The ground trembled beneath their feet as the Special Officer Force stood at the edge of the massive crater.

  Khem clenched his fists, his mind racing. “We have no time to waste. If they weren’t bluffing, whatever Wise is planning is already in motion.”

  Samui adjusted her scanner device, scanning the crater. “The energy signature is concentrated right in the center. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before—it’s fluctuating.”

  At the edge of the crater, SOF took a last stop to look around inside. What was once a giant rocky hole was now filled with flora, a perfect cover for Wise's hideout. Senshi, who could now stand on his own, looked ahead and said, "This is the place."

  Khem exhaled sharply, his fingers flexing. He gave a small nod, his usual silence speaking volumes.

  Samui glanced at her scanner device, her brows furrowing. "If Wise has fortified the area, we need to assume everything is a trap. We proceed carefully, no unnecessary risks."

  Weird scoffed but cracked a tense grin. "No unnecessary risks? I don’t think we’ve ever followed that rule. But hey, let’s try to make history."

  Shining ran a hand through his hair, his expression more serious than usual. "We’ve stopped threats before, but this... this is something else. Wise has always been ahead of us. This time, we need to be ahead of him."

  Senshi steadied himself, nodding. "We are not the same team that started this mission. We’re stronger now. We finish this, together."

  The weight of their journey settled in the silence that followed. They knew what lay ahead would push them beyond their limits, but none of them hesitated.

  “Let’s go.” Khem turned, already stepping onto the rocky descent into the crater, leaving Slim and Psycho frozen in stasis in the jungle. The others followed, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them with every step.

  As they descended further, something felt off. No traps. No resistance. No movement at all. The jungle that had once been a deadly maze of hazards now stood eerily still, as if all its defenses had become unnecessary.

  Weird glanced around, uneasy. "Okay, this is creepy. Where’s the part where everything tries to kill us?"

  Samui checked her scanner again. "Nothing. No heat signatures, no motion. It’s like... it doesn’t need to stop us anymore."

  Senshi took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Or Wise thinks we’re too late to make a difference."

  Shining let out a slow breath. "I don’t like it. He’s always been three steps ahead, but this? This feels different. Like we’re not even worth the effort."

  Khem remained silent, his eyes scanning the unnatural stillness ahead. Whatever awaited them at the bottom of the crater, it was clear—Wise no longer needed to stall them.

  They finally reached the bottom, where a sign of a structure began to emerge behind the thick trees and bushes. As they moved closer, the overgrown vegetation parted just enough to reveal the decayed remains of an old, abandoned meteorite stones research facility. The once-imposing structure now lay in ruin, its walls cracked and overtaken by nature, but the energy surrounding it suggested its secrets were far from dead.

  Then, every member of SOF froze the moment they looked ahead at the entrance. Not because of time manipulation, not because of sequence manipulation, not even reality warping. They froze because they saw a man—a giant of a man, a titan.

  The man sat on a massive rock, guarding the entrance with an air of effortless dominance. His sheer size and presence alone were enough to make them hesitate.

  His name was Muscular, titled Overkill.

  He was forged in the depths of an underground fight club, created for one purpose: to be the perfect weapon for blood sports. Trained to fight with pure, unrelenting force, he was more machine than man—his emerald-green hair, monstrous physique, and unnatural strength were no accidents. He crushed opponents with brutal efficiency, earning the title Overkill as his legend grew.

  But they made a fatal mistake. They thought they could control him.

  When his handlers attempted to reinforce his obedience, Muscular broke free. He destroyed the underground facility that created him, tearing through vault doors, crushing escape vehicles, and slaughtering anyone who dared oppose him. In the end, when the last surviving executive asked, “What do you want?” Muscular’s response was simple:

  “Something bigger to break.”

  Wise found him amidst the rubble, and he didn’t need to recruit him. Muscular didn’t care about loyalty or ideology—he was destruction incarnate. Wise merely gave him an outlet for his unstoppable force.

  Since then, Muscular has become Wise’s blunt instrument, a being whose strength defies all logic—because Muscular doesn’t believe in limits. He doesn’t need strategy. He just wins.

  And now, as SOF stands before him, frozen at the sight of his colossal frame sitting on the rock, they know one truth—

  They are not ready for him. But they have to be.

  Muscular started to stand up. A normal gesture. But that alone was enough to make every member of SOF take a step back. The image of Muscular effortlessly defeating them was still fresh in their memories.

  Then, a few moments later, Senshi, although weakened, was the first to step forward. He pointed at Muscular, his eyes filled with conviction. "A rematch. Now." he declared.

  After hearing the rematch request, Muscular looked down. Was he hiding his amusement, or was he feeling pity? Or maybe, nothing at all—he just wanted to look down.

  But Khem and Senshi sensed something dangerous. Both telling everyone to be prepared.

  Then, nothing. Muscular wasn't there anymore.

  None of SOF even blinked—Muscular just vanished.

  Then it all happened. Muscular fell from the sky, stomping the ground—the attack that had taken only two strikes to defeat SOF before. The first had already landed.

  The entire ground under SOF tilted upward and flipped toward Muscular, while the ground behind him hadn't moved at all. Bushes and trees were violently uprooted, twisting through the air as the force of the shift sent debris flying in every direction.

  SOF had no time to anticipate an attack this big. They scrambled, reaching for anything to hold onto, desperate not to be thrown toward Muscular.

  Muscular noticed SOF catching onto bushes and trees. Lifting his arm, he then punched the tilted land with an incredible force.

  Physically speaking, a force that strong against such a giant chunk of dirt and rock should've shattered the entire piece. But here, the entire chunk of land that SOF had held onto flew away from Wise's base at the speed of sound.

  SOF barely had a second to process the sheer force that had just been unleashed upon them. The shockwave rattled their bodies, their ears ringing as they realized they were no longer on solid ground. The land beneath them was no longer a foundation—it was a projectile, and they were caught in its wake. Leaves, dirt, and shattered roots swirled violently around them as they clung to whatever they could grasp.

  Khem’s sharp eyes darted across the chaos, instincts kicking in. If they held on any longer, they’d be flung even further—maybe even out of reach. His voice cut through the wind, urgent and unwavering.

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  "Let go! Now!"

  Everyone let go of whatever they were holding and plummeted toward the ground below. Samui, reacting quickly, used her remote to decelerate their fall, softening the impact before they crashed into the remnants of the war against the drones.

  As they struggled to recover, shock ran through the team. Weird groaned, shaking his head. "Did that just happen? Did we really just get launched like that?"

  Shining exhaled sharply, his hands pressing against the dirt. "That was... ridiculous. We didn’t even get a chance to fight back."

  Samui wiped debris from her face, quickly checking her scanner. "We need to move. If he can do that in an instant, we won’t survive another direct hit."

  Senshi clenched his fists, frustration boiling in his chest. "Damn it. We trained for this. We should be ready for him. So why—"

  But Khem remained silent. His mind replayed the last few moments over and over again. If he hadn’t made the call to let go, they wouldn’t have just been thrown—they would’ve been launched back to the starting point. Muscular wasn’t just strong. He was toying with them.

  Then, a woman's voice shouted from not so far away. SOF turned to the voice. It was Four, still sitting where she had been lying down. She asked, "What the hell was that?"

  SOF remained quiet, asking themselves the same question.

  Samui, still scanning for readings, finally answered. "It wasn't just brute force. The terrain itself shifted. Muscular's attacks aren't just about power—they distort the battlefield itself. He didn't just hit us. He sent the ground flying like it was nothing."

  Four, upon hearing Muscular's name, scoffed, "Muscular?" Then, she burst out laughing, though the sound carried a hollow edge. "So you all made it to him. Count yourself lucky that you're still alive right now. Even I don’t wanna mess with that freak."

  She ran a hand through her hair, her grin fading slightly. "Look, you don’t understand. You’ve fought tough enemies before, sure, but Muscular? He’s different. He doesn’t fight, he crushes. You can’t outthink him, can’t outmaneuver him. He doesn’t have a strategy because he doesn’t need one."

  Her eyes darkened as she leaned back. "The only reason I’m still breathing is because I knew better than to stand in his way. I took one look and decided I liked living more than I liked fighting."

  Weird let out a bitter laugh, rubbing his temples. "Great. Just great. So we’re doomed, huh? Thanks for the motivational speech, Four. Maybe instead of laughing, you could tell us something useful—like how we don’t end up as another crater in the ground?"

  Four gave him a curious look, her expression shifting from amusement to something more intrigued. "Oh? Asking your enemy for advice? That’s a first for me."

  Shining crossed his arms, his gaze flicking between Four and Weird. "Is this really a good idea? Taking advice from her?"

  Samui sighed, her eyes scanning the area. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, as if reluctantly acknowledging the truth. "I hate to admit it, but Four has been with Muscular before. Maybe... maybe she has insight we don’t have."

  Four shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "Insight? Sure. If you want to survive, don’t try to outsmart him. Muscular doesn’t play by the rules. He just... wins. But I suppose you’re already learning that the hard way." She gave them a once-over, her tone slightly softer. "You want my advice? Keep your distance, and pray he doesn’t notice you."

  Shining’s gaze hardened, and his voice was calm but resolute. "Hiding won’t cut it. Muscular’s a monster, but we don’t win by running. We face him, or we walk away, and I’m not walking away."

  He glanced at the team, unwavering. "We’ve always pushed forward. That’s how we win."

  Senshi nodded in agreement, his fists clenched in resolve. "Shining’s right. Running isn’t an option. If we turn back now, we’ll never get another chance."

  Four sighed, her tone heavy with a bitter edge. "You two are something else. Charging in without a second thought... Fine. Go ahead, try your luck. But don’t come crying to me when it all falls apart. I’ve seen this story before."

  Samui, still scanning the area, spoke up again. "You’ve worked with Muscular before. Do you have any insights into his power? How do we stand a chance against someone like him?"

  Four sighed and adjusted her position, her tone shifting to something more contemplative. "Whenever I fought with him, he always destroyed everything in a few hits. But when it takes more than that... I can feel his frustration. His power weakens slightly. Take that however you will, I’m not smart enough for this."

  She then leaned back down, closing her eyes as if to shut out the conversation.

  Samui stood, staring at Four, her mind processing the words and advice carefully. Her gaze was intense, considering the implications of Four’s words, and how they could be used to defeat Muscular. The weight of the strategy settled on her shoulders, but she didn’t look away. Finally, she nodded slightly, as if accepting the challenge that lay ahead.

  Before they moved forward, Khem paused, his eyes narrowing as he looked over at Samui. An idea sparked in his mind, and he turned to her, voice low but serious. "Do you remember how to register a channel to a specific number?"

  Samui turned to Khem, shaking her head slightly. "No, I’ve never tried it. I’m not sure how my power would interact with it. It could cause... unexpected results."

  Khem raised an eyebrow, his tone still serious. "But do you remember?

  Samui looked at him, confused. "Yes, of course. Why?"

  Khem didn’t respond immediately. He simply gave her a sharp nod before turning his attention to the team. "Alright," he muttered under his breath, then gestured toward the crater. "Let's move."

  The team moved forward with quiet determination, the weight of Four’s words still hanging in the air. As they approached the edge of the massive crater, the stillness of the jungle seemed to close in around them, as if even nature itself was holding its breath. The overgrown vegetation parted to reveal the jagged rocks and shifting ground that marked the entrance to Muscular's domain.

  Each step felt heavier than the last, and yet there was no turning back. They had come this far, and they knew what lay ahead would test them in ways they had never imagined. Khem led the way, his eyes scanning the horizon with unwavering focus.

  The crater stretched before them like an abyss, its depths shadowed in an unsettling calm, but Muscular's presence loomed just beyond it—a force they could not avoid. The ground beneath their feet still trembled faintly from his last attack, a constant reminder of the overwhelming power they were about to face.

  Shining glanced at Samui, whose expression was now unreadable, as if her mind was already working out their next move. Her gaze briefly met his, a silent understanding passing between them. They were no longer just a team—they were the last line of defense against an unstoppable force.

  Senshi, his resolve as firm as ever, tightened his fists. The weight of the coming battle didn’t show on his face—only the quiet certainty that they were ready.

  "We’re going to finish this," he said under his breath, but loud enough for the others to hear.

  Weird let out a bitter laugh, his voice heavy with irony.

  "Yeah, we’re really gonna need more than just our guts for this one."

  The team’s footsteps slowed as they reached the edge of the massive crater. Their eyes scanned the vast expanse before them, the air thick with tension. And then, there he was—Muscular, sitting on the same giant rock in the same dominant posture as before. His sheer presence radiated an almost unbearable weight, one that pressed down on the team the moment they saw him. The monstrous figure seemed to blend into the landscape, yet his unmistakable power was palpable, even from a distance.

  Muscular didn’t move, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance as though waiting for them. SOF stood frozen, a moment of stillness hanging between them and their adversary. They had arrived.

  Senshi took a deep breath, his fingers tightening around the large dragon scroll hanging from his waist. The air around him crackled, his energy building as he unrolled the scroll with practiced precision. He didn’t wait.

  With a loud shout, “RYU!” the words cut through the tense silence like a battle cry.

  In an instant, a bus-sized, flaming dragon—a massive Western dragon—erupted from the scroll. Its eyes burned with fire, and its roar shook the ground beneath them. The flames on its body wove into a wall of heat, crackling with untamed fury. The dragon circled overhead, its wings beating with enough force to stir the very air around them.

  Seeing a giant dragon and a man in a fighting gesture, Muscular stood up again. As Muscular rose to his feet, his colossal form towered over the team. His eyes, hidden behind the ever-present blindfold, were unreadable, but his posture was a silent challenge—unshaken, unyielding. The weight of his presence pressed down on them, and they could feel the full force of his power building as the inevitable confrontation drew near.

  Without hesitation, Senshi charged forward, the massive flaming dragon surging ahead in tandem, both aiming for a lethal strike. In response, Muscular immediately lifted his foot, preparing to make the second stomp, just like before. It was as if he were testing SOF—to see if they had truly surpassed their past defeat.

  But instead of throwing a punch, Senshi dove beneath Muscular’s raised foot, surprising him just slightly. The massive dragon swirled around, its fiery breath grazing the air as it adjusted to the unexpected move.

  Muscular threw his foot down with incredible force. The earth shook violently beneath them, as if the entire world had collided with something enormous. The shockwave rippled outward, sending debris flying in all directions. The team was tossed aside like ragdolls, struggling to hold on as the ground beneath them cracked and crumbled.

  Then, it happened. Muscular staggered backward as if he had taken a blow himself, his posture faltering for just a moment. His eyes widened in confusion as he looked down at what was supposed to be Senshi's pulverized body—but it wasn’t Senshi. Somehow, Weird had managed to swap places with Senshi and took the full force of Muscular’s stomp. In return, Weird rebounded Muscular’s full-force stomp back onto him.

  Muscular’s confusion grew, and his gaze shifted toward Samui. She stood calmly, holding out a remote, pointing directly at Weird’s position. Her finger hovered over the channel switch button, the faintest hint of concentration on her face. Senshi was also now standing behind Samui, his presence solid and unwavering, ready to act if the situation escalated.

  This would be their third battle against Muscular, the ultimate test of their strength and resilience. The past encounters had ended in overwhelming defeat, but this time was different. They had learned, adapted, and refused to let history repeat itself. This was their final stand.