"So... you four are the Animalita, right?" he asked.

"We sure are!" Devan said.

"What are you anyway?" James asked.

"I am one of the most deadliest and most dangerous animals in the world. They call me... the Black Mamba..."

Polytheus slithered down off the stature and rose up. Like a real black mamba, he was 14 feet long.

"What do you want us to do with them, milord?" Snapper asked.

"I will take care of the Animalita. The rest of you can tear the others to shreds." Polytheus hissed, flicking out his black, forked tongue.

The Kilvas Clan roared and charged at the Animal Spirits.

"This is it everyone... no turning back now." James said.

"We can and will defeat them!" Gabriel cried.

"Your call... Leopardess." Devan said.

Vera looked at her team and her friends. She then looked back at the charging Animal Demons.

"FOR HATARI!" she cried.

"FOR HATARI!" the others cried.

The Animalita bolted towards Polytheus with the others in tow. They slashed their way until they were in front of the Black Mamba himself.

"So you are the four that has beaten some of my best... I must say I am impressed. But it is sad to see such perfection go to waste," Polytheus said.

"Nobody's perfect, not even you, Polytheus!" Gabriel said.

"What are you talking about, child? I am the symbol of perfection. I am one of the most venomous snakes on the planet. One bite from me and you will die in the matter of minutes."

"We'll take you down, even it means costing us our lives!" James said.

"Well then, Animalita... let me see what you got! No holding back!"

"Wasn't planning on it!" Devan said.

"With pleasure!" Vera said.

The teens charged at Polytheus at breakneck speed, but he dodged them like it was nothing. Then, the snakes on his head started to grow longer. Then, they started attacking the teens. They dodged them easily, but they were coming at them at lightning speed. Vera extended her claws and sliced off some of the snakes' heads. Polytheus actually winced in in pain.

"Guys, the snakes on his head! Decapitate them!" Vera cried.

The boys nodded and ran towards the incoming snakes. Devan paralyzed every single one of them, and then James, Vera, and Gabriel came in and sliced off the heads. Polytheus let out an agonizing cry and slithered back. Thick, black blood spilled from his head.

"Give up Polytheus. You've already lost." Gabriel said.

"How... how can I lose to people like you?" he asked.

"Do we really need to answer that question?" James asked in an annoyed tone.

Polytheus bared his teeth, but then put on a sinister smile.

"You really think you defeated me? Why, I was just getting warmed up!" he hissed.

Then, Polytheus started glowing. A black aura started to surround him. Then, he grew twice the size he was before. The snakes on his head got even longer, and their heads grew back, but they were bigger than before. The teens stepped back, horrified. A mischievous looked twinkled in Polytheus' eyes.

"What happened to all that confidence you four had earlier?" he asked, flicking his forked tongue.

The teens shook off their fear, and charged at him again. Polytheus turned around and whipped them with his powerful tail. Their backs slammed against the statue really hard. They slid down and were now on their hands and knees. They looked up and saw Polytheus slithering over to them.

"Is... that... all you got...?" James asked weakly.

"You want more...? Alright, if you insist." he said.

Four of the snakes on his head rose up, and struck the teens. They howled in agonizing pain.

"Still holding up? Well, how would you feel if I took out your fearless leader?" Polytheus asked.

He then grabbed Vera by her throat, and lifted her up off her feet.

"VERA!" the boys cried.

Polytheus looked over and sent three of his snakes to shut them up.

"Shh..." he told them.

The snakes came at them and coiled around them until their mouths were covered.

"So... you are the fearless leader Leopardess. I've heard a lot about you, and your amazing ideas to take us down... too bad I have to crush your throat to avoid anymore complications." Polytheus said, tightening his grip.

Vera started gasping for air, and struggling to get free, but it was useless. Polytheus was twice his size, so his strength was twice as strong as it was before. He tilted his head in amusement as he watched Vera struggling and lose oxygen.

"Let... me... go... please..." Vera winced.

"It is far too late to plead for mercy." Polytheus said, grip getting tighter.

Vera felt her going lightheaded, bit by bit. She looked over at the boys, and saw them trying to get free. She looked over at the other Animal Spirits, and they were still fighting strong.

"I'm not going to make it... I failed my friends... I failed my team... I failed the Spirit Animals..." Vera thought.

She looked at Polytheus with soulless eyes. Polytheus smiled sinistely, and gave one more powerful squeeze to Vera's throat to finish her off.

But she was still breathing.