The Wrath of the Thunderlord

The crowd was silent, the air thick with tension and the oppressive hum of electricity. Arden stood tall on his side of the battlefield, his smirk unwavering as Stormfang, now in its **Apex Thunderlord** form, dominated the arena with sheer power. Sparks arced around its massive body, the static charge crackling like a living storm.

Kai's team was already beginning to falter. Tiny's metallic exoskeleton, once pristine and impenetrable, now bore cracks and scorch marks from repeated impacts. Glow's golden light flickered unevenly, its energy reserves pushed to their limits. Stinger buzzed low to the ground, its flight shaky after narrowly escaping Stormfang's brutal attacks.

Kai clenched his fists, his heart pounding in his chest. He could see it—the gap between him and Arden. It wasn't just about raw power. Arden's control over Stormfang, the precision of his commands, the synergy between them... it was on a level Kai had never faced before.

And Arden knew it.

"Is this the best you've got, Anther?" Arden taunted, his voice carrying across the arena. "I expected more from the guy who beat Ander. But I guess all that talk about you being different was just hype."

Kai gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening. "We're not done yet."

Arden laughed coldly. "Oh, you're done. You just don't know it yet. Stormfang, **Thunder Veil**!"

Stormfang growled, its body radiating with a crackling aura of lightning. The energy surged outward, forming a barrier of electricity that pulsed with raw power. The arena floor scorched beneath its paws, and the very air seemed to shimmer with heat.

"Stormfang, **Static Dash**! Go!" Arden shouted.

The thunder wolf disappeared in a blur of silver and blue, reappearing directly in front of Tiny. Its claws, wreathed in arcs of electricity, slashed downward with brutal force.

"Tiny, block it!" Kai yelled.

Tiny raised its forelimbs again, activating its **Iron Bulwark**. The metallic sheen of its armor absorbed the initial strike, but the sheer power of Stormfang's evolved strength was too much. The impact sent Tiny skidding backward, its feet carving deep trenches into the ground.

And then Stormfang struck again.

And again.

Each blow was faster, heavier, more relentless than the last. Kai could only watch, his chest tightening with every strike. Tiny's armor cracked further, sparks flying as Stormfang's claws dug deep into its defenses.

"Damn it," Kai muttered under his breath, his mind racing. "Tiny can't hold out much longer..."

---

Arden's smirk widened as he watched Tiny struggle to stay upright. "You're out of your league, Anther. Stormfang, finish it! **Thunder Fang**!"

The thunder wolf lunged forward, its jaws glowing with bright, electrified energy.

"Tiny, dodge!" Kai shouted desperately.

But Tiny was too slow. Stormfang's fangs sank into its side, the discharge of electricity sending a shockwave rippling through the battlefield. Tiny let out a strained click, its legs buckling as it was thrown to the ground.

"TINY!" Kai shouted, his voice cracking.

The **Fortress Ant** twitched, struggling to get back on its feet. Its once-impenetrable exoskeleton was cracked and scorched, wisps of smoke rising from its battered frame.

Kai's chest tightened as he called out to his partner. "Tiny, stay down. You've done enough."

Tiny clicked weakly in response, its body trembling as it tried to rise.

Arden raised an eyebrow, his smirk turning into a cold sneer. "Pathetic. Is that all your best defender can do? Stormfang, move on to the next one. **Lightning Prowl**!"

Stormfang growled lowly, electricity sparking across its claws as it turned its attention to Glow.

---

"Glow, shield yourself!" Kai commanded, his voice laced with urgency.

Glow flared brightly, casting a golden **Luminous Shield** around itself. The shimmering barrier pulsed as Stormfang's claws struck it, sending ripples of light and electricity through the air.

But the wolf didn't stop. It lashed out again and again, its claws hammering against the shield with unrelenting force. Glow's light flickered under the strain, its golden barrier beginning to crack.

"Glow, hold on!" Kai shouted, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

Arden chuckled, his voice calm and taunting. "You really thought that flimsy little shield could stand up to Stormfang? Let me show you what real power looks like. Stormfang, **Volt Crash**!"

Stormfang leapt high into the air, its body radiating with electricity as it came crashing down onto Glow's shield. The impact shattered the barrier instantly, the golden fragments of light scattering like broken glass. Glow fluttered backward, its movements unsteady as sparks danced across its wings.

"Glow, get out of there!" Kai called, panic creeping into his voice.

But Stormfang was relentless. It lunged forward, its claws slashing at Glow's delicate frame. The **Luminous Silk Moth** was sent spiraling to the ground, its golden light dimming as it struggled to recover.

Kai's heart sank as he watched Glow hit the dirt. His team was falling apart, and Arden hadn't even broken a sweat.

---

"Face it, Anther," Arden said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "You're outmatched. You and your bugs don't belong here. Stormfang is in a completely different league."

Kai's hands trembled, his mind racing for a way to turn the fight around. But every plan he came up with crumbled under the weight of Stormfang's overwhelming power.

"Stinger," Kai said, his voice steady despite the storm raging in his chest. "It's up to you now."

Stinger buzzed weakly, its wings battered but still functional. The **Blitz Hornet** circled low, its glowing stinger aimed at Stormfang's side.

Arden raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "Really? That's your plan? Sending in the weakest member of your team? Fine. Stormfang, take it out. **Thunder Crush**!"

Stormfang's body crackled with energy as it lunged forward, its claws raised to strike.

"Stinger, dodge!" Kai shouted.

Stinger buzzed upward, narrowly avoiding the attack. It darted toward Stormfang's exposed flank, its stinger glowing brightly as it prepared to strike.

But Stormfang was faster. It spun around, its tail lashing out and catching Stinger mid-flight. The hornet was sent crashing into the ground, its wings crumpled and its body motionless.

Kai's breath caught in his throat. "Stinger..."

---

The battlefield was silent, save for the crackling of Stormfang's electricity. Arden stood tall, his arms crossed and his smirk as sharp as ever.

"Looks like you're all out of tricks, Anther," he said, his tone mocking. "This is what happens when you try to stand against someone who's actually worth something."

Kai dropped to one knee, his chest heaving as he stared at his fallen team. Tiny, Glow, Stinger—they'd given everything they had, but it wasn't enough.

The weight of being defeated pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating.

But even as the crowd murmured and Arden basked in his victory, Kai's fists tightened. This wasn't over. Not yet. I won't lose like this Kai said as he clenched his fist