C8, Part 1: GEM OF HOPE

Yaxoc strolled into Marcus's room, pulling up a chair beside his bed.

"Hey, dude," Yaxoc said casually as he sat down. "How's the leg holding up?"

Marcus let out a weary sigh. "It's... alright. The poison really did a number on me, though. My movement's pretty limited right now."

Yaxoc tilted his head thoughtfully. "That's rough," he said before pausing. "So, when do you think they'll let you out of here?"

Marcus gave a small shrug. "The doctors said it'll take a few more days. The poison was potent enough to paralyze my leg completely. I won't be able to join you guys for a while."

Yaxoc nodded slowly, a flicker of concern crossing his face. "Got it... Hang in there, man."

Just then, Moonlight, Yaxocara, Luna, and Cherrystone entered the room, their presence lightening the atmosphere slightly.

Moonlight approached Yaxoc with a determined expression. "Yaxoc, are you ready for another adventure?" she asked. "We've got one more gem to find—the secret one."

Yaxoc glanced over at her, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Yeah, I'm in."

He turned back to Marcus, his expression softening. "Take it easy, Marcus. We'll be back soon—don't go causing trouble without me."

Marcus chuckled faintly, though there was a hint of regret in his eyes. "Be careful out there, Yaxoc."

With that, Yaxoc stood up and joined the group as they headed out of the hospital. Another journey awaited, and the stakes were higher than ever.

A few hours later, the group wandered the city streets, following the map that promised to lead them to the final gem. The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the area, adding a momentary serenity to their tense journey.

"So... did you enjoy the last trip?" Luna asked, turning to Yaxoc with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Yaxoc smirked, crossing his arms. "Enjoy? Sure, if you call dealing with Lucius and Ogamak's antics 'enjoyment.' They've been keeping tabs on these gems like vultures. I'm pretty sure they're trying to revive that demon again."

Luna's expression darkened slightly, her composure faltering for a moment. "That's terrifying... but at least you managed to stop them. If you hadn't, things could've turned out a lot worse."

Before Yaxoc could respond, Yaxocara interrupted, her voice dripping with blunt impatience. "Hey, idiots, we're here." She pointed toward a dense forest ahead.

Cherrystone stepped forward, scanning the treeline. "The map indicates there's a mountain deep in this forest. A mountain that supposedly radiates positive energy." She adjusted her scarf and began walking.

Without hesitation, Yaxoc and Luna followed, with Yaxocara and Moonlight close behind. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves.

Suddenly, a series of blasts tore through the silence, heading straight for Luna.

"Luna!" Yaxoc shouted, diving in front of her and summoning a shield of energy to block the attack. The force pushed him back, but he held his ground.

Yaxocara reacted swiftly, her eyes narrowing as she kicked one of the incoming blasts away with precision.

Cherrystone and Moonlight exchanged a quick glance, both readying themselves.

"Looks like we've got company," Moonlight said, her tone sharp as steel.

"That's no ordinary attacker," Cherrystone muttered, stepping forward cautiously.

The group moved toward the source of the blasts, emerging into a clearing where a figure lounged casually in a wooden chair, one hand lazily twirling an orb of energy.

"Ah, there you are," the stranger said, his voice laced with mock amusement. He lifted the orb and nonchalantly hurled it at a nearby rabbit, disintegrating the poor creature in an instant.

Cherrystone flinched, her hand instinctively tightening around her weapon. Moonlight's glare was ice-cold.

"What the hell did the rabbit ever do to you?" Yaxocara snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. "Did it ruin your picnic or something?"

The man let out a mocking laugh, rising from his chair with an air of exaggerated theatricality. "I've been waiting for you all," he said, brushing some imaginary dust off his shoulder.

Yaxoc's eyes narrowed. "Let me guess. You're after the gems too."

"Correct," the man replied, his tone shifting from playful to deadly serious. "I see you've been busy collecting them. But let me make one thing clear..."

He stepped forward, his aura crackling with an ominous energy. "The gem you're after—the one in the Mountain of Positivity—that gem belongs to me."

Yaxocara chuckled mockingly, her confidence practically dripping from her words. "Too bad for you, we're stealing it. So buzz off."

Josh's smirk didn't waver as he turned his attention to her. "Acting mighty, huh? You have no idea who you're messing with."

Without warning, Josh grabbed the collar of his red shirt and tore it off, revealing a chiseled torso that shimmered unnaturally, as though his skin was forged from polished steel. "The name's Josh Gainalord, and I'm here to take you down." His smirk deepened, his tone brimming with arrogant confidence.

Yaxocara raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Josh Gainalord? More like Josh Gaynalord."

The jab hit its mark, and Josh's smirk twitched into a scowl. "Oh, so that's how you want to play?" he growled. "Fine. But I promise you, this is going to be your massacre."

Before anyone could react, Yaxoc lunged forward, aiming a punch straight for Josh's face. But with lightning speed, Josh countered with a devastating blow that sent Yaxoc stumbling back, winded.

Luna sprang into action next, her claws gleaming as she slashed at his face. But instead of flesh, her claws met unyielding metal, shattering on impact. She recoiled, clutching her hand in pain. "What... what is this guy made of?"

Moonlight, ever the strategist, teleported behind Josh and unleashed a powerful punch that sent him skidding a few feet. She studied him closely, her piercing gaze analyzing his form. "He's got some kind of robotic augmentation. Cuts and slashes won't work on him."

Yaxocara rolled her eyes, unfazed. "If he's part machine, I think I've got just the thing."

She drew her sword and, in a flash, vanished from sight. Josh glanced around, his movements sharp and calculated as he scanned for her. But she was already at his side, her voice a cool whisper.

"If you're going to look everywhere, maybe try looking right next to you."

Before Josh could react, Yaxocara swung her blade with precision, chanting, "Water Slash!" The blade shimmered with energy as it carved into Josh's torso, a spray of sparks flying as the attack connected.

Josh staggered back, his movements jerky. "Oxygen!" Yaxocara shouted, her voice commanding.

Particles in the air began swirling around Josh, condensing as if summoned by an unseen force. His metallic torso started to corrode, rust spreading rapidly across its surface.

Josh's eyes widened in panic as he looked down at his deteriorating body. "Wha—WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?" he roared, his voice tinged with desperation.

Yaxocara smirked, flipping her sword over her shoulder. "It's a shame, really. Whoever designed you thought using metal for your body was a good idea. Too bad they forgot the basic science: metal plus water and oxygen equals rust."

Josh collapsed to his knees, his once-pristine form now riddled with corrosion. His movements slowed to a crawl, his arrogance replaced by anger and pain.

"Damn you... DAMN YOU ALL!" he spat, his voice trembling with rage as he crumbled to the ground, barely able to move.

Yaxocara casually sheathed her sword, her smirk never leaving her face. "Next time, maybe don't underestimate the science nerds, 'Josh Gaynalord.'"

Moonlight watched Yaxocara with a small smile. "Huh, that was actually pretty clever..."

Meanwhile, Yaxoc dusted himself off and helped Luna to her feet.

"Yeah, at least you used your brain for once!" Yaxoc teased, shooting Yaxocara a cheeky grin.

Yaxocara rolled her eyes. "Oh, shush. You're the one who needs to start using their brain. Seriously, why are you punching a hunk of metal when basic science could've ended the fight sooner?"

"Science is useless!" Yaxoc shot back, folding his arms.

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that," Yaxocara replied, smirking as she turned away.

Cherrystone let out a sigh of relief, her tension easing. "He looked powerful, but in the end, his body's design was his undoing. Let's keep moving, everyone. Josh is completely paralyzed now."

The group moved on, leaving Josh behind.

Hours later, they arrived at the base of a towering peak.

"And here it is," Cherrystone announced, holding up the map. "The Mountain of Positivity. This is where the gem is supposed to be." She traced a line on the map. "Once we get it, we'll head to another mountain to perform the ritual to fuse all the gems together."

Yaxoc groaned loudly. "Can't we take a break? I haven't eaten in like 40 minutes!"

"Just eat a cookie, dumbass," Yaxocara snapped, not bothering to look at him. "It's not like you have diabetes or something."

"We're close, Yaxoc," Cherrystone said, pressing forward. "Just a little longer."

As they climbed higher, Moonlight and Luna gazed around in awe at the shimmering surroundings. They entered a cavern, the walls glowing with shards that seemed to pulse with a faint light.

"What are these?" Yaxoc asked, running his fingers along one of the glowing shards. "And why are they glowing?"

Cherrystone knelt beside a cluster of the shards, her voice solemn. "These shards represent the positivity of the Urantica migrants before their home was raided. Their magic wielders stored their collective hope and optimism into a single gem, crafting it from materials unique to the Yeoric people."

Yaxocara tilted her head. "Wait, the same Yeoric people who kept the Rebooted Chromatic Shards because of a certain god?"

Cherrystone nodded. "Exactly. They were highly revered, and this gem was hidden to protect its power from falling into the wrong hands."

Yaxoc stared at the gem nestled in the center of the cavern, its brilliance captivating. "Isn't that the Gem of Wisdom?"

Yaxocara raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

"I've read about it," Yaxoc replied, stepping closer. "It's been documented for centuries. This gem is said to hold unparalleled knowledge and insight."

Carefully, Yaxoc reached out and plucked the gem from its resting place. Its glow intensified for a brief moment before settling. "Got it," he said with a grin. "Let's move."

The group left the cavern, their spirits high as they descended the mountain.

Elsewhere, Lucius and Ogamak stood at the base of the mountain, gazing at its radiant peak.

"This is bad," Ogamak muttered, his tone grim.

Lucius glanced at him, unconcerned. "Why so worried, Ogamak?"

Ogamak's brow furrowed. "Because those fools just got their hands on the Gem of Wisdom. With it and the others they've collected, they'll soon perform the fusion ritual."

Lucius shrugged. "So? Why don't we just steal the gems?"

Ogamak shook his head. "It's not that simple. Certain anomalies prevent me from taking them before the fusion. And once the fusion is complete..."

"Why not then?" Lucius pressed. "Surely you're capable of stopping them."

Ogamak's voice turned serious. "Not after the Gem of Hope is created. That gem is the ultimate counter to type 4 demons. Its light is a weapon of pure positivity, and demons like us can't withstand it."

Lucius raised an eyebrow. "What happens if someone touches it?"

Ogamak sighed. "If more than 60% of its light enters a demon's body, they'll implode. Instantly. For demons above type 4, it's less effective but still dangerous."

Lucius's expression darkened as his phone buzzed. "One moment," he mumbled, teleporting away to answer the call, leaving Ogamak standing alone.

Ogamak crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. "Enjoy your victory while it lasts, Yaxoc. One day, that shiny gem of yours won't save you from me."

From their vantage point atop the tall tower, Sukorian and Nova kept their eyes locked on Ogamak, who stood alone at the mountain's base, deep in thought.

"Hmph, he's scheming again," Sukorian muttered, narrowing his eyes. "We need to interfere before he does something catastrophic."

Nova leaned against the tower railing, a casual smirk playing on her lips. "Don't be so paranoid, Suk. He's just mad because his plans keep failing. Let him sulk—it's not like he can succeed."

Sukorian crossed his arms, his frustration evident. "Alright, we'll leave him be for now. But he's been tampering with the portals since yesterday."

Nova raised an eyebrow and corrected him. "Try months, Suk. He hasn't fixed a single thing since those so-called Yaxoc AU variants started appearing in this universe."

Sukorian's gaze darkened as he thought about the implications. "Then it's worse than we thought. He's trying to cause a catastrophe across space and time itself. Ogamak promised he would rule the world, but now he's so desperate he's trying to erase space-time. He has no idea what kind of consequences that'll bring."

"Yeah, no kidding," Nova said, rolling her eyes. "Kuri's been ranting nonstop about his devices breaking down thanks to Ogamak's portal experiments. The guy's a walking disaster."

Sukorian exhaled deeply, tension weighing on him. "What choice do we have, Nova? We can't take him on directly. If we do, we're dead—plain and simple. Even if you somehow found a way to revive, the risks aren't worth it."

Nova tilted her head and shot him a curious look. "So what's the plan? Just wait and hope he doesn't succeed?"

"Exactly," Sukorian said, his voice tinged with resignation. "All we can do is wait for the right moment. We'll be staying in this universe a lot longer than we anticipated."

Nova sighed, her usual levity replaced by a rare moment of seriousness. "Let's just hope we're ready when that moment comes, Suk. Because if Ogamak gets what he wants... there won't be a universe left to stay in."