(TW: Bugs. Big Ass Bugs.)

Jack skid to a stop as he finally caught up to the others. He hunched over, catching his breath before looking at them. Every eye was wide and staring straight ahead. Jack, confused, followed their gazes, and his jaw dropped in shock.

They were tall, with four orange eyes and a shiny exoskeleton. The bug creature stood across the narrow river, head cocked to the side. Their face was hard to read, but their large eyes were unmistakably filled with sadistic pride.

"Wh-what is that thing!?" Jack yelled, pointing right ahead.

"Tsk tsk, what terrible manners." The creature spoke in a slow, deep tone. There was a low, quiet clicking in the back of their voice. "I know it's been a few years, but I still deserve the respect I once earned."

Kimiko stuck out her tongue in disgust. "That doesn't answer what you are. Other than an uncomfortably large cockroach."

"Too many legs for a cockroach, maybe some sorta hybrid with a spider though? Either way, not a pretty sight." Clay shrugged, making Kimiko smirk in their own confidence.

The creature snarled, calling attention back to themself. "I am Exagmal, the greatest magical being to walk the sands." They stood taller, revealing that what was originally assumed wings, was a cape. Leaf shaped and leading to a point at the bottom, it moved gently in the calm breeze.

"Anytime someone comes in braggin' like that, it just means trouble." Clay tipped his hat up a bit, staring Exagmal down with a distrusting stink eye.

Exagmal placed a hooked hand to their chest stretching their neck forward and looking right back at Clay with the same sadistic glee they'd had before. "How rude. I can't say you're wrong, but you really shouldn't judge like that. I simply want what I deserve."

Dojo starred forward, tugging at Clay's pants leg. "Careful cowboy, if the myth is right, they aren't just talking." Dojo was shaking, pointing his quaking claw forward. "They were said to be one of the worst terrors to sweep the world."

"A myth?" Exagmal sneered. "That vile little sorcerer ruins me and leaves me nothing but a story to scare children, and not even the children of this millenia. Well, that is their own mistake, and soon enough they'll fear me too." Exagmal's neck twisted just enough to make the monks cringe.

"Why exactly are you here?" Raimundo asked, stepping forward and trying to hide that he was still fairly disturbed.

Exagmal clicked, hunching over, their six clawed hands all taking a grip to the ground. They leaned forward, glossy eyes focused only on Raimundo. "Why, I'm here for the same reason you are, of course. A magical item is calling my name." With that they leapt forward, splitting the group who jumped out of the way. Exagmal looked at Dojo, hissing and laughing cruelly as he ducked back in fear.

They leapt again, leaving the group behind as they started to search for the Wu, taking joy in their head start.

The monks snapped out of their shock, squaring up they looked at each other before splitting up to find the Wu. Jack stood as he watched everyone run off in a different direction, head turning in confusion. He looked down to Dojo, who was still a bit shaken up. "So uh. Which way was it again?"

Dojo shook his head, staring up at Jack. Jack was untrustworthy, but if it came down to it, he also knew that there was a much greater evil, a much larger risk, if one of them didn't get it first.

"This way." Dojo quickly slithered in a different direction, followed closely by Jack. It wasn't long before they were being followed by another party. Jack looked back, groaning he picked up his pace and panted. He wasn't the fastest around but being chased by a giant bug could really motivate a guy.

Safety came in the form of Omi, leaping and landing a kick to Exagmal's chest and knocking them off course. They pushed themself off the ground, crouching and staring at Omi who stood poised to fight.

Omi glared at them. "Prepare for a most humiliating defeat!" Exagmal's eyes narrowed, and a clicking emanated from the back of their throat before they leaped towards him. Six claws, each glowing and giving off a thick, dry heat. Omi hopped backwards, dodging every hit until one grazed his arm. The cloth singed, and though no flame started there was still a hole in his robes, black and ashy at the edges. He didn't have more than a second to be astonished, having to continue ducking and jumping out of the way. He waited for an opening, any moment to strike and knock them back, but with six arms flying at him, each one timed perfectly to avoid such a weakness, he was having trouble. He backflipped, farther away, giving himself just enough time to pull out his own Wu.

"Orb of Tornami, water!" he called, echoing over the field. His voice was followed by the loud crashing of water, hitting Exagmal right on and sending them floating far off until the water finally settled. They coughed, standing to their full height and shooting a death glare Omi's way.

"You will pay for that, you insolent little fool." The air around their body grew hot enough to dry them off, the grass beneath them dying and burning to nothing. "I am not one to take such attacks lightly." Omi only held the Orb to his chest, ready to attack again.

Before either of them could make a move, Dojo swooped over in his full form, snatching Omi up in one clawed hand and lifting them all quickly into the air. The monks helped Omi up onto Dojo's back. Omi shook his head and looked at his friends and Jack, who clenched the Imo Gazer in his hands and tightly to his chest.

"Why did you pull me away? I was going to defeat them!" Omi held the Orb above his head before turning to the front as Dojo spoke.

"Kid, I love ya, I believe in ya, but that Orb doesn't stand a chance against Exagmal, not if even a single rumor is true." Dojo's brows furrowed.

Kimiko leaned forward, tapping away on her phone. "What rumors? I'm not finding any search results about Exagmal, at least not for a giant bug creature."

"You won't find this on any search engine." Dojo said "We've gotta go a bit more archaic."

Raimundo groaned, flopping onto his back. "Scrolls?"

"And a lot of them." Dojo closed his eyes. "I'm not sure if our temple will even have the right ones. We may have to look elsewhere."

It was a while before the finally landed, and none of them really wanted to be back where they were.

Guan ran outside, giving a confused, if not very concerned smile to the monks as they slid off of Dojo.

"Did something happen?" He eyed Jack, who pursed his lips and held tighter to the Imo Gazer.

Raimundo crossed his arms. "We ran into some trouble. You mind if we look through some scrolls? We need to do some research." Guan nodded, though still confused he turned and began leading them to the Temple's library.

Scrolls were stuffed into many shelves; some had popped out and lay closed on the floor. The small table inside had a stack of them still resting there, one left open.

"It's going to take forever to find anything in here." Kimiko turned around, staring at the tall ceiling and then back to Guan. "Is any of this stuff categorized?"

"Not physically. No one else has used this library in a very long time, I felt no need to write what I could remember for myself." Guan shrugged, still standing outside the doorway. Chase had joined him, in his curiosity over the new commotion. He looked over Guan's shoulder, seeing the monks along with Jack. When their eyes met, Jack quickly looked away, turning to stare intently at a shelf of old, dusty scrolls.

"Well then, have anything about uh, Exagmal?" Raimundo raised an eyebrow to Dojo, who nodded.

Guan and Chase both paused in the doorway, a silence swept over the room before Guan finally spoke.

"Exagmal?" he repeated. The monks nodded. "The great sorcerer of the desert?" They nodded again.

Chase leaned on the entryway. "Exagmal was just a tale told to children to scare them."

"They were nothing more than a myth." Guan added. The monks looked at each other before looking to the immortals.

"Well, we just met your myth. They're a jerk." Raimundo commented before sitting at the small table and slumping over, holding his head up in one hand. "So we need to find out what we can about them."

Guan hummed, walking in and to a smaller shelf, he tapped them quietly before pulling one out. "This may be all I have on them." He handed it to Clay, who carried it to the table, opened it, and unravelled the contents. "As I was under the impression they were nothing more than a campfire story, there is not much information on them here."

True to his word, the scroll only mentioned Exagmal a bit. Their grotesque appearance, a warning to avoid them, things you would see in a book about fake cryptids.

"Bug eyed, powerful magic user, tall. Ya know." Raimundo looked up from the scroll. "It leaves out any description of their nasty breath or their weird amount of drool. Maybe not horrors alone but they definitely added to the creep factor."

Kimiko rolled her eyes "Since that was a bust, where else can we go to find something about them?" she asked, crossing her arms. Jack coughed, stammering as all eyes went to him.

"Well, uh, someone else here has a pretty big library…" He trailed off. Every gaze followed his own, now landing on Chase who blinked and stood up straight.

"I don't know if I actually do have anything there. I won't deny the possibility…" The amount of books on Heylin magic, artifacts, and creatures were quite extensive. Many of which he'd found boring or useless and hadn't bothered to look into. "I can go and look."

"Wouldn't it be faster with more of us there?" Kimiko asked, though none of them exactly wanted to take a trip to the Citadel.

"Maybe it would, but I don't want you there, and I'm quite sure you do not want to be there." Chase looked at her as if daring her to challenge his statement. Her frown deepened, and though inside she fumed, she remained quiet. Guan walked back to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I will help him look. Do not worry, if there is anything on them there, we'll find it." Guan smiled reassuringly, though not many of them really felt any more sure. "In the meantime, I suggest finding others who could help you fight. Exagmal may have just been a horror story, but they were a very effective one." There was a look on both Guan and Chase's faces that told them there was no joking here. Guan, who knew how much they'd grown, still recommended they find others to fight at their side. There was no denying their next move: Recruitment.

The monks headed out, back to the courtyard to head back to their own temple and figure out their next moves. Clay nodded at Guan and Chase as he passed them, Kimiko offering a goodbye to Guan and walking on. Raimundo gave an indistinct wave and an undirected 'later'.

Lastly, Omi smiled at them both. "Good luck in your search," he said before following the others out. They watched the monks leave, only speaking once they were barely a dot in the sky.

Chase turned, heading back inside to gather anything they may need. "Why he is so ready to accept this, I will never understand."

Guan followed behind him, putting the few odds and ends of objects away. "Are you glad he has, somehow, not fully turned his back to you?"

Chase paused, keeping still but looking at Guan out of the corner of his eye. He exhaled, moving forward again. "I don't know. I don't see how he hasn't."

"I think," Guan started, this time walking closer and taking one of Chase's hands in his own. "It is because he has seen the you that I have. Who you once were, and even if you will never be that person again, he has still seen you as more than just the person who hurt him."

"Them." Chase corrected, closing his eyes to avoid looking at Guan.

Guan tilted Chase's head up, looking into his eyes when he finally opened them. "He knows that as well as you do."

Chase exhaled, parting from Guan and continuing on his way. "Let's go. We cannot waste any time." Guan followed behind him, and in moments they were gone.

"I can't believe this! That, big, shiny headed, dragon seller? Over me!" Jack flailed one arm wildly, as the other kept the Wu close to him. "What's that about?!"

Kimiko rolled her eyes. "Well, for one thing, Guan is maybe three years older than him, while Chase is, oh, fifteen hundred older than you? Plus, Guan didn't obsess over him."

"I don't obsess!" Jack whined, shoulders hunched and his face taking on a bright cherry red. "Maybe I used to get a little over-excited, but I never obsessed!" He emphasized, though the monks just shook their heads.

Raimundo hunched over a bit. "Look, Spicer, you can gripe all you want, but none of us are exactly keen on it either."

Jack leaned over, peering at him and raising an eyebrow. "What's got you so twisted? I would think getting one of the strongest, smartest, coolest-" Jack paused, catching his own trail before the monks could point it out. "I thought you'd be happy that he's on your side again?"

Raimundo snorted. "Oh yes. I am absolutely delighted, truly, got jollies right out the ears." His tone was dead, and other than his jaw his body remained completely still.

"He's a jerk," Kimiko butted in. "And I for one, will never see him as less than a giant jerk. The guy terrorized us and the world."

"And he tried to make Dojo into a lunch special." Clay patted Dojo on the back. "He's a rotten snake, and I ain't to keen on dancing 'round him just yet."

Omi frowned, looking up. "If he wishes to change his ways, I think it best to support it."

Raimundo grimaced, turning back and looking at Omi with mild irritation. "Dude, are you serious? He used you, he used Jermaine, he manipulated you-"

"I am well aware of what he has done," Omi cut him off sharply. "I am only pointing out that he is changing, and I much prefer him not on the Heylin side."

"You can't actually trust him! He's done nothing but lie and cheat, and then pretend he's some honorable dude."

"It is not a matter of trusting him; I trust Master Monk Guan." Omi crossed his arms, scowling back at Raimundo. "I also do not want him turning back to his old ways because of us rejecting any attempt he makes at helping us."

"Oh what, so if the dude is faking it, it's my fault now? Because he's a lying, cheating, villain?"

"Was."

They were both leaning in, almost touching. The tension and anger between them practically fogged the air around them.

Both heads snapped to look at Clay the moment he began speaking. "Raimundo's right, Omi. It ain't fair to blame us if he goes back to bein' a varmint. Cheetah can't change their spots."

Omi's mouth twitched. "He is not a varmint; he is a person."

Kimiko filed her nails absentmindedly. "Coulda fooled me," she muttered, looking to the side.

Omi's lips puckered as his glare shot over to Kimiko. "If you do not trust him, that is fine, but you could avoid driving him away."

Kimiko sat up, her voice dripping with a fake, gentle tone. "I don't think I can Omi, because," the tone dropped to her true irritation, "I want him driven away. Far, far away." Kimiko emphasized her last word by shoving her file into her bag so roughly that it almost stabbed a hole through the bottom.

Jack's eyes shifted quickly to each monk before he leaned forward a bit, holding up one index finger. "Wanna know what I think-?"

"No!" Each monk snapped at Jack, who hunched over in mild fear.

After what seemed like an eternity of furious silence, Dojo landed in front of the temple. The monks got off of him without a word, each ignoring everyone else in their own frustrated state. Jack stumbled down, barely catching himself as he landed on the grass. He ran to catch up with them, barely noticing as Dojo chose his shoulders to slither up to in his smaller form.

Omi stood in front of the vault, standing up straight and not bothering to look anyone's way. "It seems we will need help. I believe someone to go to would be Jermaine. He was once offered a position on our team before, and I believe he is still worthy."

"Dude probably hasn't fought for two years but sure, why not. See if he wants to join this extermination mission." Raimundo shrugged firmly and walked right past him. "Who else should we talk to?"

"Someone who knows magic; they were powerful. We need to find a way to counter it." Kimiko leaned against the wall.

"Chase isn't expert enough for you?" Jack's nose twitched as he scowled in Kimiko's direction. She grimaced back and turned her head away. "Fine then, how about wicked witch of the Heylin?"

"Are you kidding me? You want us to go to Wuya of all people?" Raimundo stared at him in bewilderment, deepening as Jack nodded.

"Look, she's evil, and mean, and also smells, but she knows magic. Plus she might even know something about this Exagmal that can help us." He shrugged. "I don't like the idea of working with her either, she's a double-crossing jerk, but the way those guys looked…" Jack peered down at the Imo Gazer, staring at one of the highlights as it reflected the setting sun. Guan, Dojo, Chase, each of them when seeing, or hearing that Exagmal was real… It could only mean this was a threat that was worth playing nice. If even just for a little bit.

Raimundo bit the inside of his lip, watching Jack for a moment before sighing. "I guess you're right. Might at least be able to ask her if she knows anything." Not the safest idea, but about all they had right now.

Omi huffed, following Raimundo as he opened the vault and walking down below. Raimundo opened one drawer, removing the Golden Tiger Claws. If he was to go to Wuya he'd have to find her, and that he guessed was going to be much easier said than done.

Omi opened a drawer a few steps lower. "If it is alright with you, I will take the Silver Manta Ray to retrieve Jermaine."

"Whatever." Raimundo shrugged, watching Omi remove said Wu.

Omi then turned to Raimundo, holding out the Orb of Tornami. "I do not know much about this enemy, but their magic was hot. I will bring my wudai weapon. If you are to travel, take this." Omi didn't look at him, even as Raimundo removed the Orb from his hands. He nodded solemnly in thanks before turning on his heel and walking back up the stairs.

After the vault closed, Omi was already walking to the open space. In a blink he was gone, flying through the air and heading away.

As he vanished, Raimundo looked to Kimiko and Clay. "I don't want to leave this place unguarded. Can you two stay here?"

"Whatever you say Rai, but are you sure you want to be the one to talk to Wuya?" Kimiko's brows furrowed as she stepped closer to him.

Raimundo shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded. "We have a history." Though that was the exact problem Kimiko was worried about, it still remained the strength Raimundo had that she and Clay did not. Maybe it'd help or maybe it'd make things worse, but he still wanted to be the one to go.

"If you're sure, Rai. We'll hold down the fort." Clay gave him a reassuring smile, which Raimundo softly returned. He then looked at Jack, arming himself with the Tiger Claws.

"Don't mess anything up too much, Spicer." He slashed the air, smirking as Jack yelled in offense.

Once he was gone, Kimiko looked at Jack. "So, are you going home or what?" she asked, though her face completely uninterested. Jack stammered, hands gently twisting around the Wu he still held.

Clay let out a deep breath, and in a small bit of mercy he spoke. "He better stay here; that giant bug saw him. If they were there for the Gazer they may wanna hunt him first to get it. Safest place is gonna be here." Jack's shoulders hunched up as Clay pointed out the danger he was in. He hadn't even thought of that. Kimiko raised an eyebrow as she looked at Clay. He just shrugged.

"Whatever. Let's set up a mat for him then." She began walking to the main temple, the boys following close behind her.

"I forgot about the bed mats. They still as uncomfortable as they were a couple years ago?" Jack tried to peer over Clay's shoulder so he could see them both, to no avail.

"You get used to it, if you sleep in it more than two nights." Clay answered, causing Jack to duck back down a bit.

"Erright." He murmured, fingers still fidgeting. It didn't take long to get Jack set up. He sat on the mat, watching Kimiko and Clay who were talking about who'd take the first watch of the night. Clay peeked at Jack and hummed. "Maybe we should put that thing in the vault…"

Jack sat up straight, staring at them in disbelief. "You just gave me a mat!"

"Not you, numbskull, the Wu!" Kimiko snapped, causing Jack to clutch the Imo Gazer to his chest harder.

"What? No way! Look, I may be okay with staying here, but I'm not handing this over that easy." Jack clutched it tighter.

Kimiko glared, placing her hands on her hips and leaning down to look at Jack. "You only found it because Dojo led you right to it!"

"He could have led one of you, too, if you hadn't all ditched him!" Jack pointed out. Kimiko's face dropped and she blinked, standing up straight and crossing her arms.

"Whatever, fine. But you need to be careful with that thing." One hand went to gently rub her eye in frustration.

Jack gave her a pointed glare and waved his arms, along with the Wu. "When am I not careful!?" The moment he finished his sentence, the loud clunk of metal hitting the wall called their attention to his side. Jack coughed, slowly putting the Wu back into his lap. "Whatever," he huffed.

Clay shook his head, walking past Jack and heading back to the courtyard. He stopped, glancing around, and in a second jumped backwards to avoid the large exo-skeletoned creature landing down where he once stood.

Exagmal leaned in."You're less oblivious than I expected."

Notes-

Thanks to my beta readers, Dragonnutt and Curi0usCanine!
We've reached big reveal #1.: The Villain.
Exagmal is an OC, details to come through the chapters.
Good Stuff is a coming guys. I'm so excited.