The Rise of the Sand Golem - Part 2

"Sand Golem…" Daichi muttered, standing tall atop the golem's head.

Molecule's eyes widened as he stared up at the towering construct, still sitting upright in the sand, stunned.

The Sand Golem stood nearly equal in height to Molecule's enormous form. Its body was forged from layers of compacted dunes and hardened sediment. Its limbs were thick and immovable like stone pillars, and its surface rippled and shifted constantly – alive, in motion.

Hikaru stood motionless below, jaw slack, eyes locked onto the behemoth.

"W-What the hell is that?" he breathed.

Then–

Daichi, standing atop the golem's head, raised both arms to the sky.

And he wasn't alone.

The Sand Golem mimicked his every move, its massive arms rising into the air, casting shadows across the dunes.

Then – Daichi struck his arms downward.

The golem did the same.

Its massive limb swung like a hammer toward Molecule.

Molecule's eyes widened in panic.

Suddenly – FWOOOSH!

He shrunk to his human size, trying to slip beneath the incoming attack.

BOOM!

The golem's strike connected with the earth, sending a violent tremor through the dunes. Sand blasted into the air like an explosion.

Hikaru lost his footing and fell backward into the sand.

"Woah! That… that is way too strong!"

FWOOOSH!

Molecule enlarged again, returning to his monstrous form. His face twisted with frustration as he stared at the golem and Daichi perched on its head.

"Well then… let's have a battle between giants!" he snarled.

He charged forward, every step shaking the dunes beneath his feet. Clenching his massive fist, he hurled a hook toward the Sand Golem's head.

Daichi narrowed his eyes, steady in his stance. He watched Molecule's sluggish punch come toward them.

He raises his own arm, right at his face – and the golem did the same.

THWACK!

Molecule's fist crashed into the golem's arm. A spray of sand exploded from the impact, but the golem didn't move. It held firm.

Daichi smirked from atop its head.

So… he becomes stronger when he gets huge… but it slows him down. That gives me all the time I need.

Daichi clenched his other fist and swung it forward.

The golem mirrors him, its titanic arm sweeping in a powerful hook.

WHAMM!

The golem's fist collided with Molecule's head. Molecule growled, wincing from the impact. His enormous frame staggered back a step.

As the two giants clashed in the distance, Hikaru pushed himself upright on the golden sand, his eyes locked on the titanic battle unfolding before him.

Sweat dripped down his face in slow rivulets.

"I… have to help Daichi," he muttered under his breath, fists clenched in the sand.

Then–

Something caught his attention.

Wait!

Hikaru narrowed his blue eyes.

In the distance, a figure slowly stirred.

It was Moriya.

He blinked, flicking open his hazel eyes as he looked around, disoriented. Nearby, he saw Ikazuchi and Haruto – both lying motionless, still completely knocked out.

"What… happened?" he muttered.

Then his eyes widened.

That's right… we were kicked by Molecule!

His head shot up, scanning the dunes.

Wait… where's Hikaru? And the others?

He squinted at the horizon. And then – he saw it.

Two colossal figures towering above the golden landscape. One was familiar – Molecule in his monstrous form. The other…

"What the hell?" Moriya whispered.

He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the top of the second figure – the Sand Golem.

"Wait! Is that… Daichi?" he muttered, shocked.

Then–

"MORIYA!"

Moriya quickly looked down toward the voice.

It was Hikaru, waving at him from below.

"Hikaru?"

"ARE YOU OKAY?" Hikaru shouted, voice echoing across the dunes.

Moriya didn't have the strength to yell back, so he raised his hand and gave a thumbs-up, silently assuring him that he was alright.

As he stepped forward, his foot nudged against something in the sand.

He looked down.

"Huh?"

There, lying half-buried, was a massive tree branch.

Moriya blinked.

"A tree branch?"

Where did that come from?

Then–

An idea struck him like lightning. A smirk curved across his face.

It's been a while since I last did this…

Then–

BAM!

Molecule staggered back, reeling from the punch delivered by Daichi's Sand Golem.

Grinding his teeth, Molecule glared at the massive construct. The Sand Golem had lost its arm from the impact of the punch – but in seconds, more sand surged upward and reformed the limb, regenerating it seamlessly.

Without hesitation, Molecule stepped forward and launched another attack – a powerful hook aimed at the golem's hand.

But this time…

He was fast.

Daichi's eyes widened.

He's fast!

He tried to react in time, but it was already too late.

THWACK!

Molecule's fist slammed into the Sand Golem's chin, blasting away chunks of sand from the impact.

But once again, the golem regenerated.

From his perch atop the golem's head, Daichi looked down, clenching his teeth.

How… how was he able to move that fast?

"DAICHI! WATCH OUT!" Hikaru shouted from below.

Daichi's head jerked up at Hikaru's warning.

"Huh?"

His eyes widened.

Molecule was charging up a devastating punch, aiming directly for the golem's head. His smirk was full of confidence and bloodlust.

"With this… you're a goner!" Molecule roared.

He lunged forward, his colossal fist blasting through the air toward the golem's skull.

Then–

ZOOM!

"Huh?!" Hikaru, Daichi, and Molecule all exclaimed at once, blinking in shock.

Hikaru blinked, as his blue eyes scanned the sky.

What… was that?

ZOOM!

A figure stood proudly atop a levitating tree branch.

It was Moriya.

Hikaru's eyes lit up.

"Moriya!"

Using the Element of Wood, Moriya manipulated the tree branch beneath his feet, floating effortless through the air like he was riding a skateboard made of nature itself.

Hikaru grinned.

It's been a while since he last did that.

Hikaru remembered back to his first battle against Moriya back in the forest tribe.

Moriya swooped in toward Molecule – directly in front of his giant face.

With a growl, Molecule reached up, trying to grab him.

But Moriya was too fast. He zipped away with a fluid glide before Molecule's fingers could close.

Moriya twisted mid-air and called out:

"Daichi! This is your chance – do it!"

Daichi nodded, fire flashing in his red eyes.

He thrust his clenched fist forward–

BOOM!

A powerful hook collided with Molecule's face.

"Gaaahh!" Molecule growled, stumbling backward under the force of the blow.

From below, Hikaru gasped.

I see… I see what Moriya's trying to do now.

Hikaru smirked, his hand beginning to glow with radiant energy.

As Daichi's Sand Golem thrust forward for another powerful hook toward Molecule, the towering mutant began to raise his massive arm to block the incoming strike.

Then–

"SHINING FLASH!"

FWASH!

A brilliant burst of light erupted in front of Molecule's eyes, blinding him instantly. Everything turned white in his vision. He flinched, staggering slightly as he squeezed his eyes shut in reflex.

Down below, smoke drifted from Hikaru's outstretched palm. A satisfied smirk spread across his face.

It worked!

THWACK!

The Sand Golem's giant fist crashed into Molecule's cheek.

But–

The impact only forced Molecule to stagger one step back, gritting his teeth in frustration.

"Damn it!"

With a growl, he clenched his giant fist and prepared to strike again – his arm raising in fury.

ZOOM!

Suddenly, Moriya – still gliding through the air on his levitating tree branch – darted in front of Molecule's face and hurled a fistful of sand into his eyes.

KRSHH!

Molecule's eyes snapped shut, flooding with tears as the grains burned painfully.

"Aaaah!" Molecule roared, staggering again, thrashing as his vision blurred.

Then–

Daichi stepped forward on top of the Sand Golem's head. He clenched his fist – and the Golem mirrored his motion.

With a grounded stance, Daichi pulled his arm low, then launched an uppercut with full force – his golem's enormous arm following the motion, climbing vertically straight for Molecule's chin.

BOOM!

"Gaaah!" Molecule growled as the punch landed squarely beneath his jaw.

He stumbled backward, arms flailing to regain balance–

But it was too late.

BOOM!

Molecule crashed down onto the golden sand with thunderous force. The ground trembled. A wave of sand exploded outward from the impact.

And then–

FWOOOSH!

Molecule shrunk back to his normal human size.

…Completely unconscious.

The towering Sand Golem, now without purpose, began to collapse forward in a slow crumble. Daichi leapt from its head just before the final fall–

THUMP!

–and landed safely on the golden sand below.

Hikaru rushed toward Daichi. Moriya descended from the air on his branch, hopping off and landing gracefully beside them.

The three of them stood in silence, gazing down at the unconscious Molecule.

A Few Minutes Later…

Haruto's eyes began to flicker open, his consciousness slowly returning after being knocked out by Molecule.

"What… happened?" he muttered groggily.

He sat up straight, wincing as pain throbbed through his body. His eyes darted around, quickly spotting Ikazuchi and Reito lying beside him – still unconscious, the aftermath of Molecule's devastating kick.

Then–

"Haruto!"

Haruto turned toward the voice.

"Huh?!"

It was Hikaru.

Behind him were Moriya and Daichi, standing side by side.

"Hikaru? Moriya? Daichi?"

Hikaru smiled and nodded. "Yeah, it's us."

Haruto placed a hand on his head, still feeling the dull ache.

"What happened?"

But then, a thought struck him. His eyes shot wide, and he jerked his head upward.

"And Molecule? What happened to him?"

"You don't have to worry about him," Daichi said, arms crossed and voice calm.

Haruto raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Daichi extended a finger and pointed to the distance.

Haruto followed his gaze, squinting toward the horizon.

"Is that… Molecule?" he said, seeing the unconscious form half-buried in the sand.

Hikaru nodded. "He's been defeated."

Haruto let out a deep sigh of relief. "Okay, then…"

Hikaru nodded again, then glanced toward Daichi.

"So, Daichi… about what we discussed earlier."

Haruto and Moriya blinked.

"About what you guys discussed earlier?" Moriya echoed, curious.

"Are you going to talk about it to Yasuka?" Hikaru asked gently.

Daichi stared quietly at Hikaru for a moment.

Then–

"What… happened?" a soft voice piped up.

Reito had finally woken up, but no one noticed.

Daichi looked up at the clear blue sky and smiled.

"Nah."

"Daichi…" Hikaru said softly.

Daichi looked down at him and grinned.

"I mean, I will… eventually. But right now… it's not the right time."

"I see…" Hikaru nodded, understanding.

Then Moriya spoke up suddenly, arms crossed, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Hey, you know what!"

Everyone turned toward him.

"I was thinking about something earlier when I was at the oasis."

Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

"About what, Moriya?"

Moriya placed a thoughtful hand on his chin.

"I wonder how Teshii is doing on his date with your sister, Hikari."

SNAP!

Hikaru's entire expression shifted into horror.

"HUH?! WHY WOULD YOU MENTION THAT TO ME, MORIYA? I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT TESHII BEING WITH MY SISTER!"

Haruto and Moriya burst into laughter.

Daichi chuckled and made a small smile.

Reito blinked, completely confused about what was happening.

Then–

FWOOOSH!

Everyone except Ikazuchi, who was still unconscious, turned sharply toward where Molecule had been.

He was gone.

Vanished. Likely shrunk down and escape.

"He got away!" Moriya gritted his teeth.

"It can't be helped. Just let him go," Daichi said calmly.

Moriya nodded, though clearly annoyed.

"Daichi," Hikaru said.

Daichi turned his head toward him.

"So… what do you say? Will you join the Order of the Elements?"

Daichi looked at him for a moment, then smiled.

"Yeah."

Hikaru smiled back and extended his hand.

"Then… welcome, Daichi!"

Daichi took the hand, and they shook.

With that, Daichi officially joined the Order of the Elements,

Then–

"YOU GIGANTIC B@*STARD!"

Ikazuchi suddenly blurted out, finally regaining consciousness.

Everyone, especially Reito, flinched at the volume of his outburst.

Ikazuchi sat up, looking around at the group.

"What happened?"

Everyone suddenly erupted into laughter.

"Seriously… what the f@%k happened?" Ikazuchi said, looking completely baffled.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!