Recap: As the Time Eaters continue their assault on the Candy Cosmos, their evolution reaches a terrifying new level. No longer acting alone, they begin coordinating their attacks—absorbing energy from the environment, regenerating lost limbs, and adapting faster with every exchange.
In response, the Candy Men emerge as the defenders of the realm. Led by Yu, they take control of the battlefield—protecting Eve while pushing back against the overwhelming forces of the Time Eaters. Through coordinated teamwork and creative techniques, the Maxes are able to disrupt the Time Eaters' energy absorption and temporarily gain the upper hand.
However, just as victory seems within reach, the Time Eaters react once again—combining together into a single, massive second-stage entity. This new form is stronger, more unstable, and far more dangerous than anything before.
Setting: Candy Cosmos
Max 1 (panicking):
"AGHHHHHH—WHAT ARE WEEEE GOING TO DOOOOOOO!!!"
—
Genesis, Kail, Chrona, Adam—who is still holding a sleeping Eve—and Yu all watch the battle unfold.
Kail crosses her arms, closing her eyes as she speaks.
Kail (calm, skeptical):
"You think your children can handle this, Yu?"
Genesis's eyes light up with excitement as he stares at the fused Time Eater.
Genesis (excited):
"OHHHH WOWWWW—THEY FUSED TOGETHER!!!"
(He points toward it.)
"Instead of relying on sheer numbers alone, they combined into one powerful entity!!!"
"That's SO COOLLLLLL!!!!!"
Adam looks at Genesis while still holding Eve in his arms.
Adam (calm):
"Ummmm… Father…"
"I don't think this is something you should be excited about."
Chrona floats nearby, casually playing with her teddy bear.
Chrona (bored):
"Well… this probably would've gone a lot faster if you guys stopped interrupting our attacks."
Yu suddenly laughs loudly.
Yu (confident):
"HA, HA, HAAAAAA!!!!!"
(He smiles calmly.)
"Thank you for worrying, Mother… but my children have this under control."
(Eyes locked on the battlefield.)
"Everything is going exactly the way it needs to."
Back to the battlefield—
All eleven Maxes are running around losing their minds.
Max 4 (with a serious expression):
"HEYYYYY YOU IDIOTS—FOCUS!!!!!"
All the Maxes say in unison:
"My badddddd!"
Max 4 (standing with confidence while holding the candy cane staff with a lot of energy still stored inside of it):
"LISTEN—We still have the energy stored inside of the staff, so we still have a chance…"
(Eyes locked on the giant Time Eater.)
"Even if it's stronger than us."
Max 1 (realizing):
"OHHHHHH YEAHHHHH—WE DO STILL HAVE THE ENERGY STORED!!!"
Max 2 (concentrating):
"Okayyyy… we still have the energy, but how do we hit that big thing?!"
Max 3 (pointing at the giant Time Eater):
"Yeahhhh—it has like 100 arms and it's towering over us like we're ants!!!"
Max 5 (with a concerned expression):
"And it's way stronger than us now…"
"Our regular attacks aren't going to phase it."
Max 4 (with a frustrated expression):
"HEY—SO LET ME ASK YOU GUYS A QUESTION."
A brief pause.
"Do you want to let everyone down?"
All eleven Maxes respond:
"NOOOO!!!"
Max 4 raises the staff higher.
"DO YOU WANT TO LET OUR FATHER DOWNNNNN?!"
All eleven Maxes reply louder:
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!"
Max 4 (shouting with intensity):
"DO YOU WANT TO PROTECT EVEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"
All eleven Maxes shout together:
"YESSSSSSSSS!!!!"
Max 4 (with a confident expression):
"THEN LET'S MAN UP AND KEEP PUSHING FORWARDDDDD!!!!!"
All ten Maxes respond:
"LET'S GOOOOOOOO!!!"
But—
One of the Maxes doesn't say anything.
He looks like he's thinking.
Then suddenly—
Max 9's eyes light up.
Max 9 (with a bright idea):
"WAITTTTTTTT—I THINK I HAVE A GOOD IDEAAAAAAA!!!"
Max 4 (with a serious expression, looking back at Max 9):
"…?"
Max 9 (with a smile):
"Let's all use telepathy so it doesn't hear us."
—
As the massive second-stage Time Eater continues devouring parts of the Candy Cosmos while the Maxes form their plan—
Max 4 suddenly charges forward.
The giant Time Eater instantly focuses its attention on him.
Max 4 (charging forward with his candy cane staff):
"COME ON YOU UGLY SACK OF PURPLE GOOOOP!!!!!!!"
Time Eater (with a crazed expression):
"MOREEEE ENERGYYYYYYYYY!!!!"
The giant Time Eater launches its massive tentacle arms toward Max 4—
faster—
heavier—
stronger than before.
But Max 4 keeps charging—
dodging the attacks as they slam around him.
Max 4 (struggling while charging forward):
"MANNNNN—IT TAKES WAY MORE ENERGY JUST TO DODGE ITS ATTACKS NOW!!!"
—
Max 4 leaps over another tentacle—
then lands directly on top of one—
running across it at full speed.
He swings his candy cane staff—
slamming the stored energy into the tentacle—
But—
It doesn't even leave a dent.
More tentacles immediately rush toward him—
at beyond light speeds.
Max 4 (struggling, thinking to himself):
"As I expected…"
"Our current strength isn't enough to even damage it…"
"And its speed has gotten even faster…"
—
The tentacles close in from every direction.
Too fast.
Too close.
Max 4 can't even react in time.
Max 4 (accepting defeat):
"Dang it…"
"…it's just too fast…"
—
But just as the tentacles are about to impale him—
Five Maxes suddenly form from the candy around the Candy Cosmos—
appearing instantly in front of him.
The tentacles pierce straight through them.
But instead of bleeding—
Their bodies dissolve into energy—
flowing directly into the candy cane staff Max 4 is holding.
The staff surges with power.
And suddenly—
Max 4 realizes something.
Max 4 (with a fired-up expression):
"OHHHH YOU'RE IN FOR IT NOWWWWWW!!!!!!"
(Eyes burning with excitement.)
"GUYS—KEEP THAT UP!!!"
Max 1 (with a confident expression):
"YOU HEARD HIMMMMM!!!"
"PROTECT MAX 4 AT ALL COSTS—WHILE STILL FOLLOWING THE PLANNNNN!!!!"
—
Eight more Maxes are summoned behind Max 1—
formed from the candy surrounding the battlefield.
A candy aura begins radiating from their bodies as they raise their hands—
ready to summon even more Maxes to protect Max 4.
As Max 4 continues charging forward—
Genesis, Kail, Adam while holding Eve, Chrona, and Yu all continue watching the battle unfold.
Adam (with a calm expression):
"Ohhh… I see what they're doing now."
(His eyes follow the Maxes closely.)
"They're using the cosmos they were born from to create more of themselves…"
"And whenever the Max holding the energy staff is about to get hit…"
"…the others protect him and transform themselves into energy for him to absorb."
Adam (slightly impressed):
"Nice."
Genesis (smiling while putting his hands behind his head):
"Well… it makes sense."
"They are Life Spirits after all."
Chrona (spinning around out of boredom):
"You guys never answered my question earlier…"
"What even IS a Life Spirit?"
Kail (putting a finger on her chin):
"Hm…"
"That's actually a good point."
(She shrugs slightly.)
"I honestly didn't care enough to ask."
"Once I heard they were protecting Eve, I couldn't care less what they were."
Genesis smirks mischievously.
Genesis (teasing):
"Or maybe it's because Yu gave you more tasty candyyyyyy~"
Kail instantly blushes as her energy flashes around her.
Kail (flustered):
"I HAVEN'T BEEN ON A SUGAR RUSH IN FOREVERRRRR SO CUT ME SOME SLACKKKKKK!!!!!"
Genesis starts laughing.
Meanwhile, Yu casually creates more candy for Kail—
and she immediately starts eating all of it.
Yu (with a soft smile):
"Wow… Mother must really love candy."
(He looks around.)
"Anyone else want some?"
Yu creates candy for everyone.
Adam (with a calm expression):
"Candy isn't really my thing…"
"…but it does taste good."
Genesis (enjoying it):
"I hear you on that one, Adam…"
"But this stuff is REALLY good."
As Kail enjoys her lollipop—
Genesis suddenly leans over and takes a bite from it.
Genesis (smiling softly):
"Let me try some, Kail."
Genesis puts the lollipop in his mouth—
and his eyes instantly light up.
Genesis (eyes sparkling):
"WOWWWWW—THAT'S SUPER SWEETTTTTTTT!!!"
Kail immediately snatches it back.
Kail (flustered):
"UGHHHH—CAN YOU STOP TAKING MY CANDY WITHOUT ASKINGGGGGG?!"
Chrona squints suspiciously at her mother.
Chrona:
"Mom…"
"…you actually like it when Dad does that, don't you?"
Kail blushes even harder.
Kail (embarrassed):
"CHRONA—MIND YOUR BUSINESSSSSSS!!!!!"
Chrona casually floats around while eating chocolate.
Chrona (blankly):
"Guess I was right then."
Genesis suddenly remembers her earlier question.
Genesis (realizing):
"Oh yeah—and to answer your question, Chrona…"
"A Life Spirit is basically positive energy."
(Eyes shifting toward Eve.)
"Eve created them because she's the embodiment of positive energy itself."
Chrona (floating around bored):
"Hm…"
"Positive energy, huh…"
(She glances toward Eve.)
"So when is Eve gonna wake up?"
Yu continues watching the battlefield carefully.
Yu (calmly):
"Don't worry about when she'll wake up."
"Eve will be just fine."
Adam's tone becomes more serious.
Adam:
"And how can you be so sure?"
Yu smiles confidently without looking away from the battle.
Yu:
"Trust me…"
"She'll be just fine."
"Just give her a little more time."
—
As the battle continues—
the Maxes struggle desperately to keep control of the battlefield—
while the Time Eater continues evolving.
End of Chapter 15 — The Struggle