The winds howled around the desolate throne of debris, where Elio, the Dark Dragon, sat with one massive dragon wing extending behind him. His golden eyes gleamed with a cold, terrifying light as Warrier stepped forward. The ground beneath his feet trembled with each step, but Warrier remained steady, his eyes locked on Elio. His body tensed, knowing the battle ahead would be like none he had ever fought.

Elio broke the silence, his voice dripping with mockery. "Tell me, Warrier, were you there when Sheena died? When our mother was torn from us?" His eyes flared with rage. "Or did you hide, when it happened?"

Warrier’s fists clenched at the mention of Sheena—Elio’s mother, Arata’s mother, Elio’s mother. Memories of that day flooded back, memories he had long buried. He wasn’t there when it happened, but he remembered the aftermath. The shock, the guilt, the sense of failure for not protecting her. Warrier’s silence stretched as Elio’s question hung in the air like poison.

"Well?" Elio pressed, standing now, the full weight of his dragon-like presence crashing down on Warrier. "Or are you too afraid to admit your cowardice?"

Warrier took a deep breath, locking his emotions away. He knew Elio was trying to unnerve him, to shake him before the fight even began. "I wasn’t there," Warrier finally spoke, his voice low and steady. "But I’ll make sure I’m here for this."

The air around Warrier shifted as his fingers curled around the ring on his hand—the Crab Ringmaster ring. Power surged through him, flooding his veins with energy as the transformation began. His body shimmered, light bending and shifting as his armor morphed. Metal clanged and screeched, plates of dark blue and green armor forming around his torso, arms, and legs, designed like the hard shell of a crab. Spiked gauntlets encased his hands, and on his back, a massive, razor-sharp claw extended, curving like the blade of a scythe. His helmet slid into place, covering his face with an expressionless, impenetrable mask that mirrored the ocean’s depths.

His power wasn’t about brute force—it was about resilience, defense, and precision. He felt the weight of the transformation settle, grounding him as the Crab Ringmaster fully took over.

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The transformation didn’t just affect Warrier’s physical appearance—it was an elemental change, one that reached into the core of who he was. His senses heightened, attuning to the ebb and flow of energy around him. He could feel the pull of the tides within him, a steady, rhythmic force that kept him grounded, but at the same time, he could summon waves of unstoppable power.

His armor glistened in the dim light, thick and nearly impenetrable like the carapace of a deep-sea crab. Jagged edges lined his shoulders and legs, designed to both protect and strike back. His legs felt sturdier, as though rooted deep into the earth, giving him a balance that couldn’t be shaken. His hands transformed into clawed gauntlets, sharp and powerful enough to crush through even the hardest materials.

The real weapon, however, was the massive crab claw that extended from his back, resting at an angle over his shoulder. It gleamed with a deadly sharpness, capable of snapping through stone and steel alike. Warrier could feel its weight but knew it would move with him like an extension of his own will.

The transformation wasn’t just physical. Warrier felt his connection to the ocean—the tides, the flow of water, and the strength of the seas coursing through him. His mind sharpened, focusing entirely on the battle ahead. His speed wouldn’t rival Elio’s, but his defenses would withstand even the fiercest attacks.

With his transformation complete, Warrier stood taller, more imposing. His eyes gleamed through the slits of his helmet, focused solely on the Dark Dragon before him.

Elio laughed—a harsh, grating sound that echoed across the ruined landscape. "A crab?" he sneered. "You think you can stand against me with such a pitiful form? A creature that scurries on the ocean floor, hiding in its shell when danger strikes? Pathetic."

He unfurled his massive dragon wing, letting it stretch wide, casting a dark shadow over Warrier. "You should’ve chosen something stronger, something that could actually fight back." His mocking tone dripped with arrogance.

Warrier remained silent, his body coiled and ready. He didn’t need to respond to Elio’s words—he would let his actions speak.

Meanwhile, in the dim light of the secluded base, Arata stood alone, holding the Wolf ring that Lance, Uriel, Jennifer, and Dan had brought him. The metal was cool in his hand, but the power it held was undeniable. As he gazed at it, his mind raced—this ring, the Wolf, would change everything.

But would it be enough to stop what was coming?