Zalroth could be heard whistling as he led Sophia and the others through, what they hoped was, the final tunnel with Iris beginning to wake up. Iris sat up and noticed she was sitting on Star's head. Iris disorientingly looked around and saw Sophia glaring at the back of Zalroth's head. Zalroth let out a troubled sigh as he glanced back at the still glaring Sophia.

"Is something troubling you, Edgelord?" Zalroth asked as turned around and walked backwards. Sophia quietly huffed at the edgelord comment.

"I'm not an edgelord, Punching Bag..." Sophia quietly muttered, "Why are you acting so calm?". Zalroth shrugged his shoulders with a smug grin on his face.

"When you're as old as I am you learn that it isn't worth getting nervous and anxious over everything; but that doesn't mean I'm not taking this seriously," Zalroth remarked.

"I think that's just because you haven't been knocked on your ass in a while," Sophia snarked.

"That's not entirely true, I did fight a fairly strong energy silhouette the other day," Zalroth added before something came to mind and he looked over at the others.

"And speaking of silhouettes, you two best be on guard," Zalroth recommended. Charlotte and Ruby, although slightly nervously, said they would as the group entered a large cave filled with stone pillars and a wide opening that led to an even larger cavern.

Zalroth continued to talk to Sophia, and the others, as Star, Kiki and Iris popped their heads over Zalroth's tails. The trio spotted the fake Phantom, with two extra large purple metalic arms on his back, as he was crouched in front of a big earth mana crystal.

"Hey, it's the scary ma-ahh!" Kiki shouted before she, Star and Iris frantically ducked into Zalroth's tails. Zalroth smirked as he spun around and caught the mana crystal with a single hand; Sophia, Ruby and Charlotte transformed into their Surging Mana States(Ruby's being red, Sophia's being golden and Charlotte being silver).

"That's quite rude of you, you know, attacking someone while their back is turned," Zalroth remarked as he placed the mana crystal into his tails. The fake Phantom lowered his right arm before tensing up all four of his metal arms. The group got a better look at the fake Phantom, whose skin, hair and eyes have turned purple along with the white part of his eyes had become black.

"Heh, what was it you called him again, Iris?" Zalroth asked calmly and smugly.

"Errm... Terrorizer?" Iris replied as she popped her head out from Zalroth's tails, shortly followed by Star and Kiki.

"Heh, The Phantom Terrorizer, that sounds like a fitting name for how he is now," Zalroth remarked. Sophia angerly groaned as she changed her bracelet into its bow mode.

"And here I thought you said you were taking this seriously, but here you are making quips," Sophia snarked while Charlotte unsheathed her swords and Ruby created her mana boxing gloves, along with six red mana tendrils from her back.

"So... what's the plan... exactly?" Ruby asked as she looked confused while pounding her fists together.

"Well since the angorthite isn't exposed, we'll just have to pump him full of light mana to hopefully negate the effects of the angorthite before he completely turns," Zalroth explained as he turned to look at Ruby.

The Terrorizer took his chance and lunged across the room with one of his arms recoiled back. The girls tried to warn Zalroth of The Terrorizer but Zalroth suddenly spun around while covering his fist in light mana particles and punched The Terrorizer's fist. The girls and even The Terrorizer were shocked by Zalroth's quick counter before a devious grin grew on Zalroth's face.

"Let's get this party started," Zalroth exclaimed before covering his other fist with the light mana and sucker punching the Terrorizer in the stomach, making The Terrorizer flinch from the punch.

The Terrorizer tried to strike Zalroth but multiple light arrows from Sophia pierced through the Terrorizer's raised hand before Zalroth, with shadow(black) mana particles coating his feet and Silverwood getas, dropped kicked The Terrorizer.

The Terrorizer was sent flying across the cave with purple crystal shards and metal bits flaking off his body and crashed through a stone pillar. Zalroth turned to Sophia and gave her a nod before running after The Terrorizer. Ruby and Charlotte were about to run after the Terrorizer but were stopped by Sophia blocking them with a light spear.

"What gives, Sophia; the battle just started," Ruby complained with a surprised tone in her voice while grabbing the light spear with one of her hands.

"Zalroth told me to do this first" Sophia said before she pointed her hand at Ruby and Charlotte. Sophia released mana from her hands that flew into Charlotte's swords(making the blades glow white) and Ruby's condensed mana constructs(making them turn white).

"Oh I see this'll make are attacks more effective but it seems redundant to apply it to me," Charlotte remarked while Ruby quickly hopped over the light spear Sophia was holding and rushed after The Terrorizer.

"Yeah, I know you could use your azure ability or doesn't it tire you out anymore?" Sophia asked.

"Well not as much, but I see what you mean," Charlotte replied as a rapid shockwave blasted past the two.

Zalroth hurled a flurry of punches at The Terrorizer, as he struggled to punch back Zalroth's punches while being unable to effectively use his back arms. Zalroth knocked The Terrorizer back before launching him away with a wind blast.

The Terrorizer crashed into another stone pillar and fell to his feet as the pillar crumbled behind him. The Terrorizer gritted his teeth and glared at Zalroth, as he placed his hand on his hip and taunted The Terrorizer.

The Terrorizer's eyes widened and dug his feet into the ground before wildly charging at Zalroth. The Terrorizer pulled his arm back before one of Ruby's mana tendrils wrapped around it and jolted it backwards.

The Terrorizer tried to look behind himself before his feet were pulled backwards by Ruby's mana tendrils. Zalroth raised his fist before The Terrorizer's face slammed into it as he fell. Zalroth flicked The Terrorizer in the face and accidentally launched him away.

"Whoops..." Zalroth muttered.

As he was flying through the air, The Terrorizer extended his back arms out and gathered purple mana into their palms. Sophia and Charlotte suddenly teleported behind The Terrorizer before Charlotte swiftly sliced The Terrorizer's backhands in half. The Terrorizer spun around and tried to slam his arms into the two before Sophia teleported the two of them next to Zalroth. The Terrorizer landed on the ground and glared at the group as his hands regenerated at a slightly slower rate.

"It seems his fighting abilities have greatly diminished because of the angorthite if he truly is the Phantom," Charlotte commented. The Terrorizer tensed up before suddenly disappearing, making everyone go on guard, except Zalroth who disappointedly sighed which was followed by a metalic tang.

"Is attacking from behind all you're good at?" Zalroth asked as he disappointedly looked behind himself at The Terrorizer who had his fist against the magic barrier between him and Zalroth. In an instant, Zalroth shattered the barrier with a kick and sent The Terrorizer flying through multiple pillars with the same kick.

"Well, this is a bore; I'll let you three deal with him, don't want me accidentally killing him; although the exposure to light magic doesn't seem to be reversing his infection very much," Zalroth remarked as he sat down and rested his head on his fist. The trio nodded their heads before bracing themselves as The Terrorizer emerged from the pillar rubble. Ruby's ears and tail sudden perked up when she remembered something.

"Wait... didn't sensei tell us not to engage anyone who might be the Phantom or his allies and report it to him immediately?" Ruby asked as she looked at Charlotte. Charlotte's eyes widened before she frustratedly placed her hands, with her swords still in her hands, over her eyes and groaned.

"Oh god, you're right and I haven't given him a report in five days," Charlotte worriedly murmured as she pulled her hands down her face. Ruby tried to console Charlotte but was interrupted when she, and the others, sensed a huge surge of mana rushing out from The Terrorizer.

The group watched as The Terrorizer's body started to break down as purple mana seeped out from the cracks forming all over his body. The trio were about to run at The Terrorizer when a magic shield, surround by white mana particles, suddenly formed around the group, causing them to stop in their tracks.

"Why'd you do that?" Iris asked as she flew in front of Zalroth.

"Well, it'd be very inconvenient if we all got infected as well," Zalroth explained as he opened his eyes. The group was about to question him before an even stronger surge of mana erupted from The Terrorizer as his body exploded into a torrent of purple mana that completely engulfed the cave, excluding the area inside the barrier. The trio sheathed, dispelled or transformed their weapons with confused expressions on their faces as they detransformed.

"What just happened?" Ruby asked as she looked over at Zalroth. Zalroth placed Star and Kiki on the ground before standing up.

"He couldn't withstand the sudden increase in mana and his body experienced Mana Decay," Zalroth answered as he clicked his shoulder.

"Does that mean you guys beat the scary terrorizery guy?" Kiki asked.

"If only it were that simple," Zalroth answered as the purple mana began to circle and condense around the spot The Terrorizer previously was. The trio were about to get their weapons again but Zalroth moved his arm in front of them as he entered his Surging Mana State(signified by his body being covered in a cyan aura).

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"It must be dire if you're actually taking this seriously now," Sophia remarked. Zalroth cracked his fingers while cheekily scoffing.

"You're overthinking it, I just got a telepathic call from Lola so I'm going to let loose for a second," Zalroth remarked which made Sophia facepalm. The Terrorizer's mana completely gathered back together before bursting away and revealing a Terrorizer made completely out of purple metal, with six arms, a metal mask over his eyes and pointy feetless legs.

"Heh, looks like he's even stronger than the energy silhouette now, I might even have to use a stronger transformation if he gets any stronger," Zalroth joked.

"Oh, and make sure you stay inside the magic shield," Zalroth added before instantly bolting out of the magic shield and making a b-line for The Terrorizer.

As Zalroth was moments away from The Terrorizer, the two pull their fists back before hurling them at each other and creating a powerful shockwave. The resulting shockwave created from their repeatedly clashing fists sent out a barrage of unbridled shockwaves that tore through everything in the surrounding area while the space inside the magic shield was untouched.

"Woah they're so fast I can barely keep up," Iris mentioned as she, Star and Kiki struggled to follow the fighting duo as they bolted around the cave.

"I feel like my eyes are going to fall out," Kiki added as she felt her head start to spin from darting her head around so much.

"If you think this is fast then try and watch this, Thundering Berserker: Lightning Amp," Zalroth remarked before lightning magic erupted from his body. The Terrorizer tried to punch Zalroth but Zalroth effortlessly evaded all of his punches before he helicopter kicked The Terrorizer in the side of the head. The Terrorizer tried to punch Zalroth again but he easily dodged out of the way and tripped The Terrorizer over.

"What's wrong, can't keep up?" Zalroth smugly asked as The Terrorizer stumbled a few steps before stabilizing himself. The Terrorizer turned toward Zalroth, and Zalroth noticed The Terrorizer didn't have a mouth.

"How odd," Zalroth commented as he backflipped to evade an uppercut from The Terrorizer. The Terrorizer threw a punch at Zalroth, while he was mid-air, but his fist was repelled by Zalroth using his magnetism magic to make The Terrorizer's fist and himself glow blue; Zalroth followed this up by blasting The Terrorizer with a concentrated air cannon and he dispelled the magnetism magic and the Lightning Amp as The Terrorizer flew into yet another stone pillar.

Unlike last time, The Terrorizer instantly stood back up and channelled purple mana into his hand; The Terrorizer then hurled a barrage of purple fireball before beginning to gather flames into a single point.

Zalroth countered the barrage with his own barrage of blue fireballs and watched as The Terrorizer charged his attacks. The purple flames condensed into a large ball of fire before The Terrorizer punched it at Zalroth, and managed to get a smirk out of Zalroth.

"Heh, I can do that too you know," Zalroth snarked as he raised his hand and began to gather dark blue flames into a small point.

"Hellfire Flash: Blazing Sun," Zalroth nonchalantly said before flicking the small marble-sized dark blue fireball at The Terrorizer's attack.

The two fireballs crashed into each other and Zalroth's fireball rapidly expanded to match the size of The Terrorizer's fireball before cancelling each other out. The Terrorizer jumped through the embers of the attacks and socked Zalroth in the face, before he could respond, and sent him through multiple stone pillars.

"Mr Zalroth!" Star and Kiki worriedly shouted; The Terrorizer aggressively darted his head at Star and Kiki causing them to duck behind Iris, making Iris freak out as she created a stone wall to hide herself and the other two.

The Terrorizer slammed his pointed foot into the ground before charging at the magic shield. Sophia, Ruby and Charlotte quickly dashed in front of the stone wall as The Terrorizer lunged at the magic shield while hurling a flame-covered fist at it.

His fist slammed into something and the purple flames washed over the magic shield while melting the surrounding rock. The Terrorizer could be heard making distorted metalic chuckles as the flames started to die down before The Terrorizer recoiled in shock.

"Honestly, what is it with silhouettes trying to attack children nowadays?" Zalroth asked agitatedly as the light magic particles surrounding his entire body dispersed. Zalroth fanned his tails to blow the magic particles and the purple embers away.

The Terrorizer tried to pull his arm away but couldn't pull his arm free from Zalroth's grips as the intensity of his aura began to increase. The silvery parts of Zalroth's hair and tails started to flicker a glowing cyan as he increased his grip on The Terrorizer's fist causing it to crack under the pressure.

Zalroth gave the others a cheeky grin before completely shattering The Terrorizer's hands as the silver parts of Zalroth's hair and tails completely changed to a glowing cyan, while the ends of his hair and tails remained unchanged. The Terrorizer socked Zalroth in the face but only managed to make Zalroth rotate his head sideways.

"Hey, Sophia why don't you take some notes while I finish this silhouette off, and as for you," Zalroth remarked before flicking The Terrorizer in the chest, which indented it, and sent him hurtling through the cave.

Zalroth created an earth magic circle and slammed it into the ground; the ground violently shook before multiple stone pillars broke out from the ground and in front of The Terrorizer's trajectory followed by him crashing through half of them.

"Thundering Berserker..." Zalroth chanted as he gathered dark purple lightning into his hand and formed it into a sword.

"...Lightning Phantom,". Zalroth lined up his sword at The Terrorizer's chest before lungeing across the cave, impaling The Terrorizer in the chest and pushing him through all but the last stone pillar. Zalroth clicked his wrist before unleashing a fury of punches at every inch of The Terrorizer before pulling one of his hands back.

"Hellfire Flash: Raging Blade," Zalroth chanted before creating a sword of condensed dark blue flames in his hand and continued his fury of punches with sword slashes added in. Zalroth pulled the Lightning Phantom sword out of The Terrorizer's chest before unleashing a violent torrent of sword slashes.

"What's wrong we're only getting started!" Zalroth remarked as he crossed his arms before slicing The Terrorizer and the stone pillar in half with a dual slash. Iris slowly peaked her head over her stone wall and spotted Sophia and the others intently watching Zalroth as he turned the constantly regenerating Terrorizer into tiny pieces. Iris caught a glimpse of the transformed Zalroth as he shot a hole through The Terrorizer with a Burning Cannon(a condensed beam of fire magic).

"Wait what happened to Mr Zalroth, big sis?" Star asked as she and Kiki popped their head over Iris' stone wall. Ruby turned around and leaned over to Star while trying to keep her eyes on the fight.

"I think it's the transformation thing sensei mentioned before, remember," Ruby explained. Star placed her index finger on her chin as she tried to recall what that something was.

"It was... the... um... I don't remember," Star mumbled as she aggressively ruffled her hair while trying to remember.

"Ruby don't tease her, she was asleep during that lesson remember," Charlotte said whilst refusing to lose eye contact with the fight.

"Oh, yeah I forgot she fell asleep right before sensei started to talk about the Sage state," Ruby remarked before she felt Star, with an angry expression on her face, lightly pounding on her back.

"What's a Sage State," Star angerly whispered while continuing to lightly pound on Ruby's back. Ruby nervously chuckled as she blocked Star's attacks with a single hand.

"I think it would be better if you asked um... Mr Zalroth, sis" Ruby nervously remarked which made Charlotte huff.

"You're only saying that because you weren't paying attention to sensei's explanation and can't explain it yourself," Charlotte snarked. Ruby flinched at Charlotte's comment before defeatedly slumping her head; which caused Star to stop attacking her and slowly pat her head.

The Terrorizer completely regenerated and started to mimic the motion of heavy breathing. He lifted his head and noticed Zalroth was spinning his Raging Blade sword on the tip of his finger while seemingly paying The Terrorizer no mind.

The Terrorizer began to violently shake as his body was engulfed in a purple flame before it erupted everywhere as he entered the Surging Mana State.

"The Surging Mana State huh? Well, maybe you'll be less of a punching now," Zalroth remarked before creating and firing a barraging of Reining Winds short swords at The Terrorizer.

The Terrorizer slammed his pointy foot into the ground while donning a more professional fighting stance. He pulled all his fists back before unleashing a Gatling gun worth of punches to destroy all the Reining Winds short swords that came his way. Zalroth grinned while gesturing for The Terrorizer to attack.

The Terrorizer and Zalroth lunged at each other, sending out a wild shockwave the instant they clashed. Within the blink of an eye, the duo unleashed a torrent of sword slashes and flame-covered punches at each other. Zalroth repelled all of The Terrorizer's fists followed by kicking him in the chin, as Zalroth did a backflip and landed a few feet away.

"Come on Mr Zalroth, you can beat the Phantom!" Star shouted from across the cave while straining her voice. Kiki and Iris started to join in on Star's cheering with Ruby eventually joining in too, while Sophia and Charlotte were giving less enthusiastic cheers. Zalroth glanced back at the group as the kids and Ruby were waving to him.

"It seems they're convinced the guy's the Phantom now, definitely got to think of a way to reward Lola for coming up with the plan," Zalroth thought to himself before looking back at The Terrorizer as he was charging up another attack.

"I think it's about time we ended this party," Zalroth remarked before slamming his swords together and merging them into a single long sword, that he held with one hand. Zalroth's aura and glowing hair began more intense before he abruptly sprinted at The Terrorizer and catching him off guard.

The Terrorizer frantically hurled a barrage of purple and red fireballs at the approaching Zalroth, who easily evaded or sliced the fireballs. The Terrorizer threw a punch at Zalroth who dodged out of the way before kicking The Terrorizer in the face. The Terrorizer staggered backwards before frantically looking around when he lost track of Zalroth.

"I thought I'd take a leaf out of your book," Zalroth joked. The Terrorizer darted his head behind himself to see Zalroth holding his sword like a batter as he channelled all of his light mana particles into the sword, making it shine a radiant white.

The Terrorizer managed to raise all his hands before Zalroth slammed his swords into his hands and dug into them. The Terrorizer tried to push back against Zalroth's sword but was batted away and launched over to the edge of the cave, that led to the large cavern.

The Terrorizer careened and skipped across the cave floor before digging his arms into the ground. He managed to stop himself from falling off the edge of the cave and into the drop that led to the bottom of the cavern far below. The Terrorizer stood up and raised his fists, only to realise all of his hands had been cut in half along with them regenerating at an extremely sluggish rate.

The Terrorizer quickly darted his head up and his entire body froze as he realised Zalroth's mana level was rising faster than his own. The Terrorizer glanced back at the drop behind him before spinning on the spot and leapt off the edge.

Zalroth widened his eyes before hurling his sword at The Terrorizer; the sword hurtled through the air and pierced through The Terrorizer's chest before he plummeted into the drop. Zalroth's feet glowed yellow before he launched himself over to the edge while surrounding his right arm in lightning and dark green wind that spiralled around his arm.

"Tempest Force: Typh-" Zalroth managed to say before he created a magic barrier to block a barrage of large purple fireballs. Zalroth continued to block The Terrorizer's fireballs as multiple of them flew past Zalroth, colliding into the ceiling and exploding on impact. The fireball barrage eventually stopped when the area started to quake. Zalroth darted his head up and watched as the cave started to cave in while he dispelled his magic barrier.

Zalroth glared down at the bottom of the cavern but couldn't spot The Terrorizer. Zalroth darted his head at the group when he heard Kiki and Iris screaming as they clung to Sophia while Star was clinging to Ruby, who in turn was clinging to an unamused Charlotte.

Zalroth quickly glanced back down into the cavern and clicked his tongue before making his feet glow yellow and launching himself towards the group. He managed to get back to the others right before the cave completely caved in.