CHAPTER 4.3: He isn't done yet!

                                    

                                          
Magie stood still, her breath steady, as she focused on controlling Groxon's mind. The once-unstoppable mad scientist, now a puppet under her influence, was immobilized in front of her. 
His eyes were the only part of him he could control, darting back and forth with frustration and fury. His creation, his empire, everything he had built, was crumbling before him, all because of this woman who had invaded the darkest corners of his mind.
"It seems that there is more to him than just being a mad scientist," Magie thought to herself. 
The more she delved into Groxon's memories, the more she realized the depth of his pain and anger. She had never expected such a tragic past to be the driving force behind his ambition to conquer the world. 
His genius, twisted by years of unmet expectations and suppressed rage, had turned into a force of destruction.
Groxon's mind raced, attempting to find a way out of Magie's control. He could barely move, yet his thoughts were a storm of fury and desperation.
"How dare she use my brain against me! There must be a way to break free," he fumed silently. 
His memories, now laid bare before her, were filled with scenes of his father's disappointment and the relentless pressure to achieve greatness. 
And now, the very memories that had fueled his rise to power were being used to dismantle everything he had worked for.
Magie, sensing his inner turmoil, remained focused. Her hands hovered beside Groxon's head, palms open, as she manipulated his thoughts. But even as she tried to subdue him, she could feel the vast mental capacity he possessed. It was like trying to tame a wild beast with a fragile leash. Groxon was not just a madman; he was a man with a purpose, albeit a twisted one.
Meanwhile, Phernix and Rigel were in the midst of their own battle. 
The giant creature, Groxon's monstrous creation, was bearing down on them with unrelenting fury.
Exhausted and drained, the two warriors prepared for one final assault. Phernix, with a determined look in his eyes, drew his sword and charged at the creature. 
"We may feel weak, but we are not as weak as your creations!" he shouted, pushing himself to the limit.
Rigel, always the voice of caution, shouted back, "Don't you dare use all of your power! We're in the deep ocean, remember?" But Phernix was too focused on the battle to heed the warning fully. The creature roared, its massive form lunging at them with the intent to crush.
Rigel struck first, slicing through the creature's stomach and right arm with precision. 
The beast howled in pain, but before it could retaliate, Phernix followed up with a powerful blow to its wings and left arm, rendering it unable to fly.
The creature, now crippled, staggered backward, but still tried to ram its attackers. Rigel deftly dodged, sliding between its legs and delivering a slashing blow that sent the creature crashing into the wall.
Phernix, seeing his opening, leaped into the air, his sword raised high.
With a fierce smile, he brought the blade down on the creature's head. "Take it!" he yelled as the sword connected, severing the head clean from the body. 
The head flew through the water, its eyes still wide with the shock of defeat, before it slowly drifted downward, lifeless.
The battle was over, but Phernix and Rigel were barely standing. Their energy spent, they collapsed onto the ocean floor, breathing heavily. They had won, but it had taken everything they had. Phernix, lying on his back, looked up to see Groxon still immobilized by Magie's control. 
"At least we finished the fight," he thought, relieved that they had bought her the time she needed.
But Magie was struggling. Controlling Groxon's mind was proving to be more difficult than she had anticipated. 
His mental defenses were formidable, and his willpower, fueled by years of rage and ambition, was beginning to push back against her control. 
She could feel him trying to break free, his thoughts becoming more focused, more dangerous. 
"Come on... you can do it," Magie whispered to herself, trying to summon the strength to hold on. She needed him to surrender, to end this madness once and for all. 
But Groxon was not one to give up easily. 
Groxon, realizing that brute force would not break Magie's hold, began to devise a plan. 
"If I can't overpower her, I'll outthink her," he thought, a slow grin forming on his face. He began to feed her false memories, subtle at first, then more complex, weaving a web of deception within his own mind. 
He knew it was risky, but it was his only chance. 
Magie, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of information, started to falter. She could no longer tell what was real and what was a fabrication. 
Groxon's mind was a labyrinth, and she was losing her way. 
"It seems the plan might work if I do it properly," Groxon thought, feeling the control slipping from Magie's grasp.
"Otherwise, I'll surrender to them anyway." He chuckled darkly, knowing that the real battle had just begun.
Magie's grip on his mind loosened, and Groxon seized the opportunity. He began to regain control, his limbs slowly responding to his commands.
Magie, realizing what was happening, tried to tighten her hold, but it was too late. Groxon's mind was too powerful, too cunning, for her to contain any longer. 
With a final push, Groxon broke free, his body lurching forward as he snapped out of Magie's control. He stumbled, then caught himself, his eyes blazing with fury. 
"You thought you could control me?" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "You underestimated me, Magie. And now, you will pay for that mistake."
Magie, exhausted and mentally drained, stepped back, realizing that she had pushed herself too far.
Groxon, now fully in control, turned his gaze to her, his expression one of pure malice. "This isn't over," he hissed, a wicked smile spreading across his face. 
But before he could act, the ground beneath them shook violently, the deep ocean floor trembling as something massive began to stir.
Groxon's smile faded, replaced by a look of confusion and fear. Magie, too, felt the shift in the water, the pressure increasing around them. 
The battle was over, but the war was just beginning. 
As Groxon and Magie stood facing each other, the true terror of the deep ocean was about to awaken. And this time, neither of them would be in control.