BALLAD OF THE TRACIENTS

The towering Great Tree stood behind them, its ancient presence fading as Adam, Kon, and Trevor made their way back through the smaller, frozen trees. The snow crunched beneath their feet, and the storm's fury swirled above, though its intensity had lessened within the heart of the forest. The trio walked in silence at first, each processing the events that had just unfolded inside the Great Tree.

Trevor, who had been unusually quiet, finally broke the silence. "I still can't believe it… The Aryas, the war, and this world being connected to mine. It's almost too much to take in."

Adam nodded, glancing at Trevor. "I'm still wrapping my head around it too. But it all makes sense. The Aryas are the key to everything—the balance of the world."

Kon, who had been walking a few steps ahead, was more tense than usual. "We can't afford to dwell on it too long. Razik's still out there."

As if on cue, a sharp whistling sound filled the air. Adam's ears perked up, his reflexes kicking in just in time as he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding a blast of energy that exploded behind him. The ground erupted in a plume of snow and debris, sending a shockwave through the forest. Trevor leaped up as well, clutching a low tree branch above him for balance.

"Plasma beads…" Adam muttered under his breath, his heart racing. He had seen those blasts before. Razik.

"How could I be so careless?" Kon growled, berating himself. "I should've been paying attention to our surroundings."

"I should've smelled them from a mile away." Adam scanned the trees, his nostrils flaring, but there was no time to react as shadows moved out from the forest's edge.

Razik appeared first, his dark green cloak fluttering behind him as he approached, a wicked grin spreading across his face. His Hyena minions flanked him, their eyes glowing with malice as they encircled the trio.

"You escaped by luck the last time, but that won't happen again," Razik taunted, his cold eyes locking onto Adam. But then his gaze flickered toward Trevor, and a momentary flash of confusion crossed his face. "A monkey Tracient? I thought your kind were all wiped out in the wars."

Trevor smirked, unbothered by Razik's surprise. "Surprised? Don't worry, I'm just the last one standing, here to ruin your day."

Razik's eyes narrowed, his lip curling in disdain. "You must have survived the destruction of your kind just like the tiger cub. One more Tracient won't change anything. You'll all die here today." His voice dripped with malice as he took a step forward, his minions shuffling back to give him a wide berth.

Kon's body tensed as Razik advanced. "Stay back," Kon warned, pulling a blade from its sheath.

Razik's grin widened. "You've no idea what you're up against, Kon. Did you ever wonder what my Arcem is?" His eyes gleamed with cruel intent. "Allow me to show you."

With a sudden, violent burst of energy, Razik unleashed his Arcem. The air around him shimmered as if the very fabric of reality was bending to his will. Adam and Kon instinctively took a step back, sensing the overwhelming power radiating from Razik.

"I've been holding back during our previous encounters," Razik sneered. "But not anymore. Behold my Arcem__Albedo"

Before Kon or Adam could react, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The gravity around Razik intensified exponentially as he activated his Arcem's potential. In an instant, a gravitational field surged outward from Razik, increasing the pull by a thousandfold. Loose stones, broken branches, and even one of Razik's own Hyena minions were pulled into the field. The moment the unfortunate Hyena entered the gravitational zone, it was crushed instantly—obliterated into nothing.

Kon's eyes widened, panic flaring briefly. He could feel the intense pull dragging at him, pulling him closer to the gravitational core. "This is insane!" Kon yelled over the roar of the gravitational forces.

Kon activated his Interium Arcem, erecting a barrier of shimmering light around the trio to stave off the crushing gravity. The barrier flickered and strained under the weight of Razik's power, but it held—barely. Razik's cold laughter filled the air, his confidence clear as he advanced.

"There's no point in resisting," Razik mocked. "You're not strong enough to withstand this."

Kon gritted his teeth, beads of sweat forming on his brow as he fought to keep the barrier up. "Adam! Take Trevor and get out of here!" Kon shouted. "I need to go into Grand Kaplan mode. It's the only way to stop him."

Adam hesitated for a moment, unsure. "But—"

"Do it! Now!" Kon snapped. "You'll be killed if you stay in this field!"

Trevor looked conflicted. "We can't just leave you!"

"We have no time!" Kon barked, his voice strained. "Get out of the field, or you'll die!"

Realizing the severity of the situation, Adam took a deep breath, summoning the power of his Arcem. In a blur of movement, Adam grabbed Trevor, and in a flash of light, they teleported a good distance away—just beyond the reach of Razik's gravitational pull. They could still see the battle from where they stood, but the pull of gravity was weaker.

As soon as they were clear, Kon spoke the words and transformed before allowing his barrier to drop. The moment the shield fell, the immense gravitational force slammed into him, pinning him to the ground. The suit of the Grand Kaplan form glowed faintly, protecting him from being crushed outright, but Kon couldn't move. The weight was too great, and every muscle in his body strained against the pressure.

Razik approached him, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Your Arya protects you, but just barely," he remarked, his voice a cold whisper. "You're finished, cub."

Meanwhile, in the distance, Adam and Trevor faced off against Razik's minions. Adam's movements were a blur as he used Kirin to teleport from one enemy to the next, delivering swift, powerful strikes. Trevor, on the other hand, used his agility and wit to outmaneuver the Hyenas, dodging their attacks with ease.

Despite their success in holding off Razik's forces, Adam's attention kept drifting back to Kon. He could see the tiger Tracient struggling against Razik's gravitational field, and the thought of losing him gnawed at his heart.

"We can't let Kon die like this," Adam muttered.

Trevor, who had been fending off an incoming Hyena, landed beside Adam. "We're not giving up yet," he said, his voice filled with determination.

Adam thought back to what Trevor had said inside the Great Tree. Is it possible? Could Trevor be the key to turning the tide of this battle? Adam clenched his fists, his mind racing. He made a decision.

Without hesitation, Adam pulled a long red cloth from the air, seemingly materializing it with his Arcem. He handed it to Trevor, his expression serious. "Put this on."

Trevor blinked, confused. "What? A headband? Now? This is hardly the time for games, Adam."

"It's not a game," Adam said firmly. "Trust me. It's more than just a headband. Just put it on."

Trevor hesitated, then took the headband. He stared at it for a moment before tying it around his forehead. The symbol of three spirals decorated the front, and as soon as Trevor secured it, the spirals began to glow faintly.

A strange warmth spread through Trevor's body, and he felt a power growing inside him—ancient, familiar. It was as if he were being guided, shown the path, like a parent teaching a child how to walk for the first time. Trevor's heart raced, but a smile spread across his face as the words came to him naturally.

"Unleash: Grand Maymum."

In a flash of light, Trevor was enveloped by a radiant glow. When the light faded, he stood transformed—his body adorned in a magnificent suit. A golden circlet was on his head with two strands of cloth extending from them, his hands gripping a black staff banded with gold. Trevor's eyes widened as he looked down at himself, excitement bubbling up inside him.

"This is amazing!" Trevor exclaimed, swinging the staff experimentally.

"Focus, Trevor," Adam said, though he couldn't help but smile at his friend's enthusiasm. "Kon needs our help."

The two rushed back toward the battlefield where Kon was still pinned under the immense gravity field. Razik turned at the sight of Trevor, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Another transformation?" Razik snarled, his voice filled with rage. "What is this?"

Trevor grinned, spinning his staff effortlessly. "Why not come close and find out?"

Razik's face twisted into a scowl. "You insolent fool! No transformation can stop the inevitable. The pull of Albido will crush you just like the others!" His voice echoed with confidence as the gravitational field around him grew stronger, pulling in everything within range.

Trevor, however, wasn't fazed. He took a deep breath, feeling the power coursing through him as he approached the edge of Razik's field. The closer he got, the more intense the pull became, but he held firm, his suit flowing with energy. Just as he was entering the crushing zone, Trevor raised his staff and spoke the words that had come to him so naturally:

"Kargasa!"

In an instant, the gravitational pull vanished. The entire battlefield shifted as the intense, crushing gravity transformed into a gentle breeze. The air around them shimmered, and where the ground had been torn apart by Razik's force, a field of vibrant flowers bloomed, stretching out in all directions. The oppressive aura that had weighed on them lifted, replaced by a sense of calm.

Kon, who had been pinned to the ground moments before, felt the immense pressure vanish. With newfound strength, he leapt to his feet, shaking off the remnants of Razik's power. He gripped his twin swords tightly, his eyes locking onto Razik.

Razik staggered back, his face twisted in shock. "What… what is this?!" he demanded, his voice trembling with disbelief. "How did you disrupt my power?"

Trevor smirked, spinning his staff before slamming it into the ground with a flourish. "Behold the power of Derision, Razik—the power to disrupt and nullify any phenomenon I choose. Your gravitational tricks? Useless."

Razik's fury boiled over, his hands trembling as he clenched his fists. "You think this will save you?!" he bellowed, his voice filled with rage. "I'll crush you all the same!"

Trevor winked at him. "Oh, I don't think so. You've lost your edge, Razik. Face it, we've got you cornered."

Without hesitation, Trevor charged with his staff. The black weapon ignited with flames, its gold bands glowing with a fiery intensity. Trevor grinned, swinging the flaming staff toward Razik with surprising force.

Razik barely had time to react, throwing up a barrier of Mana just in time to block the strike. The sheer power of Trevor's attack, however, sent him skidding backward, his leg leaving deep grooves in the ground as he struggled to maintain his footing.

Kon, now free from Razik's gravitational field, took advantage of the opening. He pulled out his twin swords glowing with radiant energy as he rushed forward to join the fray. Together, Trevor and Kon closed in on Razik, their combined might pushing him further and further back.

Razik gritted his teeth. His heart pounded with fury, outraged by the sudden change of events. The power of the Aryas had shifted the balance, and with both Kon and Trevor wielding their newfound strength, Razik could feel the tides turning against him.

With a frustrated growl, Razik slammed his fists into the ground, creating a shockwave that momentarily halted the trio's advance. "This isn't over," he hissed, his eyes burning with hatred. "You think you've won a victory here, but this is far from the end."

Before any of them could respond, Razik's body flickered, and in a swirl of dark energy, he vanished from the battlefield, leaving the trio standing in the aftermath of the fight.

For a moment, there was only silence, the gentle breeze from Trevor's Arcem still blowing through the now-peaceful field.

Trevor, still holding his flaming staff, let out a victorious laugh, spinning the staff over his head. "Did you see that?!" he shouted, his voice filled with excitement. "I sent him running! We completely wiped the floor with him!"

Kon, still in his Grand Kaplan form, sheathed his twin swords and turned to face Trevor, his expression unreadable. "Where did you get that Arya?" he asked, his voice low and serious. "The Arya of Derision… where did it come from?"

Trevor's excitement faltered slightly. He glanced at the black staff in his hand, then back at Kon. "Uh… well, Adam gave it to me," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Both Trevor and Kon turned to Adam, who had been watching the battle closely. Kon's golden eyes narrowed, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Adam," he said, his voice hardening. "You've got a lot of explaining to do."