legendary Sword

"Haaa!" Ben screamed as he lost his footing, but Fred quickly used his telekinesis to pull him back to safety. "That scared me!" Ben panted, clutching his chest.

"Ben! You almost lost the mask!" Max scolded, rushing over and taking the artifact from him.

"Will Grandpa turn back to normal after this?!" Gwen asked, frustration lacing her voice as she noticed how obsessively narrow-minded Max had become.

"I hope so because I don't like this version of him at all," Ben admitted, still catching his breath.

"Come on!" Max barked. "The sword is most likely kept in the center of the temple on the lowest floor," he added as they descended the fragile wooden stair structures.

"Better be careful of booby traps," Max warned. "In other words, don't touch anything," he added, staring pointedly at Ben.

"Hey! Why are you looking at me?" Ben protested.

'Crack.'

"Ben!" the others yelled as the wood beneath him gave way. Ben clung to the railing, his vision thrown off by the darkness. The structure shuddered as boulders from above dislodged and tumbled, smashing a section that connected the entire staircase. Everything began to collapse.

"Uhhh... My bad," Ben said sheepishly.

"Hands now!" Fred shouted, phasing into his ghost form and grabbing Ben's shoulder. Gwen, Max, and Ben quickly held onto each other as Fred made them intangible. Floating effortlessly, he guided them to the other side, where solid stone stair structures awaited, setting them down safely.

"Phew! That was close," Ben said, shaking off the tension.

"This is no time for a break," Max snapped, already marching ahead.

"Seriously, just how important is this sword, anyway?" Gwen asked as they hurried to keep up.

"I mean, it can level an entire city with just one swipe," Fred answered nonchalantly.

The two siblings shot him deadpan looks. "Just saying. But seriously though, I'm sure he'll turn back to normal once this is over," Fred added reassuringly as he walked ahead.

"Well, I hope so," Ben muttered, quickening his pace.

After a few minutes of navigating the dark corridors, they arrived at an open chamber. A massive door loomed ahead, and before it stood a small pedestal with carvings matching the mask's design.

"Finally, I've found it," Max whispered, his eyes glinting with an obsessive determination. He pulled out the mask, ready to place it on the pedestal.

"Not so fast," a sinister voice echoed. From the shadows, the Forever Knights emerged, restraining the kids before they could react.

"I must say, plumbers are indeed useful," Enoch, the leader of the knights, sneered, laughing maniacally. "Grandpa!" Gwen screamed, struggling against her captors.

Max raised a blaster, aiming it directly at Enoch. "That would be unwise," Enoch said smoothly, pointing his sword at Fred's neck. "One wrong move, and this one won't live to see another day."

Max's jaw tightened, his hand trembling as frustration and helplessness coursed through him. After a tense moment, he lowered the blaster and threw it aside.

"How wise of you. Now then, the mask," Enoch demanded, his smirk widening as he pressed the blade closer to Fred's throat.

Max reluctantly placed the mask on the ground and kicked it to the side.

"Good," Enoch said, picking up the artifact. "Before my reign begins, let's first take out the garbage, shall we?" He gestured towards a pit nearby.

The gang was forced to the edge, their backs to the abyss. Enoch's laughter echoed as he taunted, "This is where our paths separate—or, should I say, fall apart. Legend has it the eternal pit of despair is bottomless. Let's test that theory."

Without hesitation, he shoved Fred into the chasm. Gwen screamed, her voice cracking as Fred's form disappeared into the darkness below.

As the gang plunged into the pit, their screams echoed, fearing their end. However, their descent slowed, and suddenly Gwen noticed they were no longer falling. She opened her eyes to see Fred flying them upward, his telekinesis keeping them suspended.

"Grandpa! I think we should take a little breather before we continue," Ben said, his voice a mix of relief and exhaustion as Fred gently set them on solid ground.

"No can do, Ben. We have to stop Enoch by all means," Max said sternly, pressing a few buttons on the bracelet Fred had given him. His Plumber suit materialized around him, its sleek design emphasizing his determination.

"Enough, Grandpa! Ever since that alarm went off, that sword is all you think about!" Ben snapped, frustration boiling over.

"You're too young to understand. Now come on before..." Max began, but Ben interrupted, grabbing Max's arm.

"No!" Ben declared firmly. "If this is how you'll treat us, then we're not coming."

Max stared at them for a long moment, the weight of his obsession clashing with his love for his family. Then, he sighed, pulling his arm free. "Fine, I'll deal with you later," he said coldly, turning and heading into the room with the sword.

"Can't believe he went on without us," Gwen muttered, sitting down to catch her breath. She looked shaken but resilient.

"You okay?" Fred asked gently.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, standing. Together, they followed Max into the chamber.

Inside, chaos reigned. The Forever Knights were locked in a futile battle against a massive, terrifying creature guarding the sword. Its hulking frame and glowing eyes radiated an ancient, monstrous power.

"That thing must be the guardian of the sword," Fred said, his voice low as they peeked inside.

"Why is it always scary-looking monsters? Can't they have, like, the guardian of cheerfulness?" Gwen ranted, crossing her arms.

"So, what do we do now?" Ben asked, his gaze darting between the beast and the clashing figures of Max and Enoch, who were scaling the pyramid's altar-like stairs, locked in combat for the sword at the top.

"The knights don't stand a chance against that thing. I'll keep it at bay while you guys go for the sword," Fred said decisively. The three of them dispersed.

The guardian, Apuk, immediately noticed the intruders and charged straight for Gwen, having already disposed of the battered Forever Knights. They lay strewn across the ground, unconscious and heavily injured. Their armor was mangled, one of them with his arm bent grotesquely in the wrong direction.

"Gwen!" Ben cried out, panic overtaking him. But his worry was unwarranted. Gwen stood her ground, muttering under her breath as she stretched out her hands. With a surge of energy, she released a jet of air, pushing herself forward and narrowly evading Apuk's grasp. Though her landing was rough, she stood again, her face lighting up with joy. This was her first successful spell.

"Hey, big guy!" Fred yelled, drawing Apuk's attention away from Gwen. He crouched, his strength cracking the ground beneath him. Then, with an explosive leap, he tackled Apuk mid-charge, sending the guardian crashing into the side of the pyramid.

"Woah!" Ben remarked, watching Fred in awe. "I got this!" Fred shouted as the others made their way up the stairs.

Max and Enoch were locked in a deadlock, neither willing to give the other an inch as they tried to climb closer to the sword. Ben and Gwen quietly ascended the opposite side of the pyramid, their movements hidden from Enoch.

Finally, they reached the top, where the sword gleamed ominously in its resting place. "Grandpa!" Ben called, his voice cutting through the tension as he and Gwen arrived.

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