Chapter 13
Those that had escaped retreat to the head-long ruin by the valley leading to the small opening of the foot of the mountain
"It's their lair. A horde like that, There's a reason why they've been stopping us in our destination" Hwang said.
" You may be right that mountain on leads the crossing to the next border out from India, War spread all over the Asian seas, not easy for any explorer to travel in search of that sword" Maxi added
"It's a bit unusual why would a horde would infiltrate our presence, to see how mean those creatures charge against us" said Kilik
"No.. It's not were intruders. but they're after it as well. Let's not waste time" Mina exclaimed
Hwang smirked to what she said.
"Is there something I said that amuses you?" Mina whimpered
"There they go again!.. stop arguing and let's go!" Kilik interrupted
"Put me down I can stand on my own!" Mina struggled and got off Hwang's back. She's irritated Hwang just laugh at her, maybe it is because she has been so stubborn all the time, although she's not yet fully recovered from getting hurt, he just let her do what she want.
(GRRRR!!!)With an irritating look clenching her fist, annoyed to her fiancee's irritating smirk. She pulled Xianghua's hand and both of the two ldies walk ahead of them. the gentle men behind just laughed at them.
"Don't get yourself injured again, and don't CRY for help!" Hwang yelled at her, and they laughed.
"WE WON"T!"
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"Mina slow down.." Xianghua said as mina pull her hand away from them.
"Sorry! He's.obnoxious!, he thought I can't get things right without him!" Mina whimpered
Xianghua laughed. Mina seemed to be not in the right mood for a little humor, so she stopped and behind the thick palm leaves, "Hey Look at that?" Xianghua said pointing over the direction of an old ruin gateway underneath the foot of the mountain.
"It must be it. their lair.we should go in and check it out" She insisted and pulled Xianghua's hand, but she shrugged it away
"Are you insane. Those horde of reptiles almost got us killed!, Were not going in!" Xianghua shot back at her with that irritating look
"All the way down here?. If you don't want to.. I will, at least I have something to prove to them! that I'm Only a woman! I don't agree with them, if they insist I can do nothing at all. What about you? " Mina exclaimed trying to influence her, and she took her weapon and creep behind the thick palm leaves heading to the ancient ruins.
The Ruin gateway was thronged with large boulders collapsed on the side, the two fearless maidens crawled above it, the hallow cave opening was dusty and empty. At the peak above the pile of rocks. Mina leaped from the pile of rocks and followed Xianghua.
"Mina this is suicide!" she remarked
"Hey, we're really heading towards these places aren't we?' mina winked at her, as they continued to lurk into the dark depths of the huge cave.
"Okay. Okay! Mina wait for me!" Xianghua said.
It's a bit dark but not quite pitch black, Mina crept to the side of the cave wall, with a blurry light across the reflections above coming from the icicles, mina notice a small wooden torch stuck in-between the side of a small slate stone.
"Oh good thing there's a torch" Mina kneeled down on the floor an d took a small slate stone and trying to ignite a spark
"A torch.???? Mina don't it maybe a trap we might trigger something.." Before xianghua could finish her warning, mina ignited a flame from the torch, The flame somehow surprised her when it blazed almost the whole wooden torch, she quickly let it go, then it fell to a small hallow crater with liquid inside, instantly the blaze run and lit a couple of pillar of slate stone, the two ladies were alarmed and armed themselves with their weapons, as the fire light brighten the whole cave and revealed it was a whole temple. , The blaze of light traveled across the arcs of the pillars' ceiling as it enlightened the patch from which they came from...
*+*+*+*+*+*
"Damn't! those girls are walking in a trap!" Maxi said as they saw the path of torching lights blaze the whole darkness of the cave.
"No! Mina! Xianghua!" Kilik shout in panic, hwang stopped him "Don't shout! Let's be cautious!" he reminded.
"It's to late for that! There's no turning back!" Maxi yelped as the gorund shook a slight tremble and became stronger, the pile of rocks at the side of the gateway engulfed the patch they came in.
"DOCK!!!" the men ran and hid themselves from the safe corner inside the hidden temple as the ground shudders, icicles pierced from the cave ceiling and the crumbling rocks and boulders covered the daylight of the entrance, a midst of dust fogged across the air.
(cough. ..cough..) Maxi Kilik and Hwang fanned across the dusty midst that came from the rockslide blocking their entrance
"Nice yell you did, stupid kid!" Hwang poke Kilik right on his head. Kilik took his armas in a brisk move to hit back Hwang poking his head
"Stop It! You two it won't help!" Maxi yelled at Kilik holding off his fist as they went deeper into the temple
*+*+*+*+*
"What's that an earth quake?" Mina wondered, both of the crawled out form the small shallow concave wall , which they his themselves after the short quake.
"It came from outside.. "Xianghua said, her eyes studied the entire features of the underground them, Molds and green algae wrapped the whole surface of the atrium ceiling which were standing above them, some how there were ritual markings and images engraved high above them , Xianghua Try to look focusing her sight above her, it was too dark to the torch light to reveal it's image
"Chai.. come quick look at these!" Mina spotted something engraved to a small block below the pillar, it's like a monument. Xianghua sat beside her , and was surprised
"It's like and writing of something. ?" Mina said touching the scratching the moss covering the template of the engrave inscription
"Let's see.! It's Indian. but? I can read this?. The Emperor thought me how to read a few foreign inscription.." Xianghua started to clear the inscription as her finger pointed first from the top first.
"What does it says?" Mina asked with enthusiasm
"It says : H..ERE DWELLS. THE.. PATH OF THE OF THE LIGHT .EATEN WITH THE CURSE OF GREED FOR DARKNESS WILL RULE.." Xianghua paused
"This is creepy.. I think we shouldn't stay here.." She said
"Go on. Continue." Mina exclaimed ".. , HOLY WEAPON A.. CHALICE FOR THE GODS. TAKEN TO THE DEPTHS OF FIRE.. ...WILL SOON BE TAKEN TO US..WORSHIPPERS OF KUNPAETKU TEMPLE.MORTALS.WILL ROT THE SOIL.. FOR ALL ETERNITY OF TIME. Mina.. This is getting creepy!!!..." Xianghua paused.. cold shiver trickled to each of them.
"Let's get out of here." Mina said.. both of them looked at each other slowly. when they heard a deep growl of breath behind them. something humongous was standing behind them, when they notice a huge dark shadow form before them
"UH.. What is behind us?????" Mina's voice trembles, slowly the two ladies positioned to draw their weapons with their hand crawling to their sides..
(THWUMMM!) A huge axe slashed in between them.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
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"Mina/Chai!" the men shout in unison, as they heard the girls shrieked in panic, quickly they dashed heading to the echoed cry of the ladies.
"They should have waited for us Damn't!"
suddenly spears and arrows flew before them, one of the spears slashed to Hwang's arm the almost caught him. Hwang rolled to the side and appeared the horde of hideous Reptiles, out numbering them. Hwang squeezed his wound as it bleed, his blood drip on the soil before them, , A lizardman dipped the tip of his blade on the spilled blood of his enemy and tasted it. Then howl with a sharp cry. as well as it's comrades.
"THEY'RE CARNIVORES!!!! NOW THEY THINK OF US AS THEIR PREY!" Maxi took a step back in between the two ,all together they armed their weapons in defense, amongst the horde of ferocious reptiles
"Yeah it's all your fault! Why don't you let them feed on the rest of your arm!" Kilik shouted at Hwang's face. Irritated by his blabbering Hwang pushed Kilik towards a reptile that made him lose balance. Good for Kilik he manage to dodge the lizard's blade ,and it triggered the attack. Then they wield their weapons, against the horde of lizards, in full flight, with quivering, and gallant openmind,
Maxi twiled and toss as playfully he whips his nunchakus from his oppents from each charging directions that took aim, he managed to take them off guard when each lose balance as he took aim at their weak stance. One, two three to four, each reptile recive smack down, with broken bones and stashed scaled skin, as their flesh tore apart, with each strong bouts. Kilik hovered and twirld his Kali yuga , as he maneuver each direction of his enemy, taking out a group of tens , one by one each he smite a strong thud of his rod, even plunging the blunt end of his weapon across each reptiles body, like piercing it with a stick, through it's chest , even brutally he hit his rod right through a reptile's eye.
Hwang slashed to every flesh of his attacker, chopping of to it's every part, limbs threw out from every dying his enemy, it was tens to twenties, without a decrease of energy, He plunge fearless to each of his attacker's body. Howl of cry taken to every slaughtered beast, Hwang leaped in every turn , Wielding and slashing to every scaled flesh, with untamed rage of hate ripping apart from torso separating from it's body, a hideous gore of battle, as he help taking out some other Lizard men fighting against his comrades especially each unaware attacks.
Blood splattered in each of their faces, even in disgust the rage of their attack kept them alive. " Their getting more and more each cry they call for others!" Hwang shouted
"The Girls! We must get to them!" Kilik kept fighting as he worried among his friends
"They wont stop, sooner, we can't hold them.. We must do something?!" Maxi shouted as he continued keeping himself uninjured from incoming enemies.
Hwang leaped above the horde of lizards and landed on a high boulder, this is when he notice the what kept the flame burning, a liquid
"ITS OIL!" Hwang quickly made his way down as he maintain his defense of some charging lizards against him and plunged into the flaming liquid
"Let's go! I Know how to kill them..To burn them alive!" Hwang warned his comrades.
Kilik and maxi quickly climbed up unto higher grounds, still lizards continued to chase after them, when they got to the top, Maxi and Kilik pushed a couple of large boulders as it fell of crushing a couple of climbing lizards behind them.
Hwang kicked off the small stone holding the flaming liquid from the side funnel as it poured and a stash of blaze showered above the horde of lizards as it burned them alive, a loud horde of cry echoed the flaming cave as the three men took off quickly to their rescue.
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"Xianghua look out!" Mina shouted revealin herself from the shadow of the large pillar she hid, herself. As the Large Golem went towards her. Instead of Xianghua evading the presnce of he giant , she went near to her enemy and threw a small stone hitting the nape of the Golem, to get his attention "Hey You overgrown! Bald Monkey!.. Come and get me!" Xianghua threw again a pebble at him , as Astaroth swung his gigantic axe Xianghua eventually lowered and rolled to her left evading his strong smack.
"Are you crazy!" Mina ran across the open field and leaped to a half broken pillar and jumped behind the golems back.
"FOOLISH MORTALS!' Astaroth growled as he try to shook off Mina from his back.
"Yeah this is what you get hitting on girls!" Mina stabbed the golem from his left shoulder with the blade of the scarlet thunder
"AAGHGHGHGHGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Astaroth cried with pain, Mina threw across the pavement of the shrine's center atrium , as she try to gain back her stance to evade the counter attack of the giant Golem. Xianghua slashed her sword to the Golem's knee, causing him to lose his balance.
"Mina!" Xianghua leaped from astaroth back as she trying to take out the scarlet thunder stuck into the golem's bleeding wound.
"Xianghua get off of him!" Mina screamed of fear as the astaroth began to stand , loosing Xianghua's Balance, Astaroth reached his back and grabbed her small body wioth his bare hands.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!" Xianghua struggled, it was all so sudden astaroth took a brisk pitch and threw xianghua tossing her into the mid air
"XIANGHUA!!!!!!!!!" Mina screamed. Xianghua's body was heading to hit towards a thick pillar, the speed of her weight was going to crush her bones to death, suddenly a Kilik leaped from the flight of rocks as his ascending body from a height of jump manage to block xianghua's body, Kilik grabbed her clutching her in his arms, so instead Xianghua hit the pillar , Kilik hit it but with a less impact.
"Kilik!!!!" Xianghua's Eyes was filled with tears. Kilik lost his energy from the impact caused him to feel weak from pain, Maxi pulled Kilik and Xianghua out from the collapsing pillar their bodies hit.
Meanwhile.
" MINA RUN!" Hwang shouted as the weakling body of mina crawled out of the golem's reach, while Hwang gave him a sudden kick from it's back to distract him, he manage to pull out the scarlet thunder from his back as Astaroth fell and threw it towards Mina's reach as she evade Astaroth's reach
"Get your filthy hands away from MY WOMAN!" Hwang yelled at the raging Golem.
Astaroth again swung his Mighty axe to and fro, Hwang jumped to side phases and rolled to avoid such dangerous aim, His speed manage him to cut a slash from astaroth's leg
"AAAGGGHHHH!!!! FOOLISH MORTALS!!!!! NO ONE WILL TAKE THE SLATE FROM ME!!!" Astaroth screamed from pain
"Slate?!" Mina caught the attention of the pillar * It was the slate he was referring?! * Mina dashed to the central pillar as it was collapsing she saw the Slate the golem was talking about " Yes It is a MAP!!" she was so surprised as it shows a detailed inscription of directions of a map engraved in a piece of the stone
"MINA GET OUT OF THERE!!" Maxi yelled and went to her. To pull her away from the crumbling post.
Injured Kilik took Xianghua heading towards the small tunnel " Kilik there that must be a way out!" Xianghua said to him to keep him on his knees as the go, Mina joined them so Maxi helped Hwang to defeat astaroth
Maxi threw his twirl nunchakus that hit astaroth directly towards his face, Astaroth growled blinding his sight as he randomly swiped his axe from side to side, just then Hwang took the oppurtuniy as he pierced unto his arm, and kicked him as he landed to the pool of water. Which caused the crumbling structure of the pool wall.
"Oh No!!!! Were going to get Drain down the tunnel!" Mina screamed. Then Kilik held closely Mina and Xianghua as the raging burts of water washed their bodies and carried it down to the tunnel
"AAAGGGHHHH!!!!" Kilik , xianghua and mina yelled
Quickly Maxi and Hwang swam into the current bringing their bodies into the depths of the tunnel.
" Kilik... Don't let Go... Of. The Girls!!!!" Maxi and Hwang yelled, while huffing for air to breath from the dashing current's impact as they saw Kilik was clutching them tight while the current wash them down the drain.
" Hold On .. Tight!!!!" Kilik Mumbled, Mina and Xianghua grasped tightly while catching a breath of air. The current was so fast, the weight of their bodies took them in a high velocity against the raging waves of the water.
It was painful. Each of them hit cave walls and try to avoid slate stones to very impact the current leads them right into..
" I can't Hold On!!!" Mina uttered as she sank into the water
"Mina!!!!..." creamed in fear. Quickly Hwang dive against the current struggling under the frighting speed of the water , he saw the sight of mina, her skirt got caught in a small spike of stone, hwang sawm towards her and took her in his arms.
Then they surface above the raging current"Mina!!.. MINA!!!! Wake up!" hwang patted her cheeks as she opens her eyes.
"AGGHHHHH!" Mina screamed as they saw an opening of light from a large hole.
They flew out, their bodies were falling in a height of a hundred feet from the sprout water hole that came out from the mountain, cascading to a height high above from a lake.
(SSSSSPLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!)
Their bodies wham into the steady lake as the drove a flock of birds out of range!.
The five warriors swam to shore.
"WHEW!!!! THAT WAS REFRESHING!!!!!" Maxi laughed as he took of his shirt and squeezed the excess water, while catching his breathe. Kilik tossed his body on the side of the shore and Xianghua crawled out of his arms and sat across the small rock, sitting helpless tired and catching her breath.
Hwang crawled out from the water to the shore, as mina was the last one to surface out of the water. Catching her breath.
"Look what I found!" Mina turned to Hwang showing a stone slate she got
"MINA LOOK OUT! DON"T MOVE!!!" Xianghua screamed. Mina was standing near a tree which hung a large python. Mina looked over the direction all that she saw a Large fang mouth that was going to caught the very size of her head.
(SLASH!!!!!!)
"EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!" Mina shrieked. It was a close call. All that she caught in her hand was the be headed python and threw it into the groung with a horrifying disgust, as it's blood spilled over the garments of her clothing
Hwang managed to slash the head of the Large snake. Everyone was shocked with silence
Hwang Yelled at her in such anger!
"YOU ALMOST GOT KILLED! FOOLISH WOMAN"
"...." silence flew in the presence of them as Mina began to yell at him.
"I CAN TAKE IT OUT MYSELF AND DON'T CALL ME FOOLISH!"
"YEAH HOW?! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT PREDATOR WAS ABOUT TO BITE YOUR HEAD OFF"
The others just watched the two yelling at each other , Maxi halted Kilik who was about to interrupt their quarrel, but it wasn't such a good idea.
"..." Mina paused thinking what to yell a him, her eyes were reddening with tears from hurt and embarrassment infront of the others, and the way Hwang was yelling at her.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL AT ME!. IF THAT'S BOTHERING YOU FOR MY RESCUE."
"STUPID WOMAN!.. I'M TIRED OF YOUR STUBBORNESS.!"
"THEN DON'T HELP ME!.. I HAVE A NEW MAP OF MY OWN"
"SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. YOU CAN'T EVEN TAKE THE RISK OF SURVIVING.. EVEN NOW WE'RE JUST HALF WAY TO EUROPE!"
"DON'T GIVE ME COMMANDS!. I'M NOT ALONE"
.. Xianghua interrupted " Hwang don't be too hard on her.. we can do this together."
Mina stopped her "CHAI, YOU'RE NOT IN TO THESE.."
"YOU THINK YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!' Hwang was yelling at her furiously.
Mina's voice was trembling "SO DON'T COME TO MY RESCUE. DON'T FOLLOW ME.. FIRST I WAS WITH KILIK, WITH XIANGHUA THEN WITH MAXI. YOU'RE JUST TAGGING ALONG!'
"BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPIDITY I WAS DISMISSED ON THE FIELD TO FIND YOU.. THEN YOU SAY THAT TO MY FACE!"
"WHAT DO YOU CARE I DIDN'T WANT YOU FOLLOWING ME"
"YOU'RE SELFISH, YOU DIDN'T THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WILL BE WORRIED ABOUT YOU!"
Mina began to cry.. "WHAT DO YOU CARE ABOUT MY LIFE YOU RUINED IT. YOU TOOK MY FATHER'S LOVE AWAY FROM HER OWN DAUGHTER!"
"I WAS SWORN TO BRING YOU HOME..TO PROTECT YOU!"
"AND I DON'T NEED IT!"
"GOD DAMN'T MINA YOU'RE MY FIANCEE!"
Mina went to him then
(SLAP!)
It was all out from the hurt of her emotions as she slapped Hwang right into his face, with tears dripped across her cheeks. The shock of silence made the others too embarrassed to speak out.
Mina's tears flowed all over her face, flushing red face as she yelled right into his face.
"I.. DON'T NEED TO BE WITH YOU. IN FACT.I DON'T LOVE YOU!!!!!!" Mina cried as she ran far away , away from them, away from his sight.
" hwang." Xianghua began to approach him , but he didn't looked at them. he turned away, as he hid his face with the palm of his hand and slowly walked away.
"Chai don't..This is their fight.." Maxi stopped her.
"Com'n let's set for shelter here, before it gets dark" Kilik insisted with a low tone.
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Sadness clouded the presence of each and every one. Mina was sitting up on top of a small boulder , she remained silent, xianghua handed her some fruits she harvested that afternoon, but Mina didn't touched it, even looking at it.
Maxi was keeping the bon fire warm. Kilik remained silent he didn't bothered to ask. It would be too embarrassing since he has something for Mina, but it was to complicated, now they all knew, Mina is not Hwang's sister, They were to be married. Kilik avoided that thought since it's now clear to him that there's nothing he can do about it.
"Hey speak up you two!" Maxi waved his hand trying to get his attention from xianghua and Kilik staring into bliss.
"Were okay.Maxi I think you should talk to him." Kilik insisted
"With that kind of dramatic scene. it really kicked his ego." Maxi remarked looking over Hwang's direction who was sitting beneath the tree.
"Well.. this is to akward.. I guess I have to cheer him up. since I manage to keep this bottled bag around my belt all the time!" Maxi winked at him
"Yeah he needs a drink." Kilik smiled. And Maxi left them by the fire as he went to Hwang.
Kilik continue to roast the trout by the fire. He looked over Xianghua who was looking over the distant girl sitting beneath the moonlight.
Xianghua looked at him and he looked away "You Like Mina that much do you?" she asked
" You think , it's a good time asking questions like that." Kilik answered as he took another trout and clasp it into a wood stick to roast it by the fire.
"You do Care." Xianghua said and looked back into Mina's Direction
"Chai."
Xianghua turned to him.." Am I right?"
"My feelings for her. yup I DID care.. so much about her.. maybe because. I Admire how she believed she can do things.but.. know I know She loves Him that much."
"I'm not asking what she feels for you, I'm asking . you" Xianghua said shyly. Kilik smiled at her
"Of curse I love her. She's my friend."
"Friend..?"
"Yeah why?.. I felt this bond we have together. especially."
"Especially what??..."
"When ... I'm with you.." Kilik then looked at her with sincerity, Xianghua blushed.
"Uhm... I think You should go to her.. Right now she needs a friend.."
Xianghua stood up from her seat and then she stopped and kneeled infront of Kilik, She kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you..." then she left Kilik smiled.
+*+*+*+*+*+*
"Mina?.." Xianghua sat beside her..she was holding the slate of stone she held on her hand. Xianghua didn't botherd to ask, all she knew she has to drive away the sorrow from Mina's chest, so instead asking Xianghu looked over the slate she was holding
"Wow , where did you get that?!" Xianghua peaked behind her shoulders, she knew exactly whats sparks mina's interest to stop from crying.
"you're trying to cheer me up." Mina mumbled
"Silly!. Let me see that!" Xiangua took the slate on her hands. and lokked closely to every detail. It was a map alright, more like showing the details of middle Europe..
"Oh my.! Hmm. You know this shows a pathway of the voyage of old seekers of the soul edge..hmmm. we should go to Cyprus, from there .. we can ask for directions.. maybe Greece?"
"Huh? Can you tell.. ?"
"Of course!.. Actually.. We can leave together!!!. They don't know about this!" Xianghua whispered in her ear.
Mina smiled and brushed away the tears from her eyes. Xianghua smiled " Honestly , they're just slowing us down..I.. I can look after you.. And you can look after me too!" She exclaimed
"Really?" Somehow Mina hugged Xianghua with joy,she somehow was glad Mina got her lively spirit back, for all she knew.. They can all find it.
"Okay we leave by dawn. to Cyprus, well go to the next harbor. I'll just borrow money from Maxi you know! I'll ask it from Kilik, you know he can't resist me!" Xianghua winked at her, Mina smiled.
"You always make me smile!" She said
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A/n Okay.. Hope yah like it...
Sorry for the disgusting details it's a bit violent.. just try to put more details into the fights..
Especially the WHAM SPLAT SWOOP THING! It's like I'm watching the old batman series ;) get it!
While I'm typing this I had earphones listening to Mp3, if you notice I'm a bit carried away because to the mp3 I'm listening. well it's okay 'it helped ..I hope so
So for the mean time R/R
FireStarr
Those that had escaped retreat to the head-long ruin by the valley leading to the small opening of the foot of the mountain
"It's their lair. A horde like that, There's a reason why they've been stopping us in our destination" Hwang said.
" You may be right that mountain on leads the crossing to the next border out from India, War spread all over the Asian seas, not easy for any explorer to travel in search of that sword" Maxi added
"It's a bit unusual why would a horde would infiltrate our presence, to see how mean those creatures charge against us" said Kilik
"No.. It's not were intruders. but they're after it as well. Let's not waste time" Mina exclaimed
Hwang smirked to what she said.
"Is there something I said that amuses you?" Mina whimpered
"There they go again!.. stop arguing and let's go!" Kilik interrupted
"Put me down I can stand on my own!" Mina struggled and got off Hwang's back. She's irritated Hwang just laugh at her, maybe it is because she has been so stubborn all the time, although she's not yet fully recovered from getting hurt, he just let her do what she want.
(GRRRR!!!)With an irritating look clenching her fist, annoyed to her fiancee's irritating smirk. She pulled Xianghua's hand and both of the two ldies walk ahead of them. the gentle men behind just laughed at them.
"Don't get yourself injured again, and don't CRY for help!" Hwang yelled at her, and they laughed.
"WE WON"T!"
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
"Mina slow down.." Xianghua said as mina pull her hand away from them.
"Sorry! He's.obnoxious!, he thought I can't get things right without him!" Mina whimpered
Xianghua laughed. Mina seemed to be not in the right mood for a little humor, so she stopped and behind the thick palm leaves, "Hey Look at that?" Xianghua said pointing over the direction of an old ruin gateway underneath the foot of the mountain.
"It must be it. their lair.we should go in and check it out" She insisted and pulled Xianghua's hand, but she shrugged it away
"Are you insane. Those horde of reptiles almost got us killed!, Were not going in!" Xianghua shot back at her with that irritating look
"All the way down here?. If you don't want to.. I will, at least I have something to prove to them! that I'm Only a woman! I don't agree with them, if they insist I can do nothing at all. What about you? " Mina exclaimed trying to influence her, and she took her weapon and creep behind the thick palm leaves heading to the ancient ruins.
The Ruin gateway was thronged with large boulders collapsed on the side, the two fearless maidens crawled above it, the hallow cave opening was dusty and empty. At the peak above the pile of rocks. Mina leaped from the pile of rocks and followed Xianghua.
"Mina this is suicide!" she remarked
"Hey, we're really heading towards these places aren't we?' mina winked at her, as they continued to lurk into the dark depths of the huge cave.
"Okay. Okay! Mina wait for me!" Xianghua said.
It's a bit dark but not quite pitch black, Mina crept to the side of the cave wall, with a blurry light across the reflections above coming from the icicles, mina notice a small wooden torch stuck in-between the side of a small slate stone.
"Oh good thing there's a torch" Mina kneeled down on the floor an d took a small slate stone and trying to ignite a spark
"A torch.???? Mina don't it maybe a trap we might trigger something.." Before xianghua could finish her warning, mina ignited a flame from the torch, The flame somehow surprised her when it blazed almost the whole wooden torch, she quickly let it go, then it fell to a small hallow crater with liquid inside, instantly the blaze run and lit a couple of pillar of slate stone, the two ladies were alarmed and armed themselves with their weapons, as the fire light brighten the whole cave and revealed it was a whole temple. , The blaze of light traveled across the arcs of the pillars' ceiling as it enlightened the patch from which they came from...
*+*+*+*+*+*
"Damn't! those girls are walking in a trap!" Maxi said as they saw the path of torching lights blaze the whole darkness of the cave.
"No! Mina! Xianghua!" Kilik shout in panic, hwang stopped him "Don't shout! Let's be cautious!" he reminded.
"It's to late for that! There's no turning back!" Maxi yelped as the gorund shook a slight tremble and became stronger, the pile of rocks at the side of the gateway engulfed the patch they came in.
"DOCK!!!" the men ran and hid themselves from the safe corner inside the hidden temple as the ground shudders, icicles pierced from the cave ceiling and the crumbling rocks and boulders covered the daylight of the entrance, a midst of dust fogged across the air.
(cough. ..cough..) Maxi Kilik and Hwang fanned across the dusty midst that came from the rockslide blocking their entrance
"Nice yell you did, stupid kid!" Hwang poke Kilik right on his head. Kilik took his armas in a brisk move to hit back Hwang poking his head
"Stop It! You two it won't help!" Maxi yelled at Kilik holding off his fist as they went deeper into the temple
*+*+*+*+*
"What's that an earth quake?" Mina wondered, both of the crawled out form the small shallow concave wall , which they his themselves after the short quake.
"It came from outside.. "Xianghua said, her eyes studied the entire features of the underground them, Molds and green algae wrapped the whole surface of the atrium ceiling which were standing above them, some how there were ritual markings and images engraved high above them , Xianghua Try to look focusing her sight above her, it was too dark to the torch light to reveal it's image
"Chai.. come quick look at these!" Mina spotted something engraved to a small block below the pillar, it's like a monument. Xianghua sat beside her , and was surprised
"It's like and writing of something. ?" Mina said touching the scratching the moss covering the template of the engrave inscription
"Let's see.! It's Indian. but? I can read this?. The Emperor thought me how to read a few foreign inscription.." Xianghua started to clear the inscription as her finger pointed first from the top first.
"What does it says?" Mina asked with enthusiasm
"It says : H..ERE DWELLS. THE.. PATH OF THE OF THE LIGHT .EATEN WITH THE CURSE OF GREED FOR DARKNESS WILL RULE.." Xianghua paused
"This is creepy.. I think we shouldn't stay here.." She said
"Go on. Continue." Mina exclaimed ".. , HOLY WEAPON A.. CHALICE FOR THE GODS. TAKEN TO THE DEPTHS OF FIRE.. ...WILL SOON BE TAKEN TO US..WORSHIPPERS OF KUNPAETKU TEMPLE.MORTALS.WILL ROT THE SOIL.. FOR ALL ETERNITY OF TIME. Mina.. This is getting creepy!!!..." Xianghua paused.. cold shiver trickled to each of them.
"Let's get out of here." Mina said.. both of them looked at each other slowly. when they heard a deep growl of breath behind them. something humongous was standing behind them, when they notice a huge dark shadow form before them
"UH.. What is behind us?????" Mina's voice trembles, slowly the two ladies positioned to draw their weapons with their hand crawling to their sides..
(THWUMMM!) A huge axe slashed in between them.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
"Mina/Chai!" the men shout in unison, as they heard the girls shrieked in panic, quickly they dashed heading to the echoed cry of the ladies.
"They should have waited for us Damn't!"
suddenly spears and arrows flew before them, one of the spears slashed to Hwang's arm the almost caught him. Hwang rolled to the side and appeared the horde of hideous Reptiles, out numbering them. Hwang squeezed his wound as it bleed, his blood drip on the soil before them, , A lizardman dipped the tip of his blade on the spilled blood of his enemy and tasted it. Then howl with a sharp cry. as well as it's comrades.
"THEY'RE CARNIVORES!!!! NOW THEY THINK OF US AS THEIR PREY!" Maxi took a step back in between the two ,all together they armed their weapons in defense, amongst the horde of ferocious reptiles
"Yeah it's all your fault! Why don't you let them feed on the rest of your arm!" Kilik shouted at Hwang's face. Irritated by his blabbering Hwang pushed Kilik towards a reptile that made him lose balance. Good for Kilik he manage to dodge the lizard's blade ,and it triggered the attack. Then they wield their weapons, against the horde of lizards, in full flight, with quivering, and gallant openmind,
Maxi twiled and toss as playfully he whips his nunchakus from his oppents from each charging directions that took aim, he managed to take them off guard when each lose balance as he took aim at their weak stance. One, two three to four, each reptile recive smack down, with broken bones and stashed scaled skin, as their flesh tore apart, with each strong bouts. Kilik hovered and twirld his Kali yuga , as he maneuver each direction of his enemy, taking out a group of tens , one by one each he smite a strong thud of his rod, even plunging the blunt end of his weapon across each reptiles body, like piercing it with a stick, through it's chest , even brutally he hit his rod right through a reptile's eye.
Hwang slashed to every flesh of his attacker, chopping of to it's every part, limbs threw out from every dying his enemy, it was tens to twenties, without a decrease of energy, He plunge fearless to each of his attacker's body. Howl of cry taken to every slaughtered beast, Hwang leaped in every turn , Wielding and slashing to every scaled flesh, with untamed rage of hate ripping apart from torso separating from it's body, a hideous gore of battle, as he help taking out some other Lizard men fighting against his comrades especially each unaware attacks.
Blood splattered in each of their faces, even in disgust the rage of their attack kept them alive. " Their getting more and more each cry they call for others!" Hwang shouted
"The Girls! We must get to them!" Kilik kept fighting as he worried among his friends
"They wont stop, sooner, we can't hold them.. We must do something?!" Maxi shouted as he continued keeping himself uninjured from incoming enemies.
Hwang leaped above the horde of lizards and landed on a high boulder, this is when he notice the what kept the flame burning, a liquid
"ITS OIL!" Hwang quickly made his way down as he maintain his defense of some charging lizards against him and plunged into the flaming liquid
"Let's go! I Know how to kill them..To burn them alive!" Hwang warned his comrades.
Kilik and maxi quickly climbed up unto higher grounds, still lizards continued to chase after them, when they got to the top, Maxi and Kilik pushed a couple of large boulders as it fell of crushing a couple of climbing lizards behind them.
Hwang kicked off the small stone holding the flaming liquid from the side funnel as it poured and a stash of blaze showered above the horde of lizards as it burned them alive, a loud horde of cry echoed the flaming cave as the three men took off quickly to their rescue.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
"Xianghua look out!" Mina shouted revealin herself from the shadow of the large pillar she hid, herself. As the Large Golem went towards her. Instead of Xianghua evading the presnce of he giant , she went near to her enemy and threw a small stone hitting the nape of the Golem, to get his attention "Hey You overgrown! Bald Monkey!.. Come and get me!" Xianghua threw again a pebble at him , as Astaroth swung his gigantic axe Xianghua eventually lowered and rolled to her left evading his strong smack.
"Are you crazy!" Mina ran across the open field and leaped to a half broken pillar and jumped behind the golems back.
"FOOLISH MORTALS!' Astaroth growled as he try to shook off Mina from his back.
"Yeah this is what you get hitting on girls!" Mina stabbed the golem from his left shoulder with the blade of the scarlet thunder
"AAGHGHGHGHGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Astaroth cried with pain, Mina threw across the pavement of the shrine's center atrium , as she try to gain back her stance to evade the counter attack of the giant Golem. Xianghua slashed her sword to the Golem's knee, causing him to lose his balance.
"Mina!" Xianghua leaped from astaroth back as she trying to take out the scarlet thunder stuck into the golem's bleeding wound.
"Xianghua get off of him!" Mina screamed of fear as the astaroth began to stand , loosing Xianghua's Balance, Astaroth reached his back and grabbed her small body wioth his bare hands.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!" Xianghua struggled, it was all so sudden astaroth took a brisk pitch and threw xianghua tossing her into the mid air
"XIANGHUA!!!!!!!!!" Mina screamed. Xianghua's body was heading to hit towards a thick pillar, the speed of her weight was going to crush her bones to death, suddenly a Kilik leaped from the flight of rocks as his ascending body from a height of jump manage to block xianghua's body, Kilik grabbed her clutching her in his arms, so instead Xianghua hit the pillar , Kilik hit it but with a less impact.
"Kilik!!!!" Xianghua's Eyes was filled with tears. Kilik lost his energy from the impact caused him to feel weak from pain, Maxi pulled Kilik and Xianghua out from the collapsing pillar their bodies hit.
Meanwhile.
" MINA RUN!" Hwang shouted as the weakling body of mina crawled out of the golem's reach, while Hwang gave him a sudden kick from it's back to distract him, he manage to pull out the scarlet thunder from his back as Astaroth fell and threw it towards Mina's reach as she evade Astaroth's reach
"Get your filthy hands away from MY WOMAN!" Hwang yelled at the raging Golem.
Astaroth again swung his Mighty axe to and fro, Hwang jumped to side phases and rolled to avoid such dangerous aim, His speed manage him to cut a slash from astaroth's leg
"AAAGGGHHHH!!!! FOOLISH MORTALS!!!!! NO ONE WILL TAKE THE SLATE FROM ME!!!" Astaroth screamed from pain
"Slate?!" Mina caught the attention of the pillar * It was the slate he was referring?! * Mina dashed to the central pillar as it was collapsing she saw the Slate the golem was talking about " Yes It is a MAP!!" she was so surprised as it shows a detailed inscription of directions of a map engraved in a piece of the stone
"MINA GET OUT OF THERE!!" Maxi yelled and went to her. To pull her away from the crumbling post.
Injured Kilik took Xianghua heading towards the small tunnel " Kilik there that must be a way out!" Xianghua said to him to keep him on his knees as the go, Mina joined them so Maxi helped Hwang to defeat astaroth
Maxi threw his twirl nunchakus that hit astaroth directly towards his face, Astaroth growled blinding his sight as he randomly swiped his axe from side to side, just then Hwang took the oppurtuniy as he pierced unto his arm, and kicked him as he landed to the pool of water. Which caused the crumbling structure of the pool wall.
"Oh No!!!! Were going to get Drain down the tunnel!" Mina screamed. Then Kilik held closely Mina and Xianghua as the raging burts of water washed their bodies and carried it down to the tunnel
"AAAGGGHHHH!!!!" Kilik , xianghua and mina yelled
Quickly Maxi and Hwang swam into the current bringing their bodies into the depths of the tunnel.
" Kilik... Don't let Go... Of. The Girls!!!!" Maxi and Hwang yelled, while huffing for air to breath from the dashing current's impact as they saw Kilik was clutching them tight while the current wash them down the drain.
" Hold On .. Tight!!!!" Kilik Mumbled, Mina and Xianghua grasped tightly while catching a breath of air. The current was so fast, the weight of their bodies took them in a high velocity against the raging waves of the water.
It was painful. Each of them hit cave walls and try to avoid slate stones to very impact the current leads them right into..
" I can't Hold On!!!" Mina uttered as she sank into the water
"Mina!!!!..." creamed in fear. Quickly Hwang dive against the current struggling under the frighting speed of the water , he saw the sight of mina, her skirt got caught in a small spike of stone, hwang sawm towards her and took her in his arms.
Then they surface above the raging current"Mina!!.. MINA!!!! Wake up!" hwang patted her cheeks as she opens her eyes.
"AGGHHHHH!" Mina screamed as they saw an opening of light from a large hole.
They flew out, their bodies were falling in a height of a hundred feet from the sprout water hole that came out from the mountain, cascading to a height high above from a lake.
(SSSSSPLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH!)
Their bodies wham into the steady lake as the drove a flock of birds out of range!.
The five warriors swam to shore.
"WHEW!!!! THAT WAS REFRESHING!!!!!" Maxi laughed as he took of his shirt and squeezed the excess water, while catching his breathe. Kilik tossed his body on the side of the shore and Xianghua crawled out of his arms and sat across the small rock, sitting helpless tired and catching her breath.
Hwang crawled out from the water to the shore, as mina was the last one to surface out of the water. Catching her breath.
"Look what I found!" Mina turned to Hwang showing a stone slate she got
"MINA LOOK OUT! DON"T MOVE!!!" Xianghua screamed. Mina was standing near a tree which hung a large python. Mina looked over the direction all that she saw a Large fang mouth that was going to caught the very size of her head.
(SLASH!!!!!!)
"EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKK!" Mina shrieked. It was a close call. All that she caught in her hand was the be headed python and threw it into the groung with a horrifying disgust, as it's blood spilled over the garments of her clothing
Hwang managed to slash the head of the Large snake. Everyone was shocked with silence
Hwang Yelled at her in such anger!
"YOU ALMOST GOT KILLED! FOOLISH WOMAN"
"...." silence flew in the presence of them as Mina began to yell at him.
"I CAN TAKE IT OUT MYSELF AND DON'T CALL ME FOOLISH!"
"YEAH HOW?! YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT PREDATOR WAS ABOUT TO BITE YOUR HEAD OFF"
The others just watched the two yelling at each other , Maxi halted Kilik who was about to interrupt their quarrel, but it wasn't such a good idea.
"..." Mina paused thinking what to yell a him, her eyes were reddening with tears from hurt and embarrassment infront of the others, and the way Hwang was yelling at her.
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL AT ME!. IF THAT'S BOTHERING YOU FOR MY RESCUE."
"STUPID WOMAN!.. I'M TIRED OF YOUR STUBBORNESS.!"
"THEN DON'T HELP ME!.. I HAVE A NEW MAP OF MY OWN"
"SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. YOU CAN'T EVEN TAKE THE RISK OF SURVIVING.. EVEN NOW WE'RE JUST HALF WAY TO EUROPE!"
"DON'T GIVE ME COMMANDS!. I'M NOT ALONE"
.. Xianghua interrupted " Hwang don't be too hard on her.. we can do this together."
Mina stopped her "CHAI, YOU'RE NOT IN TO THESE.."
"YOU THINK YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!' Hwang was yelling at her furiously.
Mina's voice was trembling "SO DON'T COME TO MY RESCUE. DON'T FOLLOW ME.. FIRST I WAS WITH KILIK, WITH XIANGHUA THEN WITH MAXI. YOU'RE JUST TAGGING ALONG!'
"BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPIDITY I WAS DISMISSED ON THE FIELD TO FIND YOU.. THEN YOU SAY THAT TO MY FACE!"
"WHAT DO YOU CARE I DIDN'T WANT YOU FOLLOWING ME"
"YOU'RE SELFISH, YOU DIDN'T THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WILL BE WORRIED ABOUT YOU!"
Mina began to cry.. "WHAT DO YOU CARE ABOUT MY LIFE YOU RUINED IT. YOU TOOK MY FATHER'S LOVE AWAY FROM HER OWN DAUGHTER!"
"I WAS SWORN TO BRING YOU HOME..TO PROTECT YOU!"
"AND I DON'T NEED IT!"
"GOD DAMN'T MINA YOU'RE MY FIANCEE!"
Mina went to him then
(SLAP!)
It was all out from the hurt of her emotions as she slapped Hwang right into his face, with tears dripped across her cheeks. The shock of silence made the others too embarrassed to speak out.
Mina's tears flowed all over her face, flushing red face as she yelled right into his face.
"I.. DON'T NEED TO BE WITH YOU. IN FACT.I DON'T LOVE YOU!!!!!!" Mina cried as she ran far away , away from them, away from his sight.
" hwang." Xianghua began to approach him , but he didn't looked at them. he turned away, as he hid his face with the palm of his hand and slowly walked away.
"Chai don't..This is their fight.." Maxi stopped her.
"Com'n let's set for shelter here, before it gets dark" Kilik insisted with a low tone.
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Sadness clouded the presence of each and every one. Mina was sitting up on top of a small boulder , she remained silent, xianghua handed her some fruits she harvested that afternoon, but Mina didn't touched it, even looking at it.
Maxi was keeping the bon fire warm. Kilik remained silent he didn't bothered to ask. It would be too embarrassing since he has something for Mina, but it was to complicated, now they all knew, Mina is not Hwang's sister, They were to be married. Kilik avoided that thought since it's now clear to him that there's nothing he can do about it.
"Hey speak up you two!" Maxi waved his hand trying to get his attention from xianghua and Kilik staring into bliss.
"Were okay.Maxi I think you should talk to him." Kilik insisted
"With that kind of dramatic scene. it really kicked his ego." Maxi remarked looking over Hwang's direction who was sitting beneath the tree.
"Well.. this is to akward.. I guess I have to cheer him up. since I manage to keep this bottled bag around my belt all the time!" Maxi winked at him
"Yeah he needs a drink." Kilik smiled. And Maxi left them by the fire as he went to Hwang.
Kilik continue to roast the trout by the fire. He looked over Xianghua who was looking over the distant girl sitting beneath the moonlight.
Xianghua looked at him and he looked away "You Like Mina that much do you?" she asked
" You think , it's a good time asking questions like that." Kilik answered as he took another trout and clasp it into a wood stick to roast it by the fire.
"You do Care." Xianghua said and looked back into Mina's Direction
"Chai."
Xianghua turned to him.." Am I right?"
"My feelings for her. yup I DID care.. so much about her.. maybe because. I Admire how she believed she can do things.but.. know I know She loves Him that much."
"I'm not asking what she feels for you, I'm asking . you" Xianghua said shyly. Kilik smiled at her
"Of curse I love her. She's my friend."
"Friend..?"
"Yeah why?.. I felt this bond we have together. especially."
"Especially what??..."
"When ... I'm with you.." Kilik then looked at her with sincerity, Xianghua blushed.
"Uhm... I think You should go to her.. Right now she needs a friend.."
Xianghua stood up from her seat and then she stopped and kneeled infront of Kilik, She kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you..." then she left Kilik smiled.
+*+*+*+*+*+*
"Mina?.." Xianghua sat beside her..she was holding the slate of stone she held on her hand. Xianghua didn't botherd to ask, all she knew she has to drive away the sorrow from Mina's chest, so instead asking Xianghu looked over the slate she was holding
"Wow , where did you get that?!" Xianghua peaked behind her shoulders, she knew exactly whats sparks mina's interest to stop from crying.
"you're trying to cheer me up." Mina mumbled
"Silly!. Let me see that!" Xiangua took the slate on her hands. and lokked closely to every detail. It was a map alright, more like showing the details of middle Europe..
"Oh my.! Hmm. You know this shows a pathway of the voyage of old seekers of the soul edge..hmmm. we should go to Cyprus, from there .. we can ask for directions.. maybe Greece?"
"Huh? Can you tell.. ?"
"Of course!.. Actually.. We can leave together!!!. They don't know about this!" Xianghua whispered in her ear.
Mina smiled and brushed away the tears from her eyes. Xianghua smiled " Honestly , they're just slowing us down..I.. I can look after you.. And you can look after me too!" She exclaimed
"Really?" Somehow Mina hugged Xianghua with joy,she somehow was glad Mina got her lively spirit back, for all she knew.. They can all find it.
"Okay we leave by dawn. to Cyprus, well go to the next harbor. I'll just borrow money from Maxi you know! I'll ask it from Kilik, you know he can't resist me!" Xianghua winked at her, Mina smiled.
"You always make me smile!" She said
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
A/n Okay.. Hope yah like it...
Sorry for the disgusting details it's a bit violent.. just try to put more details into the fights..
Especially the WHAM SPLAT SWOOP THING! It's like I'm watching the old batman series ;) get it!
While I'm typing this I had earphones listening to Mp3, if you notice I'm a bit carried away because to the mp3 I'm listening. well it's okay 'it helped ..I hope so
So for the mean time R/R
FireStarr