Fateful Shrine
The Cavern fell surprisingly silent. As they trudged on forward they noticed Federation soldiers' lifeless bodies lying on the ground. It looked like Warai was the only survivor, there were soldiers dressed in white jumpsuits with dragon-shaped headgears guarding the entrance to the groups path.
"Hey, you!" one of the soldiers sighted Mirage and walked towards her carefully pointing his disrupter rifle in her direction. "Are you another one of the Federation scum? Come with us!"
"Er... no!" Lieber shot back a look as if he had a bright idea. "We're with the Alliance."
Mirage kept her eyes on the Alliance cadet as she spoke, "That's not such a good id-..."
"HA! You're the Klausians with the Federation. You can't fool us!" the cadet yelled as if he had said something wise.
Xeim ran straight towards him instantly and threw himself on the soldier before he could do anything. He yelled causing about four or five other Alliance cadets along with an officer to see the commotion.
"Damn you! Hasn't the Federation had enough?" the military officer shouted furiously. He was dressed like the other Alliance cadets except he had a blue cape and a few badges on his suit.
It wasn't long before bullets were flying around the area. Parts of the walls and many pillars were vaporized instantly from the disrupter rifles' bullets. Mirage ducked to avoid the assault and she sweeped towards the nearest cadet and slid between his legs as he tried to follow her movement. She used her palms to striked both his feet as he fell backwards on to her knee before the quick and calculated Klausian dropped an elbow right on to his gut so he wouldn't retaliate. The soldier coughed blood just before Mirage snapped his neck killing him instantly. The rest of the Alliance tried to storm her down with bullets while she was still in sight but she used the cadet's dead body as a shield to block all the shots.
"Cover me," Misty who whipped out one of her orbs whispered to Lieber who was in front of her aiming at his targets. "I'm going to begin casting."
"Leave it to me!" Lieber replied forcing a charming look on his face. "Get back... Shooting Spree!" Bullets flew from his rifle prompting the enemy to keep out of its range.
Xeim threw one of the Alliance soldiers into the water disarming him and taking care of him with a little difficulty. He managed to evade Xeim's punches and gave him a hard blow on the forehead with his palm. An angered Xeim decimated the cadet as he swung his fist charged with electricity three times towards him, "Electric Fists! Take that an' that an' that!"
As the Alliance slowly found themselves wearing down, about a dozen incapacitators and auto-mechs barged into the room They were far too quick to be taken care of with hand-to-hand combat. Mirage and Xeim leaped over the auto-mechs as they unleashed aqua lasers and energy balls missing them and destroying the walls instead.
"Deep Freeze." Misty's orb levitated in the air a few feet above her hand as she raised it into the air, it was glowing bright blue and it grew brighter and brighter as a pack of ice had risen from the ground enveloping the incapacitators and the other auto-mechs freezing them instantly. "Now. Attack it."
The ice field was big enough to wrap all the enemies, Mirage leaped into the air with full force and leaped down like a shooting star foot first right in the middle of the ice field, "Aerial Assault!"
The ice along with the frozen enemies had shattered into pieces from the impact leaving no trail of them. Misty smiled and felt delighted as everyone gave her an impressed look.
"The Shrine of Kaddan is just ahead," Mirage pointed towards the large open area. "Let's hurry in."
Xeim looked the other way, "Hold on! It's not over yet. Here comes another group!"
Another group of alliance soldiers along with an officer was charging from the other direction yelling something no one could figure out.
Misty placed her cold hand on Mirage's forearm to get her attention, "Let's hurry up and get inside. I'll try and block them off at the entrance."
Xeim and Lieber ran towards Kaddan as Misty and Mirage slowly followed. The Alliance had already caught up by then.
"Stop right there!" the officer commanded as Mirage ignored him and ran towards them just outside the entrance of Kaddan.
Before any of the cadets had a chance to fire, she delivered three lightning-quick roundhouse kicks, "Triple Kick! Ya! Hya! Hwaaah!" The third kick created a blade-like force at the edge of her foot throwing the enemies far away. None of them, however, were ready to give up as Mirage escaped into the shrine after she had taken them down.
Mirage had bought Misty enough time to charge yet another spell as the Alliance gathered once more near the entrance. This time the orb was glowing bright green, "Thunder Flare." The path to the entrance was now covered with bolts of lightning that threw sparks all around it forcing the Alliance enemies to stay out of its range and thus, not allowing them to enter.
"The room of the Sacred Orb... it shouldn't be too far away." Mirage let out a breath of relief as the others tried to catch their breath slowly as well.
Finding the room of the Sacred Orb, the OPA, was a cinch for Mirage. She had known this area bit by bit. The only dead bodies lying on the ground were those of the federation soldiers. Other than that sight, the shrine was beautifully filled with narrow paths and a bright crystalized floor, as well as a few golden monuments that seemed to have some connection with Aquaria's history.
"Halt!" a lone soldier came in sight guarding the door behind one of the golden monuments, "So it's you worthless bunch that has been causing problems back in the cavern..."
"You really think you alone can stop us here?" Xeim said with an amused look on his face.
The Alliance soldier looked at him furiously, "It doesn't matter. Even if you get past here, there is no way you'll make it to the OPA in time! Haha!" he ran back into the room behind him as Mirage and the others followed.
The room ahead which was the area before the room of the Sacred Orb didn't surprise them any less. A rock-like creature appeared in sight, who looked like a golem except it was a lot smaller. The creature had metallic hands and a large crystalized ball on its abdomen, it gazed with its small but scary eyes that could strike fear straight into anyone's heart.
"Rhahaha! You're looking for the OPA, aintcha? Well guess what? It's Alliance feast time!" it growled furiously.
"The beast. It's-..." Misty looked extremely shocked.
Mirage replied, "What is it, Misty?" She didn't wait for an answer though because the golem was already charging towards them with a surprisingly quick velocity.
The creature was just as durable as he looked, none of Xeim's marital arts kicks even budged it.
"Sphere of Might!" shouted Mirage but it, again, had no effect on its rock-like structure.
Misty meanwhile threw sparks of lightning at the golem which staggered it back, making it even more angry as it growled.
"Spark Orb!" more sparks of lightning energy were released from Lieber's rifle. Although it helped keep the enemy busy, there was no effective way to hurt the creature consistently.
"Earth Graaave!" the golem growled as it jumped up into the air and landed fists first, creating a shockwave around it before large rocks had risen from the ground. Mirage barely avoided the attack and leaped behind him safely while Xeim escaped in time as well.
Mirage noticed that the golem didn't recognize that she was behind it, so she ran up towards it and delivered two kicks before giving it a straight high kick which unleashed four large fiery crescents at the edge of her feet, "Crescent Locus! Yaah!"
The crescents were so strong it lifted the enemy into the air with each passing crescent, Xeim found this oppurtunity to strike while the golem was still weak... "Uppercut!" Xeim delivered the same power uppercut with a forceful energy wrapped around his fist giving a fatal blow.
It wasn't done yet though, it got back up and brushed itself as if it didn't feel a thing. It laughed and this time raised its metallic arm.
"Let's see how you like this... Flash Raid!" beams of laser balls were unleashed from its fist all around the room as it rotated in different directions. Glasses and monuments all around the room were being destroyed from its impact. Soon, the place was a mess and there was smoke everywhere, but everyone was able to find cover while the golem was still firing its beams.
It swung its arm and cornered Lieber in the room.
"Lieber!" Mirage shouted as she looked in its direction. "Get out of the way!"
"Haha! There is no escape!" the golem grabbed Lieber with its fist and lifted it up, just when the east wall of the room exploded. Everyone including the golem turned towards the explosion to see what caused it and shockingly, it was Welch who leaped into the room not finding any time to give an explanation as everyone looked at her in shock and concern.
"Hey, you! Put him down!" Welch yelled at the creature who mocked the little girl and laughed. "Looks like you're going to learn the hard way! Why don't you grab this instead!" Welch angrily reached for something that looked like a flash grenade from her backpack and tossed it towards the golem. The golem threw Lieber into the opposite wall, and went after Welch as it charged its crystal-shaped ball on its abdomen with powerful energy. However, before it could take a step, the flash grenade exploded dropping it off its feet as it fell on the ground unhurt, it exploded again giving it a few cracks in its body. About five or so explosions later, the golem had been blown to bits as parts of it scattered around the battlefield.
Everyone looked at it in amazement as the explosions disintegrated it into pieces. Mirage and Xeim quickly ran to Lieber's aid to check if he's alright. Misty however was standing in her place and still looking like she had a lot on her mind.
"Lieber, are you alright?" Miraged kneeled down before him as she checked his pulse.
"Yeah, i'm fine. Ow! Heh, my head's a little swollen." He rubbed the back of his head to console the pain. "That was something, girl... Hey you! Welch. What are you doing here anyway?"
"Lieber, show your manners. Thanks for helping us, um Welch, I'm Mirage Koas." Mirage said as she walked towards her. "But why did you come here all the way anyway?"
Welch smiled a little nervously, "Heh heh, uh... weelll, after you left leaving me alone in town... I slowly followed you here because I knew you wouldn't let me come along even if I insisted. And here you were, all in the need of my help, so... I helped!"
"You followed us all the way?" Xeim said looking surprised. "You're a crafty one. Looks like you have more in you than you look."
"Hey!" Welch snapped at Xeim. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"What was that creature?" Mirage scratched her chin as she slowly lost herself in her deep thoughts.
"Oh, that." Welch said looking the other way towards the area of the explosions. "That was one of the rare species from Greeton, a continent north of Gaitt. You guys didn't know? Regular species of Greeton are made of rocks but they really aren't supposed to be that big. This one was overgrown... it looked like it had been scientifically enhanced by the terrorists here. Hybrid bombs, mind bombs or any other type of explosive material is the only way to scatter it into pieces. What were you guys thinking by taking it down with punches and kicks!"
"Well 'scuse me, Miss Greeton." Lieber responded as he stood up, "But we're not aware of what species from Greeton even look like."
Mirage chuckled slightly, "You did come in handy, i'm surprised you know quite a lot."
Welch blushed slightly and thanked her.
"So why is it you want to come with us so badly?" Mirage asked in a more serious tone.
"Th-That can wait until l-later, can't it? The OPA is still ahead." Welch stuttered as she spoke more nervously.
"Alright then. Let's be a little more careful from now on. We're not done yet. There might be similar foes up ahead... let's just hope that the Sacred Orb is still here and safe. We can't let it fall into the wrong hands." Mirage said before heading into the door up ahead decorated with silver and golden ornaments.
"Hey, miss..." Lieber walked towards Misty who hadn't uttered a word. "What are you thinking so hard about? You know, if you think that much you're gonna end up having bad dreams!"
Misty looked down on the floor, "Dreams. That's a nice word, it blinds us to the nightmares of certainty. Thanks for cheering me up." Misty smiled as she walked towards the room ahead of her.
"Uh... no problem?" a confused Lieber scratched his head.