CHAPTER 6  THE VOW OF PRINCE XALOR

Five months had passed since the battle at Blue Safari, and the once-powerful Prince Xalor stood before a mirror aboard his grand ship, his body bearing the scars of his near-fatal encounter. His hand grazed the wound on his stomach, now a thick scar, a grim reminder of his failure to capture the Omega Helmet and its wearer. The defeat had stung his pride, but his resolve burned brighter than ever.

Xalor clenched his fists and turned to his most loyal soldiers gathered in his cabin. "The Omega is still alive," he growled. "The boy who wears it humiliated me, but this is far from over. I will hunt him down, and I will bring the Omega Helmet to my father. He will see my worth, and the Red Zuru nation will triumph."

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their loyalty to their prince unquestionable, but the task ahead was daunting.

One of them, Captain Firok, stepped forward. "Prince Xalor, shall we inform King Zurock of the Omega's survival? With the full might of the Red Zuru nation, we could crush any resistance."

Xalor's eyes narrowed, and his voice dropped to a menacing tone. "No. My father must not know—yet. If he learns that the Omega is alive and I have failed to capture it, I will lose his trust forever. This is my mission. I will deal with it myself."

The soldiers saluted, their allegiance to their prince unwavering.

Later that evening, Xalor sat on the deck of his ship, the moonlight reflecting off the calm sea. His aunt, Princess Aishi, approached him quietly, her expression a mixture of concern and affection.

"Xalor," she said softly, taking a seat beside him. "I've watched you grow from a boy to the warrior you are today. You have always been strong and determined, but this obsession with the Omega... it worries me."

Xalor didn't look at her. His gaze remained fixed on the horizon. "I failed, Aunt Aishi. For the first time in my life, I failed. That boy humiliated me, and I can't let it go. The Omega Helmet is the key to the Red Zuru nation's ultimate dominance. I must bring it to my father."

Aishi placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know how much this means to you, but you must not let it consume you. You're my nephew, but in my heart, you're like a son to me. I couldn't bear to see you destroy yourself over this."

Xalor finally turned to her, his expression softening. "You've always been there for me, Aunt Aishi. I won't let this break me. I'll succeed, and I'll prove to my father that I'm worthy of the throne."

Aishi nodded, though her heart was heavy with fear for him. "Just promise me you'll be careful. The Omega Helmet is not just a weapon; it is a force that can challenge even the strongest of warriors. Do not underestimate its power—or the one who wields it."

"I won't," Xalor assured her. "And I'll make sure the Red Zuru nation emerges victorious. But this is my fight, Aunt Aishi. No one else's."

The following day, Xalor addressed his crew. "Prepare the ship. We sail at dawn. Our mission is clear: track down the Omega and its wearer. Leave no stone unturned, no village unsearched. We will find him."

His men shouted in unison, their voices echoing across the sea. Xalor stood tall, his resolve unshaken. With his loyal soldiers and the support of his beloved aunt, he set his sights on the path ahead.

Though the scars on his body reminded him of his defeat, they also fueled his determination. For Xalor, this wasn't just a mission—it was his redemption. The Omega would be his, no matter the cost.