Karnel watched with a mixture of amusement and secondhand embarrassment as four warriors surrounded a single female opponent, only to have two of them swiftly neutralized. He felt genuinely ashamed for the fallen Bargonian warriors.
"Insufficient strength but excessive bravado," Karnel muttered to himself, completely unconcerned about the two fighters who'd been nearly killed in a single exchange. "Have all the Bargonian people become such fools nowadays?"
The only Bargonian warriors he'd ever known personally were Cerror and Karlen from ancient times. The fate of these modern descendants held no emotional weight for him, so he remained a detached observer.
His attention returned to the two primary combatants still locked in their deadly struggle.
The situation had deteriorated drastically. Pikkon felt suffocated, panting heavily with sweat streaming down his face as he watched Zangya warily. Despite her superior condition, even she was breathing hard from their prolonged battle.
"I told you those three weaklings were useless," Zangya sneered, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she regarded the remaining galactic guardians with contempt.
The uninjured Bargonian warrior gently lowered his two groaning brothers to the ground, then fixed the female warrior with eyes blazing with murderous intent.
The three of them were blood brothers, sharing the same father and spending their childhood in rigorous training together. Upon reaching adulthood, they'd become the galactic guardians defending the Western Galaxy's peace. Through countless battles over the years, they'd never experienced such humiliation—being defeated by a woman in a single move!
This shame will follow us back to Bargonia, the youngest brother thought furiously. This violent, cruel female thug must die here!
Without hesitation, he charged at Zangya with reckless determination, completely disregarding his own safety.
"Don't attack! You're no match for her!" Pikkon cried out in panic.
But seeing the galactic guardian charging forward like an unstoppable bull, Pikkon had no choice but to join the assault. After all, West Kai had sent this reinforcement, and watching him die needlessly wasn't in Pikkon's character.
"It seems these Bargonian warriors have only known smooth sailing over the years," Karnel observed, suddenly materializing beside the two unconscious fighters. "They've never encountered true adversity. Could their mental fortitude really be so fragile that they haven't recovered after all this time?"
He examined the comatose warriors with clinical interest, noting their complete lack of response.
The battle was reaching its climax. Both Zangya and Pikkon, nearly exhausted, couldn't maintain this pace much longer. Victory would soon be decided, though the scales could still tip either way—especially with one fresh Bargonian warrior remaining on Pikkon's side.
Zangya began feeling genuine unease. The situation had deviated from her expectations. Every time she tried to eliminate the remaining galactic guardian, that persistent dead man would interfere. She'd created several killing opportunities, but his interventions had saved the annoying pest each time.
I'm getting tired, she admitted reluctantly. My physical strength is nearly depleted.
Pikkon was in even worse condition, his punches now lacking any real force. Both fighters were operating on sheer willpower alone.
"The opportunity... the chance to destroy this female devil has finally come!" The surviving Bargonian warrior's eyes gleamed with desperate hope as his figure suddenly accelerated.
He circled behind Zangya with surprising speed, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing against her back in what looked like an inappropriately intimate hold. "Hurry! Use your strongest attack to finish her!" he shouted to Pikkon.
It was indeed a perfect opportunity. Pikkon's excitement surged, though he hesitated momentarily at the sight of the two figures locked together. After a brief internal struggle, his resolve hardened.
Those who achieve great things cannot be concerned with small sacrifices!
Gathering the last reserves of his energy, light began emanating from his hands as he fixed Zangya with lethal intent.
"Damn fly, let me go!" Zangya screamed, struggling frantically, but her depleted energy left her unable to break free from the arms locked around her waist.
Pikkon ignored the fate of the galactic guardian restraining his target. His priority was destroying this female terrorist who had devastated countless planets and extinguished billions of lives ten thousand years ago. Without hesitation, he roared and unleashed his most powerful technique at the intertwined pair.
"Thunder Flash Attack!"
A massive energy blast, thick as a tree trunk, rolled forward through clouds of dust and debris, striking the embracing figures with devastating force.
"No! I don't want to die yet!" Zangya's terrified scream echoed across the battlefield as both she and the Bargonian warrior were consumed by the murderous energy wave.
The blast's impact triggered a violent explosion, unstable destructive energy spreading instantaneously. When the scorching light finally dissipated, a crater several hundred meters wide scarred the landscape. Both Zangya and the brave galactic guardian had vanished, reduced to ash and scattered atoms.
Pikkon collapsed to the ground, gasping heavily as he gazed at the massive crater with satisfaction. "Finally... she's been eliminated. Thank you, Guardian of the Galaxy," he whispered.
"What a wonderfully touching battle," came a leisurely voice from behind him. "Though you've destroyed the maid I had reserved for myself. That's quite troublesome."
"Who's there?!" Pikkon sprang to his feet with startled alertness, shocked that someone could approach him undetected. He turned to face the newcomer with obvious wariness.
"Fortunately, their souls are still present," Karnel observed, sensing the spiritual fluctuations of the recently deceased. "This isn't irreversible after all."
Ignoring Pikkon's defensive posture entirely, Karnel extended his hand. Silver light flashed as ethereal energy entwined around one of the lingering souls.
"Time Reversal!"