Chapter 10

As darkness stood around me I felt strength return to my body. As my eyes flutter open I was greeted with the worried faces of my allies. I can see Liina and Tonnio give out a sigh of relief before the ever so worried Emilia glomped me.

"What is up with you and making me worry…dream or not!" Emilia sobbed into my shoulder. Come on Emilia…stop being such a worry wart. I place my hand to the back of her head and pulled her closer to me.

"I am fine Emilia…I just tired myself out a little." I smiled weakly before standing up, still wobbly. What was that? This is the first time that happened when I used my ability…who is Kumhan? And why do I feel that I want to kill him…why do I feel like I hate him? Ugh, my head hurts too much for this. Hey Konl, do you know this Kumhan guy?

Why won't you answer? Konl? Grrrr fine, I'll find out myself. I let out a slight hmph as I dusted myself off. I copped out the handguns placed behind me and noticed that it wasn't there. Looking down I see the handguns placed on the ground, looking the same as I dropped it. Picking them up and placing them in their proper holsters I let out one more sigh before looking around.

There were 2 ways, one was protected by a mere laser fence while the other was being blocked by 3 thick streams of fire coming out of the ground. A giant purple flower stood in the middle.

"Emilia, can you hack those laser fences?" I asked her and she nodded but before she could start a throbbing sensation racked my brain. Wh…Wha? The flower?

As quick as it came, the pain disappeared. I walk on over to the flower and kneel down. The soil surrounding the big flower isn't soil at all…it's stone. I lift one of the petals and it revealed more symbols similar to the first one we saw. Somehow I wasn't surprised that I found it.

"Liina." I call her over and she kneels beside me, visibly surprised at finding Kasch markings. She started running her finger through the cracks while Tonnio and Emilia stood behind us.

"We do not fear the flames. Fear will consume those who embrace it." Liina read as she continued to run her fingers through it. Then something in my head clicked causing me to stand up and turn towards the streams of fire. I stood in front of the streams, its heat radiating towards me. The fire seemed to attempt to hypnotize those who stared at it. I took in a deep breath

"I don't fear you."I mumbled to myself before running through the flames, the fire immediately dissipated the moment I went through it. The heat that used to radiate from the fire just seemed to disappear along with it. I look behind me and see the others follow close behind.

"Wha..how?" Tonnio stammered, dumbfounded. I let out a smug smirk before nodding my head to the direction deeper into the sector.

Going through the cave, we were then ambushed by 3 feet tall, round, gray birds, 3 of them to be exact. These are «Lapuchas», native birds found in «Moatoob». Once again, passive creatures that run away at the sight of any person…but why are these birds here? Not feeling comfortable my right hand grips the black handle of my «Rapier» model saber placed on my back and I bend my knees slightly, preparing myself to fight. Tonnio seemed to notice my action and allows photons to cover his hands before revealing some Claw-type weapon.

"Well they're cute…"Tonnio commented before letting out a devilish smile followed by my own.

"Yeah…let's kill em." I continued before springing my legs and skillfully drawing my saber. The green photons started forming the blade and soon, a solid blade made out of light came into existence. The birds then started digging into the ground causing both me and Tonnio to stop.

"What? Where are they?" I look around, dumbfounded at the revelation that they can burrow. Feeling the ground shift beside me, I was too late to move when I felt a small wing hit me on the head making me stumble to the side. I let out a battle cry as I swung my saber towards the attacker. The blunt side of the blade connects with the gray bird, launching it away. Flat on the ground, I felt the ground move again. I immediately tumble away while my left hand reached for my handgun and as soon as the «Lapucha» jumped out of the ground I aimed my handgun and was about to fire before another projectile hit it.

Looking to the side I see Liina with her dual handguns out, I give out a nod in approval before holstering my handgun and picking up my saber, which I had let go when I rolled.

"Graaah!" I heard Tonnio cry out. I turn my head just in time to see him swipe at the last «Lapucha» with his claw. Sending it off the land mass we were on. These birds are easy enough, annoying but easy. I look over to the others and see them walking towards me. I deactivate my saber and sheathe it before giving out a large breath. I look over to the metal blast door placed on a tree and signal Emilia to hack it.

Giving a nod, Emilia started to do her magic while I and the couple waited.

"So, Mikey…I heard that you had a major injury around 6 months ago, you feeling any better?" Liina asked me worriedly. They must be talking about that De Ragan expedition when I broke my right shoulder but because of Mika, it's completely healed now.

"They just exaggerated that, I am fine." I lied coolly. No need for them to know, after all its water under the bridge now. Don't want them to worry. Looking behind I still see Emilia working on the terminal…she has a holographic screen in front of her face and a holographic board had appeared on top of the terminal which her fingers were dancing over. She might not be the best at fighting but she's the smartest girl I've seen, she even beats Maya I think…

Ever since I met her, the oddities in my life increased and the Ancient mess that I got myself into is thanks to her…but somehow I am not angry. Sure I feel irritated but I am not angry at her..it…it's like…it's like I already accepted this…no…it's like I expected this to happen but I wasn't aware of that expectation.

"Mikey…you're staring." Tonnio's voice broke me out of my stupor and I immediately realized that I was staring at the blonde girl working on the terminal. I turn my head to Tonnio who for some reason had a smirk on his face.

"I thought it was odd that you decided to join a company, now I know why." Tonnio smirked while I just tilted my head in confusion. How could he deduce that when I was jus...Oh! My cheeks then started heating up as I figured out what he deduced. I am pretty sure my cheeks are red right now.

"Oh no no no no, it's not what you think!" I denied frantically, with my hands waving in front. My frantic attempt at denying just proved to widen his smirk. Luckily before he could talk, a voice beat him to it.

"Done!" Emilia shouted as the door opened.

Continuing deeper into the forest, we encountered more «Veggas» and «Lapuchas» but we dispatched them quickly. It wasn't until we encountered another break in the road that we started to have a bit of difficulty. One path was free of any obstacles while the other was blocked with 3 pillars of black fire but we don't have time to choose yet seeing as how we are fighting 7 humanoid, grey humanoid creatures. Their arms split at the end, making a two clawed hand. They look like orcs in fantasy stories.

I unsheathe my saber and grab the machine gun strapped to my left leg. I can see Tonnio take out his favorite weapon, his claws while Liina took out her dual handguns and Emilia got her saber and handgun out. I activate my saber, allowing the green photon blade to come to life. I raise my machine gun and pull the trigger, mayhem ensured as a barrage of green photons came into view.

Liina followed suite with her dual handguns and Emilia followed as well. The torrent of photons caused the creatures to scatter, 2 of them were brave enough to charge through attack. The monsters weaved through the barrage skillfully but some still hit the two. When they started getting close, I lowered my machine gun and allowed Tonnio to pass who lashed out on one of them. I raised my saber and swung towards the other who in turn dodged to the side. Warning bells started ringing in my head, causing me to duck as I felt a gust of wind touch the back of my head.

Without any second thought I thrust my saber up in an attempt to stab the beast's head but all I hit was air as the creature jumped back. Tsk, these «Vandas» are pretty good. I raise my machine gun and pull the trigger. The machine gun's 5 rounds per second firing rate killed the «Vanda» in a matter of seconds. I look to the other creatures who had started dashing towards us, Emilia let out a bunch of clumsy swings in an attempt to ward off the opponent while Liina had unequipped one of her handguns in favor for a dagger. Liina was skillfully using her small size to get around 2 «Vandas» while releasing a flurry of quick slashes. Tonnio was just lashing out with his claws, he already took out one and was jumping to the other. The last one was facing me, with its arms covering its mouth. Before I can ponder over what it was doing, a stream of fire suddenly burst from its mouth.

Surprised from the attack I immediately raise my hands in an attempt to block it. Searing pain engulfed my front as I instinctively jumped away from the pain, I let my sore hands fall to my side and notice that they were releasing smoke and the «Shield-weave» was starting to ripple. Pain seared through my arms as I lifted my machine gun and fired clumsily. My hand shook all over as I tried to steady my hand from the recoil. Lucky shots struck the monster making it stagger but not enough to stop it from charging towards me. I then felt a burst of strength as the «Vanda» got close, allowing me to raise my saber and intercept the attack with the blunt side.

Not wanting to waste anymore energy, I shoved my machine gun to the monster's stomach and pulled the trigger. Blood splattered on to my hand as photons shot itself into the creature's stomach. I let the body fall with a thud as I tried to catch my breath. I look over to the others and see that they have defeated their respective enemies. Emilia had switched to a white staff with 6 metal feathers attached to the tip slanted to a point. She knows «Technics»? I look over to the limp enemy and almost cringe as I see the corpse…burnt to a fine crisp.

"It takes a lot of power to do that…" I muse to myself. I then see Emilia walking towards me with her white staff in hand before she points the tip at my hands.

"Resta…" I hear her cast lowly before a white light engulfed both of us. I feel the pain of my body subside to a very shocking degree. Her Resta «Technic» is amazing! I can't feel any pain at all!

"Amazing! I can't feel any form of pain at all!" I gush out cheerfully as I swing my saber around before I sheathed it. "Thanks Emilia!" I smiled. Why are you turning red all of a sudden!? It was just a small praise…

Looking around, another purple flower stood between the two paths. Liina then walked over to the flower and found more Kasch markings.

"We fear the dark flame, the dark flame gives salvation to the weak. Avoid the dark flame." Liina translated.

"Then we avoid it, plain and simple." I say nonchalantly as we started to walk to the unobstructed path on the right. Continuing into the forest, we encountered more creatures but nothing we couldn't handle.

"More markings over here, Liina do your stuff." Tonnio sounded. I look over to him and see that he was standing beside a tree that had the markings. Walking over, Liina started to work on it.

"Hm… Looks like we're closer than I thought." Emilia pondered loudly…wait Emilia? All 3 of us look over to her with a very questioning look.

"What?" Liina asked.

"It's different from the ones we've seen so far. Look how detailed it is. Maybe this is the final marking."Emilia pondered more before continuing "You know…I think it is! Whew. We're almost there." She continued cheerfully.

"Wait…You can read that?" Liina asked in disbelief. Emilia!? I know you're smart but yo-

"Well yeah, I was watching over your shoulder while you read the others." She shrugged…you learned how to read a different language within a day…by looking over someone's shoulder?

"So was I, but I can't read them yet. Don't you think that's a bit too fast?" Tonnio asked in doubt.

"Stop pulling my leg! Anyone can read those… can't they?" Emilia ended with doubt before she turned to me. "You can read those too right?" I can either lie or be honest… I haven't got a clue on how to read this.

"Not a single word." I shrugged in denial. I might be smart but I am not that smart Emilia…and how come you're unaware of your own intelligence? I remember the same thing at the relic site.

"But you could if you tried! You just weren't watching hard enough." Emilia argued before turning to the markings. After a few moments she then ran past us. "Come on! It's this way!" Emilia shouted over before warning bells suddenly started ringing again.

"Emilia, stop!"

*Pang*

An orange projectile shot from a distance hits the dirt right in front of Emilia's feet.

"Stay where you are!" A voice sounded

"What are you doing? Get out of the way!" Tonnio shouted as he pushed Emilia to the side before an orange blast of photon shot just where Emilia's head was a few moments ago, looking over to the origin of the attack. We saw a boy wearing a white and orange, tribal costume. He had spiked up hair along with a yellow and white bandana similar to Liina's. He was holding an orange photon bow. A Kasch?

"Tonnio over there!" Liina pointed out the boy's location. Tonnio turned his head and as soon as he saw him, went into a full blown sprint. His right hand flashed white before revealing a yellow bi-claw and showed the strength of his legs as he jumped above the unexpecting enemy.

"You're all mine!" Tonnio shouted as he prepared to strike. The boy was clearly shocked but countered by raising his hand and releasing some sort of red seal, an action that caused me to fear for my friend's life. A mirage blast!

"Tonnio get out of there!" I shout to him just before a seal broke to reveal a red horned figure. The figure held back its massive right fist in preparation for an attack. The fist started glowing a bright red a moment before it released a punch, launching a fireball 10 times bigger than a Foie. I couldn't make out what Tonnio said as Liina jumped.

"Look out!" Liina shouted as she pushed her husband out of the fireball's path...which is straight to me. Somehow…for some strange reason…I wasn't scared. As the fireball continued towards me time seemed to slow down…I can see Tonnio and Liina look at me in horror. I turn my head towards Emilia and see her stare at me with the same feeling the couple held.

I guess this is what they call life flashing before your eyes but in reality, things just seem to slow down. I stared at the fireball barreling towards me…I didn't close my eyes, I just stared like what I did to the fire blocking our path. Then a voice…a single voice broke me out of my stupor…a voice that gave me vigor.

"Mikey!"

I saw blue.

Cliffhanger! Dun dun DUNNNNNN. Oh my god, now I can write the fight with Yut! Happy days Happy days!

Ugh... I feel like I rushed this universe, then again I don't want a lot of meaningless fights happening but I don't want to completely exclude them either. I MIGHT completely skip Universe 2 act 2...I probably will because I feel somewhat lazy on having them fight again.

Everyone, Pnoykid signing out. PEACE.