Chapter 6: Gem Of Integrity
A few days had passed since the squad secured the Gem of Bravery and overcame the trials in the enchanted forest. Now, their journey brought them back to United Chronic, a sprawling region filled with rich history and hidden dangers. United Chronic was not just a place of beauty but also the final resting site for the last two powerful gems: The Gem of Integrity, The Gem Of Patience and The Gem of Wisdom.
The squad walked briskly, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders.
"Well, that was pretty intense back there," Yaxoc said, breaking the silence. His voice carried a mix of relief and lingering exhaustion.
"Yeah, but we handled it," Moonlight replied, her tone calm yet confident. "Marcus is holding up fine on his end, so we'll regroup with him once we've collected all the gems."
Cherrystone nodded. "The sooner we finish this, the safer the gems will be."
The path ahead narrowed as the squad entered a dense grove of trees. Shafts of sunlight broke through the canopy, illuminating the area in patches of golden light. Suddenly, Moonlight stopped mid-step, her sharp eyes catching something unusual.
"There it is," she whispered, pointing upward.
High above them, perched precariously on a tree branch, was the Gem of Integrity. Its surface shimmered with an ethereal glow, radiating an aura that was both inviting and foreboding.
"In all my nightmares, I've never imagined a gem just... sitting in a tree," Yaxoc muttered, staring up at it.
"I know what's happening here," Cherrystone said, her voice laced with concern.
"Care to enlighten us?" Yaxoc asked, his tone skeptical but curious.
Cherrystone crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the gem. "That gem is aware of itself."
"Wait, what?" Yaxoc raised an eyebrow. "How can a gem be aware of itself?"
"It's connected to the Gem of Hope," Cherrystone explained. "The Gem of Hope enhances awareness and sentience, even in inanimate objects. That's why this specific gem has a unique ability—it's aware of its surroundings and capable of defending itself."
"Defending itself?" Yaxoc repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "So... what? The gem's going to fight us or something?"
"Not exactly," Cherrystone replied. "But it won't make capturing it easy. The gem can sense intent, and if we approach it with any signs of hostility, it'll react."
Moonlight tilted her head thoughtfully. "So, how do we capture it without triggering a reaction?"
"We need to approach carefully," Cherrystone said, her tone firm. "No sudden movements, no threatening sounds—under any circumstances. If we alert it, the gem could retreat or even create a defensive barrier."
The trio nodded in agreement, understanding the delicacy of the task ahead.
The squad moved in a slow, deliberate manner, each step calculated to avoid startling the gem. The forest was eerily quiet, as if the environment itself were holding its breath.
Yaxoc's usual sarcasm was absent as he crept forward, his gaze fixed on the glowing gem above. Moonlight moved gracefully beside him, her feline instincts making her steps nearly silent. Cherrystone led the way, her eyes scanning for any signs of reaction from the gem.
As they drew closer, the gem began to shimmer more brightly, its glow pulsating like a heartbeat.
"It knows we're here," Cherrystone whispered.
Yaxoc gulped, his hands tightening into fists. "Great. So what now?"
"We need to communicate non-threatening intent," Cherrystone said. "Let's try talking to it."
"Talking to a gem?" Yaxoc muttered under his breath. "Yeah, this mission just keeps getting weirder."
Ignoring his comment, Cherrystone stepped forward and spoke in a calm, soothing voice. "We're not here to harm you. We're here to protect you."
The gem's glow flickered, as if considering her words.
Moonlight followed Cherrystone's lead. "We know you've been guarding yourself against those who would misuse your power. But we're not like them. We need your help to restore balance."
The gem pulsed steadily, its light growing softer.
"Is it... working?" Yaxoc asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"It's responding," Cherrystone said, her tone cautious yet hopeful.
Just as the squad felt they were making progress, the tranquility of the moment was shattered by a sudden rustling in the bushes. From the shadows emerged a group of figures, their armor glinting in the sunlight.
"Looks like we're not the only ones after the gem," Moonlight said, her voice low and tense.
The leader of the group stepped forward, a menacing smirk on his face. "Well, well, what do we have here? A bunch of kids trying to steal our prize?"
Yaxoc bristled at the remark. "Steal? We're here to protect the gem, not take it for ourselves!"
"Protect it? Spare me the hero talk," the leader sneered. "Hand over the gem, or things get ugly."
Cherrystone glanced at the gem, which had begun to glow more erratically. "We can't let them near it. If they show hostile intent, the gem will react."
"Looks like we don't have a choice," Moonlight said
The squad moved quickly, positioning themselves between the gem and the intruders. The tension in the air was palpable as the two groups squared off.
Yaxoc stepped forward, his fists clenched. "We're not letting you take it!"
The leader laughed mockingly. "Brave words, kid. Let's see if you can back them up!"
The fight erupted with a sudden flurry of motion. Moonlight darted forward, her agility allowing her to evade the enemy's strikes while countering with precision. Cherrystone focused on defense, using her shield to block incoming attacks and protect the gem.
Yaxoc, despite his usual lackadaisical attitude, fought fiercely. He delivered a powerful uppercut to one of the intruders, sending them sprawling.
"Not bad for a 'kid,' huh?" he quipped, grinning despite the chaos.
Meanwhile, Yaxocara climbed the tree, her focus on keeping the gem safe.
"Hang in there!" she shouted down to the others.
As the battle raged on, the gem began to glow with an intense light. The squad noticed it immediately, their movements slowing as they shielded their eyes.
"What's happening?" Moonlight called out.
"The gem is reacting to the fight!" Cherrystone shouted. "It's going to unleash its power!"
The gem pulsed once, twice, and then released a blinding burst of light. The intruders were thrown back by the force, their weapons clattering to the ground. The squad stood their ground, shielding themselves as best they could.
When the light subsided, the gem floated down from the tree, hovering in front of Cherrystone.
"You've proven your intentions are pure," a voice echoed, resonating from the gem itself. "I will lend you my power."
Cherrystone bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you. We won't let you down."
With the Gem of Integrity safely in their possession, the squad regrouped. The intruders, disoriented and defeated, retreated into the forest, leaving the squad victorious.
"Well, that was... something," Yaxoc said, collapsing onto the ground.
Moonlight smirked. "Admit it, you were scared for a second."
"Me? Scared? Never," Yaxoc replied, though his shaky voice betrayed him.
Cherrystone held the gem carefully, its light casting a warm glow. "One more gem to go. Let's keep moving."
The squad nodded, their resolve stronger than ever as they set off toward their next challenge.
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Under the dim glow of the crescent moon, Xavy stood silently on the rooftop, his cloak billowing slightly in the cool night breeze. His sharp eyes were fixed on the group far below—the squad moving forward with their mission. A faint smirk played on his lips as he observed them secure yet another gem.
"One more to go," Xavy muttered to himself. His tone carried a mix of amusement and anticipation. "And then the combination begins. The Gem of Patience will await your arrival... just as patient as its name implies."
Xavy turned and began to retreat into the shadows, his figure melting seamlessly into the darkness. As he prepared to leave, a faint rustle caught his attention. He paused, his senses instantly sharpening.
From the shadows emerged Luchis, her presence tense yet determined.
"Great," Xavy muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes. "Here we go again—"
"Don't start," Luchis interrupted sharply, cutting him off before he could finish. She crossed her arms and sighed softly, her frustration evident.
"Look," she began, her voice tinged with urgency. "I came to warn you. Ogamak and Lucius are planning to collaborate with the Hunter Organization. Somehow, they've managed to manipulate the leader into believing that you—and everyone else working with you—are 'threats' to this planet."
Xavy tilted his head slightly, crossing his arms as if her words were nothing more than an inconvenience. "And?"
Luchis blinked, visibly thrown off by his lack of concern. "And... are you not worried that you're literally being hunted by some of the most dangerous people alive?"
Xavy let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Relax, Luchis. I've seen situations like this before. I'll escape just in time, as always."
Luchis's shoulders tensed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "That's easy for you to say," she snapped.
The Sudden Attack
Before Xavy could reply, a sharp gust of wind rushed past them, carrying with it a deadly intent. Xavy's eyes narrowed, and his body tensed as he detected the source.
From the darkness, Lucius emerged, his eyes burning with malice. Without hesitation, he lunged toward Luchis, his blade aimed directly at her.
"Great," Xavy muttered under his breath as he moved with lightning speed, intercepting Lucius's strike with his left arm. The clash sent a sharp echo through the rooftop, sparks flying from the force of the collision.
"Nice try," Xavy said coolly, shifting his weight before delivering a powerful kick to Lucius, sending him sprawling backward.
Luchis stumbled back, her breath catching in her throat. "L-Lucius!?" she yelled, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and disbelief.
Lucius steadied himself, his expression twisted with anger. "You little brat," he spat, his voice venomous. "I thought Yurgion had finished you off."
Xavy's lips curled into a smirk. "He tried," he said nonchalantly. Without giving Lucius a chance to recover, Xavy stepped forward and drove his fist into Lucius's face. The force of the punch sent Lucius reeling, but Xavy wasn't done.
With a swift movement, Xavy launched a powerful kick, propelling Lucius high into the sky. The impact was so intense that the air itself seemed to ripple, and the clouds above were visibly displaced by the shockwave.
Lucius tumbled through the air, barely managing to stabilize himself. His rage only grew as he prepared to strike back, but before he could make a move, Xavy was already there.
In an instant, Xavy teleported directly in front of Lucius, his presence overwhelming.
"Black Flash," Xavy said, his voice low and steady.
The next moment, Xavy's fist connected with Lucius's gut. Black and red flashes erupted from the point of impact, the energy crackling violently. The sheer force of the blow sent Lucius hurtling even higher into the sky, disappearing into the clouds as the atmosphere itself seemed to groan under the pressure.
Luchis, still standing on the rooftop below, stared up in stunned silence. Her mouth hung open slightly as she tried to process what she had just witnessed.
"Oh... wow," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Xavy descended gracefully, landing back on the rooftop without so much as a scratch. He adjusted his coat casually, as though he hadn't just sent a man flying into the stratosphere.
"Problem solved," he said flatly, glancing briefly at Luchis. "I've got to go now."
Before she could respond, Xavy vanished, disappearing into the night as if he were never there.
Luchis remained on the rooftop, her mind racing. She looked around the now-empty space, the silence almost deafening after the chaos that had unfolded.
Her gaze lingered on the spot where Xavy had stood moments ago. She sighed deeply, running a hand through her hair.
"Always so dramatic," she muttered to herself.
She turned and began to walk away, her thoughts clouded with worry. Despite Xavy's confidence, the weight of the situation loomed heavily in her mind. The collaboration between Ogamak, Lucius, and the Hunter Organization was no small threat, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something even more dangerous was on the horizon.
As she disappeared into the shadows, the rooftop returned to its original stillness, the events of the night leaving an invisible but indelible mark on the world below.