The ocean churned under Vrasnia's eternal night, its waves a roiling canvas of indigo and violet, kissed by the purple moon's ghostly radiance. Raijin erupted from the depths, coughing seawater, his body a live wire of green lightning that crackled in the salty air. In his arms, Evelyn clung tightly, her black hair plastered to her face, her purple eyes wide with the aftershock of their near-death escape. "Shit, are you alright, Evelyn? You're not hurt, are you?" Raijin gasped, his voice raw, his green eyes scanning her for any sign of injury, his heart pounding louder than the waves.
Evelyn shook her head, her grip on his shoulder an anchor against the chaos. "No, I'm fine," she murmured, her voice steady but laced with awe. "But that thing… its attack power is insane. An unlucky blow could kill us. What the hell lives on Vrasnia? To think this thing survived Kazimir's catastrophe—it's no wonder its skin's so tough. It can tank practically anything."
Raijin gritted his teeth, his lightning aura flaring brighter, casting jagged shadows across the water's surface. "Great, so our first obstacle is a high-ranked monster. We've got to lock in, Evelyn, and find a way to beat this thing." His voice was a growl of determination, his stance unyielding as the Crocosaur loomed before them, a sixty-foot colossus of scales and malice, its eyes glowing like twin furnaces, its presence a primal challenge to their survival.
Evelyn's purple eyes widened, her voice sharp with alarm. "It's gone, Raijin!"
They spun, scanning the turbulent ocean, the water's surface deceptively calm. Then, with a deafening roar, the Crocosaur surged from below, its jaws gaping wide to swallow Evelyn whole. She gasped, frozen in shock, the beast's speed a blur too fast for her to react. Raijin's green lightning flickered, his body a streak of electric fury as he charged, grabbing her and pulling her clear just as the jaws snapped shut with a thunderous crack that sent shockwaves rippling across the sea. They skidded across the water, ragdolling in a chaotic tumble of limbs and spray, Raijin cradling her protectively. "That was close—nearly lost you," he panted, his eyes fierce with relief.
Evelyn's arms tightened around his neck, her heart racing, her voice a soft whisper of gratitude. "Thanks… you're faster than I expected."
Raijin chuckled, a spark of warmth cutting through the tension, his green eyes glinting with confidence. "Speed's my trump card. But you're safe—we've got to be careful against this thing." He helped her to her feet, his aura surging as he faced the beast. "Tehe, LET'S GOO!" he roared, charging across the sea, his steps a blur of lightning that sent sparks dancing like fireflies. The Crocosaur unleashed a barrage of attacks—swipes of its massive tail, snaps of its jaws—but Raijin weaved through each with impossible agility, bouncing across the water's surface like a bolt of living thunder. "HAHA, YOU'RE TOO SLOW!" he taunted, leaping into the air, his dagger gleaming as he drove it into the beast's eye, ripping it out in a spray of viscous ichor.
The arena in Vrasnia erupted, the host Toto's voice booming through the holographic feeds. "OH MY GOD! RAIJIN MANAGED TO HURT IT!" The crowd surged to their feet, their cheers a tidal wave that shook the obsidian amphitheater. In the VIP chamber, Kazimir, Riah, Neve, and Jessie leaned forward, their faces alight with smiles, the tension in the room easing for a fleeting moment. Kazimir's galactic eyes, swirling with stars, flickered with approval; Riah's crimson gaze softened; Neve's ice-blue eyes sparkled with awe; and Jessie's steady presence radiated quiet pride.
Evelyn sprinted toward the beast, her purple eyes narrowing as she summoned a thread of electric energy, her right eye glowing with a piercing intensity. "I see it," she whispered, pressing her hand to her chest, clenching it as if grasping the beast's very life force. Blood trickled from her mouth, a sign of the strain as she wove an electrical field around the Crocosaur, its body seizing as arcs of blue lightning coursed through it. Raijin glanced back, his voice sharp with awe. "What is that move? Is the weak point I created letting electricity fry its body, paralyzing it? Whatever it is, thank you, Evelyn—now it's hunting time!"
Raijin focused, channeling his electrical and wind power into his feet, the air around him humming with raw energy. "Not yet—I need more power!" he growled, his aura intensifying. Evelyn pushed her limits, her field crackling as it seared the beast's organs, her body trembling with the effort, blood dripping steadily now. Raijin's eyes blazed, his voice a determined mutter. "I have enough." He launched himself, breaking the sound barrier with a sonic boom that shattered the water's surface. His foot connected with the Crocosaur's wounded eye, the impact unleashing a shockwave that shook the ocean, toppling the colossal beast with a earth-shaking crash.
Evelyn gasped, canceling her field, her strength nearly spent. Raijin landed, his voice ringing with triumph. "Good job, partner—I'll end it from here!" He leaped skyward, the purple moon silhouetting his form like a hawk diving for prey, both palms pulsing with a storm of electrical energy. "AAHHHAHHAAAA, YOU'RE DONE!" he roared, soaring down at lightning speed. His palms collided with the Crocosaur's stomach, unleashing a cataclysmic shockwave that sent colossal tidal waves surging outward, the impact hurling Evelyn to the shore. Raijin stood amidst the chaos, electricity sparking from his body, a triumphant smile on his lips as the beast lay defeated.
The crowd in the arena exploded, their screams of joy echoing through Vrasnia's night, Toto's voice amplifying their fervor. "UNBELIEVABLE! RAIJIN'S VICTORY IS ELECTRIFYING!" Jessie watched, her expression one of quiet admiration. "Raijin's really come far." Neve, her ice-blue eyes gleaming, nodded. "For a human, he's powerful. If he had a Solaris fragment, he'd be one hell of a unit. His only limit is that he's human—but this is his own power, and he deserves his flowers for it." Riah agreed, her crimson eyes thoughtful. "Raijin has what it takes and keeps evolving, but he'll soon hit a wall where that's his limit."
As the waves settled, Raijin stood panting, electricity sparking from his body, even his mouth, as he gasped. "Finally, that took a bit out of me… Wait, what? It's still moving?" The Crocosaur twitched, its massive form stirring—when suddenly, the ocean erupted. A colossal whale, larger than the Crocosaur, surged from the depths, its armored scales glinting like a galaxy, a single horn protruding from its head like a spear of starlight. It attacked, its jaws engulfing the Crocosaur in a single, brutal bite, the beast's struggles futile as it was swallowed whole. The whale leaped over Raijin's head, its massive form blotting out the moon, and he stared in awe, his voice trembling. "What is this? Its scales are like armor, and it makes the Crocosaur look tiny. Don't tell me I have to face this thing too!"
The crowd in the arena froze, hands clasped in fear, their cheers silenced. In the VIP room, Jessie, Neve, and Riah's eyes twitched, their faces pale with shock. Kazimir's galactic eyes narrowed, his voice low and grave. "That's a Volgaria—a colossal whale, beyond even the Crocosaur's class. This is a real challenge. Vanessa has the power to control these, and it's not normal for one to be this close."
Neve turned to him, her voice urgent. "What does that mean?"
Kazimir nodded, his expression resolute. "Like I said, Vanessa can control them. This means she's testing Raijin and Evelyn to see what they're truly capable of."
Raijin stood on the ocean's surface, his lightning aura flickering, his green eyes locked on the Volgaria as it loomed before him, its horn glinting ominously. The second challenge had begun, and the eternal night of Vrasnia bore witness to a battle that would test the very limits of their strength and resolve.