Lionel races through the dark, towering trees, desperate to reach the central island. Suddenly, violent tremors rip open the earth as a catastrophic earthquake splits the land. "Where did this quake come from?" Lionel asks, stunned. Ahead, the hulking stone dragon Narcos pounds the earth, sending a monstrous wave of debris hurtling toward Lionel. He leaps onto a thick tree branch, narrowly dodging disaster. "Whew, too close," Lionel sighs. The smug Narcos jeers, "I found you far too easily."
"Your quakes nearly killed me twice already," Lionel retorts.
"What a shame it would be to kill you before our fight," Narcos mocks. Lionel uneasily ponders the threat.
"He's an earth elemental," Zebeon warns.
"Clearly," Lionel retorts drily.
"I want you to know he'll be a formidable foe," Zebeon cautions. Lionel nervously swallows.
"If you die, I die too since we're bonded," Zebeon reminds.
"Don't say that! I'm trying to strategize," Lionel scolds.
Narcos bows, eager to begin, but Lionel hesitates.
"Stop stalling your demise and bow!" Narcos roars impatiently. Lionel reluctantly bows.
"Match start," Lionel's watch declares.
"Finally," Narcos snarls, barreling toward Lionel with a boulder-like fist. Lionel nimbly dodges, throwing a punch at Narcos' granite gut, injuring his hand on the impenetrable stone skin.
"Ow!" Lionel yelps, cradling his throbbing hand.
"What's wrong, did that hurt?" Narcos taunts, lashing out with a brutal kick to Lionel's stomach. Lionel slams into a tree, writhing in agony.
"Hardest kick ever," he groans. Narcos charges again, but Lionel rolls away just before his punch obliterates the tree. Lionel springs up, assuming a fighting stance as Narcos mirrors him. In a flash, Narcos sweeps Lionel's feet out from under him and leaps up, summoning a spike of earth to smash Lionel's back. He crashes into a tree and struggles up to see Narcos thundering toward him, each step triggering violent quakes. Narcos unleashes a furious series of kicks, battering Lionel mercilessly despite his attempts to roll away. A final crushing blow launches Lionel skyward. As he plummets down, Narcos winds up a vicious punch, connecting hard against Lionel's guard just before he hits the ground. Lionel slides back, wincing.
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"My guard saved me from that weak punch," he bluffs. Narcos charges again, but Lionel dodges his onslaught with blinding speed, landing neon-charged blows to Narcos' legs. He tries a flashing neon kick to Narcos' head, but Narcos seizes his leg.
"Not good," Lionel gulps. Narcos slams the earth three times, then grabs Lionel's throat and lifts him up. Lionel desperately attempts a special move.
"Neon Flash!" he croaks out, but Narcos' eyes turn to stone, rendering him immune. Narcos cackles and batters Lionel mercilessly before tossing his limp body aside. Lionel crashes into Lucas.
"Hey, watch it!" Lucas snaps before recognizing his friend. "Lionel!" he gasps.
Suddenly Cloven leaps in front of Lucas, throwing a punch. Lucas blocks it and regains his stance as Cloven rushes past toward the greater threat.
"Narcos," he states grimly, shifting into his Zyjipsue form. Sensing Cloven's power, Narcos laughs.
"The weakling beaten by his own team?"
Cloven just stares intensely. "Want to fight?"
Rage contorting his face, Narcos summons a brown aura, morphing into a draconic hybrid form.
"I am Narcos, the stone dragon!" he bellows. The shockwave knocks everyone back, but Cloven stands firm. They assume fighting stances.
"You first," Cloven offers.
"Maybe you should go first," Narcos chuckles darkly.
Incensed, Cloven attacks but Narcos dodges and counters. Their blows blur with speed. A crushing punch from Narcos sends Cloven tumbling at Lionel's feet. As Lionel tries to help him up, Cloven shoves him back angrily.
"Stay back! You're too weak. Make yourself useful, not dead!"
"No way! I want to help!" Lionel argues.
Cloven sighs, closing his eyes. "Your funeral."
Narcos sneers at the three fighters. "All so eager to die quickly?"
Together they charge, Cloven striking first with a fiery punch. Lionel aims a flashing neon kick at Narcos' side as Lucas dives low, swirling water attack at his legs. Narcos easily dodges their coordinated ambush - catching Cloven's fist for an uppercut, battering Lionel with a stone-encased punch, and stomping Lucas into the dirt.
"Three pathetic fighters, so foolish!" Narcos booms triumphantly.
Sprinting through the woods, Vincent pants, "Sorry I'm late guys, but my training will make up for it!" He skids to a stop before Narcos. "So you're the threat."
"And you are?" Narcos asks boredly.
"Your worst nightmare," Vincent declares, shifting into his Sorcery Raptor form.
"Very original," Narcos drones, rolling his eyes.
Vincent rockets upward then dives down, raking Narcos with razor-sharp wings. Too slow to react, Narcos takes hits to his arm and leg. Enraged, he grabs Vincent's wing mid-attack.
"Legendary Move: Stone Dragon Claw!" His hands morph into jagged rock claws. As he rears back to strike, Lucas latches onto his hands, stopping them cold.
"Get off!" Narcos bellows. Vincent wrenches free and slashes Narcos' other hand. Seeing an opening, Cloven wakes and charges.
"My chance!" Lionel runs at Narcos, leaping up to flash directly in his face. "Special Move: Neon Flash!" This time, the flash blinds Narcos. Lucas and Vincent release Narcos and regroup with Cloven and Lionel, powering up.
"Super Move: Neon Cyclone!" Lionel yells.
"Super Move: Sorcery Wing Burner!" Vincent takes to the air as his flaming wings form a fiery vortex.
"Ultra-Dark Move: Eclipse Pulse Barrage!" Lucas booms.
"Ultra Move: True Blazing Inferno Combo!" Cloven roars.
Lionel hurls his cyclone, sweeping Narcos' legs out. Vincent's flaming vortex batters him. Lucas unloads a dark pulse barrage. Finally, Cloven attacks with a blazing multi-hit combo, finishing Narcos off.
"Who's pathetic now?" Cloven growls, turning away. "Just got lucky none of you died fighting a legend. But I'll spare you for helping me slay this weak dragon."
He strides off as Lionel calls, "We made a good team!"
"Don't flatter yourselves," Cloven snaps back.
"Where to next?" Vincent asks.
"The center island," Lionel replies.
"Sorry about that tournament," Lucas offers. "Meant to be a joke."
"It's fine, I'm glad you're good now," Lionel says.
"Still rivals after this," Lucas smiles, bumping fists.
Meanwhile, Sekel rages, "How did they defeat my dragon?! No matter, I have a secret weapon." He holds up a gleaming golden gem. "This world will be mine!"