BALLAD OF THE TRACIENTS

Kopa stood tall, his antlers gleaming faintly in the shimmering light of the barrier behind him. His eyes, sharp and intelligent, studied the trio before him as he gave a polite nod.

"King Darius has been expecting you," Kopa said smoothly, his voice carrying a tone of calm authority. "He's aware of your journey and your intentions to meet with him. Follow me, and I will escort you to the capital."

Adam, Kon, and Trevor exchanged brief glances, a shared sense of both relief and curiosity passing between them.

Trevor grinned, "Well, it's nice to know we're expected. I was worried we'd have to break in through that big glowing wall behind you."

Adam chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "I think we've had enough breaking through walls for now."

Kon, though as serious as ever, couldn't hide his curiosity. "How long has Darius known we were coming?"

Kopa regarded Kon with a measured gaze. "Long enough. The king is aware of many things. The disturbances in Narn have not gone unnoticed, and he knew that the prophecy concerning the Aryas would eventually bring you to our borders."

Trevor looked over at the shimmering barrier. "Prophecies, Aryas, and kings… feels like a lot of responsibility to me. You sure we're up for this?"

Adam sighed softly, his gaze distant for a moment. "It's not about being ready, Trevor. It's about doing what's right."

Kopa nudged them forward, "Come, let's not keep the King w..."

A distant boom echoed through the air, the ground trembling beneath their feet. The noise reverberated in the forest, the sound of an explosion so powerful that even the trees seemed to shake in response.

The trio froze, their senses immediately on high alert.

"What was that?" Adam asked, his voice filled with concern.

Kopa's shoulders tensed slightly, and he closed his eyes for a brief moment, disappointment crossing his otherwise composed face. "It's Razik," he muttered. "I had set up defenses against his attacks on the outer towns, but it seems those defenses have fallen."

As if on cue, another explosion erupted, louder and more violent than the first. The sky lit up in the distance with a purple fiery glow, and the faint outline of smoke began to rise over the treetops.

"This attack is worse than the others," Kopa said, his voice filled with quiet frustration. "He must be leading this one himself. Razik doesn't usually leave his stronghold for minor skirmishes. He's making a statement."

Kon's hands clenched into fists, the air around him growing colder as his emotions surged. "Then we'll make a statement of our own."

Trevor nodded, a rare look of seriousness crossing his face. "Let's go. We can't let him tear apart any more of Narn."

Kopa, who had remained calm despite the chaos, glanced at Adam. "Will you help us? My men are already engaged in battle, but we may not be able to hold out much longer."

Adam's expression hardened as he nodded firmly. "We're with you."

Without another word, the four of them set off toward the direction of the explosion, the fiery glow in the distance growing larger with each step. The air grew hotter as they neared the battlefield, the distant sound of clashing metal and the roars of battle filling the air.

--------------------------------

When they arrived, the sight before them was nothing short of devastating.

The small town that had once stood at the edge of Archen Land was now little more than a smoldering ruin. Buildings had been reduced to rubble, the streets littered with debris and fallen soldiers. Kopa's men were struggling to fend off Razik's forces, but it was clear that they were outmatched. Hyena Tracients, brutal and vicious, snarled and slashed their way through the defenders. The ground was scorched, the heat of battle palpable.

And at the center of it all stood Razik.

Razik, a massive Hyena Tracient, loomed over the battlefield, his green coat bristling with the glow of his Albido. His eyes, sharp and cruel, gleamed with malicious glee as he surveyed the destruction around him. His armor, jagged and black, seemed to absorb the heat from the flames that surrounded him.

"This explains the collapse," Kopa said grimly, surveying the scene. "With Razik here, it's no wonder our defenses couldn't hold."

Adam and the others stepped forward cautiously, their minds focused on the task at hand. Kon's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the battlefield. He felt the weight of his Arya of Destruction thrumming within him, its power ready to be unleashed.

Trevor, stood beside him, "Time to give this hyena a lesson he won't forget."

Both Kon and Trevor called upon their Grand Forms, their bodies transforming in flashes of light and power. Kon's fur shimmered, and his twin swords materialized in his hands, glowing with the energy of the Grand Kaplan. Trevor, enveloped in a golden aura, hefted his newly transformed staff, the black weapon gleaming with power.

Razik's gaze fell upon the four of them, and his lips curled into a sinister grin. "So, the heroes arrive once again. You escaped me before, but this time will be different."

With a flick of his wrist, Razik unleashed Albido. A ball of energy formed in his hands, crackling with dangerous intensity. It pulsed and expanded, growing larger and more unstable as it absorbed the energy around it. The heat that radiated from it was unbearable, and everything in its path began to wither and vaporize—trees, plants, even Kopa's soldiers.

Kopa gasped, stepping back in shock. "I've never seen him use power like this."

The intensity of Razik's energy ball was overwhelming, its heat scalding the air. Kon and Trevor, despite their powerful forms, felt the crushing weight of the attack bearing down on them. Even their Grand Suits were struggling to hold back the force, and the energy field's pressure was growing unbearable.

Razik's eyes gleamed with sadistic delight as the ground beneath them blackened and cracked. "Do you see?" he sneered. "This is the true power of Albido. Nothing can survive it."

Adam's vision blurred as the heat overtook him. He stumbled, his legs buckling beneath him as he tried to stay conscious. The air was thick and suffocating, the intense pressure forcing his body to shut down. Kopa, caught off guard by the heat and energy, collapsed beside him, the world spinning as darkness overtook his senses.

Only Kon and Trevor remained standing, but even they were fading. Their suits protected them from the worst of the heat, but their strength was waning with each passing second. Trevor could feel his consciousness slipping, his grip on his staff weakening as the pressure mounted.

Kon's vision blurred as well, his body trembling under the weight of the energy field. "We… can't hold… much longer."

Just as both of them were about to succumb to the overwhelming power, the ground shook, and a powerful gust of wind swept through the battlefield. Dust and debris swirled around them, obscuring Razik's attack.

A shadow loomed over them, and something massive dropped from the sky, landing with a thunderous impact between them and Razik.

Kon and Trevor's eyes widened in shock as the dust began to settle. Razik, too, was stunned, his laughter fading as he peered through the haze.

As the figure emerged from the dust, it became clear who had arrived.

The newcomer stood tall, his fur a rich brown with patches of milky gold on his chest, arms, tail end, and head. His eyes were a striking lemon green, glowing with an otherworldly brightness. Draped over his powerful frame was a royal cloak of matching lemon green, fluttering gently in the hot wind.

He turned his gaze toward Kon and Trevor, his expression calm but filled with authority. "My apologies for being late," he said, his voice smooth and regal. "And for having my guests do such difficult work in my absence."

The figure then turned toward Razik, who now seethed with barely contained fury.

"Now then," the figure said, his voice growing firm, "it's time to round this up."

Kon and Trevor exchanged a glance, realization dawning on them.

It was King Darius.