Samus slowly exitted the secret cave and staggered over to the oasis. She didn't want to be nearby the 3 hunters when they revived. She typed a distress signal and minutes later, her ship arrived. She entered and went straight to the healing station. Although it wouldn't heal her physical energy, she would get her suit and weapons repowered. She had never had a harder mission. Every hunter was hunting her except Noxus and maybe Spire. And what was with her recent temper? She set her course for the Gem Ruins again. Everything in this mission revolved around the ruins. She needed rest...so she wondered whether she should this hunt out. Risky as it was, she'd lose more fights and keys if she didn't take a break to recover.

Kanden awoke and stood. That stupid Diamont had knocked him out. Weavel was also waking up.

"What happened?!" Weavel raged.

"Trace sniped you. I got hit by Spire. Sylux..." Kanden explained. Sylux got up.

"Stupid Kriken..." he muttered.

"Again?" Kanden asked, before he could stop himself. Bad move.

Sylux glared at him. "Shut up you mutant! Samus got away! If you fools had been guarding the doors, that Vhozon would never have stopped us. Now, this alliance is over! I'll do things my way now. Get in my way, and you'll fry like Samus!" Sylux stormed out of the room. Weavel and Kanden glanced at each other.

"I think we should work separately for now." Weavel suggested. Kanden nodded. They left. and then separated, although their destination was the same: The Gem Ruins. Weavel reached the ruins and saw that the 3rd tablet had been translated. Noxus was nowhere nearby. Weavel studied the tablet and saw that (finally) the tablets weren't riddled anymore.

'In the Battle Shrine lies a path to the 4th key.' Weavel smiled. He had visited the Battle Shrine earlier. He smiled again and went to the south of the ruins. There was a small building that Weavel had explored a long time ago. Inside was a dedication of the 'Battle Shrine'. As expected, Weavel easily found a hidden door in the floor. The hidden staircase led into a tunnel that seemed to go straight for miles. Weavel decided to just hurry and get the key so he could continue onwards. He hated the Gem Ruins at this point. Only 3 keys had been found and there were 7!

Weavel ventured through the long passageway. At the end of the hall were two doors. Weavel opened the second door and found a gigantic maze. The door locked behind him. Figures. Weavel ran into the maze and turned left, then left, then right, then left. Dead End. Weavel shrugged and went right instead. Dead End. He backtracked and turned left instead. After a long passage, he emerged from the maze in a torchlit room. Rocks cluttered the room, and Weavel searched for clues as to his objective.

After several uneventful minutes, he found a button. When pressed, a wall slid open and the 4th key was lying on a pedestal in the center of another room. However...before he could grab it, a strange creature appeared, blocking his path. (unknown to Weavel, it was a Station Behemoth) Weavel stared at this odd monster and then opened fire. His Battlehammer did no noticable damage to the monster, and Weavel struggled to dodge the mechanical arms of the beast. Firing with impeccable accuracy, Weavel managed to destroy one of the arms. He repeated this with the second arm and then aimed at the beast again.

However, the monster fired an energy beam from a core that was revealed. Weavel went into Halfturret and moved around the monster as it tried to follow him. When the monster prepared to fire, the halfturret launched projectiles, striking the core. Weavel continued to bait the monster's fire and before long destroyed it. Pleased, Weavel snatched up the Gem Key and went through a new door that unlocked. At this point, Weavel's jaw dropped. The new door led to the entrance hall. Just his luck...he had to choose door 2 and take the long route!

Weavel exitted the Battle Shrine and Kanden approached him.

"Nice work Weavel!" Kanden said, smiling. Startled, Weavel followed Kanden to the Gem Shrine Gate and decoded the 4th tablet.

"The 5th is prized at the Duel Stadium..." Kanden read, looking thoughtful. Weavel shrugged. Just then, all sunlight seemed to fade. Startled, Kanden and Weavel looked up as a black battlecruiser flew overhead.

"North?" Weavel whispered. Kanden shrugged and they followed the cruiser's path to reach a cliff overlooking the Gem Shrine. A stadium stood, half-concealed by ivy. It was the only building not affected by time. Curious, the 2 hunters entered the stadium. Inside the large stadium was a battlefield, and some raised seats around the stadium for spectators.

"So...you've arrived first. The mutant and the cyborg! Not to worry. This spectacle will be one you'd never want to miss!" sneered a voice. Both hunters stared for the source.

"Don't worry. It'll be only a few hours. Rest guests...the others will arrive in time." A shadowy figure appeared in the doorway on the opposite end of the stadium.

"Who are you?" Weavel demanded. The figure cocked his head curiously.

"Do you want the 5th key? I know how to get it, but there's a catch...the greatest enemies must duel! You'll see one of the competitors before the other competitor. You'll see more than you ever expected! Relax...You won't want to miss the greatest duel ever!" The figure laughed coldly.

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That's the end of Chapter 12! The next chapters are going to be very good.