Chapter 39

Ana walked inside of the temple and in the middle of it was a key floating.

"Yeah, like that isn't a trap. Whoever or whatever is here, come out." Said Ana.

Suddenly, a giant ape jumped down to the ground. It was taller and older than the other apes as it had club in its hand. It had many battle scars on its body as it stared down Ana.

"Not that I'm afraid of you. I'm worried about you. Is there a way for us to settle this peacefully?" Ana asked with a smile.

But the ape swung its club at Ana, but she stopped it with both of her hands. She then had a serious look on her face as she glared at the ape.

"Yeah, I thought you'd do that." Said Ana.

Daniel and Yuan were knocking out the apes, until something busted out of the temple. They all stopped, even the apes as they saw the giant ape land on the ground. It was unconscious and beaten up as Ana walked around as she spun the key around her fingers.

"Who's next?" Ana asked.

The apes back away and moved towards the giant ape to check on it. Ana walked to the guys as she put up the key and pulled out the map as they watched her.

"Man, she's so hot." Said Yuan.

"Watch your mouth." Said Daniel.

"Let's head over to the next key's location!" Said Ana.

Meanwhile, we see Team North Winchester in the swamp as they were fighting giant lizards that were trying to eat them. Patricia knocked some out away with her dragon fist and Faye was using ice magic to freeze them in place.

"Robin, have you gotten the key!?" Faye shouted.

Robin was dodging attacks from a troll covered in moss and vines, while having the key hanging from one of the vines. It swung its fists down at her as she slid between its legs. She then jumped on its back and took the key.

"Got it! Let's go!" Robin shouted.

"Patricia!" Faye shouted.

"Come out, Shelia!" Patricia shouted with an orb in her hand.

A full grown wyrm appeared as it hissed at the lizards. They back off as Patricia and Faye got on its back. It then quickly slithered to Robin as she jumped on her back as well. They chased after her as the troll yelled at them, while Patricia laughed victorious.

"Hahaha! We have acquired the first! Our victory is inedible." Said Patricia.

"You know we have two left right?" Faye responded.

"I know that. But we are behind compared to the other schools. So we need to keep an optimistic mindset!" Said Patricia.

"Plus, no one wants to hear Chase be all, well, Chase. Where's the next key?" Robin asked.

"The second key is located in a mushroom field. At least we don't have to be in this gross swamp." Said Faye.

"Hey, I wonder if we meet a fun-guy!" Said Patricia as she nudged Faye.

"Don't start with those ridiculous puns!" Said Faye.

"I thought it was kind of funny." Said Robin.

"Don't encourage, her!" Faye yelled.

Shelia then soon arrived a mushroom field within the swamp as they got off her back. Patricia return Shelia to her orb as they tread carefully as they were on guard. They were surrounded by large fungus as everything was calm and quiet.

"This place doesn't seem so bad." Said Patricia.

"This is a survival scavenger challenge. They wouldn't make this easy." Said Robin.

"But what kind of funguses are these?" Faye asked.

"Huge ass ones, I can tell you that." Said Robin.

They then saw one of the keys floated above one of the biggest mushrooms. Patricia jumped towards it, until Robin noticed fungus growing on her shoulder. Robin then turned to Faye and noticed there were some on her back.

"Hold up." Said Robin as she stopped Faye.

"W-What is it?" Faye replied.

Robin pulled out her knife as Faye immediately panicked, until Robin cut the fungus in half. The rest broke off as Faye was surprised.

"What was that!?" Faye replied.

"The fungus. It growing rapidly on us." Said as she cut off the fungus on her arm.

"Uh, you guys?" Patricia replied.

They both looked as Patricia's fungus had grown quickly on her back, covering it. She then pulled out one of her orbs as Faye and Robin were on guard.

"No, not this one! Haven't even bonded with this one!" Patricia shouted.

Patricia then changed into her semi-dragon form as it was a fusion of her and the drake that Team Thunderbird fought. Patricia had thick brown skin, sharp teeth and bigger than before as she was breathing heavily. The fungus was covering her back and her limbs.

"Aw, crap." Said Robin as Patricia roared.

Patricia charged at Faye and Robin as they both rolled or jumped out of the way. Patricia crashed into a large tree as it fell to the ground, but she was unhurt. Robin stood ready as Faye pulled out a magic book as it floated in front of her.

"This is bad. Patricia, pacts work unless she's bonded with them. Without a bond, the dragon's natural instinct is reject her commands." Said Faye.

"Any plan on break her spell thing?" Robin asked.

"It's a fusion spell. And yes. All I have to do is touch her on the head. I can quickly use my mana to disrupt the spell. But that's easier said than done." Said Faye.

Back at the arena, Chase looked annoyed and frustrated as he looked away and got on his phone.

"Never send girls to do a knight's job." Said Chase.

"What was that?" Oliver responded.

"You heard me, Olly." Said Chase.

"Uh, hey, easy now. It is a survival scavenger hunter. Anything could've happened." Said Aidan.

"Yeah, that's why I sent Faye. She's the smart one of the group. And Robin is the most alert, while Patricia is mostly there for brute strength. But it seems my confidence in them was in vain." Said Chase.

Oliver was about to approach him, but Everette placed his hand in front of him.

"It's not worth it." Said Everette.

"Yeah. At least they've been doing most of the work. While your ass has been sitting down." Said Oliver as Aidan stifled.

"It's strategic thinking, Oliver. I don't expect a pretty boy like you to understand." Said Chase.

"Sure." Oliver responded as he kept his distance.

We then Patricia swing Faye as he floated away in time. Faye aimed her hands at Patricia as vines appeared from the ground restrained her. Faye quickly flew in to touch her head, but Patricia broke free as she swung at Faye. Her claws were right at her face, until an arrow was shot at her hand, forcing it to move and miss Faye. Robin then tackled her away from Patricia as she had swung her tail as well. She roared loudly as Robin and Faye got back up.

"Faye, you gotta use some strong magic. No damn plant can restrain her." Sad Robin.

"I know! I'm too used to using low level magic. Time to get…a little serious." Said Faye.

"I don't like how you phrase that." Said Robin.

"Here." Said Faye.

She waved her wand as magic circle was drawn on Robin's hand.

"It should be enough to disrupt her fusion spell." Said Faye.

"Say no more." Said Robin as she stood ready to move.

Patricia charged towards them, until Faye held her hand out to Patricia.

"Paralyzing magic, level 4!" Said Faye.

Patricia froze in place as she couldn't move. Robin bolted towards her, but Patricia started to move a bit more.

"Ugh, I hate it when you're so stubborn. Level 5!" Faye shouted.

Patricia kept frozen, until Robin jumped to her face and slapped her hand on Patricia's forehead. The spell was disrupted as Patricia return to normal as her orb dropped on the ground. Robin then quickly grabbed her knife and cut the fungus on her back in half. It started to fall apart as Patricia laughed.

"Wow, that was really intense." Said Patricia.

"Why are you laughing, you buffoon! Ugh, anyway. Are you alright?" Faye asked.

"Yes, thank you." Said Patricia.

"Let's try to be more careful. Also, where's the key?" Robin asked as they only heard silence.

"Oh my god." Said Faye as she placed her hand on her forehead.

"Nah, don't worry. I have it." Said Patricia.

"Irons! Whatever! Let's keep moving! This challenge is going to be the end of me, I swear!" Said Faye.

Meanwhile, in the tundra, we see Team San Teresa being chase by ice elemental. He blew freezing wind at them, but Alicia pulled out a charm of the sun. It sparked a small flame, but she blew at it and spew out a stream of fire that counter the elemental. It hit the elemental as Cadmael flew at it, while Xoc was grabbing onto one of his legs. Cadmael flew up high above the elemental.

"Ready, hermana?" Cadmael asked.

"Dale!" Xov shouted.

Cadmael swung his leg up, making Xoc float over him for a second. He held his shield at her as she landed on it and she launched herself downwards to elemental. Alicia stopped her fire as Xoc summoned out a macahuitl, a Aztec war club that had sharp obsidian stones on the edges. She stuck the elemental, breaking through it. She landed hard on the ground but landed safely as the elemental crumbled into pieces of ice.

"Nice one, Xoc." Said Cadmael as he landed next to her.

"Thanks. But damn that landing." Said Xoc as she looked at her legs.

"Here, let me check that." Said Alicia.

"What was that magic you use, Alicia?" Cadmael asked.

"It was a charm given to me by Enrique. He was so sweet about it. He handed to me so gently, while holding my hand. He told me, This should be useful to you, mi amor." Alicia giggled, while blushing and bashful.

"I was there. That last part didn't happen. AH!" Xoc responded as Alicia slapped her leg.

"It so happened that way! And be more careful." Said Alicia.

"I was telling the truth! He just handed it to you and said good luck." Said Xoc.

"He said it subtly. Only one that is in love would've saw it!" Said Alicia.

"Whatever." Said Xoc.

"Well at least we got the two keys. Now just one. Where is it?" Cadmael asked.

"Look for a palace made of ice and inside will be the last key. But be warn, the only way of getting the key is to test one against their greatest enemy." Said Alicia.

"I wonder what that means." Said Xoc.

"I guess we'll find out soon. And speaking of which, the palace is right over there." Said Cadmael as he pointed.

"Then vamanos!" Said Alicia.