"And as you can see, Paltio, that fool of a brother, abandoned me. So I've already gotten rid of him," Tok said with a cold, arrogant smile, his voice dripping with disdain.
But Paltio looked at him incredulously. "Surely he tried to find you," he replied, attempting to keep his tone steady.
"I don't care! I've already disposed of that useless waste."
"And how can you be so sure about that?" Mok asked, suddenly appearing on the scene.
Paltio raised his gaze, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his butler standing before him. Though his suit was somewhat dirty and there were signs of wounds on his body, he still radiated determination.
"How did you survive the Agamenonte? You've always been such a weakling," Tok snapped, irritated by the interruption. His tone was mocking, but there was a flicker of anger in his eyes.
Mok met his brother's gaze without hesitation. "I can manage just fine, brother. Although everything you told Paltio is half-truths. I didn't want to tell anyone about my past, but thanks to Paltio's grandfather, I was able to change and become someone better."
Tok clenched his fists, enraged. "How dare you say I've lied in my account? All of it happened!" he exclaimed, his voice haughty and venomous.
"No, brother. I erased your memories because I didn't want to relive that torment," Mok replied calmly, though his voice trembled slightly with restrained emotion. "It's true our parents left us to fend for ourselves out of fear of the twin's curse. But a kind woman who found us and gave us shelter tried to help us become something more. She didn't believe in curses. She gave us all her love. That's why she invented games for us, like 'hide while others are around.' For you, she bought that dark mask you loved so much, so you could hide and be my shadow, which fascinated you. Only, you've always been a sinister person, even from a young age."
Mok paused, his gaze heavy with pain and melancholy. "You killed that woman I considered my mother, the one who treated us so well. The neighbors called the police, and they caught you in the act. She begged me to run. I wandered while you were locked away for killing one of the officers who arrived at the scene. I ended up back in the alley where it all began, starving and struggling on the streets until Mr. Rodelos took me in. He also didn't care about that twin's legend. He would have taken you in too, but you refused when I came to visit you."
Tok raised a hand to his face, hiding his expression for a few seconds before letting out a cold, dismissive laugh. "Ha, ha... you're right. There are things I twist to make you look bad. That stupid woman always cared more for you than for me—I saw it in her eyes. That's why I killed her. I planned to do the same to you, but you escaped."
Mok closed his eyes for a brief moment, as if trying to rein in the storm of emotions within him. "I see that you've changed, little brother. You're a bit stronger, but not as strong as I am."
"No, Tok. What you did was sell your soul to the Lord of Shadows," Mok replied firmly. "There could still have been redemption for you. I changed when I met good people. Maybe that's what you need: help."
"No, little brother, I've always been like this," Tok responded coldly, his voice laced with contempt. "It was better that you didn't die from the Agamenonte. I thought you were weak, but now I see I'll have to finish you off with my own hands."
"So that's what that creature was called," Mok murmured, holding his brother's gaze steadily. "Alright, then let Master Paltio go."
"This brat?" Tok smirked arrogantly, tightening his grip on Paltio, who writhed in an attempt to break free. "Relax, I can't do anything to him... my master wants him alive until he gets the complete scepter."
"But he didn't say anything about it needing to be whole," Tok added maliciously, squeezing Paltio even harder to prevent him from moving.
"I can't keep watching this," said Rykaru from inside Paltio's bag, his small voice brimming with determination.
"Wait, kid! Don't come out!" Lucca ordered urgently, but Rykaru had already bolted out, determined to defend his father.
Tok felt something small and fast emerging from the hand gripping Paltio. With a growl, he decided to release him. "No one messes with my daddy!" Rykaru shouted, launching himself at Tok with a punch charged with energy.
"Hmph, little furball, don't bother me," Tok sneered, striking Rykaru in the stomach with brutal force. The tiny figure went flying, but before hitting the ground, he was caught by Lucca, who also managed to rescue Paltio just in time.
"And who are these pests?" Tok asked, eyeing Rykaru and Lucca with a mix of curiosity and disdain. "Hidden beings, children... Huh, you're full of tricks."
"Thank you, Lucca," Mok said gratefully as he watched him protect Rykaru and Paltio, pulling them away from danger.
"He sure is a tough guy," Lucca remarked as he set the two down safely. He glanced at Paltio, who was catching his breath, and then at Rykaru, who was writhing in pain where Tok had struck him.
"Don't worry, Rykaru, I'll heal you in a moment," Paltio said gently, carefully pulling out the magical orb.
"What annoying cockroaches I have to crush," Tok muttered, advancing toward them, but Mok stepped into his path.
"The fight is with me, brother," Mok said firmly, his sword ready in hand.
"If you want to die first, brother, fine. I'll do you that favor," Tok replied with a cold smile as he unsheathed his own blade. "Though I wanted you to watch your precious prince suffer a little."
The two brothers clashed their swords with force. Tok's blade was no ordinary weapon; it withstood the impact without breaking, even against Mok's sword. They continued fighting fiercely, moving farther and farther from where Paltio and the others stood. Dangerously, they were drawing closer to the hole left behind by the monster.
"Where are you trying to lead me, brother? Surely you don't want Paltio to see you die. I understand..." Tok taunted between blows, his voice dripping with mockery.
The swords clashed again with a metallic roar, but Tok took advantage of a misstep by Mok and delivered a precise kick. Mok lost his balance and fell into the hole, vanishing into the darkness.
"I'll be back for you, princeling. Give me a moment; I'll finish off my brother," Tok said with a sinister smile before disappearing after the butler, leaving Paltio and the others behind.
"What kind of person is that?" Golden asked, emerging from the seed with a faint glow. His voice carried a tone of frustration. "I'm sorry, Paltio, but I couldn't help you. By tightening your waist, it prevented both Toco-Toco and me from coming out. That man emanates a very dark and powerful energy... I wonder what happened to him."
"We need to help Mok," Paltio said urgently, carrying Rykaru, who had fallen asleep after being healed. Geki was also restored by the magical orb.
"Calm down, don't rush," Geki replied calmly. "I trust your butler. He'll win. I taught him a few tricks, so that guy wouldn't defeat him so easily."
"Yes, I know Mok is strong," Paltio responded, his voice trembling with anguish. "But that man left me defenseless. I couldn't even rely on the strength Golden gives me... And that terrifies me. What if Tejod or Urugas are even stronger than him? I don't know what we're going to do."
"Paltio, we should find the piece as soon as possible," Golden suggested, trying to reassure him. "Maybe with the complete scepter, we can do something while Mok distracts him."
"The butler will win. Trust me," Lucca interrupted firmly.
"You're right, Lukeandria is over there," Paltio remembered. They all ran toward her, but found her unconscious. It seemed the armor had protected her, though it had shattered upon impact. Paltio used the orb to restore her strength.
"I won't be able to use the orb on any of you again today," Paltio said seriously. "So you must be careful."
"Yes," Lukeandria, Geki, and Rykaru responded in unison, now awake and ready to act.
Meanwhile, Mok and his brother continued exchanging sword blows as they plummeted through the dark hole. Finally, both hit the ground with a dull thud.
"Alright, little brother, show me what you've got," Tok said arrogantly, launching a direct kick at Mok's face. Mok barely managed to block it, but the impact forced him back a few steps. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he tried to regain his balance.
With determination, Mok prepared to take a defensive stance, but Tok seized the moment of distraction. He drew his sword, which began to emit a pulsating, dark light.
"Let's see if you survive this, little brother," Tok murmured with a cruel smile. Raising his weapon, he unleashed an enormous blade of dark energy directly at Mok. It moved at breakneck speed, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.
Mok watched the blade approach, his eyes filled with resolve, but his body seemed unable to move. Time seemed to slow as the shadow of death loomed over him.