The Abomination

Lothrah screamed a deafening roar, dove into the oil, and disappeared, its long sinuous body following its hideous head into the abyss. The Jumpers exchanged uneasy glances, scanning the expanse.

"It's tied to a chain. Follow its movements," Rosso pointed as its eyes darted around, scanning the distance.

Oil splattered in every direction. The monstrosity exploded out of the surface and lunged toward them, halted abruptly by the metal links holding it back.

"It can't reach the top," shouted Madame Waters, standing back up, holding her hand on her forehead.

"The Gate has it on a leash," screamed Vesper, trying his best to not fall off of the shaking platform.

"That's the solution," shouted Roa. "Listen, all of you—lend me your energies!"

The others exchanged confused glances but nonetheless gathered around him without hesitation. There was no time. They placed their hands on his shoulders and head, and transferred the little aura they had left into the Sunflower's body, causing it glow with newfound light. Roa felt the warmth of their life force merge with his own, a comforting surge of power that filled him from within. He closed his eyes, smiling, as time seemed to slow.

His body buzzing with warmth, he felt afraid of what he was about to do, while gratitude filled his heart, "thank you—for your friendship—for your kindness," he thought.

Their energies mixed into one, fanning and swelling the flame that burned in his heart. It grew brighter, stronger, and fierce, with a desire to consume his enemy. A screech brought him back to the present moment and his eyes narrowed, scanning the environment below.

"What are you going to do?" shouted C-Saw.

"I won't waste it, I promise. I know it's the last bit you have left," said the Sunflower.

"Where are you going?" asked Rosso.

"I'm going to tie up loose ends," the white-haired boy said as he sprinted toward the edge, leaping off with a graceful backflip down the structure toward the creature, leaving the others gasping in shock. The only one who did not look surprised was Tanoò, who upon seeing Roa's confidence return after so long had passed, simply smiled.

The wind roared past the boy as he fell. Before he would hit the surface of the oil, he soared upwards using Pan's Gift—his friends' energies lifting him in the air.

"Yeah!" he screamed, laughing as he twisted, amazed at what he was experiencing. His smile soon faded, however, when the enemy emerged.

He glanced at the creature, blasting in its direction at great speed as the metal building blurred behind him. His mind was clear. He knew what to do. The creature leapt out of the liquid again with its mouth open, but Roa evaded the massive jaws, flying next to its underbelly. He could feel the heat emanating from the monster's chest—it was like a furnace. Its many arms and legs were a mix of exposed metal and bone, grinding and squeaking as its joints moved, searching for its prey.

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The hero turned midair, evading one of its swipes, pivoting upwards, chased by the Abomination who began to climb onto the platform. Snapping its jaws repeatedly, loud, wet, clanking sounds echoed as its many arms scratched on the metal. It roared again, growing ever more furious at the insect it could not catch.

Boom!

One of its talons suddenly struck the Sunflower with the force of a crashing airplane. The impact sent him smashing against the base of the metal structure. His aura flared violently around him, and for a moment, he nearly lost consciousness. He was hurt—but still alive. The wounds from his battle with Mr. Briteside, however, hadn't fully healed, and a sharp pain made itself apparent once again, flaring intensely in his chest.

"It's now or never," he said, feeling the flame in his heart starting to falter.

The beast's powerful strike had almost depleted his remaining life force, and even flight would be harder to pull off in his state. He had to choose his next moves wisely. The creature's eyes found him at last, and the Abomination moved with blind fury towards him. He shrugged off the pain and used his last drop of strength to escape the furious swipes of the monster. Roa glided clumsily from one metal column to the next, zigzagging between each, alternating sides as the monster followed closely behind, chomping and scratching. Sparks flew as metal grinded against metal, the chain wrapping itself around the platform, until a thunderous sound was heard. The sparks from the chain had ignited the oil below. With an explosion, the abyss below burned, as the heat of the fire spread like burning tentacles in all directions, lighting up the place like an oven.

The giant room of the Palace, once dark and cold, now turned bright and hot, changing the scene into an apocalyptic setting. Winding back and forth around the structure's four main pillars, the hero skillfully tricked the beast to wrap the giant chain around it.

"Please work..." he flew away, turned around, and pointed his hand at the creature.

Squinting, he blasted a ray of light from his fingers, landing it on one of the monster's eyes. Infuriated, Lothrah leapt off the metal structure, disappearing into the burning lake below. The boy's ears listened, attempting to tune out the sound of the flames. Nothing. His eyes scanned but the viscous liquid remained perfectly flat, covered in dancing, orange fire. Then, the surface broke, as millions of flaming drops exploded upwards. The monster lunged at him and the chain tensed up—with a deafening screech, one of the sides of the platform warped.

The Sunflower beamed. Flying backward beneath the structure, he was pursued by the Abomination, its jaws opening as its arms swung forward, reaching for him. The strategy worked. The platform tilted, his friends launched into the air in the process. The Sunflower's body began to lower towards the flames, his aura flickering uncontrollably, as if running out of gas.

"Just a bit further! Don't fail me now," he screamed, his focused gaze burning with resolve.

He soared beneath the crumbling structure once more, the creature close on his heels as metal tubes and debris rained down from above. With a deafening roar, the building finally collapsed with an enormous splash. The platform sank beneath its massive weight, dragging the Abomination down with it, its monstrous form wedged beneath the wreckage. The creature's screeches faded into a gurgle, as its hideous mouth was swallowed by the burning, black gold of Ardor's Forge—vanishing into the depths of the very abyss it had been born from.

The Sunflower had won—he had somehow defeated the invincible weapon. The fighters flew back on land, using their last bits of energy, looking for their victorious friend among the smoldering ruins and flames. Fulvix and the local revolutionaries celebrated upon their arrival. However, he was not greeted by smiles—the Jumpers' faces were heavy with despair.

"I don't see him anywhere," Theya said with a troubled look in her eyes. "The Sunflower—he's gone."

"Roa!" screamed Rosso, at the top of his lungs.

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