Gorzuga, now completely blinded by rage, was utterly unaware of the steep cliff gaping behind his opponent.
All he saw was the insolent human he needed to crush immediately.
"ZUGGGAAA!!!"
With a final roar that sounded more like a shriek of frustration, he mustered all his remaining strength. Launching his giant body off the ground with an explosive push, he charged straight for Hariel.
His massive iron club was raised high, ready to end the fire boy's resistance for good.
Seeing the deadly charge coming at a terrifying speed, the smirk on Hariel's face only grew wider.
This is it! My chance!
"Now!" he screamed inwardly.
With an unexpected move, Hariel bent his knees deeply. Not to dodge.
But to launch himself high into the air, rocketing upwards to meet Gorzuga's charge head-on.
As his body soared through the air, defying gravity for a moment, a devastating red flame ignited around his entire body.
The fire was forcefully drawn from the very last dregs of energy in his body, draining him to the point of exhaustion, fueled by a burning, pure will to win.
The air around him instantly felt like it was boiling.
A deep orange light radiated so brightly it momentarily turned the forest's gloom into day.
The heat energy gathered rapidly, not just in his hands, but seemingly enveloping his entire ascending form.
"Red Flame... RED PHOENIX!!!"
SWOOOOSH—CRAAASH!!!
The fire erupted with unimaginable power.
It was no longer shaped like a punch or a whip.
Instead, it formed the silhouette of a giant, blazing phoenix, with Hariel's body as its hot, pulsating heart!
Massive wings of fire spread wide, elegant yet full of menace, illuminating the forest canopy with a spectacular, golden-red light.
With a high-pitched, fiery shriek, the Fire Phoenix slammed into Gorzuga's broad, exposed chest in mid-air with its full might!
The collision of the two forces created a massive fiery explosion.
Gorzuga, his momentum completely halted in the air, roared in a mixture of shock and excruciating pain.
He was thrown violently backward by the force of the Fire Phoenix's attack.
His huge, heavy body was now helpless, flying uncontrollably back over the cliff's edge, before finally disappearing into the darkness of the trees far below.
A few seconds later, the loud, echoing thud of a heavy impact came from the bottom of the chasm.
Followed by a profound silence.
The blast's recoil inevitably threw Hariel's body back hard towards the cliff face.
He hit the ground with a painful thud, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop with his back against a rock. Thin smoke billowed from his now even more tattered jacket.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
He gasped for breath. His vision was blurry, black spots dancing before his eyes. His entire body trembled violently from extreme exhaustion.
But, as he slowly lifted his heavy head to gaze down into the chasm where Gorzuga had vanished, a wide—albeit shaky—smile was painstakingly carved onto his dirty face.
"I... did it...!" he exclaimed softly, a whisper filled with relief and overwhelming victory.
Finally, his body completely gave in to total exhaustion. He collapsed into a sitting position on the edge of the cracked cliff.
First trial... complete!
However, Hariel frowned. Something felt off.
Was that really the end of the Forest King? Just falling like that?
It sounded like massive branches were cracking and breaking before that final thud... Could it be? A creature as strong as Gorzuga... it feels too easy for it to end with just a fall.
His doubt was answered.
The sound of cracking branches came from below. Followed by a muffled groan of pain.
CRACK! GRRR... CRUNCH!
Hariel's head snapped around, his eyes wide with disbelief. With tremendous effort, gripping every rock protrusion with his now-injured claws, the colossal figure of Gorzuga was climbing back up the cliff.
His body was covered in burns, and one of his proud horns was severely cracked, nearly broken off.
"HUH?! YOU... DIDN'T FALL?!" Hariel yelped, a mixture of shock and a hint of admiration.
Gorzuga finally managed to drag his entire body onto the clifftop. He lifted his head with great difficulty.
The fire of rage in his red eyes had now been extinguished, replaced by a deep exhaustion and... a glimmer of respect.
"Zuggaa..." Gorzuga began, his voice hoarse and gravelly. "...little human... is... strong..."
A thin smirk, more like a wince of pain, appeared on his muzzle.
"I... Gorzuga... the King of Onivira Forest... admit defeat..."
With great effort, he gripped his badly cracked horn. With a single, powerful, and clearly painful pull, accompanied by a stifled grunt, he snapped the rest of the horn off his head.
Thick, black blood flowed from its base.
Then, with the last of his strength, he threw the large, heavy piece of horn towards Hariel's feet.
"Take... this..." Gorzuga said, panting. "A sign... that you have conquered me... I... will never again... disturb... your village..."
Hariel caught the serrated horn. Its surface was rough and heavy, yet a faint, warm energy flowed from it.
"WHOA! SERIOUSLY?! This is for me?! So cool!" he exclaimed, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten by his excitement. "Hey... you're actually a nice guy, Old Gorilla!"
Gorzuga only snorted softly, too tired to be angry. He then slowly rose to his feet, his body still swaying from his wounds and fatigue. Without another word, he turned, ready to return to the depths of the forest.
"Wait!" Hariel called out.
He quickly reached into his pocket, gripping the green stone charm from Old Man Ed. Without hesitation, he tossed it towards Gorzuga.
"Here, take it! Consider it a thank you... or payment for protecting the village while I'm gone!"
Gorzuga caught the small gemstone. He stared at the shimmering object for a moment, perhaps feeling the same strange warmth.
"I'm going to find ZERO ONE and my Grandpa!" Hariel shouted again with renewed spirit. "So, I'm really counting on you to protect Inspiriaville while I'm away, okay!"
This time, Gorzuga paused for a little longer. He didn't turn around, but he raised one of his wounded hands high into the air—a gesture of acknowledgment.
Before finally, he truly vanished into the gloom of the dense forest to recover.
Hariel looked at the sturdy Gorzuga horn in his hand, then gazed towards the forest.
His signature wide smirk returned to his face.
"Hehe... First trial..."
"PASSED!"