The Lava Reef Zone: A smoldering underground volcanic cavern, with rivers of flowing magma, and never ending tunnels which make this Zone one of most difficult labyrinths to get through safely. Then, from out of one of the dark tunnels, came Vector, while wearing his shining bronze medieval armor, with scattered precious stones. His long, heavy sword rested in his sheath. He had been wandering through the Zone for at least an hour, with no luck in finding the next spirit. "Man! This is my luck. I've searched hi and low in this hot spot for I don't know how long, in a suit of armor that may look nice, but is too hard to walk in properly! All for some spirit that may not even be here in the first place!" However he continued on for he didn't feel like leaving the Zone without finding something that looked promising.
One hour later: "Jeez…Why couldn't I have been transported to the Casino Night Zone? I would've at least been able to win some moolah to pay off those piles of bills back home!" Vector started to feel a little weak. "Whew…Is it me? Or is this place a lot hotter than I remember it?" "That's because I've taken control of this area!" said a booming, ominous voice. "Hey! Who is that?" Vector questioned. The voice spoke again. "So, Jurik. You've dared to enter the Zone now inhabited by Delta Catalyst, have you?" Vector got excited. "Well if you're the spirit I've been searching for TWO HOURS for, then you better believe it!" "I see…" said Delta's voice. "I would've thought you have fainted from the extreme heat I've filled the Zone with by now! I'm actually impressed." Vector looked around but saw no one in sight. "How about you show yourself, gruesome! So that we can get down to business!" Delta's voice spoke again. "HA! It's not going to be that easy! You have to find me first!" "SAY WHAT?" Vector shouted. "What's up with that, pal? You too chicken to fight me or something?" "HA HA HA! You wish, foolish one. It just makes destroying you a whole lot more entertaining! I suggest you hurry up and find my chamber, for if you do not in exactly 30 minutes, I'll cause the volcano to erupt, finishing you just like that!" Vector stood in a daze. "You're…you're kidding, right?" "On the contrary. I'm dead serious." Delta answered. "However, I hope you succeed in locating my chamber. After all, when you die I want to see it for myself! The clock is ticking… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…." Delta's cackling slowly faded until there was silence once again. "Well you better be ready," Vector said to himself, "Because once I find you, I'll make you eat every single word you said!" Then he sweat dropped. "Wait! What am I doin' just standing here talking to myself? I GOTTA GET MOVIN'!" So Vector finally took off, and dashed into the tunnel where Delta's voice came from.
Vector dashed through the Zone as fast as he could in his heavy armor. Twenty minutes later, heentered a largetunnel, and found the opening to another area ahead. "HA! I'll be out of here in no time!" he thought. But as soon as he stepped out of the tunnel, "WHOA! What the?" Right in front of him, stood a giant robotic hand, which came crashing down to the ground! 'WHAM!' "Hey, what's up with THAT?" Delta's voice filled the room. "Oh, sorry. Did I forget to mention you had to get by my obstacle first? Well, better hurry. Only ten minutes left…" His voice faded away. Vector got out his sword. "Alright! Comin' at ya, lefty!" Vector took a swipe at the hand's wrist area, but when he made contact, all it did was cause him to vibrate violently. "Wha-wha-wha-wha-wha-wha" Eventually, he stopped. "Note to self: That was stupid." The hand was getting ready to slap again. Before Vector could react, it hit the ground causing a shock wave! "WHOA!" Vector fell to the ground. Before he could get back up, the hand's fingers, opened like hatch doors, revealing the missiles inside them! "Oh crud…" was all Vector had time to say, as the missiles fired around the area he stood. He became surrounded by multiple explosions! 'BOOM!' 'BAM!' 'KABOOM!'
Vector recovered, but appeared very shook up from the blasts. And angry, too! "That's it! Now I'm mad! Mess with this croc, will ya?" He held his sword out in front of him, as crystal pieces began to form from the sword's blade. "STORM OF SHARDS!" The crystals fired directly at the hand's metal hull, exploding on contact. 'BOOM!' 'BAM!' 'KABOOM!' When the smoke from the blasts cleared, an opening in the metal revealed the circuitry underneath it! "Hey! A weak spot!" Vector noticed. "ELECTRIC SLASH!" He swiped his sword, and an electrical bolt flew from his blade, into the hole in the metal. The extra energy caused the hand to short circuit, and I'm sure you all know what that means: Overload! 'KZZZZZZT!' 'KZZZZZZZT!' And the hand fell to the ground with one final 'WHAM!'
"Well, that was a waist big waste of time!" Vector complained. "I bet I hardly have any time left to get outta here." "You're right!" Delta spoke again. "Five minutes and counting…" Vector took off again, running as fast as he could. Passing through the endless tunnels, jumping across the rivers of lava, and avoiding booby trap flamethrowers. Until finally, "I see it! The last chamber in the Zone!" Vector finally reached the end of the trail. It was a large cavern room, with a large lava lake right in the center. Delta's voice reappeared. "Congratulations, Jurik. You felt right into my trap!" Vector was actually surprised to here that. "WHAT? Aw, come on! What did I do this time?" "You just made it easier for me to kill you!" Delta began. "Instead of making myself search the entire Zone for you, I simply brought you here to me instead with my threat!" Now Vector was mad. "So you were never going to erupt the volcano in the first place?" "Bingo! After all, it's time I showed myself so you can see the face of your executioner!"
The center of the lava lake began to boil, as the chamber became increasingly warmer. Suddenly, the lava erupted like a geyser, spewing everywhere. And flames began to appear at the surface. The flames then changed shape, and formed the head and long neck of a dragon! That's right. Delta Catalyst was a dragon made entirely out of fire! His neck stuck out above the surface of the lava, and his eyes looked directly at Vector, who was a bit shook up about the true form of his opponent. "Homina homina homina homina homina…" But he remembered that he had a job to do, and would let nothing stand in his way! So he snapped out of his daze, and whipped out his sword. "Well, I believe it's time I pay you back for this wild chase you put me through! SO, (can't believe I'm gonna say this) HAVE AT THEE, FOWL DEMON!"
Delta's only response was a loud 'ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRR'. Vector pointed his sword right at him. "STORM OF SHARDS!" A barrage of crystals flew right at Delta. But unfortunately, the all melted when they made contact. Vector sweat dropped. "Oh…right…He's made of fire…" Delta took this moment to show off his fiery breath! 'FWA-VOOOSH!' "WHOA BABY!" Vector ducked to avoid the flames just in time. "Watch it, hot stuff! Whatcha tryin' to do? Barbeque me?" Delta cackled. "I GUESS YOU CAN SAY THAT, YES!" 'FWA-VOOOSH!' Vector ran around Delta toward the other side of the lake. "He's got to have a weak spot somewhere!" he said to himself. Delta continued to spit fire along his path, hoping that at least ONE shot will strike. Vector stopped to try to attack again, but he couldn't react in time. And Delta shot fire again at his target, with a direct hit! "AAAAAAGGGGHHH!"
Vector fell to the ground. He felt like he had lost almost all of his energy. His armor was damaged from the flame's direct hit. "Awww, tired out already, Jurik? You disappoint me!" Delta said in his deep roaring voice. "However I shouldn't complain. Two of my brethren have already failed us, so I will finally succeed in destroying one of you cursed warriors!" Vector looked up, and watched as Delta's dragon mouth began to open wide, as red light slowly began to form inside of him. "Great…he's powering up for the final blow…now what can I do? My attacks are useless, and I can barely defend myself….-Wait! Defend! That's it!" But Delta had already powered up enough. "SAY GOODBYE, REBEL!" he then unleashed a large burst of fiery breath! "PYRO TORRENT!"
Vector disappeared within the blaze of flames! Almost the entire chamber was swallowed by the gigantic inferno! Until a few seconds after the attack, the flames began to disperse. Delta was about to praise his victory. He roared loudly. "HA! Jurik has fallen! Now I can aid my brethren in the destruction of the rest of them!" But just then, "I don't think so, Draco!" "WHAT!" Delta turned around, and saw Vector still standing, surrounded by a blue colored barrier! "IT CAN'T BE! HOW! HOW DID YOU SURVIVE!" Vector explained. "It's simple, actually! I just remembered Necronos telling me what the old Jurik's special ability was: to take whatever strength I had left, and make it an impenetrable force field!" Vector held his sword out in front of him again. The blade was slowly being surrounded by electric bolts! "And now for my favorite part of a battle: the good guy's finishing move!" "NOOOOO!" Delta had no way to defend himself. He used up all of his energy in his last attack! "ELECTRON JOUST!" A swarming stream of electric bolts fired form Vector's blade, and encircled Delta, until he was trapped within! And he blew up in one last combustion! "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Soon, the smoke cleared, and the dust had settled. Vector was so relieved that he actually won. "BOOYA! This croc made out on top, baby! YEAH!" He was about to congratulate himself more, until he noticed something shining in the center of the chamber. A blue jewel shard. "Well, now. What have we here?" he wondered. Then out of nowhere, Rouge flew in and snatched the shard! "HEY!" "I'll take this, if you don't mind!" "Hey! I found it first! Give it here, sister!" "Nah. I think I'll just hang on to it for a while." Then Espio walked in. "Rooouge… Give it back." She sighed in disappointment, but did as she was told. "Killjoy." she mumbled to herself. "Come on, Vector!" Espio said. "It's time you joined us in looking for the others!" "Oh right! They might need out help! Lets move out, people!"
Three spirits defeated, four remaining…Til next time, folks! RR