Finally updated. Sorry for the hold up. Here is chapter two.
Disclaimer: I don't own the franchise. I only own the game:Wild Arms Alter Code F. So, don't sue, please.
The Sonic Blade Treasure Hunter
In the inside of an old ruins, a blonde man whose hair is tied backing a green ribbon, wearing a black shirt, brown trench coat, blue jeans, a brown leather belt and on his left side was a sheathed sword with a small blue on his right shoulder entered the ruins. At the entrance, the two saw the inside.
"This… These are the Ruins of Memory! How much money did you pay for the information on THIS dump?" asked the Human-language-speaking mouse.
"Huh, what Hanpan? Do you know this place!" asked the Treasure Hunter, curiously.
"I can't believe that you don't! These ruins are rather famous… You believed someone's lie… again." scolded Hanpan.
The treasure hunter stared at Hanpan, before holding out his arm, allowing Hanpan to hop out onto it. He moved Hanpan closer and gave him a small glare.
"Shut up! My gut is telling me that something good will come from this place." replied the treasure hunter.
"Huh… Since I'm obviously the intellectual one, I don't share your optimism. A better name for this place would be "the previously looted ruins of the dead". Maybe then you wouldn't have been fooled. Even IF there is some treasure, I bet its total junk. I do not think you can find anything worth the money you paid." said Hanpan, holding out his arm to his companion.
"If you feel that way, don't come with me." The Treasure Hunter joked.
"Ohh don't be so stubborn. You know that you'll need my help!" replied Hanpan. He then hopped back onto his partner's shoulders.
"Oh well. At any rate, we came this far! We should at least check it out. We might even find a clue about Absolute Power." Said the Treasure Hunter, excitedly.
With that, the treasure hunting duo explored the inside of the ruins. The room that they entered was old with two doors at each side, a stair that went down and at the center, a strange, stone like machine with a glass screen and some buttons. In other words, a computer. The duo walked over to the computer. The treasure hunter examined the machine, stroking his chin while leaning over it.
"Hey, Hanpan. What's this?" asked the treasure hunter. He reached down to touch the console, but Hanpan ran instantly down his arm and stood in front of his partner.
"No! Don't! Stop! Don't touch it!" said Hanpan, scolding his partner in the process.
"Why not?"
"Because you might break something, like always." replied Hanpan.
"Hey." retorted the treasure hunter.
"Well, let me handle it…"
His partner shrugged. "…this should be treated, well… like this…"
Hanpan hopped around the buttons on the console six times. The console was activated, its screen showing a cryptic message.
"What the hell does it say?" the Treasure Hunter asked.
"It says ( If you are the successor of memory, enter the correct descendant's name and the way will be opened…)." Hanpan explained.
The duo exchange looks at the meaning of the message. The Treasure Hunter scratched his head, not understanding the message, while Hanpan studied the message more carefully.
"Hmm, interesting…"
"What is it? Do you know what it says?" the Treasure Hunter asked.
"It's asking us to enter a name." Hanpan answered.
"Well, a name is an important thing." The Treasure Hunter remarked.
Hanpan nodded in agreement at his partner's remark. "Yes, yes. That is very true."
"So do you know the name, "intellectual" one?" the Treasure Hunter asked sarcastically, putting an emphasis on intellectual.
"Don't you get smart with me! I don't know it!" Hanpan hissed. "After all, if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be even be here in the first place, so be grateful!" he added with a glare.
His partner raised his hands in surrender. "You're right, you're right. I'm really sorry." He said with an apologetic look on his face.
"All right. I'll forgive you this time." Hanpan replied.
"Well then let's try…"
"You're thinking of something. You have that smirk that get's us into trouble every time" Hanpan stated.
"Let's enter my name." the Treasure Hunter said, ignoring Hanpan's statement. The Treasure Hunter typed his name on the console. "J-a-c-k. Jack."
The console made a thorough search on the name. After a few minutes, the answer appeared on the screen.
"No name matches." The device responded.
Surprisingly, Jack shrugged, despite the failure. "Well, I didn't really expect it to work…"
"What the hell do you mean?" Hanpan asked with an incredulous look.
"What I mean is that since I did not expect my name could be the password, I don't feel vexed." Jack explained.
Hanpan glared at Jack, apparently not believing him. "…Liar. You thought there was a chance."
Before Jack could think of a comeback, an earthquake suddenly appeared, shaking the whole ruins. Jack barely kept his balance, while Hanpan almost fell to the floor. After a moment, the earthquake left the same way it came.
"An earthquake? You must be kidding!" Jack said before cursing loudly.
"Let's get out of here before another one starts." Hanpan said, cautiously.
Jack nodded in agreement. Hanpan quickly hopped onto Jack's shoulder. But, before they got a chance to leave, a smaller earthquake came. Jack stumbled backwards when suddenly; the floor falls out beneath him. The duo fell until they landed in a room with one door.
"What the hell?" Jack screamed. "What just happened? Where are we?"
"Apparently, the earthquake activated the security system, which we happened to fall through." Hanpan replied.
"Hey! How was I supposed to know it was rigged?"
"That is exactly the problem. You don't think." Hanpan scolded. "And that's why were in this situation in the first place."
"Calm down, Hanpan. I'll get us out of here." Jack said with a cocky tone. "I mean, come on. Do you know who I am?"
"I don't know. Why don't you please tell me who you are? Hanpan asked wrily.
"I'm Jack Van Burace. A tireless treasure hunter, master of the sword. I'm the one they call the Sonic Blade and mastered the Fast Draw. But, then again a blue rodent like you wouldn't understand swordsmanship."
"First of all, I'm a wind mouse, not an ordinary rodent." Hanpan replied. "Second of all, why would I need a blade for? My weapon is knowledge. The one thing that your head needs." He added jokingly.
"Yeah! But, your attitude is a fly the ointment." Jack retorted.
"What did you say?" Hanpan asked, glaring at Jack.
"Whatever." Jack shrugged. "Let's just find the exit."
With a nod from Hanpan, the duo walked through a door that was in front of them. They appeared in a hallway. Jack took a peek to the left. He took a look at Hanpan, who nodded, then felt a vibration. In an instant, Jack saw a large boulder heading his way. Horrified, he ran to his right and dashed down the hallway.
"Damn! That boulder's following us!"
"Yeah! But, you know what they say," Jack commented. "Whatever danger awaits us; Treasure Hunters like us live for danger and thrive at exploring ancient ruins."
Jack eventually saw a pathway, which was open. Unlike the last two he just passed. He threw himself into it, landing on the ground. Jack took a few minutes to regain his breath and pushed himself back to his feet. He stared at Hanpan, still from shock when suddenly; the floor began dropping out from under him. Jack started running with all his might. Before he could get to safe ground, the floor below him began to give in to his weight. Out of desperation, Jack ran and threw himself to the floor. He grabbed a ledge made up of the floor that wasn't rigged and was hanging by his hands.
"Hanpan! I could use a little help here!"
"Why? I thought you thrived on danger?" Hanpan asked, wryly.
"You little piece of-" Jack said with a menacing glare.
"All right. I'll help you."
Grabbing Jack's hand, the wind mouse pulled with all his might. Jack also pulled himself up and with his partner's help, he got to his feet.
"I can't believe we're risking our lives for something useless like power!" Hanpan complained.
"Useless! The treasure that I seek is a power which rises above all existence…" Jack replied.
"Let me guess. I know where this is going." Hanpan said, rolling his eyes.
"Damn straight," Jack said grinning, "I'm looking for Absolute Power."
"Figures!"
"I wonder where is it located?" Jack said, daydreaming. "Is it a Dark Sword or a sealed magical power? I can't wait to find out!"
"Are you saying that you're going to keep searching earnestly, unaware of what it is?" Hanpan asked.
"Of course. You think I'd go through hell just for the fun of it!" Jack said, grinning.
The duo kept walking for about an hour. But, to them felt like days before they reached a hallway. There was nothing in the hallway. A fact that made Jack shiver.
"My gut's telling me this hallway has traps written all over it."
"This is one of those times that I hope your gut is right." Hanpan replied.
Jack walked forward with great caution, expecting a trap. A few moments later, ha placed a foot in the hallway and took it out in an instant as two spear appeared, almost impaling his left foot.
"Figures whoever built this place would put spears." Jack mused. "Get ready, Hanpan!"
Hanpan nodded in agreement before Jack started running. As the first pair of spears attempted to impale him, his right hand unsheathed his sword and with unimaginable speed, struck the two spears and the rest of them as he ran through the trap. After hitting the last pair of spears, Jack sheathed his sword and stopped for a breather. Only to see the walls were now closing in on him. He ran yet again for his life. After a while, Jack made it to a room.
"While I dream of power, I also dodge in these ancient ruins." Jack mused. However, the ground collapsed below Jack in the room he was in, and fell to yet another location. This time a place where there was a pedestal standing in the middle surrounded by four deactivated crystals on top of four pillars. Over the pedestal, there was a piece of rock which Jack decided to examine.
"This stone pillar looks dubious. What do you think of it?"
"It does seem a bit suspicious." Hanpan replied.
"Yeah… A device somewhere might make it work…" Jack said.
"Yes, but, what could it be?" Hanpan wondered.
"Maybe the stones in the corner?" Jack suggested.
Hanpan stared at the stones and sadly shrugged. Jack walked out of the room and entered a new one. The inside was cross-shaped with holes in the floor. But, right in front of Jack was a treasure chest.
"Figures… The center floor is trapped with spikes." Jack replied. He sprinted to the other side, avoiding the floor spikes. Jack knelt down near the chest and opened it, only to find it empty.
"The hell! This stupid thing is empty!" Hanpan rolled his eyes at Jack's complaint.
"Of course, it's empty! This place was previously looted!" Hanpan said. Jack ignored Hanpan and turned to see a note in the wall. Jack read the note and punched the wall, cursing loudly from the pain in his hand.
"What did it say?" Hanpan asked sarcastically.
"It said that whoever wrote this took the treasure and was laughing at anyone who took a peek!" Jack scowled. "Stupid little SOB!"
"Hey!" Jack turned to look at Hanpan. "If we want to keep going, I suggest you press the switch on your right."
Jack stared at Hanpan for a moment and ran to the switch, avoiding the trap. He stepped on it and saw a door open at the wall on the other side of the room. Jack waited for the trap to reset and sprinted for the door.
The room that the duo entered was, in a way, strange. The room has some stairs that ended in a gap with a pillar in the middle and a small ledge with a switch at the other side. Jack looked at his right and saw a closed door with a ledge at its right.
"Wait! I can hop over that gap to press the switch." Hanpan grinned mischievously. "Even with your long legs, I don't think you would make it."
For once, Jack didn't complain. He just held out his hand, carrying Hanpan and placed it close to the floor. In a flash, Hanpan jumped from Jack's hand and ran, easily jumping the pillar to the switch and stood on it. Jack heard the familiar sound of the door opening, while Hanpan ran back to Jack, who responded by picking him up. The duo walked to the nearby alcove and jumped down, going through the door.
The first thing the duo saw was a couple of strange creatures. They were spherical with many faces around its body, gaseous with the color of dark, blood red in its body, through its eyes and open mouth; anyone could see a strange, yellow substance. "Damn it! Balloons!" Jack screamed as he removed his sheathed sword from his belt and got into a battle stance.
The first Balloon attacked by opening its mouth and exhaled at Jack, the yellow substance seemingly ready to burst out. Jack dodged to the left, only to narrowly escape the second Balloon's attack. He launched a horizontal slash against the second Balloon, exploding into nothing. The first Balloon took advantage of its opponent's distraction and attacked. But, Jack saw it coming a mile away and jumped to the right. The Balloon's attack hit the wall and after a while it closed its mouth, leaving the wall practically eroded. Jack cringed at the sight of the wall, caused by the Balloon's Painful Infection. The monster just wandered, not noticing Jack his sheathed sword into its round body and exploded into dust.
"Good thing I had my sheath made to be as sharp as my sword." Jack mused. "Otherwise, we wouldn't be here."
"Why did you do that anyway?" Hanpan asked incredulously. "Especially when you have a good sword that you almost never use!"
Jack gave his partner a glare that told him not to ask questions. Hanpan shivered and kept quiet, knowing to keep his mouth shut. The room had an arch in the middle. Something that Jack found very strange. Shrugging, Jack sprinted across the arch, avoiding the guillotine that fell down behind him. Noticing some stairs, Jack climbed to a small corner with a yellow treasure chest.
"Not these chests again!" Jack rolled his eyes. "Hanpan! You know what to do."
With a nod from Hanpan, Jack placed him close to the floor. The wind mouse dashed from Jack's hand to the chest, retrieved the contents and dashed back to Jack's hand before the chest exploded. Jack gave Hanpan a curious look.
"What was inside?" Hanpan gave Jack a small, red berry. "Heal Berry. Nice!" Pocketing it, the duo left the room.
Inside this room was a crystal pyramid similar to the ones on the main room on his left and some stairs at his right with some boxes and the door at the top. Jack walked to the door and checked it for a while, the walked to the crystal.
"You think this thing opens the door?" Jack asked. "If so, how do you activate it?"
"Aren't you a genius?" Hanpan remarked sarcastically. "How long did it take you to think of that? Three days?"
"Ha ha ha! That's real funny!" Jack rolled his eyes. "So 'intellectual one'. Do you know a way to activate it?"
"Try using the boxes." Was Hanpan's answer. "Throw one at the crystal and pray to the Guardians that it isn't a trap."
Jack picked up a box that was behind him and threw it at the crystal. The crystal shone upon the impact from the box and the door opened. They found themselves on a ledge. Ahead, they saw spike traps on the side and a clear way to the door. Jack jumped down the ledge and walked to the door. Halfway there, he saw a chest at his left surrounded by spikes.
"Let's see! I could run and grab the contents, getting hurt or killed in the process." Jack said before staring at Hanpan. "Or I could use him!"
"Don't even think about it!" Hanpan reprimanded.
"Come on. You have a better chance of avoiding injury than I do." Jack's expression changed to sadness. "After everything we went through, please help me!"
Hanpan rolled his eyes. "Fine, but there was no need for the dramatics."
Hanpan dashed to the chest, opened it, removed its contents and returned to Jack, doing all of that before the spikes shot up. Jack stared at Hanpan, the wind mouse placing two gold, beetle-shaped figures in his hand. "Gella Cards" Was all Jack said before pocketing the items and leaving the room.
This room was similar to the one with the pillar in the middle except it had three boxes and instead of a ledge with a switch; it had a crystal on top of the pillar. Jack groaned out of frustration.
"Great! Now I have to throw one of these stupid boxes right at that crystal and I only have three strikes! If I miss, I'm out!"
"Look on the bright side." Hanpan said assuring Jack. "It can't get any worse than this."
A shriek was then heard. Jack glared at Hanpan, who only shrugged. As the shriek got louder, the more cautious Jack got with his sheathed sword on his left hand and taking a defensive stance, preparing to guard against any surprise attack. The cause of the shriek finally appeared, attempting to strike Jack, who saw the attack and dodged it. Jack took a look at the monster. It was a winged creature with red eyes, black-grey feathers and a long, dark-yellow beak.
"An Aipeloss." Hanpan frowned. "They can peck their prey and diminish Force Power. Be careful!"
Jack nodded, preparing himself. He began an attack with an upward slash and hit the bird in its wing. The Aipeloss retaliated with a peck from its beak that struck Jack in his right shoulder. Jack attempted a counterattack, but the Aipeloss flew to the left and pecked at Jack's left thigh. Jack decided he had enough and began focusing on his right arm. However, the Aipeloss didn't give him a chance, as it exhaled a gas that drained the blue glow from Jack, who stopped focusing. The treasure hunter placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword and focused. Jack then jumped up, drawing his sword in the process, and launched a downward cleave at the Aipeloss. His attack enhanced by the friction in gravity, cut the monster in half and destroyed a box in the process. Jack sheathed his blade, the battle having ended the same way it began. Jack's injuries healed, but also collapsed due to VIT usage.
"That bird got what was coming to it!" Jack said in a cocky tone. "A Speed Fang slicing it to bits."
"Does the term 'overkill' mean anything to you?" Hanpan replied in a disgusted tone. "We could have done without the blood bath, you know?"
Jack lazily waved his hand to change the subject. "Why don't we throw a box to activate the crystal?"
"Well then! You better make it count!" To prove his point, Hanpan pointed his finger at the boxes. Remains would be the more appropriate word, for only the middle box remained intact, while the left box was destroyed by Jack's Speed Fang and the right box by the impact caused by the corpse of the Aipeloss. Jack's groan changed into a grin when he took a closer look at the remains. On the left side was a bright orange fruit. On the right was the familiar Heal Berry.
"A Heal Berry and a Revive Fruit! This must be my lucky day!"
Hanpan rolled his eyes. "If this was your lucky day, we wouldn't be here in the first place."
Jack chose to ignore Hanpan's comment and picked up the remaining box. He went down the stairs and threw the box, activating the crystal and opening the door in the process. Jack walked to the north ledge, jumped down and left the room.
This room featured another guillotine. Jack groaned, frustrated at seeing the familiar trap. He climbed the nearby stairs to see another yellow chest. Jack placed his hand down, allowing Hanpan to obtain the contents and returned to Jack. Hanpan dropped a small, silver coin in Jack's hand. The latter's eyes grew wide at the treasure. "Gimel Coin." Was Hanpan's answer before Jack pocketed it. He went back down the stairs and ran past the guillotine, but came at an abruptly stop before a spike trap, which nearly impaled him. Jack stood in shock for a moment before regaining his breath and leaving the room.
The room was different from the rest. Jack saw two switches in the room. One surrounded by spike traps and another at the top of the stairs. The treasure hunter climbed the stairs and found a note on the left wall. Jack read the note and laughed hysterically. Hanpan had a worried look on his face.
"What's so funny!"
"That whoever wrote this note tried to pass the spikes and almost got skewered." Jack replied with a grin. "It also mentioned how to open the door."
"Oh, really?" Hanpan asked sarcastically. "Like I didn't know that you have to stand on the switch, right?"
"Did you know that we need to press the switches simultaneously?" Jack asked in a superior tone. "Or did you forget that I'm not fast enough to press both?"
Hanpan glared at Jack. "What do you suggest we do, then?"
"I'll stand on the switch on top of the stairs while you run down to the one in the middle of the spikes." Jack held a hand in the air. "Look, you have a better chance there than me. It'll be quick."
Hanpan nodded in agreement. Jack stepped over the switch, placed his hand down and Hanpan went to work. The blue wind mouse dashed to the other one and stood in it. Both switches were activated and the door opened. Hanpan dashed back to Jack's hand. The treasure hunter silently picked up his partner and left the room.
The next room took the duo by surprise. They were on a balcony overlooking the first room they entered. Jack groaned out of the irony of the situation.
"We've been going in circles." Jack complained.
Hanpan rolled his eyes. "Don't complain. Let's just get out of here."
Jack nodded in approval. The treasure hunter picked up a box and threw it at the crystal, the door opening in the process. The duo left the room.
Jack and Hanpan found themselves back in the main room. Jack's eyes grew wide and grinned, realizing how to activate the crystals on top of the pillars.
"There are some boxes right in front of you, if you need them." Hanpan said, helpfully.
Jack looked to the right. "Let's go see what's in that door first."
Jack went to the room on the right and found himself in the second guillotine room. Jack saw another yellow chest and retrieved the contents with Hanpan's help. Pocketing the Heal Berry, the duo returned to the main room. Jack walked to the boxes, picked one up and threw it at the lower-left crystal. It shone from the impact. Jack repeated the process at the upper-left one. Jack crossed a bridge he saw and left the room, much to Hanpan's dismay.
The duo found themselves back in the first guillotine room, unsurprisingly. With Hanpan's help, Jack retrieved the contents of the yellow chest. Hanpan dropped the contents, round, yellow coins that were bigger than the Gimel Coin.
Jack whistled. "200 Gella! What are the chances of that?"
Hanpan nodded in agreement while Jack pocketed the currency and left the room. Back in the main room, Jack went through the same process for the switches on the right. Both switches shone causing the stone pillar in the middle to resonate and disappeared, a teleport crystal in its place. Jack jumped down and in an instant rolled to the left. An Aipeloss suddenly appeared and missed its target. Jack looked at the monster and noted it had company in the form of two Balloons. Jack gripped his sword, focused and launched a Speed Fang at the Aipeloss, killing it instantly. One of the Balloons attacked Jack with its Painful Infection while the other one just wandered. Jack avoided the first one and killed the second one with an upward cleave from his sheathed sword. The Balloon that survived stood in shock after seeing its partner getting killed, only to end up dead itself by Jack's stab. Hanpan wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Was that really necessary?"
"Damn straight!" Jack said grinning. "Now let's get out of here!"
The duo walked to the crystal, avoiding the spike traps in the process. When Jack got close to the crystal, he went into a battle stance, sensing a presence.
"Is this a reward for releasing the trap!" Hanpan frowned. "This is the worst reward I've ever seen."
"Don't complain, partner. Life is often like this…"Jack commented. "Let's get done with it quickly."
Hanpan sighed in defeat. "Very well. Keeper of the ruins, come out!"
A flash of light blinded Jack for a moment before it dispersed. A strange creature appeared where the light was. It was a huge spider covered in yellow and black stripes except the head which had four, red eyes. It shrieked at Jack, bending its six legs. Hanpan stood in shock at the sight of the creature.
"Atlachnacha!" Hanpan said out of shock. "Also known as Widow Keeper! Be careful of its bite!"
Jack nodded his thanks to Hanpan and began the attack. Jack began with a horizontal slash on the Atlachnacha. The attack made contact, opening a cut on the creature's side. It shrieked in pain before countering Jack's attack with launching a strand of webbing at Jack. Jack found himself struggling to move while the creature ran at Jack, opened its jaw and began gnawing at his left leg. Jack grimaced in pain and gave a retaliate slash at the creature. The attack hit the creature in one of its leg and severed it. The Atlachnacha shrieked out of anger that its prey wouldn't give up and launched another Captured Web at Jack. Jack found himself almost unable to move, falling victim to the creature's Hunt for Food, this time his waist being the target.
"What the hell?" Jack cursed before continuing. "What's with this thing, Hanpan?"
"It uses its web when threatened by an attack and it feeds on anything that its web catches." Hanpan explained. "Anything else?"
"Yeah, how do you avoid that web?" Jack said, attempting to cut himself out. "And could you please distract it?"
"First, the web has a range of six feet and you'd need a way to hit it from long distance." Hanpan frowned. "Second, no I won't, but you could push it into the spike traps."
Jack smirked, remembering that Hanpan was afraid of spiders. Jack gave another slash at the creature, but instead of waiting for its attack, Jack suddenly gave it a push right into the spike, surprising the creature. It shrieked in pain as the spikes impaled its legs and certain parts of its body while Hanpan took out a Heal Berry and fed it to Jack. Having been healed, Jack raised his right hand and began to focus. His body was covered in a blue aura before being transferred to his right hand. Jack placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword and prepared to use his Speed Fang. By that time, the creature had recovered from the spike traps and began charging at Jack. At that moment, Jack launched his Speed Fang, but instead of jumping straight at the Atlachnacha and cleaving it in half, Jack jumped straight up in the air and with unimaginable speed sent a wave of energy at the creature. The Accelerator-enhanced
Speed Fang struck the creature with full force. It shrieked in pain and anger, unable to use its Captured Web against the treasure hunter. The creature suddenly moved with an amazing speed straight at Jack's left arm and attacked with its Hunt for Food. Jack screamed in pain as his left arm was being chewed away. The Atlachnacha mysteriously stopped chewing Jack and shrieked in pain. It turned its attention to Hanpan, who had just bitten its leg and began chasing him. The wind mouse began to sprint in different directions with the creature on his tail. Jack took advantage of the distraction and began to use his Force Ability again. However, suddenly devised a plan in his head and grinned. Hanpan kept running as fast as he could, buying time for Jack to use his Accelerator-Speed Fang combo. Distracted by his thoughts, Hanpan unknowingly got himself trapped in a corner. Hanpan shivered, feeling the creature's disgusting breath in his back. The Atlachnacha prepared to attack Hanpan, only to hear a battle cry from right behind it. Turning, it saw the treasure hunter move with amazing speed to the creature's side. The Atlachnacha turned and stared at Jack. This was the last thing it ever did for Jack launched his Accelerated Speed Fang at the creature. The wave of energy at close proximity and force sliced it in half before its remains explode into dust. Jack grimaced in pain before a strange energy erupted from the explosion and healed his wounds. Jack stared at Hanpan, who had a terrified look in his face.
"I hope to never pull something so dangerous ever again."
"I know, Hanpan. Me too!" Jack said, assuring Hanpan. "By the way, did you do what I asked you to do?"
Hanpan nodded. "Yes, I used the Lucky Card on you and the Gella Card on the Widow Keeper."
Jack grinned. "Great! Now let's get out of here!"
Hanpan nodded in agreement. Jack walked to the teleport crystal, touched it and in a flash, the two were teleported out of the room.
The room they teleported to was suspicious. Inside were a machine and a large, green circular area. Jack stared at Hanpan, who pointed the machine. With a nod, Jack walked to the machine and examined it first. Jack grinned out of excitement.
"Let's see what this thing does." Jack began to tap a bunch of buttons on the machine.
"… … …" After a while, Hanpan felt annoyed at Jack's immaturity. "Stop! Don't touch anything."
"Why? I'm just trying to find out any information about Absolute Power." Jack replied.
"The problem is you're not acting like a man of your own age." Hanpan scolded. "You need to start acting like an adult instead of a child."
"Huh? You complain too much." Jack commented.
"That is because you barely act your own age."
"Didn't you know? Acting like a child is the secret of youth!" Jack retorted.
Jack stopped touching the panel, gave it a kick which earned complaints from Hanpan and a rumbling noise sounds. The green cylinder in the middle starts to light up, blinding Jack and Hanpan. A moment later, a hologram of an old man appears. He appeared to have long, furred ears, wearing a green robe with the hat to match and a cane to help him walk. Jack was startled at the sight.
"Hanpan! The person in charge of this ruin is coming!"
"Huh! That's an Elw…" Hanpan mused. "I don't remember the last time I saw one."
"What…?" Jack asked, confused. "Hanpan, what's an 'Elw'?"
Hanpan rolled his eyes. "Have you been sleeping through my explanations again?"
"Hey, I take that offensively." Jack retorted.
"All right, fine. I'll explain one more time." Hanpan stared at Jack before explaining. "The Elw are a human subspecies who existed in Filgaia long ago."
Jack nodded at Hanpan to continue. "They were a race steeped in nature that praised the Guardians and superior to other races in wisdom and magic…"
"I get it. So you're saying they were capable of many wondrous things?" Jack asked in wonder.
"Yes! That's exactly what I am saying!" Hanpan smiled. "Of course, it's no surprise this ruin was built by Elw."
Jack grinned. "So that old man's an Elw, huh?"
Hanpan corrected Jack. "No… This is just an image of an Elw that's being projected by their technology."
"Then explain what this green cylinder thing does?" Jack asked, wanting to get straight to the point.
"This must be an Elw era machine used to transmit information." Hanpan explained.
"What would we need useless information for?" Jack complained.
"Shut up!" Hanpan reprimanded Jack. "They can leave anything to the ages if they leave it in the form of information!"
"I still don't get what they were hiding here." Hnapan's laughter interrupted Jack's musing. "What's so funny?"
Hanpan calmed himself down before explaining. "I see… That's a nice trick to call this place 'Ruins of Memory'."
Before Jack could think of a comeback, he suddenly grasped his head, as if he was in pain and the same could be said about Hanpan. The pain was instantly subsided, as if it was never there. The Elw hologram began speaking, but his mouth wasn't moving.
"You who has come to this temple of memory. I bid you welcome. I am Fulcani."
Jack looked amazed at the hologram. "…! Hey, the Elw elder s just said something… No, the voice is speaking inside my head!"
"I see! Mental communication! Very interesting!" Hanpan explained.
The hologram started speaking again. "Please do not for Lolithia whom the Elw have set in the coffin. Lolithia's freezing breath, Freezing Palm… the power which can be used only to destroy…" In response, Jack yawned out of boredom while Hanpan scolded him for not paying attention. The hologram paid no attention to the two and continued.
"Please do not wish for Lolithia whom the Elw have set in the coffin. It is a blowing snowstorm of death… It is a tornado leading to misery and it is the absolute power to destroy everything and all." The last part caught Jack's interest.
"Please seek not Lolithia whose frozen fury could destroy all." The hologram sadly sighed before continuing. "I, the keeper of memory beg of you to not seek the ice queen."
The hologram vanished after the last message. Jack grinned out of excitement and wondered if it really happened.
"Is it real? Was that an Elw talking? An absolute power to destroy everything…" Jack turned to Hanpan. "Hey, Hanpan, where's Lolithia's coffin?"
Jack extended his arm and let Hanpan hop onto it before he continued demanding interrogation. "No, wait! First off, what is a Lolithia? You must know!"
"Don't ask me everything all at once." Hanpan reprimanded Jack. "Even with my superior wisdom, I do not know everything."
Jack gave a nod, surprising Hanpan. "Ahh, I see… Well, it will do for know. Absolute Power… finally… maybe we found a clue to its location…"
Hanpan looked worried at Jack. He decided to take a risk and ask Jack of his intentions with Absolute Power.
"Jack… what are you going to do with this Absolute Power?" Hanpan hopped back onto Jack's shoulder.
"You will see…" Jack assured Hanpan. "Either way, we'll have to find it first. Let's go and look for this Lolithia's Coffin."
With that, Jack warped out of the room via the teleport crystal. The room they appeared in was the entrance of the ruins. Jack was highly astonished at the teleportation. Hanpan smirked at Jack's reaction. After regaining his cool, Jack made to leave. However, a sudden thought came to him. Jack turned and ran back to the console he used earlier. Hanpan glared at Jack, wondering what he was doing.
"What are you doing? The last thing we need is to be trapped down there again!" Hanpan fumed.
"Hey, my gut tells me that we have the names needed." Jack replied.
Before Hanpan could complain, the console lit up, asking for the name. Jack grinned, typing the name into the console. "Let's see, Ful-ca-ni."
The console flashed a few minutes before displaying a message. "… … … … ..Comparison of applicable names completed."
A door to the right opened. Hanpan suddenly smiled at Jack's cleverness, a rare occasion that happens between the duo.
"Ahh, that was smart of you." Hanpan said, praising Jack.
"I am the best treasure hunter." Jack gloated.
"Don't let that praise get to your head!" Hanpan remarked. Jack ignore Hanpan's remark and repeated the process, typing the word Keeper. A door to the left opened.
Both rooms were exactly the same. It had an arch hiding a guillotine trap, spike traps after the arch and an abyss with three alcoves, two on the sides and one right in front, each one housing a treasure chest.
Jack solved both rooms the same way. He dashed past the guillotine and spike traps, braked before the abyss, sent Hanpan to retrieve the contents and left both rooms the same way he entered. Near the entrance, Jack kneeled to check the contents. There were loads of Gella coins on the floor, a bottle containing an unknown blue liquid, a small emblem with a falcon engrave, a small cube bearing unknown writing and a small, white egg with red markings.
"Let's see here. We have seven-thousand Gella." Jack motioned to the falcon-engraved emblem. "A Migrant Seal! What a find!"
Hanpan nodded. "It was about time we found one!"
"Yeah, but what does the rest of these items do?" Jack asked.
"Well, the bottle happens to be Ambrosia." Hanpan began explaining. "It restores your life and mana power."
Hanpan motioned to the cube. "This is a Crest Graph. It is used by experts in Crest magic. We might have to sell this one."
Jack nodded. "I agree. We might get a good price."
Hanpan motioned to the egg. "I don't know anything about the egg. But, I sense the presence of monsters within the egg. Let's call it Monster Egg."
Hanpan glared at Jack. "Don't ever think of using it! We have no idea of knowing what could happen!"
Jack nodded in agreement. Pocketing the treasure, Jack left the ruins. However, Hanpan was deep in thought about Jack's actions.
"Why does a man search for Absolute Power? Is it something he does for atonement? Why? Maybe to cut the binding chain to his past? Does he believe that Absolute Power will shine the light on his future?"
Hanpan stared at Jack. "What Jack may not even realize is that Absolute Power may exactly be what binds him to his unforgettable past."
"Is that was happening to you, Jack?" Hanpan whispered the question before the duo left for parts unknown.