The Kpataki Guardian's charge was like a landslide wrapped in fire.Each step crushed the earth, sending sparks and embers into the air. Malik's instincts screamed at him to dodge—but his body was locked between terror and awe.
"Move!" Naomi's voice snapped him back, and she was already diving aside.
The Guardian slammed into where they'd been, a shockwave ripping through the dirt. Malik rolled to his feet, snapping his yo-yo loose from his belt. It spun once in his hand, the familiar weight comforting—until the Threadwork Codex flared again.
[Technique Unlocked]Thread Snap – Tier 0 Yo-Yo Skill[ Channel soul-thread into the yo-yo to release a concussive tether strike ]
Malik grinned. "Oh, now we're talking."
He spun the yo-yo forward, letting the line glow faintly gold as it connected to the Guardian's foreleg. With a sharp jerk, a shock of force erupted, snapping the beast's step sideways. It snarled, more surprised than hurt.
Naomi was already on the move. Her stance was grounded, her movements precise—each step cutting angles, each swing of her makeshift blade aimed at tendon or joint. Malik knew she wasn't just fighting blindly; she was studying it.
The Guardian roared and swung a paw the size of a wagon wheel. Naomi ducked under it, the claws missing her by inches, then slashed across its leg. Sparks flew—not from steel, but from the clash of spiritual energy.
Malik whipped his yo-yo again, this time wrapping the cord around a tree branch above and using it to vault himself onto the beast's back.
"Malik!" Naomi barked, but he was already there, planting both feet between its shoulders.
"Let's see how you like Thread Snap up close!"
He channeled everything into the line and slammed the yo-yo down. The blast of force made the Guardian stagger, but instead of throwing him off, it bucked harder—almost as if testing him.
[Bond Progress: 18%]
Malik's eyes widened. "Wait… it's gauging us."
The Guardian twisted suddenly, sending Malik flying. He crashed through a thicket, the Codex flickering in his hand.
Naomi called out, but before she could reach him, the beast stopped mid-stride. Its head turned—toward the treeline beyond them.
From the shadows, two figures stepped into view. A tall girl with cocoa-brown skin, hair in thick braids pulled into a ponytail, and a confident, assessing gaze. Beside her, a lean boy in a dark hoodie, his expression somewhere between wary and curious.
The girl tilted her head at Malik and Naomi."Looks like we're not the only ones this thing is interested in."
[New Potential Allies Detected]Name: Aubrey Murray-ParksName: Isaiah Walker[ Status: Unknown – Observation Stage ]
The Guardian roared again, but this time, its eyes swept across all four of them—like it was deciding which threads were worth weaving into its fate.
Malik dusted himself off, his smirk returning despite the blood at the corner of his lip."Well," he said, spinning his yo-yo again, "guess it's about to be a party."