Chapter 18: Shadows Beneath the Mountain

Bachan's eyes narrowed, his focus becoming intensely focused. In a low, calm voice, he started.

"Kid… something happened a long time ago—something so huge that we can still feel its quakes in our world today.

The beauty, luxury, and power you see in cities like Ryuki.

They're all leftovers of that lost event. No one remembers exactly what went down, but legend has it there was a man by the name of Ryuki."

He paused, eyes far away with memory.

"A hero. A savior of mankind. They say he wedded a magical and pure-hearted woman, a kind goddess to people, and their offspring still roam among us.

Our protector, Ryden—he's of that lineage."

Auren dropped his eyes, speaking in a soft but firm tone.

"I… I'm of that clan too."

Bachan regarded him with pleasant surprise. "You are Auren, and yet you possess no mage ability? That still surprises me."

Rose leaned forward. "Do you know anything more than that, old man?"

Bachan slowly shook his head. "No. That's all I can remember."

Then his eyes flicked over to Sunny. "But you, kid… when that soul mage told you you were from the Golden Era—what came next?" I am really eager to know...

Sunny went quiet for a moment, collecting his thoughts. "She inquired about my family tree. My father informed us our records are kept in Yuzen City. The orb mage came forward and cautioned us…"

He took a lower tone, mimicking her voice:

"You have to be extra cautious. Yuzen City is not safe. It was once our foe. Your past… it might be hidden in their darkness." Or if it's something that's connected to them, it will be a big deal.

"Then we went. My father brought me to an underground room before we left. It was dark… eerie. The further we went, the more I saw a huge candle burning next to an old stone table. A strange symbol was etched on it—monsters, an alphabet that I didn't understand, and forgotten languages."

"My father told me what it was.

'It's the only property our family has in Ryuki City. But most of our origins… they reside below the…

Ghost Tower in Yuzen City—beneath the Mount Marrie…'"

Sunny gazed upwards. "He told me it is a mountain of the dead. A cremation place. It startled me. I found myself thinking. What sort of family are we?"

"But just when we arrived in Yuzen City to get the truth—

Stop." Bachan jumped up, his tone as cutting as a blade.

Auren's head jerked up. "What is it?"

Bachan-"I'm feeling something," grunted, his face darkening.

Rose's eyes went wide. "What… What do you mean?"

Bachan spoke in a whisper. "Three of them. Powerful. Closing in."

Sunny froze. "No no no … they're here. I got us too late—they followed me!"

Auren ground his jaw. "We have to go. Now.

The three friends rushed together, sprinting toward the door.

Bachan yelled after them, "Take care of yourselves!"

Auren turned back once. "Thank you… for everything.

As they disappeared into the alleyway, Sunny was already summoned. "We don't have time—we go to the Scholar's Plateau immediately. Cyber Arise!"

A dazzling light replied as the Cyber Lion materialized before them.

"Hop on!" Auren yelled.

They jumped onto the glowing animal, its paws glowing blue as it sprinted into the darkness.

Inside the teahouse, meanwhile.

Bachan went back to his room, a thoughtful grin on his face.

"Good children."

He approached a large bookshelf and pushed an old, dusty tome to the side. A secret panel clicked.

The floor creaked open, revealing a hidden underground room. Bachan slowly went down.

In the gloom, he bellowed,

"Maru, arise."

A humming noise resonated. Out of the darkness, a hulking cyborg stepped forward. Blue conduits of electricity crackled along its limbs, its body streamlined and lethal.

Bachan advanced. "Maru… there's someone approaching the village. You know what to do."

A heavy pounding rattled the village rooftops.

Thud. Thud. CRASH.

Maru, the cyborg bathed in blue light, ran with the precision of a machine, his metal body shining in the moonlight.

Every jump propelled him across the rooftops, his glowing limbs crackling with electricity.

Three figures crept up in the distance, like shadows merging with the wind.

Aster, who stood tall and firm, furrowed his brow. "Seems someone's arriving.

Something… strong."

Levi bounced wildly on the spot, waving arms with frantic energy. "Yaa yaaaa! Master! Some freak is coming! Yaaaa yaaaa!"

Viny, resting on her long, magic staff, balanced on one leg with unnatural composure. "Hmph. Should we just smash whoever it is to bits already?"

The three moved through the forest edge—only to come to a stop when Maru came down in front of them, his landing shattering the stone path.

A humming note issued as Bachan's voice poured through Maru's speaker module.

"Who are you three? What do you have to do here?"

Aster stepped forward, his tone easy but edged with threat. "We're seeking a boy. Yellow-haired. Perhaps you've seen him."

"I'm Bachan. And you don't pass through this village without me saying so," was the unyielding response.

Viny twirled her staff, smiling. "Permission? From an old man talking through a machine? That's adorable."

Levi shrieked, leaping on all fours. "YAAA yaaa! No permission! No rules! We want the boy!"

Aster spread his arms slowly, his long white coat unfastening with a single gesture. The wind blew, having it fly like wings of foreboding. His eyes shone.

"As you said, my children…"

Abruptly, the earth split asunder as a lava serpent erupted, called forth from below. Its scorching flesh glowed, hissing and roaring as it struck at Maru.

With no hesitation, Maru's chest core whirred in a high-pitched whine. A build-up began—blue, cutting, humming with sophisticated energy.

FWOOOOSH!

A beam of cryo light burst from Maru's arm, hitting the lava snake in mid-air. In an instant, it—a steaming stone—stopped in its tracks, crashing to the ground.

Aster snorted a brief, delighted laugh. "Heh. This one is fun."

Viny's eyes sparkled. "Oh, I enjoy this one…"

Levi laughed wildly. "Let's destroy him! Let's play!"