skin as it slashed past him. He twisted mid-air, landing on a thick tree branch before launching himself down at the panther.

BOOM!

The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, kicking up dirt and leaves.

But the panther wasn't there.

Mri's eyes darted around.

There!

A flicker of orange in his peripheral vision—

Too late.

The panther slammed into his side, sending him flying into a tree. CRACK! The trunk split on impact as Mri gasped for air, pain radiating through his ribs.

"Damn… this thing is fast." He gritted his teeth, wiping blood from his mouth.

The others could only watch.

"Mri needs backup!" Ayang yelled.

"No," Jasmine said firmly. "He's handling it."

Bibek raised an eyebrow. "Handling it? He just got body-slammed into a tree."

Malobika clenched her fists. "We have to trust him."

Iquiri, who had been silent, observed closely. "That panther… it's not just attacking. It's testing him."

Mri, hearing their conversation, grinned.

"Good. That means I can stop holding back."

His aura flared brighter, and the ground beneath him cracked under the pressure.

Then—he moved.

Faster than before.

The panther lunged again, but this time—

Mri dodged effortlessly, countering with a brutal uppercut.

BAM!

The beast was launched into the air.

"Not done yet." Mri jumped after it, spinning mid-air before delivering a devastating heel drop kick.

CRASH!

The panther slammed into the earth, creating a small crater.

Silence.

Mri landed gracefully, breathing heavily.

The others stared, stunned.

"Holy…" Bibek whispered.

Iquiri approached cautiously. "Is it… over?"

Before Mri could answer—

The panther twitched.

Then, something shocking happened.

Its aura dimmed. The fiery glow in its eyes softened, and its massive form slowly shrank.

Right before their eyes, the beast transformed.

Into a young boy.

The group froze.

"What the hell?" Jasmine whispered.

The boy, no older than ten, coughed and weakly lifted his head. His golden eyes locked onto Mri.

"You… saved me," he said in a small voice.

Mri, still catching his breath, walked up to him. "Who are you?"

The boy struggled to sit up. "I… I don't remember much. Only that I was lost… and then the fire took over."

Iquiri knelt beside him. "You were cursed."

The boy's eyes widened. "Cursed?"

Ayang crossed his arms. "Looks like someone's messing with aura beasts and people."

Mri helped the boy to his feet. "What's your name?"

The boy hesitated. "Lior."

Jasmine sighed. "Great. Now we have a kid to take care of."

Bibek chuckled. "You're the one who likes cute things, aren't you?"

Jasmine glared. "Shut up."

Mri smiled at Lior. "Don't worry. We'll protect you."

Lior's eyes shone with gratitude.

But deep down, Mri knew—this was just the beginning.

Something—or someone—was turning the jungle into a warzone.

And they were about to find out why.

To be continued…

Chapter 8: The Temple of Shadows

The dense jungle stretched endlessly before them, vines twisting around massive trees like ancient serpents. The air was thick with moisture, carrying the distant calls of unseen creatures. Something was wrong.

Mri could feel it.

It wasn't just the strange beasts or the cursed boy, Lior. The jungle itself felt alive.

"We should keep moving," Iquiri said, adjusting the leather straps on her spear. "The temple isn't far."

Bibek groaned. "Great. Another temple. Why is it always a temple?"

Malobika smirked. "Because if it was a shopping mall, you'd just sit in the food court."

Bibek gasped. "How dare you?"

Mri chuckled, but his mind was elsewhere. He had seen something last night.

A shadow. A massive figure standing at the edge of the trees, watching them.

And now, they were walking straight toward it.

---

Arrival at the Temple

The group finally emerged into a massive clearing.

Before them stood a colossal stone structure, ancient and weathered, covered in thick moss and cracks. The entrance was shaped like a gaping mouth, lined with jagged teeth-like stones.

Jasmine shivered. "That does not look inviting."

Ayang adjusted his coat. "No turning back now."

Mri stepped forward, his yellow aura flickering faintly. "Let's go."

As soon as they entered—

WHAM!

The stone doors behind them slammed shut.

Bibek panicked. "No, no, NO! I knew this was a bad idea!"

Lior, the cursed boy, held onto Mri's sleeve. "Something is coming."

The ground trembled.

And then—the torches lining the walls burst into eerie blue flames.

A deep voice echoed through the chamber.

"You who dare enter… prepare for judgment."

Malobika gulped. "Okay. That's enough adventure for me. Goodbye."

She turned—only to freeze.

Because standing in front of them…

Were moving shadows.

Figures with glowing blue eyes, rising from the walls, their bodies flickering like smoke.

Jasmine gripped her dagger. "Ghosts?"

"No," Iquiri whispered. "Something worse."

Mri cracked his knuckles, stepping forward. His yellow aura flared as he smirked.

"Alright, then. Let's dance."

---

To Be Continued…

Chapter 9: The Trial of the Shadow King

The chamber trembled as the shadowy figures glided toward them, their eerie blue eyes flickering like dying embers.

Mri clenched his fists, his Yellow Aura crackling around him like golden lightning. "Alright, who wants to go first?"

One of the shadow creatures lunged.

WHAM!

Mri ducked, dodging the attack with inhuman speed. His counterpunch slammed into the creature's chest, sending it spiraling into the stone wall.

But instead of crumbling, the shadow reformed instantly.

Ayang cursed. "They're regenerating!"

Iquiri narrowed her eyes. "These aren't normal spirits."

The deep, ancient voice boomed again.

"Only the worthy shall pass."

Suddenly, the shadows stopped attacking. The chamber shifted.

The floor beneath them split apart, forming three paths.

Mri exhaled. "Let me guess. Trials?"

Iquiri nodded. "Three trials. One for strength, one for wisdom, and one for… survival."

Bibek raised a hand. "Uh, I vote we skip this part and just blow a hole through the door."

Jasmine rolled her eyes. "That worked so well last time, didn't it?"

Mri cracked his knuckles. "We'll split up. I'll take the Strength trial. Ayang, you handle Wisdom. Jasmine, you and Iquiri take Survival."

Bibek grinned. "And what about me?"

Mri smirked. "You… keep screaming for help."

Bibek groaned. "Not fair."

---

Trial One: Strength (Mri's Path)

The walls closed behind him as Mri stepped into a dark cavern.

A massive stone guardian emerged, glowing ancient symbols carved into its chest. Its arms were thicker than tree trunks, and its fists could crush mountains.

A voice echoed.

"To prove your worth, you must defeat me."

Mri smirked, rolling his shoulders.

"Easy."

BOOM!

The guardian charged, swinging its massive arm. Mri sidestepped at blinding speed, his Yellow Aura flaring.

BAM!

His punch connected—but barely dented the guardian's chest.

Mri's eyes widened. "Oh."

The guardian's other arm came crashing down.

SLAM!

Dust exploded as the ground shattered beneath him.

Mri groaned, rubbing his shoulder. "Okay. Maybe not so easy."

The guardian roared, preparing another attack.

Mri gritted his teeth, his aura sparking violently.

It was time to get serious.

---

To Be Continued…