Wasting no time, the dragon unleashed an intense stream of flames toward Muscular, the fire roaring like a beast hungry for destruction. But Muscular rushed through the flames without hesitation, his body cutting through the inferno as if it were nothing. His eyes locked onto Samui, and with an almost unnatural speed for his size, he charged toward her. He aimed a punch that seemed destined to end her life, one that would surely crush her. But just as the punch came down, Samui immediately pointed the remote at herself and pressed the channel switch button again. She vanished, and Weird appeared in her place.


    Muscular had no time to pull back his punch and struck Weird in the torso with full force. But Weird''s power activated instantly, causing the full damage to rebound back toward Muscular''s torso. Muscular staggered back, already hit twice, the blow clearly affecting him. Frustration began to build inside him, his eyes narrowing as the team’s unexpected resilience started to get under his skin. Weird, still standing tall and grinning, couldn''t resist mocking him. "Twice, huh? Not bad for a guy who doesn’t even know what hit him," he jeered, clearly enjoying the sight of Muscular’s frustration building.


    Muscular growled in frustration and lunged forward, grabbing Weird by his clothes. With a mighty heave, he aimed to throw him as far away as possible. But before he could, Samui realized Muscular’s intention and pressed another channel switch remote.


    "Not a chance," she muttered, watching the scene unfold before her.


    Muscular tried again, pulling with both hands to hurl Weird away. But to his surprise, Weird wouldn’t budge. In that instant, Weird and Khem had swapped places. Khem, now the immovable force, had used his stasis lock to render himself an unmovable object. His body locked in place, defying Muscular’s attempt with the full weight of Muscular’s strength failing to move him. Meanwhile, Weird stood in Khem’s previous position, unaffected by Muscular’s strength, like an unshakable pillar.


    Muscular''s expression shifted for a moment, a flicker of surprise crossing his face as he realized Khem was not where he had expected him to be. In that split second, Khem immediately released his stasis lock and shot out his hand, aiming to touch Muscular.


    Reacting in an instant, Muscular released Khem from his grip and leaped backward, narrowly avoiding being frozen in place by Khem’s touch. The frustration in Muscular''s eyes grew as he narrowly escaped the freezing power, but it was clear he was starting to lose control of the situation.


    Samui smiled, a brief glint of relief flashing in her eyes. “That was close! Keep going!” she called out, quickly switching her position once again, her focus sharp and unwavering.


    Muscular dug his hands into the ground, the earth trembling beneath him. With an almost primal force, he tore out a massive chunk of land and hurled it toward Samui with deadly precision. But for the third time, Muscular staggered backward as if an enormous wrecking ball had just struck him. At the spot where he had thrown the chunk of land, Weird emerged from the rubble, brushing himself off with a grin.


    "Uhhh, thrice? Not good, pal," he mocked, his voice full of amusement as he saw Muscular’s frustration mount.


    Shining, his eyes wide with excitement, couldn''t hide the grin spreading across his face.


    "It’s working! Damn, Khem, you’re a genius!" His voice rang with pure exhilaration, the thrill of seeing their plan come together lighting up his expression.


    Muscular''s frustration was now apparent. What had once seemed like an invincible titan was now visibly struggling under the SOF’s teamwork. For a moment, everything seemed to be going SOF’s way. Then, Muscular’s expression shifted, his frustration boiling over into raw aggression. Without warning, he charged toward Shining, aiming to land a killing blow on him.


    But Shining wasn’t caught off guard. With quick reflexes, he burst out with a flash of light, shining directly at Muscular to blind him, all while taunting, “Come on, big guy.”


    However, instead of landing the blow on Shining, Muscular came to an abrupt stop just inches away, his massive form towering over him. With a sudden, powerful swing, he punched the air between Shining and Samui, the shockwave from his strike sending a ripple through the atmosphere.


    Samui''s remote suddenly exploded in her hands, sending a shockwave of force through her body. She gasped in shock, instinctively bending down and clutching her injured hand, wincing from the pain. Her breath came in short, sharp gasps as she tried to steady herself.


    Senshi, noticing the injury, rushed to her side. His eyes widened in disbelief.


    "What the hell happened?" he asked, his voice sharp with concern as he scanned Samui’s injury.


    Shining, seeing Samui''s injury, quickly turned back to Muscular and realized with a shock that he hadn’t swapped places with anyone. Without wasting a moment, he tried to bolt away from Muscular, but it was too late. Muscular’s fist flew toward him, the punch almost landing thanks to Shining’s quick escape. But even as Shining avoided the full impact, the shockwave from the punch hit him like a freight train. The force sent him hurtling through the air, crashing violently into a nearby tree.


    With Shining now down and Samui already injured, two officers from SOF were immediately taken out of the battle, leaving the remaining team members to deal with Muscular’s overwhelming power.


    Muscular then turned his attention to Senshi, and Senshi, realizing the shift in focus, pushed Samui out of harm’s way. He quickly assumed a fighting stance, his eyes locking onto Muscular. With a sharp command, he called his dragon back to his side, readying himself for the next battle. The ground beneath them seemed to vibrate with the imminent clash.


    Muscular rushed toward Senshi with incredible speed, his massive form bearing down on him. Senshi, anticipating the charge, immediately used his giant flaming dragon to coat his body, mimicking his Dragon Form. The flames roared as they engulfed him, turning Senshi into a fiery, intimidating figure.


    The two fighters collided in a violent clash, their punches crashing into each other with a deafening impact, the shockwave rattling the air around them. The force of their blows sent a tremor through the ground, each trying to overpower the other in this moment of pure brute strength.


    As the two fighters traded blows, Muscular noticed Weird and Khem getting closer. With a sudden movement, he grabbed Senshi’s arm and, using his immense strength, flung him toward Khem. Khem, forced to take the full impact, couldn’t rely on his stasis lock this time. Instead, he braced himself, absorbing the blow to cushion Senshi’s crash.


    Weird, seeing this, rushed forward with a yell, taunting, “Come on, hit me, big guy!” But Muscular ignored Weird, his focus locked on Senshi, who was still struggling to stay in the fight.


    Just as Muscular was about to land a crushing blow on Senshi, another earth-shattering impact echoed across the battlefield. For the fourth time in the fight, Muscular felt the force of a devastating attack, his body staggering involuntarily.


    But the truth was clear—Senshi had swapped places with Weird.


    Everyone turned in unison, their gazes locking onto Samui. She stood slightly apart, gripping her second remote with her uninjured hand. Her fingers were poised over the channel switch button, her focus unwavering. With a flick of her thumb, she pressed another button, activating the rewind function—and in an instant, the destroyed remote in her other hand reverted to pristine condition.


    Muscular ignored everything else and rushed straight for Samui, his massive form barreling forward with terrifying speed. His fist was poised to deliver a devastating punch, ready to take her out of the fight for good.


    Samui reacted instantly, preparing to click the remote on herself, ready to swap at the last second. But then—just like before—Muscular stopped himself right before reaching her.


    This time, he wasn’t falling for the trick.


    Samui’s finger twitched over the button, but she didn’t press it. Her sharp eyes locked onto Muscular, waiting, analyzing. She wouldn’t waste a swap on a fake-out—not until he committed to a real attack.


    Then Muscular did something unimaginable—at least for everyone else. But not for him.


    If he could imagine it, he could do it.


    Without hesitation, Muscular gestured forward with both hands, as if grabbing onto something invisible. Samui, still watching cautiously, kept her focus locked on his next move, ready for anything—or so she thought.


    In a split second, Muscular violently pulled his hands back in a single, forceful motion.


    The air around Samui warped, distorting unnaturally. Then—everything in her direction—the ground, trees, debris… and Samui herself—were violently yanked toward Muscular.


    He hadn’t just attacked.


    He had pulled space itself.


    Samui had no time to register what was happening—before she could react, she was already being pulled toward her doom. Instinct took over, and she immediately clicked her remote, trying to swap places with Weird.


    But Muscular had anticipated it.


    Just as she pressed the button, Muscular threw a punch into the air between Samui and Weird. The force ruptured space itself, causing the remote to explode again, this time injuring her other hand.


    A sharp gasp escaped her lips, pain shooting through her body—but she didn’t stop. Biting through the pain, she forced her injured hand to click the previously repaired remote.


    This time, the swap worked.


    Weird was now the one hurtling toward Muscular instead.


    Muscular, realizing what had happened, reacted swiftly. Before Weird could crash into him, he caught him midair, his grip tightening around Weird’s clothes.


    Then, without a word, Muscular’s gaze shifted toward Samui, now standing where Weird had been just seconds ago.


    For the first time in the fight, he paused.


    He started to think.


    Samui, seizing the moment while Muscular was deep in thought, gritted her teeth and pressed the rewind button on her remote. A sharp pulse of energy coursed through her body, and in an instant, her injuries began reversing—but only partially.


    Her hand wasn’t fully healed. The deep burns and wounds faded slightly, enough for her fingers to move, but pain still throbbed through her nerves. She couldn’t afford a full rewind—not with Muscular watching her every move.


    Muscular noticed.


    His focus snapped to Samui, his mind piecing it together—she wasn’t just swapping people, she was reversing time on herself. Without hesitation, he thrust his hands forward and pulled space again, attempting to drag her into his grasp.


    Samui anticipated it this time.


    She leapt out of the way, but the force still caught her legs, yanking them toward Muscular with moderate force—not enough to fully pull her in, but enough to throw off her balance.


    Muscular didn’t stop.


    He intensified the pull, widening his stance, his hands gripping the fabric of reality itself. The force between them grew stronger, and Samui had no choice but to react—she pushed herself forward, accelerating into a sprint, running across the battlefield to escape the pull.


    But Muscular wasn’t letting go.


    The more she ran, the stronger the force became, warping the battlefield around her. Rocks, trees, even the air itself distorted, spiraling toward Muscular’s grasp as he amplified his control over space.


    Samui was running out of time.


    Khem and Senshi realized they couldn’t stand by any longer. Without hesitation, they rushed toward Muscular, determined to stop him before it was too late.


    Even Weird, still trapped in Muscular’s grip, refused to stay idle. He pummeled Muscular’s hand repeatedly, his strikes barely making an impact—but he wasn’t about to stop. “Damn it, let go already!” he growled, throwing every ounce of resistance into his attacks.


    Meanwhile, Samui, still caught in Muscular’s gravitational pull, made a split-second decision. She gripped her remote, this time using it to accelerate herself—not to escape completely, but to delay the inevitable for just a few more seconds.


    She just needed a little more time.


    Then, without warning, an intense beam of light blasted across the battlefield, striking Muscular directly in the face.


    For an instant, everything turned pure white—the sheer brightness swallowing the battlefield in an instant of blinding radiance.


    As the light faded, Muscular’s head snapped toward the source, a slight burn wound now seared into his temple. His expression darkened, locking onto the direction the attack had come from.


    There, struggling to push himself up, was Shining—still in a crawled position, one hand trembling as it remained pointed forward. His body ached with pain, but his eyes burned with defiance.


    Shining was back in the fight.


    Muscular, without a care for the rebound effect, violently tossed Weird into the sky, determined to remove the troublemaker from the battlefield.


    Seeing this, Samui quickly shouted at Khem, signaling him. Without hesitation, she pressed the channel switch button on Weird.


    In an instant, Khem swapped places with Weird.


    Before he could be flung away, Khem activated Stasis Lock, anchoring himself in place and, in turn, keeping Weird in the fight.


    But Muscular was already moving.


    He violently pulled space around Samui and Shining, distorting the battlefield into chaos. The air warped, the ground cracked, and a powerful force dragged them toward him.


    But this time, Muscular didn’t just let them fly toward him.


    Keeping his grip tight on space, he prepared to violently shake his arms, ready to snap the battlefield apart.


    But before he could finish the motion, Shining, mid-air and being pulled toward him, gritted his teeth and fired another blinding light beam straight into Muscular’s eyes.


    The intense flash of light struck its mark. Muscular flinched ever so slightly, his grip faltering for just a fraction of a second.


    It wasn’t enough to stop him—but it was enough to lessen the full force of the snap.


    Still, space around Muscular violently ruptured, tearing everything apart in both directions.


    The impact shattered the battlefield, obliterating anything caught in its path—including Samui and Shining.


    Seeing his team getting destroyed, Senshi immediately rushed toward Muscular to stop the onslaught.


    Weird rushed in to assist Senshi, but the sheer force of their battle made it nearly impossible to get close. Khem, however, stayed back, his sharp eyes locked onto the fight, analyzing, thinking. With Samui down, their ability to outmaneuver Muscular had been reduced to almost zero.


    The fight between Senshi and Muscular intensified, each clash more brutal than before. Senshi’s flame-coated body burned through Muscular’s fists slightly, the heat leaving scorch marks on his knuckles. But Muscular’s monstrous strength continued to push Senshi back, each blow carrying an earth-shattering force.


    The sheer shockwaves from their strikes prevented Weird from moving any closer, forcing him to shield himself against the impact.


    Then Muscular noticed his hands burning.


    His expression remained unreadable, but his response was immediate and devastating—he flattened his palm and unleashed a violent air push straight at Senshi.


    Senshi crossed his arms and braced for impact. The force slammed into him, pushing him back but not breaking his stance. However, his flame-coated body flickered—then extinguished completely.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    The sudden loss of his flames made Senshi hesitate, his focus breaking for just a split second.


    That was all Muscular needed.


    In that moment of weakness, Muscular’s fist tore through Senshi’s guard. The punch landed clean, the sheer force launching Senshi backward, crashing through several trees before his momentum finally stopped.


    Weird watched in horror, his voice breaking as he called out to Senshi.


    Khem remained silent, still observing. But his eye twitched. The battle was turning worse and worse, and he knew—they were running out of options.


    Muscular’s gaze shifted toward Khem.


    A silent acknowledgment. A predator locking onto its next prey.


    Khem knew exactly what that meant.


    His muscles tensed, his mind racing. He had no way to evade, no way to counter in time. His best option—activate Stasis Lock and buy as much time as possible.


    Just as Muscular rushed toward Khem, a third beam of light pierced through the battlefield, striking Muscular’s head with blinding force.


    The blast seared into his skin, leaving another burned mark on his face.


    Shining, barely hanging on, exhaled sharply, his body refusing to move—but his light was still strong. Strong enough to make Muscular feel it.


    "I’m still here, big guy," Shining taunted, his voice strained yet defiant.


    Muscular paused, turning his head toward Shining. Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, he gestured as if to rush toward him—his next target clear.


    But before he could move—


    A deafening roar erupted through the battlefield.


    A massive, flaming dragon tore through the air, colliding with Muscular at full force. The explosion of heat and fire engulfed him, leaving visible burns across his skin.


    The battlefield stood still for a moment, every gaze snapping toward the source of the attack.


    Through the settling flames and smoke, a lone figure emerged.


    Senshi.


    His footsteps were slow, but steady—each one shaking the battlefield with a renewed intensity.


    He was no longer just coated in flames.


    He had become the dragon again.


    Muscular’s frustration was palpable. He had never fought any battle this long before—his patience was wearing thin, and it was showing in every violent motion he made.


    Shining, sensing this shift in Muscular’s demeanor, didn’t hesitate. He fired the fourth beam of light, the blinding intensity aimed straight at Muscular’s head.


    Muscular instinctively turned, his massive fist swiping through the air to shatter the beam just like he had during the stone heist—with effortless force.


    But this time, it was a trap.


    In the instant Muscular’s focus shifted, Senshi saw his opening. He launched a flaming dragon attack from a distance, his fiery dragon clashing directly with Muscular’s chest.


    The hit landed.


    Muscular staggered back, his body visibly burnt from the intensity of the attack. He gritted his teeth, but the damage was clear—the skin around his torso was seared.


    Then, the unimaginable happened.


    Muscular’s blindfold slipped off, revealing something that took everyone by surprise—his eyes were completely white, with no pupils.


    Muscular had been blind the entire time.


    Only Senshi, with his sharp eyes, could see the reveal. He chuckled softly, almost to himself.


    "Of course," he muttered under his breath, as if the truth had been obvious all along.


    Senshi, without hesitation, surged forward, running straight at Muscular for a third clash. His body blazed with the intensity of his dragon form, ready to face the titan head-on.


    Muscular braced himself, his stance firm and unyielding as he prepared to take the fight to Senshi, his instincts telling him to meet force with force.


    Then the third crash occurred.


    This time, the impact was brutal—the force of their fists colliding sending shockwaves through the battlefield. But in the span of just a quarter of a minute, Muscular realized something was different.


    His fist was visibly burnt, the flames of Senshi’s attack even more intense than before. The heat seared through his skin, leaving blisters and blackened marks.


    Muscular, surprised by the intensity of the flames, jumped backward, putting distance between himself and Senshi to stop himself from being burnt further.


    For the first time in the battle, the titan retreated.


    Khem and Weird, still watching from the sidelines, were in awe of what Senshi had just achieved against Muscular. The titan, for the first time, had been forced to retreat.


    Shining, seeing this, let out a sharp laugh. The titan had actually jumped backward, and it was almost comical to see such a formidable force retreat.


    But that moment of triumph was short-lived. Muscular’s attention snapped toward Shining. Without missing a beat, he gripped space once more, preparing to pull Shining toward him.


    Senshi wasn’t about to let that happen. He launched his third fiery dragon punch, sending it straight through Muscular with explosive force. The impact scorched him, but Muscular endured the flames, his grip on space tightening even more.


    In response, Shining fired a beam of light directly at Muscular’s already burnt wound. The intensity of the beam was so powerful that it made Muscular loosen his grip, even for a brief moment.


    Khem’s eyes flickered between the battle and Shining’s weakening position. With Muscular still actively pulling space, he realized that Shining was about to become the next target. Without a moment’s hesitation, he snapped his command.


    “Weird, protect Shining! Don’t let Muscular manipulate space without interference.”


    Weird immediately shifted, positioning himself closer to Shining, ready to intercept Muscular’s next move.


    Khem realized the moment was near. Muscular was now at his most vulnerable—he had weakened under the combined attacks, and the opening to strike was coming.


    Muscular, noticing Weird’s interference, realized he could no longer pull Shining without risking the rebound effect. His attention shifted back to Senshi—the true threat on the battlefield.


    Senshi, seeing the titan’s focus on him, didn’t hesitate. He rushed toward Muscular, not giving him any chance to react or recover.


    Muscular, anticipating the attack, performed the same violent air push against Senshi. The force was immense, but Senshi blocked it, his body shaking from the sheer power. For a moment, his flame flickered, threatening to go out.


    But this time, something different happened.


    Senshi’s flames didn’t extinguish. Instead, they flared back to life—burning even more intensely than before, surging with power.


    With no hesitation, Senshi charged forward, launching a rapid series of flaming punches—each one explosive, the force behind them shaking the very ground. For the first time in this fight, Muscular was forced onto the defense.


    But that wasn’t all.


    From the sidelines, Shining, still fighting to stay conscious, fired a rapid series of light beams at Muscular, adding a constant barrage of attacks that kept him off balance.


    Then it happened—Muscular’s foot slipped on the uneven terrain he had created, his balance faltering.


    For a brief moment, Muscular began to fall backward, the titan momentarily losing control over the battlefield he’d dominated for so long.


    Khem, ever observant, seized the chance without hesitation. He rushed toward the titan, his movements calculated and precise. Aiming to freeze Muscular in place, Khem extended his hand, preparing for the stasis touch that could finally immobilize the powerhouse.


    But Muscular wasn’t done. Just before his back could touch the ground, he shot both of his hands up, grabbing at the air with unnatural force.


    With a ferocious motion, he pulled the space downward, anchoring himself to the ground as his back finally made contact.


    Then, in an instant, Muscular’s body shot upward like a slingshot, the force of the movement propelling him into the air with explosive speed.


    The SOF immediately looked up, their eyes frantically searching to pinpoint where the titan had gone, knowing that Muscular’s next move could come at them from anywhere.


    Khem was the first to notice.


    “Over there!” he shouted, pointing at Muscular, trying to get the others to see where the titan had gone.


    But it was too late.


    Before they could react, Muscular flattened both of his palms, and with a violent motion, he performed a rapid-fire air push downward.


    The shockwave ripped through the air, traveling in an instant, sending everyone crashing to the ground.


    The impact was so intense that the ground itself contorted, forming multiple giant palm-shaped depressions, each one layering on top of the last as the shockwaves kept coming.


    Weird was the only one unaffected, his rebound effect still activated, protecting him from the force.


    As he recovered, he wondered why Muscular didn’t take any damage from the attack.


    Then, the realization hit him.


    Muscular’s toughness was beyond anything human. It wasn’t just physical strength—it was a level of resilience that made him almost indestructible. Muscular didn’t need to deliver an attack strong enough to break his own body. He only needed to perform a strike powerful enough to damage a normal human, and that was enough for him to get the job done.


    Khem, still in Stasis Lock, realized the same—Muscular’s unbelievable toughness was not something they could overcome with sheer force alone.


    The shockwave had crippled the team, and Senshi and Shining were already on the brink. If Khem didn’t act quickly, they wouldn’t make it out of this fight.


    Khem’s mind raced, his tactical instincts kicking in. He had to make his move now, before Muscular gained the upper hand again.


    Khem, knowing time was running out, released his Stasis Lock just enough to allow him to speak. His voice was urgent, cutting through the chaos of the battlefield.


    “Weird, quickly bring Senshi and Shining to me,” Khem ordered, his tone sharp with command.


    Weird, momentarily confused by the request, hesitated for only a moment before acting quickly. Without a second thought, he rushed toward Senshi and Shining, pulling them both toward Khem’s position.


    Khem, focused entirely on his goal, immediately applied Stasis Lock to both Senshi and Shining, rendering them impervious to further damage. Their bodies froze in place, protected from Muscular’s relentless assault.


    It was a move Khem had only ever used to defeat enemies, but now, it was being used as a life-saving measure—an unexpected twist in the fight that gave the team a chance to breathe.


    Muscular, realizing that his attacks were no longer doing any damage to Senshi and Shining due to Khem’s intervention, turned his attention to the remaining vulnerable officer—Samui, who was still unconscious and lying outside the battlefield.


    With a snarl of frustration, Muscular kicked the air, his body launching toward Samui with unstoppable force.


    Khem, seeing what Muscular was about to do, instantly released the Stasis Lock on Senshi and Shining, knowing they had to act fast.


    Even in Stasis Lock, Senshi had been aware of his surroundings. The moment he was free, he reacted immediately, launching a fiery dragon straight toward Muscular, aiming to drive him off course.


    Shining, still with a bit of strength left, followed suit, firing a blinding light beam at Muscular from the other side.


    The combined attacks forced Muscular to veer off course, just enough to lose his precision and avoid hitting Samui.


    With Muscular momentarily distracted, Khem rushed to Samui, quickly placing his hand on her and activating Stasis Lock once again, ensuring she would be protected from any further harm.


    Muscular, now back on the ground, stood still for a moment, his fists clenched, his mind shifting gears as he processed everything that had just happened. He didn’t immediately move or attack, his focus narrowing as he contemplated his next step.


    Khem, sensing the brief lull in the battle, quickly assessed the situation. His tactical mind never stopped working.


    “Regroup!” Khem shouted, his voice sharp with command. “Senshi, Shining, stay close to me!”


    He needed to protect his team, and the best chance to regain control was to have them close together, ready to defend themselves or strike when the opportunity arose.


    Without giving Muscular any time to think further, Senshi and Shining both launched their respective attacks—Senshi’s fiery dragon and Shining’s blinding light beam—forcing Muscular to immediately react and defend himself.


    Muscular, realizing he was being cornered again, retaliated with a devastating shockwave punch, his fist slamming into the ground with enough force to send shockwaves rippling outward.


    But before the shockwave could land, Khem acted fast. With quick precision, he activated Stasis Lock, encasing Senshi, Shining, and himself in impenetrable stasis.


    The shockwave, now without a target, crashed harmlessly around them, leaving Weird as the only one still vulnerable.


    Weird, however, rebounded the full force of the shockwave, sending the damage back at Muscular with equal intensity.


    Muscular was now at his wit’s end. His frustration was evident as he realized that he simply couldn’t fathom a way to bypass Khem’s Stasis Lock. The battle had reached a point where his immense strength no longer gave him the advantage. All he could do now was endure Senshi and Shining’s attacks.


    As the next series of fiery punches and light beams came his way, Muscular gritted his teeth, preparing to take them head-on. But he knew that the moment he attempted to strike back, Khem would once again activate the Stasis Lock, rendering Senshi, Shining, and himself impervious to Muscular’s attacks, leaving Weird as the only one vulnerable.


    Weird, with his rebound effect, was now the final key to victory. Every attack that Muscular sent out would only be returned with devastating force—all while the rest of the team remained protected.


    The tactical grip that Khem had on the battlefield made Muscular feel helpless. Despite all his strength, he was unable to overcome the relentless coordination of SOF.


    Muscular, seeing his control slipping away, desperately tried to separate the team. He gripped the space in front of him, his hands twisting as he began to tear the fabric of space itself, attempting to break apart Khem, Senshi, and Shining, isolating them one by one.


    Khem, ever vigilant, immediately recognized Muscular’s move. He could sense the dangerous shift in Muscular’s tactics and understood that if he allowed this to happen, the team would be vulnerable.


    Without a second to lose, Khem quickly activated the Stasis Lock once again, freezing everyone except Weird in place. The team became immovable, unshakable, and protected, ensuring they stayed together, bound as one unit.


    Weird, the only one still vulnerable, braced himself, but with Khem’s strategy now in place, the team was safe—no longer susceptible to Muscular’s space manipulation.


    Khem realized something in the heat of the battle, but for now, he didn’t want to make it obvious. The fight had been going on long enough, and every decision counted. He continued the trading blows strategy, knowing that Muscular was slowly losing ground—each attack taking its toll, but Muscular''s sheer endurance was still a threat.


    Minutes passed, and despite their growing fatigue, SOF kept up the pressure. But Khem knew if the battle dragged on any longer, they would lose their footing again, unable to withstand Muscular’s unrelenting strength.


    Then, just as the tide seemed to shift once more, Muscular threw a wild, unfocused shockwave punch, one that lacked the usual precision and force. It was an opening.


    Khem, sensing the moment, immediately released the Stasis Lock, but not on Senshi or Shining—they were still too vulnerable. It was Samui he released, who had been unconscious but was now conscious for a short while, lying on the ground, still struggling to regain her full strength.


    Samui, seeing her chance, grabbed her remote and, with a flick of her finger, paused the titan—just for a moment, freezing Muscular in place.


    For the first time, Muscular was halted, his space manipulation interrupted, his powerless body frozen.


    Khem, seizing the opportunity, rushed forward without hesitation. This was no longer a trick, no more games or turnarounds. He placed his hand firmly on Muscular, and with a final, precise motion, he activated the Stasis Lock for good.


    Muscular was now trapped—his invulnerability and raw strength finally brought to a halt by Khem’s strategic brilliance.


    As the dust settled and the battlefield fell silent, the weight of the battle’s conclusion hit SOF all at once. Muscular, once an unstoppable force, was now frozen in place—his overwhelming strength no longer enough to turn the tide.


    Senshi stood tall, his body still alight with the remnants of his dragon form. He had fought with everything he had, pushing his flames to their absolute limit. The burns on Muscular’s body were testament to his intensity, but Senshi’s chest heaved with exhaustion, his flames flickering weakly as he collapsed to a knee.


    “I thought he’d never stop,” Senshi muttered, his usual fire tempered by fatigue. He looked up at his teammates, his eyes showing relief but also a sense of pride. “But we made it.”


    Weird, standing slightly apart from the others, let out a dry chuckle. His gaze moved over the frozen Muscular, then back to his comrades. “That guy—he was a monster,” Weird said, still catching his breath. “But we’ve got him, for now.”


    He made no effort to hide his admiration for Khem’s strategy, even if his words were casual. “If we didn’t have Khem, none of us would be standing here. He knew exactly when to turn the tables.”


    Shining, despite his barely-conscious state, let out a strained laugh, clearly trying to lighten the mood. He dragged himself to his feet, leaning on a nearby rock to steady himself. “I was just about to get myself another hit in before this little light show got in the way.” His humor barely masked the exhaustion creeping in. His light had still been burning bright enough to weaken Muscular—he’d played his part in shifting the balance.


    His eyes found Samui as she rose from the ground, still shaky but alert. “Not bad for someone who spent half the fight knocked out, huh?” He smiled through the pain, teasing but also acknowledging the crucial role she played in Muscular’s temporary halt.


    Samui, her remote still in her hand, took a deep breath, feeling the ache in her muscles from the fight. Despite being knocked unconscious earlier, she had come through when it mattered most—pausing Muscular in the nick of time. Her voice was weak but filled with pride as she looked at the team. “I... I wasn’t sure I could do it, but we’re still standing. We’re still here.” She flashed a small, grateful smile. “We all did it. Together.”


    Khem, always the strategist, observed the team’s reaction—each of them had played their part in this victory, no matter how big or small. Despite the fact that he had been the one to direct the final move, he knew that this moment wasn’t just about him. His eyes briefly softened as he gave them all a nod of approval. “We did it as a team.”


    His voice cut through the lingering silence, commanding attention as always. “This fight isn’t over yet. Muscular might be down, but there’s still more to come.”


    Samui started to rewind everyone’s injuries, but it couldn’t repair the battle fatigue they had endured. Shining, still feeling the weight of the fight, turned to her, a tired but curious expression on his face.


    “Hey Samui,” he asked, his voice rough from exhaustion, “why did your remote work this time, but not during the stone heist?”


    Samui paused, her finger hovering over the remote as she thought about the question. The answer had been nagging at her for a while, and she’d been wondering when someone would ask.


    “Well…” she began slowly, “I don’t really know. Back at the stone heist, the remote wasn’t working like it should’ve. It felt... out of sync, like something was blocking it from responding properly. But this time, it just clicked. It was like everything aligned, and I could feel it working again.”


    She looked down at the remote in her hand, still uncertain about the full mechanics of it. “I guess... the pressure, the stakes, they just made it work.” She glanced up at Shining and gave him a tired smile. “Maybe I just needed the right moment.”


    Shining grinned, his usual wit shining through despite the exhaustion. “Well, I''m glad it worked now,” he said, easing a bit as the team regrouped. “We wouldn’t have made it without it.” He looked around at everyone and then back to Samui. “Nice timing, as always.”


    Weird, still catching his breath, chimed in with his usual smirk. “If the remote works, I’m not complaining.” He nudged Samui with a playful grin. “You sure know when to press the right buttons, huh?”


    Samui gave him a half-smile, a mix of relief and amusement. “Yeah, I guess I do.”


    Shining, still feeling the weight of the fight but not missing a beat, raised another question. “And what about that exploding remote? What did Muscular do?”


    Samui paused for a moment, her brow furrowing as she considered the possibility. She sighed and shrugged slightly, offering her best guess. “I’m not sure. My guess is that he punched the remote signal directly. The shockwave ripple from his punch likely reached my remote, destroying it in the process.”


    Her eyes shifted to the remains of the remote in her hand, now a broken, useless device. “It makes sense, right? The force of his punch would’ve been powerful enough to disrupt the signal.”


    Shining, still trying to wrap his head around the whole situation, looked at Samui with a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief. “Wait, you’re telling me that he punched the signal?” He shook his head, clearly trying to make sense of it. “Muscular has that much control?”


    Samui nodded, though her own confidence in the theory seemed uncertain. “I mean, that’s my guess. The shockwave from his punch could have interfered with the remote’s signal. It''s the only explanation that makes sense to me.”


    Shining let out a low, incredulous laugh. “Unbelievable. A guy that can manipulate space and then destroy technology with a punch? We really picked a fight with the wrong titan.”


    After a brief moment of disbelief, Shining shook his head, still processing everything. The tension in the air was palpable, but Khem, ever the leader, broke the silence.


    “Enough talk. We need to move forward.” His voice was calm but authoritative, cutting through the exhaustion that had settled over the team.


    He turned to look at the others, making eye contact with each of them in turn. “We’ve done what we came for, but there’s still more to do. We can’t afford to rest for long.”


    With that, the team began to regroup. The fatigue and pain were still there, but the relief of defeating Muscular lingered, even if only for a moment. Each of them was determined, knowing they had won this battle, but the mission was far from over.


    Samui, still recovering, pressed her remote one more time, trying to regain her strength. Weird gave her a pat on the back, half-grinning. Senshi stood tall again, his burning intensity reigniting as he readied himself for the next challenge. Shining gave a short nod to Khem, still feeling the weight of the fight but never one to back down.


    Khem turned to face the entrance of Wise’s hideout. It loomed ahead, dark and imposing, like a silent sentinel guarding the unknown. The battle with Muscular had been just one obstacle in their path, but the true test still awaited inside.


    With one final glance back at Muscular, Khem gave the order. “Let’s move out.”


    The team began to walk forward, their silhouettes moving toward the entrance, a moment of brief calm before they would face whatever lay within. As they approached the darkened doorway, the tension was palpable, but so was the resolve in their hearts.


    They were about to enter the very heart of Wise’s domain, and no matter how weary they were, they knew that this was the next phase of their journey.