The Cartenone Temple rose from the depths of the Nexus like a monolith of forgotten code. Its walls pulsed with ancient energy, inscribed with glyphs older than Crunchyroller itself. A low hum vibrated through the air, sending ripples of data across the plaza where Brush and his team had gathered.
Equinox's violet eyes flickered as she stepped forward. "This… is it. The domain has fully activated. The temple will test us — every step, every code, every choice."
Brush tightened his grip on Miss Krita. "We've faced Crunchyroller and his generals. Whatever's inside here… we handle it together."
Frostbinder raised a hand, frost forming along her gauntlets. "Don't forget — this is ancient code. Old systems, old traps. We need to be ready for anything."
Before the team could advance further, a deep rumble shook the ground. The massive temple gates groaned, then split open like a maw. From the shadows of the inner sanctum emerged the first general: Solo Crusher.
A figure compressed from endless loops of shadow and steel, Solo Crusher's form flickered like broken video frames, each shadow limb cracking with raw kinetic force. Its glowing eyes scanned the intruders with predatory precision.
"Another Chosen One," Solo Crusher rumbled, voice warped like corrupted audio. "The temple awaits those worthy… and none shall pass unless broken."
Trojan Horse — now fully Equinox — stepped forward, her hair and ears shimmering with violet light. "Brush, be careful. These generals are echoes of power, tied to the temple itself. They aren't just minions; they're guardians of the domain's code."
Solo Crusher flexed its massive, shadowed arms. With a single motion, the air compressed into jagged cubes, shadows folding and twisting into inescapable forms. The ground itself seemed to compress under its presence, threatening to flatten the team into data fragments.
Brush's shockwave fist glowed, Miss Krita igniting with soul-corruption fusion. "We've fought loops before. We can handle compression!" he shouted, launching forward as Frostbinder froze a series of shadow cubes, RobbRox rebuilt protective barriers, and FooTube's viral streams distracted the general's attention.
Equinox sprinted, hooves now transformed into sleek, armored boots, lances of violet light extending from her hands. "Solo Crusher isn't invincible. We break the loop, we break the domain's hold!"
Solo Crusher laughed — a sound of cracking glass and corrupted code — and prepared to crush the team beneath its unstoppable, compressed shadows. The first trial of the Cartenone Temple Domain had begun.