Arata staggered, his breaths shallow and strained, his chest heaving as he forced himself upright. He barely managed to stay on his feet as blood trickled from his lips, the exhaustion of his battle with Alex pulling him closer to collapse. The victory was his, but at a price.
Angela and Elio rushed to his side, each of them understanding that their leader, for all his resilience, was nearing his limits. Angela’s voice was soft yet insistent. “Arata… let’s get you out of here. You’re in no shape to keep fighting.”
In his pocket, the familiar, gentle voice of the Dolphin Ring murmured urgently. “Arata, transform into me… let me take you away from here.” She had witnessed his struggle, his relentless drive to understand and protect every ring that had crossed his path, even those he’d defeated. For a long time, she had wondered about the man who wielded her; now she understood. Despite his flaws, Arata truly cared for each of them, seeing them as more than mere tools.
Arata gave a weary nod, his fingers trembling as he reached toward the Dolphin Ring. But before he could activate it, a faint rustling came from behind them. He turned slowly, dread creeping over him as he saw the figure emerging from the shadows.
Williams stood there, his piercing gaze fixed on Arata. Behind him, Carly and Lila flanked his sides, their faces darkened with purpose. Arata’s blood ran cold. This wasn’t just a group of enemies—this was a reminder of how dangerous the world around him had become.
“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, his exhaustion and frustration blending into one.
Stolen story; please report.
Elio’s eyes widened as he looked from Williams to Carly and Lila. He could sense the shift in the air, the feeling of being caught completely defenseless in the presence of such power. Even Angela, usually calm and resolute, glanced at Arata with an uncharacteristic fear. She knew that without Arata’s transformation using her power, they were trapped.
Williams’ eyes flickered with a quiet menace as he took a step forward, his silver cane raised. He leveled it toward Arata, the polished metal gleaming ominously. Arata and Angela instantly sensed it, an aura ancient and terrifying, more intense than any ring they’d ever encountered. They froze in place, an unshakable fear rooting them to the ground.
In that moment, the truth struck them like a blow: Williams was wielding the Ancient Elephant Ring. An artifact so powerful that its very presence could command all other rings to cower in its wake, as if warning them of their inferiority. Even Angela, strong as she was, felt the oppressive weight of its intimidation.
“It’s the Ancient Elephant…” Arata murmured, his voice almost inaudible.
Angela’s face grew pale. She had only ever heard legends of this ring—an artifact so old and feared that no one dared challenge its might. Its power was rumored to surpass that of all other rings combined, radiating an aura that struck terror into any ring that stood in its path.
But there was no time to dwell on the stories. Arata’s strength was waning, and without her, he couldn’t possibly stand up to Williams, let alone the Ancient Elephant.
Williams’s gaze never wavered, his cane pointing directly at Arata. The air between them thickened with an unspoken challenge, a clash of wills even before the first blow had been struck. For the first time, Arata felt something he had long suppressed—doubt. The situation was unwinnable. Here, with the odds stacked against them, he realized just how outmatched he was.
Arata and Williams locked in a silent standoff, each understanding the weight of the power that lay between them, each knowing there was no easy escape from what lay ahead. The Ancient Elephant loomed, a force so primal and unyielding that even Arata knew this might be the end.