As the group lost sight of the gravity of their situation, Yosef interrupted their playful chatter, stating, "Everyone, pay attention. Once we get through this, we'll arrive at Base 42." His voice carried a serious weight as he scanned the shadows for potential dangers.

"Right, we're still up against Umbrìo," João, the second-in-command, agreed.

"But we're still coming out on top," Alejandro chimed in.

"Exactly," Isaac added, "we're not just TANT anymore; we're TANT+!"

"I mean, how bad can it be?" Alejandro inquired.

At that moment, a new wave of Umbrìo reinforcements surrounded them, and this time they were different—more mechanized and heavily armored than before. Each soldier gleamed with advanced tech, their suits integrated with concealed guns and miniaturized rockets, ready to unleash chaos at a moment's notice. Some sported flamethrowers while others wielded advanced rifles with smart targeting systems, tracking multiple targets with lethal precision.

A few even carried RPGs, their sleek designs hinting at devastating firepower. To enhance their mobility, some soldiers were equipped with thrusters and jetpacks, allowing them to dart through the air with unsettling agility. Others donned gas masks with grotesquely growing eyes and visors that glinted menacingly, obscuring their expressions and adding to the atmosphere of dread. As these mechanized warriors advanced, they formed an intimidating front, ready to crush any resistance.

This was far from the end; within their ranks were magic users, their individual auras teeming in a myriad of colors, each one pulsing with energy, ready to unleash whatever abilities that could turn the tide of battle.

"That... won't change anything," Yosef remarked, a mischievous grin forming on his face.

The fight erupted as gunfire shattered the calm, drowning doubts in chaos. Rockets arced overhead, leaving trails of smoke, while unseen energy beams crackled through the air. Explosions rocked the ground, sending debris flying as mechanized Umbrìo soldiers advanced, their weapons blazing. Every second counted.

Yosef unleashed his psychokinesis, crushing the heads of two lunging soldiers, their armor crumpling under his will. Meanwhile, his allies clashed with Umbrìo magic users, flashes of arcane energy illuminating the battlefield as João and Alejandro coordinated their precise attacks, dodging elemental bursts.

Kai, a phantom among shadows, relied on agility and stealth, darting through the fray. His katanas flashed like lightning as he dispatched foes, turning the enemies' strength against them. Isaac and Thomas unleashed a devastating fusion of plasma and electricity, atomizing anything in their path, while Emily manipulated silky strings to ensnare and slice through enemies with lethal precision. Together, they transformed chaos into a deadly dance of destruction, each movement a testament to their resolve against overwhelming odds.

With each volley, the lower ranks were systematically wiped out, leaving the forest and valley ablaze in the wake of destruction. Only the towering, menacing soldiers remained, their glowing visors cutting through the thick fog of war, promising inevitable annihilation.

Amid their ranks, one figure stood out—a giant among giants. A crown-like structure adorned their head, and their eyes burned with an intense blood-red glow, radiating power and dominance.

"Still trash," Yosef quipped, a sly grin spreading across his face.

In a blur, he vanished and reappeared behind the towering figure, kneeling with his left arm extended outward.

"I didn't even get to say my nam—" the figure tried to respond, but before they could finish, their body collapsed to the ground, perfectly severed in two.

The remaining titans, frozen in terror at the sight, scattered in a desperate attempt to flee, their hulking forms retreating into the smoke.

"Hey, Alejandro," Yosef called out, his mischievous grin widening, "how much you betting I'll take 'em all out with just this one orb?"

Alejandro smirked, barely missing a beat. "My life savings—$35."

Yosef casually released the orb, watching as it shot toward one of the fleeing titans. In a horrifying display of raw power, the orb absorbed the titan's entire body, pulling its mass into a singularity. Without losing momentum, it altered course mid-air, slicing through the rest of the titans like a boomerang, consuming them one by one before smoothly returning to Yosef's hand.

He caught it effortlessly, his grin never fading.

"It has to be illegal to be this strong," Alejandro muttered, surrendering his life savings with a sigh.

"Actually," Yosef replied, still smirking, "you're gonna need that money. Save it for later."

Abruptly, a distant rumble echoed through the valley, followed by a shockwave that heralded a torrential downpour of swords and arrows descending from the sky. They glimmered in icy blue and fiery red, carving vibrant trails as they homed in on TANT. It was a sure sign that Douglas was launching an attack.

"EVERYONE!" Yosef bellowed, "TAKE COVER!"

Despite their efforts to shield themselves, the impact was catastrophic. The valley was simultaneously incinerated and frozen, with fire and ice colliding in a violent, yet paradoxically harmonious display. As the dust settled, the team staggered to their feet, their bodies partially encased in ice while flames licked at their forms, their vision swimming in disorientation.

The temperature around them became an unnatural contradiction—blisteringly hot and bone-chilling cold at once. It was a testament to Douglas' overwhelming power. Yet, more perplexing was how the two opposing forces, fire and ice, coexisted without clashing, weaving together in a bizarre, unified force.

Yosef tossed his jacket aside, remaining in just his grey T-shirt as Douglas slowly descended, his imposing figure a monstrous fusion of ice and fire. One half of his body was encased in jagged, gleaming ice, while the other burned with fierce, untamed flames. Sparks and energy swirled around him, forming distorted, angelic constructs—though nothing about him promised salvation. He was a harbinger of chaos and destruction.

"So, we meet again..." Douglas hissed, his voice dripping with venom.

"Only one of us will make it out alive," Yosef declared, eyes locked with his rival's. His previous nonchalance now gone.

Yosef's eyes ignited with a deep celestial purple, glowing with an intensity that seemed to pierce through reality itself. His aura surged, distorting the space around him as miniature singularities formed, each orbited by crackling white sparks that bent spacetime with their presence. Blurple orbs danced around his figure, shimmering with raw, unimaginable power, hinting at the cosmic force he was about to unleash. The air vibrated, thick with the weight of his growing might, as the battlefield prepared for a clash between titans.