The Cartenone Temple shifted again, this time into a surreal arena of flashing lights and endless stages. Spotlights traced the corridors, holographic screens lined the walls, and distorted music loops filled every corner. This was Oshi No Crunch's domain—a world built to idolize, distract, and repeat.
Brush D. Rush landed on a moving stage, aura blazing with all his powers aligned. "These attacks aren't just physical—they manipulate attention and focus. We'll need to cut through the performance and reach the core."
Equinox's violet lances glimmered. "I'll carve through the illusions and loops. You handle the real threats, Brush. We've done this before—let's not let the distraction trap us."
From every direction, holographic idols materialized, striking with repetitive, mesmerizing patterns. Each attack carried a compulsion, forcing the team to move in specific, predictable rhythms. Even a single misstep risked being trapped in an endless loop of attack animation.
"Your devotion is irrelevant!" Oshi No Crunch's voice echoed, auto-tuned and distorted."Only engagement matters. Perform, or be forgotten!"
Brush clenched his fists, teleporting through the attacks with perfect timing. Erasure shattered the compulsion fields, while Creation Guardians intercepted the physical projectiles. Interception redirected looping attacks back into the holographic idols themselves.
Equinox leapt across the stage, violet lances cutting through repeating sequences of attacks. "Keep the pace! Every strike we land breaks a loop!"
Frostbinder froze looping platforms, RobbRox rebuilt unstable stages, FooTube created false paths to mislead attacks, and Melody Guard harmonized the chaotic sound waves, stabilizing the environment.
Brush's aura flared brighter, fully synchronized. "We don't just survive the loops—we control them!"
He teleported rapidly, every strike erasing repetitive attacks before they could complete. Creation Guardians surged, forming barriers and intercepting waves of idolized attacks. Equinox's lances struck the core of the domain, destabilizing the central loop of holographic energy.
The domain shuddered violently. Holographic idols froze mid-performance, their lights flickering.
"Impossible! No one should disrupt perfection!" Oshi No Crunch screamed.
Brush and Equinox advanced together, violet and white flares intertwining. With a final coordinated strike, Erasure consumed the core loops, and Equinox's lances severed the remaining holographic sequences.
The arena stilled. Spotlights dimmed, music faded, and the holographic screens collapsed into nothingness.
Brush exhaled, aura still glowing. "Another domain cleared. Three to go."
Equinox smiled faintly. "We're getting stronger… but I can feel the next one. It's… dangerous in a different way."
From the distant halls, faint mechanical noises rippled through the temple—the unmistakable signature of Ranma Recycler's swapping attacks, already forming the next trial.
Brush's fists glowed. "Then we move forward. Together. No hesitation."
The team nodded, ready for the next challenge, stronger and more synchronized than ever as the Cartenone Temple continued to test their limit