Recap: As the battle against the evolved Time Eater reaches its climax, the Maxes continue risking their lives to support Max 4's mission of breaking through the creature's overwhelming defenses. However, the enormous amount of energy stored within the candy cane staff begins pushing Max 4 to his limit as the Time Eater rapidly evolves in both power and intelligence.
Realizing that their restrictive prince outfits were limiting both their movement and mental focus, the Maxes undergo a transformation—changing into comfortable unicorn pajamas identical to Eve's. Although the power increase itself is small, Genesis explains that the true difference comes from their mindset. By feeling emotionally relaxed and connected, the Maxes are able to move more freely, think more clearly, and synchronize with one another at a much higher level.
As Genesis, Kail, Adam, Chrona, and Yu continue observing the battle, the family shares lighthearted moments while discussing the true nature of the Life Spirits and the importance of emotional comfort in battle. Despite the overwhelming strength of the evolved Time Eater, Genesis confidently predicts the battle will soon come to an end—believing the Maxes now possess everything they need to finish their plan.
With Max 4 finally reaching his objective, the Maxes combine their power to create a gigantic Gummy Bear capable of confronting the fused Time Eater directly. In response, the Time Eater unveils a newly evolved technique—"Distorted Time and Space Technique: Breaking Shot"—and launches a catastrophic blast powerful enough to shake the entire Candy Cosmos.
As the giant Gummy Bear takes the full force of the attack head-on, a massive explosion engulfs the battlefield—leaving the outcome uncertain.
Setting: Candy Cosmos
Genesis stares toward the massive explosion with sparkling eyes as candy-colored smoke fills the Candy Cosmos.
Genesis (surprised):
"WOWWWWW…"
"That big bear actually took the FULL assault of that blast…"
Kail watches the battlefield with disappointment instead of concern.
Kail (disappointed):
"What a waste of perfectly good candy…"
Genesis immediately smiles at her reaction.
Genesis (with a soft smile):
"Don't worry, Kail."
"I'll make you an EVEN better candy bear later."
Kail's eyes instantly light up.
Kail (excited):
"REALLYYYYYYY?!"
"I WANT ONE EXACTLY THAT BIGGGGGGG—NOT EVEN A TINY BIT SMALLERRRRRRR!!!!!"
The moment Genesis agrees—
Kail's Destruction Yin energy suddenly erupts wildly around her from pure excitement.
Black and Violet energy crackles violently throughout the Candy Cosmos—
causing space itself to tremble slightly.
Adam calmly looks over while still holding the sleeping Eve in his arms.
Adam (calmly):
"Okay Mother…"
"You're getting a little TOO excited…"
Chrona casually floats upside down nearby—
doing a one-finger handstand out of pure boredom while eating another piece of chocolate.
Chrona (casually):
"She's gonna destroy everything before the Time Eaters do…"
"…all over some candy."
Genesis suddenly points excitedly toward the battlefield.
Genesis (hyped):
"HEYYYYYYYY GUYSSSSS—LOOKKKKKK!!!!"
All of a sudden—
a gigantic wave of candy made entirely of glowing gummies rushes across the battlefield at overwhelming speed.
The flood of candy spirals around the fused Time Eater like a raging storm—
moving so fast that the creature can barely track it.
The Time Eater desperately reaches out with hundreds of distorted hands—
trying to grab the flowing energy.
But it's too fast.
Far too fast.
Time Eater (glitching desperately):
"M̸Y̶ ̷E̸N̷E̶R̷G̷YYYYYYY—!!"
Then—
The creature suddenly freezes.
Its distorted eyes widen.
Max 4 is standing directly behind it.
Calm.
Confident.
His candy cane staff is raised high into the air as all the stored energy begins gathering above him.
The candy energy compresses together violently—
forming a gigantic glowing sphere above the battlefield.
The pressure alone begins shaking the Candy Cosmos.
The fused Time Eater slowly turns around.
Max 4 smirks confidently.
Max 4 (with a smirk):
"You're finished."
(He points his candy cane staff toward the creature.)
"Oh—and you suck at fighting."
"Your power is the ONLY reason you kept overpowering us."
The Time Eater's distorted face twitches violently in rage.
Time Eater (glitching crazily):
"A̴L̷L̵L̷L̴L̸ ̶O̵F̶ ̴T̶H̸A̶T̷ ̵E̸N̵E̸R̷G̴Y̷…"
"B̵E̴L̴O̷N̸G̶S̶ ̸T̴O̴ ̸M̴EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"
Max 4's expression becomes wild.
Max 4 (with a crazed grin):
"OH YOU WANT IT SO BAD?!"
"THEN HEREEEEE—IT'S ALL YOURSSSSSSSS!!!!!"
The Time Eater immediately lunges toward the massive ball of energy—
its countless arms stretching outward desperately to devour it.
But suddenly—
FWOOSH—
Max 4 vanishes.
The Time Eater's eyes widen again.
Then—
Max 4 suddenly appears directly ABOVE the creature—
holding the gigantic candy sphere over his head.
Max 4 (with fury):
"SPIRITUAL CANDY COSMOS TECHNIQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEE—"
"CANDYYYYYYYY CRUSHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
Max 4 slams the massive sphere of energy directly onto the fused Time Eater.
The entire Candy Cosmos erupts violently.
Candy-colored shockwaves explode across the realm—
tearing through the distorted atmosphere.
The fused Time Eater lets out a horrifying distorted scream as its body begins breaking apart completely.
Time Eater (glitching in agony):
"N̶O̶OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—!!!"
Its giant body starts disintegrating—
piece by piece—
until finally—
the fused Time Eater is completely erased from existence.
Max 4 lets out a long exhausted sigh as the candy-colored energy surrounding his body slowly fades away.
The battlefield finally grows quiet.
The distorted pressure that once filled the Candy Cosmos completely disappears.
Then—
FWOOSH—
Max 1 suddenly pops out of the Candy Cosmos with overwhelming excitement.
Max 1 (excited):
"WEEEEEEEE DID ITTTTTTTTTT!!!!!"
"THAT WAS A SUPER CLOSE ONEEEEEEE!!!"
Max 4 weakly laughs while trying to catch his breath.
Max 4 (exhausted):
"Yeah…"
"You got THAT one right…"
"That was WAY too close…"
(He looks around the battlefield.)
"Where are the others?"
Max 1 smiles proudly.
Max 1 (with a smile):
"Ohhhhh they're taking a nap right now."
"They used up a LOT of energy trying to protect you and make sure the plan went as smoothly as possible."
Max 4 looks down at the candy cane staff quietly for a moment.
The remaining candy energy slowly flickers around it.
Then—
FWOOSH—
Yu, Genesis, Kail, Adam, and Chrona suddenly appear beside the two Maxes.
Yu looks at the two Maxes proudly as the remaining candy energy slowly drifts through the battlefield like glowing dust.
Yu (with a proud expression):
"You two did amazing work."
Genesis' eyes immediately begin sparkling again.
Genesis (with bright eyes):
"YEAHHHHHHHHH—THAT FINISH AT THE END WAS SOOOOO COOOOLLLLLLLL!!!!!"
Max 1 instantly lights up with excitement after hearing the praise.
Max 1 (with the exact same excited expression as Genesis):
"THANK YOU PAPAAAAA GGGGGGGG!!!!"
"IT WAS SUPER FUN TURNING INTO A BIG GUMMY BEARRRRRRRR!!!!!"
Genesis points excitedly at Max 1.
Genesis (hyped):
"RIGHTTTTT?!"
"That was AWESOME!!!!"
The two immediately start matching each other's energy perfectly.
Meanwhile—
Chrona slowly floats nearby with half-open sleepy eyes—
looking like she's seconds away from falling asleep midair.
Chrona (bored):
"…Papa G huh…"
"That's new…"
Max 1 suddenly gasps dramatically.
Max 1 (dramatic):
"WAITTTTTT—YOU DON'T LIKE IT?!"
Chrona slowly stares at him blankly.
Chrona:
"I didn't say that…"
"…it just sounds weird."
Kail folds her arms while trying not to laugh.
Kail (smirking):
"It DOES sound ridiculous."
Genesis immediately points at Kail dramatically.
Genesis (offended):
"HEYYYYYYYYYY—PAPA G IS A GREAT NAMEEEEEEEE!!!"
Max 1 nods aggressively in agreement.
Max 1 (with aggression):
"YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Then all of a sudden—
the entire Candy Cosmos begins raining with thick purple-and-black droplets of distorted liquid energy—
catching everyone completely off guard.
…drip.
…drip.
…DRIP.
The strange liquid falls from the sky endlessly—
melting through clouds of candy as it crashes against the realm below.
Genesis slowly looks upward in confusion as a droplet lands on his finger.
Genesis (confused):
"What in the world…?"
(He looks toward Yu.)
"Hey Yu… are you guys doing this?"
Max 1 immediately waves his hands in panic.
Max 1 (confused):
"UMMMMMMMM NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"
Chrona slowly raises one hand.
A transparent space barrier expands around her—
causing gravity itself to slow around the falling droplets.
The distorted liquid begins floating in slow motion near her face.
Chrona stares at it carefully.
Chrona (thinking):
"Hmmm…"
"It LOOKS like energy…"
Kail's expression slowly becomes serious.
Kail (calmly):
"…Sadly…"
"That's not energy."
A brief silence.
Kail's eyes narrow slightly.
Kail:
"…It's drool."
Chrona's entire expression instantly twists into disgust.
Chrona (horrified):
"THAT'S NASTYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!"
FWOOSH—
Chrona immediately expands her space barrier outward—
protecting everyone from the falling liquid.
The purple-black droplets slam against the barrier—
slowly sizzling against the space around it.
Adam calmly watches the sky above.
Adam (calmly):
"And it looks like it's coming from above…"
Genesis' eyes widen slightly.
Genesis (surprised):
"Everyone look…"
"The drool is dissolving the entire Cosmos…"
Everyone immediately looks around.
And their expressions slowly begin changing.
The Candy Cosmos—
the realm once filled with warmth, candy clouds, and colorful skies—
is beginning to dissolve.
Candy structures melt apart.
The ground hisses violently.
Entire sections of the realm begin collapsing into distorted black holes as the purple drool spreads further and further throughout the Candy Cosmos.
Adam watches the Candy Cosmos continue dissolving around them as distorted droplets slowly sizzle against Chrona's barrier.
But despite the chaos—
his attention shifts toward Max 4.
Adam (calm but concerned):
"Hey Max…"
"Are your other selves going to be okay?"
Max 4 rubs the back of his head tiredly before answering.
Max 4 (with a tired expression):
"Yeah… they're fine."
"They're inside of Eve right now."
Adam's expression changes slightly in confusion.
Adam (confused):
"Inside of Eve…?"
(He looks toward the sleeping Eve.)
"Can you guys wake her up?"
Max 4 slowly shakes his head.
Max 4:
"Nope."
"Nothing can wake her up."
"Not even your magic."
(He glances toward Yu briefly.)
"Like Father Yu said…"
"…it's all up to HER now."
"All we can do is watch…"
"…and make sure she stays safe."
A brief silence fills the group.
Even Genesis stops smiling for a moment.
Adam slowly stands up while still holding Eve carefully in his arms.
Then—
to everyone's surprise—
Adam bows his head toward Max 4 sincerely.
Adam (calmly):
"Thank you…"
"For doing what I couldn't."
Max 4's eyes widen slightly.
Then he smirks softly.
Max 4 (with a smirk):
"Nah…"
"You're the one I should be thanking."
(He points toward Eve.)
"Without YOU…"
"Eve wouldn't be the way she is."
"So thank you."
Adam slowly lifts his head again.
Then—
the two quietly shake hands.
For a brief moment—
despite the dissolving Candy Cosmos around them—
the atmosphere feels strangely peaceful.
Genesis watches the interaction between Adam and Max 4 with sparkling eyes.
Genesis (with a soft smile):
"Awwwwwwww…"
"That was SO sweettttttt…"
Kail looks toward Adam proudly before crossing her arms.
Kail (smiling):
"Adam…"
"You should give yourself more credit."
Adam quietly looks away awkwardly while adjusting Eve carefully in his arms.
But then—
the atmosphere suddenly changes.
FWOOSHHHH—
Yu calmly begins releasing spiritual energy into the sky above the Candy Cosmos.
Candy-colored aura surges violently around his body as the pressure throughout the realm immediately begins rising.
Everyone looks upward.
Yu's energy crashes against something invisible high above the Candy Cosmos—
revealing what looks like a massive transparent barrier hidden in the sky.
Yu (calmly while surging with energy):
"Sorry for interrupting the conversation…"
"…but we don't have much time."
(He slowly raises his hand upward.)
"If you all truly want to save Eve like I do…"
"…then we need to find the source of their power."
Yu's expression remains calm—
but his voice carries absolute seriousness.
Then—
his aura suddenly erupts outward even further.
Yu (calmly):
"Spiritual Candy Cosmos Technique…"
"SUGAR RUSHHHHHHHHHH—HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!
A massive wave of candy-colored energy explodes into the sky—
causing the distorted rain above them to scatter violently.
The hidden barrier begins cracking into visibility.
And slowly—
the sky above the Candy Cosmos becomes clearer.
Genesis' eyes widen immediately.
Genesis (shocked):
"I CAN SEE THE TOPPPPPPP!!!!!"
Then—
everyone's expressions slowly begin changing.
Because above the barrier—
pressed directly against it—
are countless Time Eaters.
Hundreds.
Maybe thousands.
Their distorted faces twitch violently as they stare downward into the Candy Cosmos.
Drool pours endlessly from their mouths—
dripping down against the barrier like rain.
Some claw at the invisible surface desperately.
Others smash their faces against it repeatedly.
All of them staring directly at Eve.
Kail's expression immediately becomes serious.
Kail (serious):
"…It's just more Time Eaters."
Adam narrows his eyes calmly while observing them carefully.
Adam (calmly):
"But they seem…"
"…far more aggressive than usual."
Chrona slowly turns her head away in visible disgust.
Chrona (uncomfortable):
"EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!"
Genesis squints upward at the horrifying sight beyond the barrier—
his expression slowly shifting from excitement to confusion.
Genesis (confused):
"Ummmmmm…"
"Isn't THAT what you call a playground, Kail…?"
Kail narrows her eyes carefully while staring upward at the distorted structures beyond the barrier.
Behind the swarming Time Eaters—
massive floating playground structures can barely be seen.
Broken swings drift endlessly through space.
Slides twist unnaturally into distorted spirals.
Clocks hang upside down from the sky.
Entire playgrounds float endlessly within the darkness above.
Kail (confused while squinting):
"Huh…?"
"Ughhhhh yeah…"
"That IS a playground…"
(her expression slowly hardens.)
"But it looks distorted…"
"…like it fused together with the Time Eaters."
Yu slowly lowers his hand as the candy aura around him fades away completely.
The barrier above them continues trembling from the pressure of the countless creatures smashing against it.
Yu (calmly):
"It seems…"
"…we may have discovered the source of their power."
"In another realm."
Adam's eyes narrow slightly as he continues staring upward at the distorted playground beyond the barrier.
Then—
his expression changes.
Adam (calm but confused):
"Wait…"
"This feeling…"
"…it's familiar."
(He slowly looks toward Chrona.)
"It feels like Chrona."
Chrona's eyes instantly widen in horror.
The floating teddy bear beside her slowly stops moving.
Chrona (shocked):
"WAITTTTTTTTTTTTT—"
"THAT'S MY REALMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!"
The entire group freezes.
Above them—
the distorted playground continues stretching endlessly beyond the barrier—
while countless Time Eaters continue drooling and staring downward at Eve.
End of Chapter 17 — The Realization