The Elemelons neared the stadium’s centre when a sudden blare of trumpets erupted from the speakers. They exchanged puzzled glances.

Then the ground shook. A deep, haunting rumble rose beneath their feet.

Beside the arena gates, the once-stagnant statue lurched forward. Dust cascaded from the ceiling as its massive foot slammed into the ground, sending vibrations rattling through their bones.

They froze. The statue was ancient—its surface cracked and weathered—but it moved with the force of a war machine. Its stone limbs ground and groaned with every motion, each step sending violent tremors through the arena floor.

“Nope,” Pip muttered, already turning away.

Sky caught his arm. “We need everyone,” she said firmly.

The statue loomed over them, raising one colossal foot. Its shadow stretched across the arena like a dark omen.

“It’s huge!” Furna gasped.

“Yeah—and it must’ve taken forever to sculpt,” Terrain said. “I almost feel bad breaking it.”

“Watch out!” Sky yelled, shooting into the air as the statue’s foot came crashing down. Furna and Terrain dove aside, shards of stone exploding outward.

“Never mind,” Terrain breathed, heart hammering.

Furna sprinted toward the giant’s left leg. Sparks flared in her palm and erupted into a blazing fireball. She hurled it at the statue’s foot. Only for the flames to fizzle harmlessly against the stone.

The giant jerked its leg back, then swung a massive arm. Its fist smashed into the ground inches from Furna, the shockwave throwing her balance.

That didn’t work…

Before she could recover, the statue’s hand lashed out, catching her mid-step and launching her across the arena. She hit the ground with a bone-jarring force, the impact knocking the air from her lungs—she gasped, her chest heaving as she fought to breathe.

“Furna!” Terrain dashed to her side and helped her to her feet. She leaned heavily against him, legs shaking.

“My fire’s useless,” she panted.

"Let me try."

Sky darted past, her cape flaring behind her, heading straight for the giant. Terrain stayed back, his eyes scanning the arena, looking for something, anything, they could use to their advantage.

“They must be controlling it from somewhere,” he muttered.

“They’re up there,” Pip’s voice called lazily from behind a pillar.

Both Furna and Terrain turned. Pip pointed to the arena rooftop.

"They’re up there", he repeated. “They’re probably controlling from the observation box. Smoke them out, and Terrain can take control.”

Terrain's eyes widened. "I can’t do that. It must take at least five or so Rockmelons to manoeuvre that thing."

“But you’re an Elemelon. You should have double that strength”.

“Yeah, well—”

A sharp cry cut him off. Sky was down, battered from repeated blows. Above her, the statue’s arms rose high, ready to smash her flat. The ground cracked beneath its weight as she scrambled to escape. 

Terrain didn’t think. He ripped a boulder from the earth and hurled it at the giant’s face. It struck with a booming crack. The statue barely reacted, except to slowly turn its head toward them.

That didn’t even make a dent. He thought, his heart sinking rapidly. And now it's heading for us!

“Alright, I’ll do it!” Terrain barked. “You two smoke out the guards. I’ll handle the rest.”

With a firm nod, the Elemelons dispersed.

They moved fast. Furna summoned a blaze while Pip doused it out. Together, they created thick, choking smoke that billowed into the observation box.

From above, a mix of muffled shouts and coughs rang out through the speakers.

“Hold steady!”

“Too late—I’ve lost control!”

“…Whoops. My bad.”

The statue’s stride faltered as Terrain pushed forward, his power locking with its stone frame. The ground split beneath him, his muscles burning.

“Guys, this is too much at once!” he gritted out, forcing the giant back. But its momentum carried it toward the stadium’s skybox—straight toward where the princess sat.

The Elemelons froze in horror.

“The princess!” Furna’s voice was sharp with fear.

Terrain dropped to his knees in defeat.

But before the statue could crush the box, a blinding blast tore down from above. The shockwave rattled the arena, ripping the giant apart in a cloud of dust and shattered stone.

Coughing, Terrain looked up, dazed. The once-mighty giant was gone—its fragments scattering like dust in the wind.

He wiped grit from his face, exhaling slowly. “That was way too close...”

"Hold on?"