The harsh winds of the Northern Wastes howled as Rheus, Luisa, and Alex trudged forward, their senses alert to the dangers surrounding them. The barren, frozen landscape stretched endlessly, with jagged ice formations and unforgiving terrain. It was a place where few dared to tread—desolate, cold, and deadly.
The trio knew they were heading into enemy territory. The map Rheus had found pointed them further north, deeper into the treacherous lands. They were prepared for danger, but they didn't expect to face it so soon.
As they crossed a narrow valley, Rheus halted suddenly. "We're not alone," he said quietly, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.
Luisa nodded, her keen senses picking up the faintest of sounds. "Someone's been tracking us for a while."
Before they could react further, a massive figure emerged from the snow-laden fog ahead. It was a hulking man, his body covered in thick, impenetrable armor. The iron plating reflected the faint light of the cold sun, and his eyes burned with fury.
"Gideon..." Alex murmured, recognizing their old foe immediately.
The man they had defeated before now stood before them again, his fists clenched with rage. Gideon, the Iron Body, had returned—stronger and more determined than ever.
"You humiliated me last time," Gideon growled, his voice booming across the valley. "I won't let that happen again!"
Luisa pulled an arrow from her quiver, readying herself for battle. "We've beaten you before, Gideon. We can do it again."
But something was different this time. The air around Gideon seemed heavier, his presence more intimidating. His muscles had grown larger, and his armor appeared even more formidable.
Rheus stepped forward, his eyes focused. "We're not the same as we were before either. If you want a fight, you'll get one."
Beside Gideon, another figure stood in silence—Rocky, the cyborg. His mechanical limbs glinted under the light, and he stared at the group with cold, calculating eyes. He didn't speak, simply observing the situation, his presence intimidating but distant. For now, he seemed content to watch.
"Rocky won't interfere," Gideon said, cracking his neck. "This is between us. I'll take all three of you at once."
Rheus tightened his grip on his sword, while Alex muttered a spell under his breath, preparing for the fight ahead. Luisa drew her bow, her elemental-enhanced arrows glowing faintly.
Without another word, Gideon charged forward with terrifying speed, his massive fists swinging at Rheus. The force of his strikes was immense, causing the ground to tremble beneath them. Rheus barely managed to block the first hit, the impact sending a shockwave through his body.
"Stronger than before," Rheus grunted as he pushed back, locking blades with Gideon.
Luisa moved quickly, circling the battlefield and firing a barrage of arrows at Gideon. Each arrow was charged with elemental magic—fire, lightning, and ice—but as they struck Gideon's iron body, they barely left a scratch. The man's defense had become almost impenetrable.
Alex cast a protective barrier around them, his mind racing. "We need to find a weak spot. His body may be tougher, but there has to be a way through!"
Gideon laughed darkly. "You'll never break me! I'm stronger than I ever was!"
But Rheus, Luisa, and Alex didn't back down. Together, they fought as one—Rheus leading the charge, Luisa firing precise, magical arrows from a distance, and Alex supporting with powerful spells. Gideon may have been more powerful than before, but the trio had grown stronger as well.
Their movements were swift and coordinated, their attacks relentless. Rheus struck with precision, his sword moving faster than the eye could follow. Luisa's arrows rained down from all sides, and Alex's magic kept Gideon off balance, disrupting his heavy, brutish attacks.
For all of Gideon's newfound strength, he couldn't keep up with the trio's speed and tactics. His iron body may have been nearly indestructible, but it wasn't invulnerable. Slowly, cracks began to form in his defense.
Shero, hidden in the shadows, watched the battle unfold with keen interest. His eyes flickered from Gideon to Rocky, waiting for the right moment to strike—or to call in reinforcements.
As Gideon's anger grew, so did his desperation. "No!" he roared, slamming his fists into the ground, causing shockwaves that sent Alex and Luisa stumbling.
But it wasn't enough. Rheus lunged forward with a powerful strike, catching Gideon off guard. His blade sliced through a weak spot in the armor, causing Gideon to stagger back.
Luisa seized the opportunity, firing an arrow imbued with lightning. It struck Gideon square in the chest, sending electric shocks through his body. "This is for last time," she muttered under her breath.
Gideon fell to one knee, breathing heavily. "Impossible... how can I... be losing again?"
Before Rheus could deliver the final blow, a cold, metallic voice interrupted the battle.
"That's enough."
Rocky, the cyborg, stepped forward, his mechanical limbs whirring as he moved. His cold, calculating gaze shifted between Rheus, Luisa, and Alex. "Gideon's had his fun. Now it's my turn."
Rheus, Luisa, and Alex tensed, knowing this fight was far from over.
Rocky's metallic fist crashed into the ground, sending a shockwave of raw power through the battlefield. He grinned coldly. "Let's see if you can handle *me*."
As the dust settled and the trio braced themselves for the next onslaught, Shero's eyes gleamed in the shadows. The battle was far from over, and the true test of their strength was about to begin.
Rocky was stepping in, and this time, it would be a fight unlike any they had faced before.