Under the incredulous gazes of his companions, Dam's three tails began to quiver intensely, as if seized by an uncontrollable tremor. Then, without any warning, the scene was illuminated in a conflagration of pure light and searing energy. In that instant of luminous chaos, the three tails magically multiplied, reaching the number of nine. They were no longer mere extensions of his body but became robust and powerful tentacles, a physical incarnation of the growing power flowing within Dam.

Dam's companions were left speechless. Even the dark entities seemed to falter for a moment in the face of this manifestation. Dam, wrapped in a whirlwind of undulating tails, emanated an almost divine aura, more akin to that of a creature from the abyss than a mere fighter, maneuvering his appendages with a dangerous elegance akin to tentacles.

Eldrin couldn't help but whisper, almost to himself, "Incredible..." The Goat Horse, despite the pain gripping him, found the strength to smile. Marshmallow, on the other hand, seemed to have regained his resolve.

Dam, at the center of this vortex of power, felt energy bursting within him. With that power came awareness, the knowledge that he could change the tide of the battle.

Dam's nine tails swirled around him like serpents poised to strike. For a moment, Dam himself seemed surprised by his transformation, but that feeling of alienation was fleeting. As if they had always been a part of him, he began to move those new appendages with astonishing naturalness.

The dark entities, just a moment ago so confident in their superiority, now wavered, uncertain of how to confront this new threat.

Dam charged forward, a fierce smile lighting up his face. "Time to end this!" he roared, as if the mechanical Cerberus, still dazed from earlier, was now him.

Dam's tails, now incredibly swift, allowed him to dominate the battlefield like a colossal octopus. One tail, with a lightning-fast motion, caught a dark dart, annihilating it in a puff of black smoke; another, meanwhile, coiled around an enemy, crushing it with such force it burst into an explosion of dissipating darkness.

The assaults from the entities, once menacing and relentless, now seemed desperate and ineffective. Dark darts and shadow blades were parried or deflected with disarming ease.

Incredible. Is this what playing with them looks like? Is this the power of Unique Skills when pushed to the limit?

Amidst all this, Dam also managed to provide protection. In an almost motherly gesture, a couple of Dam's tails positioned themselves in front of Marshmallow and the Goat Horse, forming an impenetrable shield.

Every time one of the tails struck, an entity was annihilated, dissolving into a wisp of darkness. Yet, as overwhelming as it was, each moment of that desperate assault weighed on Dam like a boulder. The burden of the Overdrive Kyuubi was palpable. He had been lent incredible power, and he couldn't maintain that form for much longer. But at that moment, with his friends at risk and the fate of the battle hanging in the balance, there were no doubts or hesitations in his heart. Only the fierce certainty to fight until the last breath.

However, the strain was evident on Dam's face. He was dripping sweat as if he were in a sauna and was panting heavily. His three companions stood there, dumbfounded. But at this rate, he risked injuring himself.

His ears were ringing. He couldn't hear very well anymore, but he could clearly sense the words of encouragement being shouted by his companions, along with screams to be careful and to finish the fight quickly. And they were right; he couldn't last much longer.

Then, Dam gave it everything he had, and with a simultaneous lash of all his tails, swept away all the dark entities in an instant. Then, with a cry that could shake the heavens, he declared victory.

"We did it..." Dam whispered, out of breath as his tails, one after the other, began to disappear, returning to their original number. The Overdrive Kyuubi had come to an end, leaving him exhausted.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

But just as the group began to rally their strength, a metallic roar tore through the air. The Mechanical Cerberus, a forgotten but not defeated foe, rose again. Dam, now devoid of his Kyuubi power, turned towards the metal giant with a furrowed brow.

"It's not over... not yet. We didn't manage to destroy it," Marshmallow said through gritted teeth, his arm throbbing with pain.

The Mechanical Cerberus, though in a sorry state, still posed a menacing threat to the quartet. Its three heads began to weave a sinister dialogue.

"You've exhausted your tricks," the left head declared coldly, eyeing the exhausted companions. "This is the climax of your pathetic attempt at resistance."

The central head stepped forward, its voice imbued with detached disdain. "I must admit, you've entertained me. But now, the curtain must fall on your drama."

The chaotic and evil laughter of the right head echoed throughout the room, "You’re Dead dead dead dead! Dead dead dead dead dead DEAD DEAD!"

Marshmallow, the Goat Horse, and Dam lay defeated, all energy vanished, and every strategy spent. Too weak to respond, they could only await the final blow. Marshmallow, still able to fight, drew his old switchblade. If he was to meet his end, he would do so with honor.

Eldrin, however, wasn't ready to give up. As the three heads of the Mechanical Cerberus continued their ghastly chant, he pulled out a strange vial from his bag with a trembling hand. The glass, dyed a bright red as if filled with liquid fire, was wrapped with a crumpled label that read in bold DO NOT USE. The seal was black wax, cracked with age, seemingly barely containing the devastating potential inside.

"Maybe... maybe this can still turn things around," he murmured, his voice a mix of hope and terror.

"A potion? You really think that can save you now?" the left head scoffed, as the other two joined in a chorus of mockery.

But Eldrin, with a burst of desperate courage, hurled the vial at the Mechanical Cerberus.

"DOWN!"

Eldrin shouted with all the energy he had. Instinctively, everyone ducked their heads. The collision was followed by a monumental explosion that shook the Forge to its foundations. The Mechanical Cerberus, caught off-guard, was engulfed by the blast, which tore its heads off in a final detonation of light and sound.

As the dust settled, Marshmallow, the Goat Horse, and Dam, spared from the shockwave by Eldrin's warning, realized the battle was over. The Mechanical Cerberus lay inert, now a lifeless carcass devoid of its malevolent heads.

But there was no time for celebrations. The Heart of the Forge, compromised by the explosion, began to falter around them. With renewed urgency, the companions helped each other up and started the race to the exit. All except for Eldrin.

"We've faced the impossible together," Marshmallow exclaimed, supporting the injured Goat Horse.

Eldrin, casting a glance back at the scene of destruction, added in a thin voice, "And we won, even against all odds. But now, the situation isn't just critical, it's ultra-critical! In a couple of minutes, everything here is going to collapse, and we still have to fix the mess with the virus!"

The tension in the air was palpable as Eldrin stared at the central console, the beating Heart of the Forge that threatened to collapse at any moment. "There's no time to waste," Eldrin said with an ironclad determination in his voice.

Without hesitation, he handed a rejuvenating potion to Dam. "Drink this, it'll give you the strength you need." Dam, understanding the severity of the situation, downed the contents of the vial and almost immediately felt a new energy coursing through him.

"Get the Goat Horse out; I'll handle everything here," Eldrin commanded with a look that brooked no argument. Dam, invigorated by the potion, nodded and, with an extension of his tail, gently wrapped around the injured Goat Horse, beginning to drag him out of the crumbling Heart of the Forge.

Marshmallow, after exchanging a trusting glance with Eldrin, followed Dam and the Goat Horse, ensuring the exit path was clear of obstacles.

Eldrin, now alone, focused on the console. His fingers danced across the keys at an astonishing speed, entering codes and bypassing firewalls with a skill that only years of experience could afford. As the seconds inexorably ticked by, the sound of metal yielding under the weight of destruction grew ever closer.

Outside, Dam, the Goat Horse, and Marshmallow reached a safe vantage point, turning back with bated breath, waiting for Eldrin's return. Time seemed to stretch, each moment a torture.

And then, in the last possible moment, with the roar of collapse already behind him, Eldrin emerged from the Forge's main door, sprinting towards his companions. Without looking back, with the echo of the collapse nipping at his heels, he reached the group just as the Forge gave way entirely, sinking into a cloud of dust and debris.

The group remained silent for a moment, adrenaline still palpable in their veins, and then, almost in a collective sigh, they gave in to relief. The mission was accomplished, and the Gear Savannah was safe. With eyes still fixed on the smoking ruins of what had been the Heart of the Forge, Eldrin whispered, "We did it, guys... against all odds."