Chapter 121 Victory Road Part 2

Ash, Serena, and Lillie get out of the cave, only to be ambushed by Blake again, and this time they have to do the Strength puzzles and get into the cart to the next cave. After getting there, they find Charlotte and the stone pillar that she's talking about.

Charlotte: Nice timing. I just finished setting everything up. When you're downstairs, you'll find four minecarts with explosives stuffed into them. I've already primed them or whatever, so don't worry about that. All you need to do is find a way to slam those carts into the pillar in the center. You'll probably need all four, but the tracks are a bit messed up. I could've fixed it myself but it looked annoying, so... yeah. Tag; you're it.

Ash: Sure, we'll do it.

Charlotte: Oh, and by the way? There's not exactly an easy way down there. Hope you land on your feet.

Now the three of them gulp as they are in for a ride, when they get through the first one, they are back at the place where Blake is at, after dodging the Icicle Crash and moving the strength boulders between the crystals, they finally get to the first cart with explosives, after moving the tracks together, they manage to explode the pillar.

Serena: That's one, there are three to go.

Lillie: Yeah, and I can see how tiring it is...

And they have to do the same thing three more times, only that there are different Railtrack puzzles and strength puzzles. After going for the fourth one, they feel a giant earthquake and they quickly rush out of the cave to see what's going on. Blake is nowhere in their sight, and Charlotte is standing where Blake was.

Charlotte: I see you live up to your name, wrecking ball. Nice work.

Ash: Thanks?

Hardy: (Comes) Am I too late?!

Charlotte: Uh. For what?

Hardy: I got in here right as this rock bit gave way. I saw someone up on here but I couldn't tell who- I thought- maybe Aya-

Charlotte: Sorry, your princess is in another heap of rubble, Probably. The only one up here was Blake, and by now he's either long gone or a pancake.

Hardy: Aya's closer than ever. I can feel it.

Charlotte: You sure that's not just hormones?

Hardy: Hormones ain't gonna save her. But I will! (Leaves)

Charlotte: I hope he trips and stubs all of his toes. I'm gonna go find my sister. Later. (Leaves)

After leaving the first area, they move forward and this time, the attack is from Decidueye's Spirit Shackle.

Serena: Now who did this...

They look up and see that Fern is the one doing it this time, and Ash can also see Sirius and Aya beside him.

Fern: That was a warning. Give me a reason to go again and see what happens.

Sirius: It would seem expecting Blake to have been equal to his task was a mistake.

Fern: Thinking he was equal to anything above a sack of flour was your mistake. But don't worry- you've got the top-dog on it now. Wherever Ash runs, my arrows will find him. The case is as good as closed.

Sirius: I'm sure that will be so, if your skill is even a fraction as great as your ego.

Fern: Excuse me?

Sirius: Shoot first; brag later.

Fern: Talk to me like that again and I'll make you my target instead.

Sirius: And you're willing to answer Lin for that?

Fern: That bitch doesn't scare me. I'll take down anyone who gets in my way. Luckily for you, Ash happens to be much more of an obstacle than you could ever dream of being. Make sure that doesn't change.

Aya: (Struggles to speak) ...But... But Lin said to leave them-

Sirius: What Lin said is our business; not yours. Her apparent fondness for Ash may well be her undoing, and I will be damned if I let everything I've worked for all this time unravel because of THAT. All you need to do is sit still and stay quiet. You're our guarantee that they don't pull anything as they did with Blake again. After all, they wouldn't dare harm their friend. Life insurance needs not to speak.

Aya: You're just stalling for her anyway...

Sirius: Perhaps I was unclear. Your tongue is your greatest liability. Use it again and it will not be the only thing we relieve you of. (Drags Aya again) We just need to buy her enough time to finish that PULSE machine. Everything will be in order soon. Until then, Fern, Pray you hit something.

Fern: Pray it isn't you.

Then Ash, Serena, and Lillie are dodging the Spirit Shackles instead, much to their frustration. But as they get into the cave, they find another one of the hardness or purity puzzles and Hardy is the one there, only that this time there are four instead of three like last time.

Hardy: Ugh, I don't get this at all. (Turns to the group) YO, Ash, Serena, Lillie! Just the people I wanted to see! Listen, you know what this is, mate? I'm assumin' it's gotta be the way to open the exit, but... Man, I can't make heads or tails of this stuff. Why didn't they just write down what everything actually was?! Rocks may be my thing, but that doesn't mean I know them to measure for measure. And Aya's right outside... After so long, we finally found her... We just gotta get through this stupid thing! Think you can help me out here, bro?

Serena: Looks like we need your help again, Lillie.

Lillie: This is at least I can do.

Clues:

1. No two crystals share the same quality.

2. The second hardest gem is 'Pure'.

3. Ruby has more Foliation than and is larger than Sapphire.

4. Sapphire is more pure than Amethyst.

5. The third hardest gem is of 'Middling' Purity.

6. Neither Emerald nor Amethyst is either the least or most pure.

7. The hardest gem has the most Foliation.

8. Sapphire has less Foliation than the 'pure' gem, which has less Foliation than Amethyst.

9. The softest gem is the smallest one.

10. Emerald is smaller than Ruby, which is smaller than Amethyst.

For the answer to this one, the Size is Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphire. The Hardness is Ruby, Emerald, Amethyst, and Sapphire. The Purity is Sapphire, Emerald, Amethyst, and Ruby. And the Foliation is Ruby, Amethyst, Emerald, and Sapphire.

Hardy: That worked, right?! You're the best, mate! I'mma scram- I don't wanna keep her waiting another minute! (Rushes away after the gate opens)

After getting the gate opens, they are trying to dodge Fern's attacks again. After solving the puzzle, they hear Fern's voice again.

Fern: (Laughs) Oh, man, it is just too much! I mean, I set it up, but I didn't think it would work that easily! But lo and behold, Ash actually trapped himself in! How dumb can you get?! Well, who cares? It'll be over in a minute anyway. You've got nowhere to run now, so I hope you're ready to dance for me!

The three of them realize they're trapped, but luckily for them, they hear someone coming for their rescue.

?: Guys, heads up!

Just then, Titania rides the cart and comes, and Ash, Serena, and Lillie nod as they all jump in together, as they land in front of a cave.

Titania: You good? That wasn't exactly the smooth ride I was hoping for, but... It got you out of there in one piece. That's more than I can say for some others.

Serena: Thanks, Titania. (Notices the cave) Looks like this is the only way to move forward.

Titania: Lick your wounds and let's get a move on. They may not be able to see us down here, but we're not accomplishing anything either.

After getting inside the cave, they find another mine cart puzzle.

Titania: I'm no expert, but I'm pretty confident that this is the least efficient mining system in the entire world. Someone is clearly allergic to making things simple. Naturally, there's no obvious exit... Just those.

Lillie: What should we do then?

Titania: (Notices the Explosives) So here's the plan: You seem to be good at putting up with bullshit, so you deal with the rails and find a way up to those. I'll use Aegislash to check the walls for any points that sound moderately hollow. And someday, maybe- just maybe- Something will be even a fraction less complicated than it actually needs to be. But probably not.

After trying to reach the explosives, they have to move the carts to create the Rock Climb path, and it is not easy, but it takes some time for them to reach the explosives.

Titania: All right, good work, or something. It is seriously a miracle anyone got anything done down here. I found our spot. There. (Points at a wall) Based on the change of pitch at that point, that outcrop is probably hollow. I assume an old tunnel collapsed back there a long time ago. Anyway, I'll get the explosives ready. I've spent enough time with Julia to know what I'm doing, unfortunately. Get the cart to that spot and we'll be out of here.

After pushing the explosives to the wall with the cart, it creates a hole, and then they quickly get past the hole to see that they're on another side of Victory Road.

Titania: It's not exactly the most direct route, but it'll have to do.

Hardy: (Rushes in) Oi, there you are! Was wondering where you went until I heard that huge noise! (Notices his sister) Oh, it's you.

Titania: Try not to sound too excited. Still haven't found your damsel?

Hardy: Finding her ain't the problem; gettin' to her is. There ain't even a way to climb up that cliff face Fern's towerin' above. I was lookin' for another way around when I ended up down here.

Titania: What a hero you make.

Hardy: Stow it, sis. Just cuz somethin' ain't done yet doesn't mean it won't be!

Titania: Nor does it mean it will.

Hardy: What's that supposed to mean, huh?

Titania: If wanting to save something was enough to actually do it, none of us would be here right now. Whether it's adrenaline or something else, you're too caught in the rush to even see reality.

Hardy: It ain't just that! I'm gonna save her, because she needs me to!

Titania: You're going to talk a lot about saving her and fail to make any difference because you haven't actually thought anything through.

Hardy: So what, you got some kind of plan?

Titania: Sure. Find Lin; put her down. Cut off the head and the rest will die.

Hardy: I heard that worked out really well for you in your gym, huh.

Titania: No human could've withstood the wounds I gave her. Something is wrong, but it doesn't matter. If just killing her isn't enough, then I'll cut off her head. And if that's not enough, I'll cut all of her into tiny pieces. And if she still shows signs of life, I'll seal those pieces in iron and scatter them across the world. We have to know what she is in order to know how to fight her. All of that starts with killing her first, and watching what happens. That's how you make a plan; know what you don't know, and learn how to learn it.

Hardy: And what about Aya?

Titania: What about Aya?

Hardy: You'll spend all that time deadset on Lin while the others still have Aya!

Titania: Treat the cause; not the symptom.

Hardy: Aya is suffering! You'd just leave her?!

Titania: She's been suffering. A little longer won't kill her.

Hardy: You don't know that! You know what they're like- they'll do anything to win!

Titania: So must we. And that means choosing our priorities wisely. Aya is not a critical piece in defeating Team Meteor. The only thing she's critical of is making you feel needed. You're putting your ego above what's actually important.

Hardy: And you're tossing her life away!

Titania: What are you going to do about it?

Hardy: I'll save her! I'll find another way around it and prove to you that she doesn't have to just be a casualty!

Titania: So the same thing you were already set on doing. Glad to see this conversation made any difference. I don't really know what else I expected though. You've always been short-sighted and hard-headed.

Hardy: Must run in the family.

Titania: Likely. Neither of us are getting anywhere standing here arguing. You go your way; we'll go ours.

Hardy: Hold on now, who's to say that Ash, Serena, and Lillie are going with you?!

Ash: Now they've mentioned us... (Lillie and Serena sigh)

Titania: That wasn't literal. Right now all we can do is move forward anyway. We'll have time to argue about what to do once there's actually a choice in the matter. And if we don't have time then, we won't be losing much. (Leaves)

Hardy: Tch. (Turns to the group of three) You know, she wasn't always like this. Nothin' anyone says is gonna stop me from saving her, yanno? But it doesn't matter. Nothin' anyone says is gonna stop me from saving her, yanno? Let's not waste anymore time for it!

After Hardy leaves, Ash, Serena, and Lillie know that they can only try to move forward.


And here is a new chapter, you may think that the chapter is short, but I spent 2 hours trying to solve the whole puzzle. It is not that easy. But anyway, we're finished 35% of the Victory Road now, but there are still more and I hope you like this chapter.