The throne room seethed with malice. Zozo’s presence warped the very air, his twisted aura coiling and writhing like a living thing. Crimson armor gleamed with a jagged sheen, and his unnatural grin bared rows of serrated teeth.
Safari stood firm, his body blazing with a dual aura of green and pink. Angeleva clung to his back, her wings wrapped tightly around his chest. Weakened though she was, her resolve shone brighter than fear. Zozo’s presence terrified her, but Safari’s strength—unyielding and steadfast—kept her standing.
The family gathered behind them, tense but resolute. Zack clenched his fists, ready to heal whoever fell. Jen whispered encouragements to herself, though her voice trembled. Olive checked her blaster’s charge with calm precision. Ian, the ever-watchful cameraman, adjusted his lens, capturing every heartbeat of the moment.
“This is it,” Ian murmured, focusing on Safari’s tense stance. “The final stand. Safari, warrior of Sappy, and Angeleva, fairy of Angelica—against the demon lord Zozo.”
Zozo chuckled darkly. “Clinging to such fragile hope... how amusing.”
Safari’s jaw tightened. “Your reign ends here, Zozo.”
Zozo’s grin widened. “Bold words for a man propped up by a dying fairy. Without her, you’re nothing.”
Safari said nothing. His grip tightened on the Celestic Hammer, green and pink energy crackling at its edges. Angeleva’s touch steadied his breath, her warmth anchoring his heart.
Zozo’s eyes glimmered. “Let’s test that.”
With a blur of crimson, Zozo vanished—then reappeared above Safari, claws blazing with dark energy.
“Oblivion Fang!”
A jagged blast tore downward. Safari leapt aside, the throne room floor shattering under the strike. Debris rained around them as the family shielded themselves.
“Safari!” Angeleva cried, but Safari was already moving.
“Fairy-Devil Hammer Strike!”
He swung with force, releasing a surge of fused energy. The wave clashed with Zozo’s claw, air rippling violently. Zozo deflected it with a contemptuous flick, shattering a nearby pillar.
“Pathetic,” Zozo sneered.
Safari’s grip tightened. “Then take this!”
Angeleva gathered the last of her strength, synchronizing with Safari’s movements. Their energy flared, brighter, sharper.
“Fairy-Devil Hammer Slice!”
Safari lunged. The hammer grazed Zozo’s shoulder, hurling him backward in a shockwave. Zozo snarled, shaken but smirking.
“Not bad. But still holding back.”
He slammed his fist to the ground. Dark tendrils erupted beneath Safari’s feet. Spinning his hammer, Safari shattered them in a blaze.
“Fairy-Devil Hammer Blooming Incineration!”
Flaming spirals of green and pink flowers erupted, scorching Zozo’s shadows to ash. Safari’s eyes burned with defiance.
But Zozo’s grin only widened. “Her power steadies you... and that is your weakness.”
He vanished again, reappearing behind Safari.
“Got you.”
A crimson wave exploded. Safari twisted midair, shielding Angeleva as the blast hurled them against a wall. Stone cracked, dust filling the chamber.
“I’m fine,” Safari grunted, though pain laced his words.
But Zozo was already advancing—his gaze fixed not on Safari, but Angeleva.
“You rely on her too much. Let’s see how well you fight without her.”
The blast struck before Safari could block. The force tore them apart. Angeleva slammed into a fractured pillar, her aura flickering weakly.
“Angeleva!” Safari’s voice broke.
Zozo laughed. “So fragile. So weak.”
Safari’s rage ignited, his aura burning green and black. His horns lengthened, eyes glowing emerald. The air froze, warped by his fury.
“Devil Hammer Incineration!”
A storm of flames roared from his hammer, colliding with Zozo’s barrier in a thunderous explosion. The chamber quaked as sparks rained down.
“Yes!” Zozo howled. “Unleash the monster within!”
Safari’s body shook, consumed by rage. His aura lashed wildly.
“Big bro, stop!” Zack cried.
Jen covered her mouth. “He’s losing himself...”
Angeleva’s voice, faint but steady, cut through the chaos. “Safari... don’t lose yourself.”
But Zozo raised his claw again, aiming straight for her.
“No!” Safari roared, his aura spiraling out of control.
Consumed, he was seconds away from losing himself completely.
And then—Angeleva ran.
Her weakened body trembled, but she pushed forward, wings straining. A crimson blast nearly struck her, but she didn’t stop.
“Safari!”
She leapt, clinging to his back once more. Her warmth pressed against him, her tears wetting his shoulder.
“I’m here. I won’t leave you.”
The wild aura faltered. Green and pink light swelled, overtaking the black flames. Safari’s eyes softened, the haze of rage lifting.
“I’m... sorry,” he whispered.
“Don’t be,” Angeleva murmured. “Just stay with me.”
Their forms merged, balanced—Sap-Green Devil Warrior and Pink Fairy Warrior united as one.
Zack’s tears shifted to joy. Jen exhaled in relief. Ian lowered his camera, awestruck. Even Olive managed a small, proud smile.
“They’re back,” Zack whispered.
Zozo’s grin faltered. “So you cling to balance... pathetic.”
Safari raised his hammer, aura steady. “We’re not afraid of you.”
“And we’re not alone,” Angeleva added.
Zozo’s laughter boomed as the throne room quaked, tendrils erupting from the blackened stone.
“You think balance can stand against chaos eternal?”
Safari’s grip tightened, Angeleva’s wings wrapped around him like a shield.
“We stand together,” Safari vowed.
“Family never backs down,” Zack declared.
Ian’s voice was steady as he aimed his camera once more. “This... is history.”