Everyone was looking up at Goros's new divine form, and Saland's voice cut through the stunned silence. "I won't just stand here and watch!"
With a powerful surge of energy, Saland shot upwards like a bolt of lightning. He blurred through the air, leaving afterimages in his wake. Anty barely had time to call out, "Wait, Saland!" before he was already a distant speck, hurtling towards the seemingly invincible Goros.
In a blink, Saland teleported directly in front of the transformed being. His face was a mask of fury as he unleashed a relentless barrage of sword strikes. Each swing was lightning-fast, a silver arc aimed at Goros's vital points. Yet, with an almost casual grace, Goros dodged every single blow.
Then, with terrifying speed, Goros retaliated. His fist, now radiating an oppressive power, shot out towards Saland. Reacting instantly, Saland managed to raise his blade in a desperate parry. The impact reverberated through the air, a deafening clang that echoed through the silent onlookers. Despite his block, the sheer force of Goros's punch sent Saland hurtling downwards. He plummeted through the sky, a falling star against the darkening canopy, until he smashed into the dense undergrowth of the dark forest below.
A moment later, a flash of light erupted from the depths of the woods. Saland, having driven his sword into the earth to arrest his fall, hauled himself back to his feet. Between the twin blades of his weapon, a brilliant, crackling energy began to coalesce, a miniature storm of pure light.
Goros descended slowly, landing on the ground with a heavy thud that shook the very earth. His gaze, filled with an alien amusement, fixed on Saland. "Show me your pitiful mortal power," he boomed, his voice resonating with an otherworldly authority.
With a burst of speed that belied the damage he had just sustained, Saland launched himself forward. His sword, now crackling with incandescent energy, arced towards Goros in a powerful slash. But Goros, with a dismissive flick of his wrist, caught the glowing blade in his bare hand.
"You are not yet at the level to defeat me," Goros stated, his grip tightening on the glowing steel. "You humans have your limits, but I have none."
A primal roar tore from Saland's throat. "Limits exist to be overcome!" he bellowed, pouring every ounce of his will into his weapon. The light energy intensified, straining against Goros's grasp. With a herculean effort, Saland twisted his sword, tearing it free from Goros's hand. In that instant, the contained energy erupted outwards in a blinding flash. A cataclysmic explosion of pure light engulfed the area, tearing through the trees and shaking the foundations of the forest.
When the light subsided, Goros stood amidst the devastation, completely unscathed. A cruel smile stretched across his face. "Now," he declared, his voice laced with a chilling anticipation, "I'll start getting serious."
Just as the echoes of Goros's words faded, a new presence arrived. Haytham, the last to reach the third chamber, instantly grasped the situation. The raw energy in the air screamed of Saland's desperate struggle. Without a word, Haytham launched himself upwards. Time seemed to warp around him as he accelerated, his movements blurring into a near standstill for those below. From his vantage point, he saw Goros poised to strike the downed Saland.
With a silent determination, Haytham plummeted downwards at supersonic speed. A crimson glow emanated from the pistol in his hand, and a concentrated beam of energy shot forth, aimed directly at Goros.
"I see the enemies are increasing," Goros remarked, his eyes flicking towards the new arrival without a hint of concern. "But it won't be a problem for me."
Haytham landed gracefully beside Saland, who was just pushing himself up from the ravaged ground. A wry smile touched Saland's lips. "Glad you arrived," he gasped, clutching his side. "This glitch is seriously strong."
Haytham grinned, his usual lightheartedness shining through even in the face of such a formidable foe. "Hey, nice new sword!" he quipped, glancing at Saland's energy-infused weapon. "Together, we can beat him. After all, we're best friends!"
With a shared look of camaraderie, Haytham and Saland bumped fists. They settled into a synchronized stance, ready to face the god-like being before them. Then, as one, they attacked.
Saland and Haytham unleashed a furious assault, a whirlwind of steel and energy aimed at Goros. Blades flashed, and crimson beams streaked through the air, a relentless barrage of high-speed attacks. Yet, Goros met their combined assault with effortless ease, parrying every strike with his bare hands.
Suddenly, Goros moved with a speed that defied perception. For the first time, Saland's precognitive abilities failed him. A brutal kick slammed into his side, sending him staggering back. Haytham reacted instantly, unleashing his dimension-cutting slash. A shimmering blade of pure energy tore through the air, but it only managed to graze Goros, leaving a superficial wound that seemed to close almost instantly.
Saland, recovering with lightning speed, channeled his energy into an enhanced X light attack. A blinding beam of pure light erupted from his sword, slamming into Goros. But the glitch's regeneration was terrifying; the wound, however devastating it looked, was simply not enough to inflict serious damage.
From behind, a monstrous form lunged. Shimmon, now fully transformed into his draconic state, his scales shimmering like obsidian, roared a challenge. His massive fist, crackling with the raw mana of dragons, aimed a devastating blow at Goros. Yet, with a casual movement, Goros blocked the attack with his right arm, the force of the impact barely causing him to flinch.
Above, Christy descended like a furious angel, unleashing her Chaos unlock. Tendrils of chaotic energy lashed out, striking Goros with brutal force. But the wounds, like all the others, began to knit themselves back together almost immediately.
"That technique might work on a high-level glitch," Goros scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "But I am a demon-level glitch. I am a god!"
He moved again, a blur of motion, aiming for the vulnerable Christy. But Shimmon, with surprising agility for his size, Intercepted him, slamming a massive fist into the ground. The impact shattered the earth, sending shards of rock flying and creating a small, jagged hill of ice – a makeshift iceberg in the middle of the forest. Then, from his maw, Shimmon unleashed a stream of viscous green liquid, a deadly poison that hung heavy in the air. With a flick of his snout, he ignited the toxic cloud with a small burst of flame, creating a violent explosion.
As the smoke cleared, Goros stood amidst the destruction, slowly clapping his hands. "I like the way you are trying to defeat me," he said, his voice mocking. "But it's all useless."
From behind, Christy conjured a swirling vortex of pure Chaos energy, a miniature tornado of destructive power. But Goros remained unmoved, the chaotic winds seemingly unable to touch him. With a swift movement, he lashed out, striking Christy and Shimmon. Shimmon managed to raise a clawed arm in defense, but the force of the blow sent him crashing into a nearby tree.
Meanwhile, Saland and Haytham were utilizing the surrounding forest to their advantage, leaping and dashing through the trees with incredible speed. They moved like streaks of light, a coordinated assault from multiple angles. A faint smile played on Goros's lips.
Haytham unleashed a rapid-fire barrage of crimson energy beams, each shot precise and deadly. Simultaneously, Saland fired a volley of glowing light spheres, which swarmed around Goros like angry fireflies. Goros simply erected an invisible barrier, deflecting the energy beams with ease. But Saland, moving at a speed that seemed to surpass even the speed of light, made his move. He blurred past Goros's defenses, his blade leaving a trail of light as it carved a series of deep wounds across the glitch's body.
Shimmon, shaking off the impact of the tree, launched himself forward in a lightning-fast flying kick aimed at Goros's head. But Goros, with an almost bored expression, simply raised an arm and parried the blow.
In front of him, Christy had risen, a swirling sphere of raw energy pulsating around her. From within the sphere, she conjured a series of razor-sharp fuchsia blades of pure Chaos. With a guttural cry, she unleashed them. "EXPLOSION!" she roared, and the blades detonated against Goros in a shower of chaotic energy.
Goros waved his hand dismissively, clearing the smoke. "All of this is useless," he declared, his voice filled with an absolute certainty. "I have already won."
But at that very moment, a series of precise slashes materialized across Goros's form. Standing before them, his figure cloaked in shadow, was Sting. He extended the shadows beneath his feet, using them as conduits to launch a swift and silent attack, moving from one patch of darkness to another. Yet, Goros remained unfazed. He casually punched the ground, sending a shockwave through the shadows, disrupting Sting's movements. When Sting attempted to strike from above, Goros merely flicked his wrist, deflecting the attack with contemptuous ease.
Then, Ken, his usual blindfold discarded, charged forward, his katana flashing in the dim light. He aimed a direct strike at Goros, but the glitch, without even shifting his stance, sidestepped the blow and delivered a swift, brutal punch that sent Ken sprawling. Rick followed, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks, a rapid-fire assault of martial arts. But Goros simply absorbed the blows before delivering a knee strike to Rick's stomach with such force that it sent him flying backwards.
Shimmon and Christy attempted a coordinated attack from behind, but Goros simply unleashed a powerful wave of energy, a shockwave that slammed into them and sent them tumbling.
Everyone was exhausted, their bodies aching, their energy reserves dwindling. Goros stood before them, seemingly untouched, an opponent on an entirely different level from any glitch they had faced before. Despair began to creep into their hearts.
But then, a new figure stepped forward. It was Stenly, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a fierce resolve. "Do not despair," he declared, his voice resonating with a newfound power. "Because we are still here! Admin mode instal imminent darkness!"
A dramatic transformation swept over Stenly. His aura shifted, becoming a swirling vortex of pure darkness. His eyes glowed with an intense red light, and his clothes morphed into sleek black garments interwoven with thin, pulsating lines of crimson energy. Even his katana changed, the tip now resembling a wickedly sharp iron stinger.
Behind him, Anty materialized, her expression equally determined. "Now it's my turn to lend a hand too!" she announced, her voice ringing with confidence. "Admin mode instal supercomputer!"
A potent pinkish aura enveloped Anty, and two glowing green lines appeared on her face. Around her, shimmering holographic screens flickered into existence, displaying complex data streams. "Now I'll take care of it!" she declared, her hands outstretched. "Boost and heal!"
A wave of emerald energy washed over the weary heroes, mending their wounds and replenishing their strength. They felt a surge of renewed power coursing through their veins.
Stenly moved with blinding speed, launching a direct assault on Goros. The glitch attempted to strike him, but upon contact, Stenly's form dissolved into pure darkness, flowing around Goros like liquid night. Then, from the shadows, a legion of Stenly's clones erupted, each wielding a dark, energy-enhanced katana. They unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes, a chaotic dance of darkness against divine power.
The clones vanished as quickly as they appeared, and the real Stenly followed up with a concentrated barrage of dark energy blasts, keeping Goros momentarily occupied. Seizing the opportunity, the entire group surged forward, launching a desperate, unified attack.
But Goros simply smirked. With a casual gesture, he unleashed an enormous explosion of crimson energy, engulfing everyone in its destructive embrace. The heroes were thrown back, battered and bruised once more. As they struggled to rise, Goros's mocking laughter echoed through the ravaged forest. "You can try as many times as you want," he taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "But the result will always be the same."
Suddenly, a voice, cold and authoritative, cut through the air. "Don't count on it too much, glitch."
Upon hearing that voice, both Anty and Stenly instantly knelt, their faces etched with reverence. "Welcome," they said in unison, their voices filled with awe. "Supreme Admin."