The day passed quietly.
Xei sat in deep meditation. "I ever ask for your name?" he said, eyes still closed.
The green figure smiled. "Call me Flora."
Xei tilted his head. "You're Roman?"
Flora chuckled softly. "No. That's just my favorite name… one given by humans."
Xei nodded. "Weird name for nature itself." He stood. "Anyway, I need to go."
Flora's smile faded. "I understand."
"You're not going to convince me to stay and train?" Xei asked.
"Your training is complete," Flora said. "You're perfect now—to be my body."
Xei's grip tightened on his sword. "What?"
"Not in a bad way," she replied calmly. "Just… let me lend you my power. When this is all over, your real training will begin."
Xei looked at her, eyes glowing faintly green. "I'll be in control?"
Flora nodded. "Yes."
He drew his sword and smirked. "Then let's go."
Night fell.
Xei dashed through the forest, leaping from tree to tree. His fists shattered boulders as he passed.
Flora's voice echoed beside him. "Why are you running so fast?"
"Because I need to make sure everyone's okay," Xei replied, speeding up.
Moments later, he reached the icy battlefield. "Tai! Are you still alive? Tai!" he shouted.
A faint voice answered, calm but cold. "You don't need to shout. I'm here."
Xei landed beside him. "I see you defeated the beast."
He placed a hand on Tai's shoulder—then froze. Behind them lay the Serpent's massive body, twisted in pain, eyes frozen open.
"Tai… what did you do?" Xei whispered.
Tai didn't look at him. "He didn't listen when his king spoke."
Xei's eyes widened. "What?"
Tai clenched his fist, the air around him cracking. "He was a problem."
The ground trembled as Tai punched the air—an explosion of power shattered a nearby ice wall.
Xei took a step back, voice low. "Why like this?"
Tai turned, eyes glowing faint gold. "I killed him in his normal form. Now, I just control him… to make him return to his snake body."
Xei looked away, silent for a moment, then sighed. "Come on. Amal and Sai must be waiting for us
Meanwhile…
Amal, Sai, and Shi struggled to land a single hit on the Lava Beast. The ground cracked beneath their feet, waves of heat distorting the air.
Amal gritted her teeth. "Sai! Light up a flame — and throw it at me with everything you've got!"
Sai hesitated, but her eyes met Amal's, and she nodded. "Got it!"
A massive blaze erupted from Sai's palms, rushing toward Amal.
Amal caught it inside a glowing sphere. "Let's see you block this!"
She hurled the sphere back — the flame now ten times stronger, roaring like a sun.
The beast raised a molten arm, sneering. "You won't win if you use ash."
He slammed his hands into the ground — lava rose up, forming a wall that swallowed the attack whole.
Amal's eyes widened. "No way…"
Shi's voice broke through the chaos. "He's absorbing it! Stop using flame or ash — he's channeling the lava itself! That means he's physically weak. We need to hit him directly!"
The beast snarled. "I don't like people knowing my secrets."
A massive torrent of lava burst from behind Shi.
He tried to dodge — but it caught his leg. He screamed, collapsing to one knee, the heat burning through his armor.
The beast raised his hand, molten energy swirling. "Die!"
Before he could strike — a flash cut through the air.
Xei's sword spun like lightning, slicing off the beast's arm.
The creature roared in agony as the severed limb crashed into the lava.
From the shadows above, Xei landed, blade in hand, eyes blazing.
"Miss me?" he said, standing between his friends and the monster.
The ground trembled.
Tai, now in his massive serpent form, burst from the smoke — golden scales glowing like molten light. He grabbed Sai, Amal, and Shi in his coils, pulling them out of the battlefield in one swift motion.
Xei shouted, "You hurt my master — you'll pay for that!"
He dropped into his stance, eyes locked on the Lava Beast. "Tell me your name."
The beast growled, molten blood dripping from its body. "You don't deserve to know."
He slammed his hand into the ground — and a wave of lava rose behind Xei.
"Fine," Xei muttered. He vanished in a flash — slash, slash, slash! — his blade cutting deep through the beast's body. "Then die without one!"
The beast roared, trying to speak — but before it could, Xei's sword sliced clean through its neck.
Lava erupted everywhere. Xei dashed out of the explosion, flames chasing his heels.
Tai caught him midair, pulling him up. "I'm sick and tired of this damn mountain," he growled.
His body shimmered — transforming into a massive golden serpent, brighter and larger than before, like his father before him.
"I'm done fighting them one by one," Tai said, his voice rumbling like thunder.
"All of you die — now."
He turned his head toward Amal and Sai. "You two — I've got a plan. We end this fast."