A rush of warmth flooded his mind. Techniques he hadn't even practiced— Thievery , Solution 9 —burned into his memory instantly. He looked at Steiner, who was suddenly glowing with a golden aura. The knight swung his sword, and instead of a simple slash, a massive erupted in holographic numbers above the monster’s head. The beast didn't just faint; it evaporated.
But as they stood on the edge of the world, Steiner looked troubled. "Zidane, the journey... it’s over. We reached the end in twenty minutes. I didn't even get to complain about my boots once."
Zidane didn’t mind a fair fight, but tonight, the Mist in the Evil Forest was playing dirty. His daggers were chipped, Vivi was out of focus, and Steiner’s armor was clanking with the rhythm of a man who’d given up.
"There has to be a better way," Zidane muttered, dodging a Poison Claw.
Zidane looked at the shimmering blue menu still floating in his peripheral vision. He had all the power, all the money, and every rare card in the deck. But as he looked at his friends, he realized they hadn't shared a single campfire story or a hard-won victory. With a sigh, Zidane reached out and hit
The glow faded. The forest grew dark and dangerous again. A small, weak goblin stepped out from the shadows, growling.
They moved through the world like gods. Random encounters vanished before they could even start. When they reached the legendary Ozma, the ultimate orb of chaos, Zidane simply toggled His hair turned neon pink, his power surged to the stars, and he ended the "unbeatable" boss with a single, casual flick of his wrist.
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