Chapter 10

"Raleigh, there is something you should see now. Come quick!" One shadow said.

Raleigh ran to that particular shadow, and caught up to him seeing the thing he was talking about. He found Tuo searching for parts with the suit on.

"Interesting.. If we can get all the pieces, then I should be able to get mind control going for these sentients."

"How do you know if it will happen though?"

"Each of those have a primary directive, to invade someone's mind when wielded. They can control their thoughts, but the problem is, that I have to change the AI myself, which shouldn't be THAT hard right?" Raleigh explained.

"I guess not." The shadow said while shrugging.

Raleigh rounded up the shadows of desolation, letting them kneel before his eyes.

"We have a chance to intercept that blasted suit and counter by its fragments. We just found him searching yesterday, and it seems to be vital for their warmind." Raleigh explained. "Maybe It could work for us. Get to it first. Zhallo, Guard the last one, and if anybody sees a sentient on foot, capture or kill on sight."

The shadows then left as quickly as possible, and was put into the darkness dimension where they could be dropped down at any time.

"Okay that is enough. They should be here by now. One second Equinox, I got to search for them." Rhenka said with concern.

"Make sure you get them back, and please if any fellow sentients are trapped, free them." among the way. Equinox pleaded. "Here, I will help you too. Just from here. I should be able to see you through my sight from far away."

Rhenka left the tower, entering the center of the moon, walking towards the portal. He sat down and focused on the Roran location. He teleported there, and arrived at the middle of a full out battle, with a snake that is deadly. He saw the viper lunge at one of its prey with the very sharp fangs. It then bit a nearby person on his arm, and The viper started sucking its blood and shooting it up into the sky. Rhenka could see the people trying to not get near that thing, also shooting at it with caution. Then he noticed it was a sentient's soul that was the viper.

"Another one of them. Why is our dead people out here all the sudden?" Rhenka thought. "Is it true that a sentient died here?"

The humans suddenly passed out, and the viper feasted on their blood while they were. It stood there the second he finished, and Rhenka saw it, standing victorious. The viper looked at Rhenka, but then ignored him and gone his own way. The action was very confusing. Didn't he want to get all of us?

"Whatever." Rhenka said.

Rhenka continued on, thinking about the dead sentient. The only reason why there would be a scarlet viper there is because somehow they must've escaped and died. The thought just sends shivers down his spine, as he slowed down. He was still searching for Uitan and Tyler, but they were not out there. So he called out their names. After a couple of times, there was a lightning strike, but no dark clouds in the sky that warned about it. Rhenka found a area with tall grass that was almost up to the top of his leg, and up to the top of a human's head. Rhenka walked through seeing if he could try and pinpoint their location, but sadly, it didn't work. He could start to hear the footsteps, and the ground. He kept on moving forward, not seeing the shadows ready to surprise him. one of them threw a hook over his back, so the others started shooting. Rhenka ran fast as he could, but fell straight into a hollow hole. He fell onto the rocky ground with a crash. He got back up immediately and searched for a way out.

The shadows began jumping through it, and when landing rolled to make sure they would not get killed by Rhenka on the way down. He managed to get to another section of the cave before one of them saw him. Rhenka then thought he could try and wipe them out by a nuclear blast, Although it would alert others if any, and anybody else trying to kill him would come. He decided to take the risk anyway. He tossed the nuke and ran as far away from the bomb in the cave as possible. The nuclear orb exploded and filled the cave with a torrent of fire and radiation. He then put a force field one entrance and ceased to run. He looked around and he thought to himself that it actually looked nice. He knew though, if he wanted to get Uitan and Tyler back, he needed to find them. He tried sonar again, thinking he would not get a signal again, but he then sensed a huge area that rested on a magma surface. then he sensed a hole that he could see through. He was far away from it, but he can still manage.

Eidolon already saw a shadow of Raleigh. This time, it seems it has a gun, and it was a lot bigger. He crept up to him closer and closer until he was at the point where he was about to stab it. It turned around and slapped his shield instead of him to knock him back, but Eidolon saw that opportunity, so he took it. The power flowed through and with it came a slash that did not even touch his sword. It sliced the shadow in half, before it was laid onto the ground in a limp body.

The second after, he then examined it before moving on. When he did, he knew that Raleigh is now in process of a plan, and this might be the execution of it. These were no longer people that couldn't break the control. They were pure darkness that wants to kill, and destroy. Another enemy came in with a scorching hot sphere of nuclear energy. The object broke, and came out of it, Zhallo. Eidolon did not know who it was, but all he knew is that he could mean business, and could be interfering with his personal goal. Zhallo just walked, ignoring Eidolon completely, but Zhallo was ready to annihilate anybody who attacks him. He then gone into the sphere again and gone away. Based on how Zhallo was walking, Eidolon could say that he was going the opposite direction of Raleigh, but for him to be honest, anything goes.

He became strikingly silent, as he progressed forward. He couldn't imagine what could happen if he succeeds in this plot. He knows that this dimension could be possibly destroyed, or darkness will torture people in the dimension forever, and could probably never get out. With that in mind, he picked up his pace. Eidolon began to feel something coming, but he could not get a exact description on what it would bring. So he prepared himself, put himself into a stance where he could always be ready right on point. At this time right now, shadows could be anywhere, including homes. The corruption is beginning and its spreading quick like a epidemic. He heard the word; "help" and someone was really shouting it. Near a well, two shadows were ready to slice a young boy's throat while he was dangling upside down. At the moment, Eidolon tried to go stealth, but once he got close enough, they found him almost ready to pounce into action. They dropped the boy onto his head, and the two shadows aimed at him. Eidolon began shielding himself, then the shadows fired, but began to die from their own bullets. Eidolon collected the dark harpoons they were shooting like a personal hobby, and sent it flying towards them. They both disappeared with energy flowing into the sky.

Eidolon cut the ropes that were tied to his feat, and the boy got back up again. He thanked Eidolon for preventing them from killing him and they both decided to go back inside where there is trouble still brewing. They opened the door and began hearing distorted voices, and mines were placed all over the house. Eidolon from range levitated each mine in the room and tossed it into the sky where they would barely hear it.

"T-t-tel-l us... There is no escape out of this one..." A shadow slowly said. "We are a l-l-legion... You cannot possibly wipe us out..."

Eidolon had a chance of surprise, but they tied the boy's father to a chair above a spiked pit. The boy let him know silently that there was a bow that was usable. So he gone out of sight and came back holding it. In Eidolon's mind this was perfect, but if he misses, they will kill him. So he aimed for one of the shadow's faces and let go of the line with the arrow piercing it's armor. He quickly rolled and drew an arrow, then shot another arrow the the second one. He got his sword out to cut the harpoons that were about to kill the man. They vanished and so did the rope. The man then stood up and shakes Eidolon's hand, with what just happened.

"What just happened!?" Eidolon inquired.

"I do not know, suddenly these weird pure black abominations began patrolling, and when I went to look outside with my son, we got surrounded instantly and they left 4 of them to try and get answers out of us." The man said. "I did not tell anything. Did you son?"

"No I did not." The boy answered.

"Good boy." The man said.

"I can see why, every place I go there is at least one of them just walking around." Eidolon explained. "Raleigh is really starting something ominous and its coming fast."

"I guess we have to go together. I feel like there is someone making the world go to flames. So what is your name?" The man asked.

"Eidolon. Yours?"

"Keizen. I already know that Zhallo is something related to this, because I sensed his energy build, and then decrease again just a few minutes ago. " Keizen said.

"Who is Zhallo?"

"He is a fire demon that is a sentient, but a corrupted one too. He towers over us about two times more than our size. I defeated him a long time ago when he was attempting to destroy our planet, but that came at the price of never seeing my wife ever again.

"Well, I guess I just saw him, but he ignored me. He might have been set with a task with Raleigh pulling the strings." Eidolon explained. "Every single time I saw Raleigh done something, usually means his completion might go for world domination or destruction."

"I see. I can deal with the shadows this time, You go for Raleigh that you speak of." Keizen said. "By the way. My daughter can help. the bow you are holding is her's and she is good at using it like you. She can also handle herself, but anyone that is strong she needs help with."

"Talya! Come down!" Keizen called.

"Coming!" Talya yelled.

Talya came down the stairs, with a orb with her. She was not really that young, but still not an adult. She looked like she was about to do anything, and Eidolon felt like that orb floating above her shoulders was a bad thing waiting to happen.

"Talya, I am going off to find Zhallo. You can go with Eidolon, and son, please stay in her room until we get back. You should be able to access anything. Now I will close all windows and lock the door on the way out." Keizen said.

So he did close all the windows and the curtains were cast over, and now the room was really dark. They all left with leaving the boy behind. then they all went seperate ways with Eidolon and Talya searching for Raleigh, and Keizen hunting down Zhallo.

"Ready for the second one Inaj?" Tuo asked with enthusiasm.

"As ready as I will ever be." Inaj said. " I think its above us. I detect only 5, and there are 7. Lets see if you can go high and I will try for another scan up there. It should appear if it I am correct."

"I still feel like I am being watched... What is going on?" Tuo alerted.

"If you are, push the engine, and lets get the heck out of here." Inaj said.

"Best advice I have heard all day." Tuo happily replied.

Tuo put on the suit, ready to search for the second AI. When they got outside, it was raining, and it was thundering. Inaj was not harmed from this due to the shields he possesses. Inaj overridden his mind, and started flying.

"W-what? how the-" Tuo surprisingly yelled.

"Not the time. I am starting to pick up the signal. Hang on we are punching through the storm." Inaj explained.

The gone into a dangerous altitude which would usually mean that the air would be thin, and they would not be able to breathe very well. Inaj then shut down his mind, and overridden the full suit so that when they get into a safer environment, he wouldn't be near death. Over the clouds, it was still dark, and light shot up from above. The background was a bit ominous, yet a sparking ground, that you could fall through. Inaj sensed his target not far from where he currently was. He looked around on the camera and saw it, a floating island, suspended above the clouds. It was actually quite large for a floating landmass, the other ones usually are like 100 steps before you plummet to your doom.

They landed while tilting themselves, so they did not crash land. Then, Inaj let Tuo's body get back up on its feet and he took back control.

"What was that for!?" Tuo exclaimed.

"Nothing. If I did not do that, you would be unable to live." Inaj said. "No more questions. Lets move on."

They were looking at a floating island, with a bunch of rocky terrain, surrounded by a estimated nine hundred mile drop. This was perfect for testing flying vehicles, but its very bad for a fight involving a high amount of movement. Both Tuo and Inaj walked forwards towards the stony mountains, but they did not realize that you there was unstable rocks and ledges that dwell on those mountains. There was already bridges built, and some bones that were shattered on the ground.

They were walking across the bridge when they heard a low rumble, and then followed complete silence. They ignored it as Tuo assumed it was just settling, so they continued across the bridge. They began hearing it again, and this time feeling it as well. They then assumed that there was something bad about to happen, so they hurried across the bridge. They heard a high pitched sounds, with air starting to get thin as well. As they got to the final step, the wind got sharp, and behind them, something cut the bridge.

"What the!?" Tuo yelled.

"Incoming Solstice! we got a big one!" Inaj shouted.

The mountain that they once briefly stood on exploded. They ran for their life following the path on the mountain, having trouble keeping their feet on the trail with the danger near. Tuo saw another sight go from the rear. Inaj was viewing it. It then was seen. It was a orange colored dragon, that had something wrong with both wings, he did a U-turn, and then fired a fast fireball at them. It missed when they both saw it almost hit their shoulder.

"What is that thing!?" Tuo loudly asked.

"I just got a reading on it. Its- moving! He is holding it or something... Watch out, Another one coming straight for us!" Inaj explained.

An explosion filled their ears, as rocks plummeted and broke over them and on the surface. Life or death results, depending on how well they would be able to dodge and how they could take him down. Tuo pulled out the rifle with Inaj activating the assist due to the speed of the unknown reptilian. They tried to shoot at it's wings, but each shot that hit it, would only reflect back at them. Running in pure terror, they sped for each mountain as it charged at them ever so eagerly. For a moment, Tuo was considering using the shield to reflect the fireballs, but there still is no telling how much it can take out of it. They headed to a cave over rocks so they would not be seen.

"We need some way to make sure that he goes down, but lets not kill it." Inaj said.

"Agreed, how about one of its fireballs? That should do good." Tuo agreed.

They both activated reflector shield and yelled out to it. He then gathered the lighting, and it impacted his back. He opened his mouth with a red orb growing and charging. They activated the shield, and the dragon fired a focused beam to them. Tuo saw the shield's integrity go low and fast. He suddenly stopped, and Inaj alerted Tuo that the shield was at 3% integrity. They were unsure about if it actually hit it, because the beam was so bright, that it almost blinded both of them. The dragon flapped slower, and it started lowering. It let out a weak growl, and it disappeared from sight. They finally got a break from all the action, so Tuo took a breather, and Inaj spent time working on regaining integrity of the shields.

"So, shall we get a containment grenade on him?" Inaj asked.

"Yes." Tuo answered. "Maybe we can reason with him? maybe we got off on the wrong foot."

After regaining some integrity, they slid down the majorly breached mountain. When they looked down while sliding, they could see it was tired, and was open for attack. Tuo walked carefully, hoping that he would not maim him on sight. He then threw the grenade at him, that caused a force field. He then turned around grinning deviously. He then started to say things like; "Go ahead, Finish me", or; "You will never take me away ever again". He started chuckling, and he got back up, as if he already stopped being tired and faked the whole thing. Something was strange about him. Objects started to turn black, and only the sky was the only thing that was different from that. The darkness was almost jet-black, and both Tuo and Inaj had trouble trying to see him. Suddenly, they heard the force field break, and shatter. He then quickly gone behind them, and pinned him down with his claw. The darkness ceased to blind them, but the unknown dragon was putting much pressure on them. Tuo tried to squirm away, but every time he even moved a muscle, the dragon applied more pressure, and slowly moved it towards their necks.

He chuckled for a few seconds, and began to try and crush them instead of just restraining them.

"Any last words before I take you out of your misery!?" He said.

Then they heard a powerful blast, but saw nothing. He began falling onto them, and it was down for the count.

"Did you really think I would leave you alone after you helped us?" The general said.

"So glad you are here. We are in your debt." Inaj added.

"It was really nothing. Wait... a Sevawing!? What is the last one doing here!?" The general shouted.

"Do not know. Its not in my Archi- Nope, found it. Not anything for it." Inaj said. "Tuo. Get closer to him. I lost readings of the AI."

Tuo noticed something about his hand. It was closed, and that would mean that it could be in his hand/ Tuo then crouched down and opened his right claw, and there was a sharp stone with a strange glow in it. Tuo then picked it up and held it to the sky. The general looked at it, and was not sure about what he was doing. He started seeing doubles of everything, and lightning was drawn to the stone, causing it to shatter, and a piece of the warmind was found. It drawn close into the armor, and infiltrated through a crack of it, so it could reach the base of the suit.

"I cannot believe it. They have not killed them all. This is bad. There is a chance where he would be one of those few who manipulate others. Good thing we have something to prevent it." The general thought.

He then started breathing again, as he began to move its arm faintly.

"Its waking up! I am calling the air force. You just make sure that it does not become strong enough to move!"

The general ran up to the Sevawing and stunned it again with his plasma grasps. He then sent coordinates for the platoon to move in at the floating island. They arrived about 3 minutes later with a mothership, and 5 huge laser cannons ready to shoot at the Sevawing if it tries something. The mothership landed on the edge of the island, and it stabilized itself from tipping over. Inaj carried the Sevawing by the tail and dragged it into the mothership The general followed them inside, and the door closed behind them.

"You and me got to talk when we get back down to the surface. This is serious business." The General angrily said.

Note:

The General's name is Deji. He was a Gentau leader, but then since the collapse of that kingdom, he found himself at Terrace.

The orange dragon's name is Mideran. The only reason why he got knocked out easily because his own beam weakened his body, since he is basically the eighth AI. Usually he would almost never been taken down.