Before them, the Kingroach was a three-meter nightmare. Huge, with a black carapace and red eyes that glowed like embers. Its jaws, sharp as knives, made a sinister noise every time they moved. Its large, menacing wings rustled, echoing through the cave.

The two were at the entrance, and the monster was staring at them. Staring intently, with the eyes of a being that would shred any kind of digital data in its path. Now Marshmallow, alongside the Goat Horse, had to face it.

Marshmallow felt like his soul was being scrutinized. The monster's eyes were penetrating. He was used to thinking of cockroaches as disgusting insects. Well, now he was the disgusting insect in the eyes of this behemoth. If he weren't careful, he'd end up like SonicEcho.

If the normal Evolveroaches were gross, this one... well.

It was waiting for them. It was clear the Kingroach wouldn't make the first move. This was undoubtedly an advantage. Marshmallow and the Goat Horse had the chance to come up with something. "Great, just great," Marshmallow commented. "Wasn't there an alternate entrance? Do we really have to kill this... thing?"

Marshmallow had every reason to protest. After all, it was the Goat Horse that had led him here. But the Goat Horse shook its head, indicating no.

"You doubt the majestic decisions of the present Goat Horse?" He teased with crossed arms. Marshmallow gritted his teeth, at that moment he wanted to hit him.

"Of course, and you even have to ask?! You're the one who brought me here! I was fine just going with the flow. But no, you had your 'shortcut'. Screw you, Two-legged horse or whatever the hell you're called."

Marshmallow started gesturing wildly, and the Goat Horse signaled for him to calm down.

"Uh, you're a hot one, my dear. Well, know this, you could have taken any path you wanted. One way or another, there's no other way to reach Queen Luminara. We're obliged to kill the Kingroach, only then will the branches of the Shining Tree open and allow us to reach her."

Marshmallow huffed. He couldn't stand him, but an ally was still an ally. He knew well that this was a hurdle to overcome in the Survivor Game. Killing that creature would grant him great Exp, and certainly facing it together was better than alone.

"Okay, fine. Since we're here, what's the plan? How can you be useful?" Marshmallow asked trying to stay calm. The Goat Horse, gazing at the Kingroach, replied, "My hide is tough, I can withstand its attacks. Distract it and hit it where you can."

"Right, okay. But what are its moves? What can you do besides that purple thing you did?" Marshmallow pressed on, still uncertain.

"The Galactic Purple Demolisher," the Goat Horse replied. "I can only use that move again once we meet Queen Luminara. It's the only ability I have. For everything else, I have these." The Goat Horse gestured to his fists.

"So, if you've got tough skin and your arms, you're a Tank?"

"Tank? What the heck does that mean?"

Marshmallow facepalmed. "It means you keep it busy while I figure out how to kill this elephant-sized roach."

"Ah, got it. That's my specialty," the Goat Horse nodded. "The Kingroach is unpredictable, I don't even know what to expect myself. But if I can withstand its attacks, then you need to be our striker! I think if you aim for the joints, the eyes... anything that looks vulnerable, score!"

Marshmallow shifted his gaze away from him. Striker? It wasn't a soccer match. There was no use arguing, the Goat Horse was programmed that way, and might as well get used to his nonsense. He decided it was time to stop joking around. He pulled out his folding knife from his pants and gripped it tightly. It was the only weapon he could rely on at the moment.

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The Goat Horse saw him gearing up for the attack. He did the same.

"Alright, let's attack!" Marshmallow shouted with a battle cry. He made a dash, his heart pounding as he focused on the Kingroach. Beside him, the Goat Horse let out a challenging neigh, a sound that seemed to break the heavy silence of the cave. The two positioned themselves, Marshmallow with his knife ready and the Goat Horse tensed up.

Then, the Goat Horse was the first to charge at the Kingroach, drawing its attention. Marshmallow, for his part, began to stealthily move around the battlefield, trying to figure out his approach.

I need to find an opening to strike!

The Kingroach charged fiercely at the Goat Horse, and its huge fangs clicked in the air, sounding like metal against rock. Every movement of its gigantic body was accompanied by a sinister rustling and creaking noise as if the air itself was breaking under its weight.

The Goat Horse, true to his word, lunged at the monster with heroic courage. His punches, though powerful, seemed to only scratch the black carapace of the Kingroach.

"If only I had invested those points in Strength or Dexterity," Marshmallow murmured with a hint of regret. It was clear that their enemy would not be easy to defeat.

The cave's air was electric, charged with tension and danger. Marshmallow, aware of the risk they were taking, tried to stay calm. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and strategies. He needed to exploit every opening, every weakness of the Kingroach. His folding knife, small but deadly, was their only hope. It was literally the only weapon available. Could he use the flaming torch? No. He needed agility in such a situation. Holding a knife in one hand and a torch in the other would throw off his balance.

The Kingroach launched a series of devastating attacks against the Goat Horse. Its jaws moved with surprising speed, while its wings rustled menacingly, creating air currents that made the cave walls tremble. The Goat Horse, with superhuman resilience, continued to confront the monster, absorbing blows with incredible determination.

"Ha! You can't touch me!" the Goat Horse neighed. He seemed decent enough as a tank, but he wouldn't last forever. He was beginning to pant, and if he lost focus, the Kingroach would suddenly turn on Marshmallow.

Marshmallow had to make his move, and quickly.

He found the right moment to attack. With swift and precise movements, he circled the giant, sprinted towards it, and struck at its eyes and joints, its vulnerable points. With each hit, the Kingroach screamed in cacophonic cries. Marshmallow moved with an agility he didn't know he had, using every second, every breath to bring the monster down.

The beast, though blinded, was still a formidable threat, moving with blind fury that shattered rocks and reverberated through the cave.

In a moment of courage, Marshmallow lunged, aiming for the Kingroach's exposed joints. His knife plunged into the monster's flesh, causing a further wave of furious rage. The beast writhed, trying to reach the annoying human tormenting it, but Marshmallow was too fast, too agile.

Marshmallow felt the weight of the battle, each strike bringing him closer to victory or total defeat. The tension was palpable, a mix of fear and adrenaline pushing him beyond his limits.

The Goat Horse, meanwhile, despite starting to tire, continued to fight. His determination was an inspiration to Marshmallow. Together, they formed an unlikely but effective team, a human and a fantastical creature united against a common enemy in an epic battle for survival.

Each blow Marshmallow delivered became bolder, more risky. The Kingroach, now in chaos and pain, thrashed wildly, desperately trying to hit its tormentor. Marshmallow had to rely on all his skills to dodge the deadly fangs and sharp claws that sliced the air.

In that tumult of fury and fear, an idea flashed in Marshmallow's mind. "We have to drive it towards the wall!" He shouted, hoping to use the environment to their advantage. With swift, calculated movements, he began to steer the blind monster towards one side of the cave, where he hoped to trap it or at least limit its movements.

The Goat Horse, understanding Marshmallow's intent, joined the effort. Together, they guided the Kingroach towards the trap. Every step was a balance between life and death, but Marshmallow felt it was their only chance.

As they neared the wall, the Kingroach seemed to realize the danger. It began to thrash even more violently, but Marshmallow and the Goat Horse didn't give up. With one final effort, they managed to trap the beast against the cave wall, limiting its movements and allowing Marshmallow to deliver the final blow.

Just when Marshmallow and the Goat Horse were gaining ground, the Kingroach, with a sudden and terrifying gesture, spread its enormous wings. From them, like a hidden army, emerged a dozen major Evolveroaches. The noise of their bodies emerging in the cold darkness of the cave instantly transformed the atmosphere.

Everything was turned upside down. In an instant, Marshmallow and the Goat horse found themselves surrounded, now vastly outnumbered.