---
"There are more outside the tunnel," he said grimly. "I can feel at least a thousand frogs. Four-star. Five-star. Maybe more. They're closing in."
Akayoroi's eyes flickered with heat. "You plan to fight them all?"
"No," Kai said. "Just the Toad father or whatever. The rest won't matter once he falls. We will get an opportunity to leave."
As if sensing the threat in those words, the Toadfather bellowed.
BBBBRROOOAAAKKK!!!
The stones shook. The poisoned mist thickened to near liquid state, curdling with acidic spores. Dozens of frogs started croaking the same phrase again, over and over.
"Toad Daddy Toad Daddy Toad Daddy—"
Kai closed his eyes. He could hear them. Smell them. Feel their presence like a swamp pressing against his skull.
He inhaled once, deep and slow. "System," he whispered in his thoughts. "Apex mode. Now."
[System Notification: Confirmed. Activating Apex Transformation.
Initializing Morph: Predator Form – Apex Type.]