Rise of Pandora's Box

Chapter 34 part 1

Jack POV.

I woke up after having slept in a tree for the night. It really was the best place to sleep outside during winter. The empty branches grab most of the falling snow and you're not on the cold ground. Plus, if you have a cat or in my case exceed sleeping on you it's much more comfortable. Zeke serves as a great blanket, though I'd never tell him that. I woke up in the middle of the night when I felt something strange. As if something important changed. I woke up Zeke.

"Hey Zeke, I need you to take me to the guildhall. Right now," He slowly opened his eyes and when he saw he was lying on me, he pushed me out of the tree.

"I told you never to use me as a blanket. You know how I feel about that."

"I didn't use you as a blanket. YOU used ME as a madras," I countered. It was the truth. He's a dear friend of mine and I'd never do anything to hurt him or his overinflated ego, such as using as a warm blanket.

"Don't get all technical with me man. I'll beat the crap out of you without hesitation."

"Alright alright. I won't. Can we just get to the guildhall now? It's urgent."

"Fine. Whatever," he grabbed me and we flew to the guildhall. When we got to the front entrance, Zeke put me down. Something was off. It was looking much darker in color than usual. The giant guildmark on the front was also very different. It was a strange ornate black case with a glowing eye instead of a keyhole. When I saw it, I got a massive headache and fell to my knees grabbing my head in pain.

"Yo Jack! You okay?" What was this? A series of images flashed through my mind. It was a burning building with someone standing in front of it. He grinned evilly before he pulled down his shirt to reveal the strange mark on the base of his throat. He started walking towards me.

"Jack! JACK!" Zeke was sharking me.

"What is this?! I can't. No! Get away from me!" I pushed him away without realizing what I was doing. Zeke fell back and looked around for anyone.

"Hey! Someone! He needs some help! Anyone!" he shouted. He quickly flew in the direction of Sapphire's house leaving me on the ground screaming to myself. Before long, he bumped into Kai who was wearing a suit and tie.

"Thank god. Someone useful. Kai! Jack needs help!"

"Of course. He's an idiot."

"Shut it bastard! Something wrong with the guildhall. You need to see this. NOW!" Kai grunted and followed Zeke to the where I was. I was sitting up against a wall with my legs folded in front of me shaking.

"I don't get what the matter is. He's just being a little baby," Zeke rushed to my side and glared at Kai.

"Shut up and look at the guildhall you freaking moron," Kai did as instructed spite Zeke's attitude.

"What kind of prank is this? What did you two do?!" He said getting a bit angry.

"We didn't do anything. I'm just as confused as you. Yo, Jack snap out of it! Stop being a little baby!" That image of the man and burning building. What does it mean? Why can't I stop cowering in fear? What's happening to me?!

"I get that Greyhound doesn't like this, but I can't allow this kind of harassment on my guild," Kai said and started walking towards the door while talking off his jacket and tie and tossing them on the ground. Just as he was reaching for the doors, they slowly opened and a hooded boy came out. Kai completely ignored him and tried to walk past him. When he did, the boy grabbed his arm without a word. Reacting quickly Kai grabbed hold of him and threw him further into the guildhall. He stopped midair and landed on the ground. He started charging forward. Kai put his hand up and prepared his stance to stop whatever he had coming. Instead of attacking, he ducked into a slide and went between his legs. When he stood up on the other side, he pulled his hand forward. Somehow, this made Kai lose his balance. He stopped his fall with his hands and lifted his feet off the ground. He started spinning around and his legs were forced closer. Fortunately, his enemy was forced closer too. He stopped spinning and kicked the boy over the head with his feet making him end up standing on his head.

"Strings. Cute," Kai ripped the strings off his feet and continued walking as if nothing happened.

"Web," the hooded boy said emotionlessly while slowly getting up.

"What was that?" Kai said turning his head.

"Spider web. Not string."

"Do I look like I care?"

"concealed web. Silk cocoon," He pulled his hands backwards and Kai tensed up as if strings were holding him together. The strings became visible.

"Apocalypse. Go," out of his hand shot a thick spider web. Out from under his cape came a massive spider definitely twice the size of his hand and it started darting across the web towards Kai.

"What the heck is that thing?!" Kai shouted as the spider closed in on him. He attempted to move his body, but it was no use.

"REQUIP: BLADE FALCON!" Zeke came flying through the door with a pair of wings made of multiple small knives making it look like feathers. He cut the giant thread and Kai's cocoon. The giant spider quickly retreated to the boy cape.

"I had it under control exceed," Kai said as he got ready to attack again.

"As if. You can't call any of your gears when you're inside. Be grateful once in a while idiot," Zeke said and charged forward again.

"Now that I know your attack I can easily counter. Apocalypse. Poison spit," He held out his hand and the spider stood on it. It started spitting a purple liquid.

"Easy," Zeke quickly maneuvered past the spit. "Spider web," Zeke was suddenly caught in a massive web.

"Zeke! Can you move?" Kai yelled as he started running towards the hooded boy.

"Not really. But I can do this! REQUIP: TWIN BARREL CANNON!" Zeke requipped his cannon and fired it into the air.

"I don't get it," Kai and Zeke smirked.

"I'll show you! PERFECT MIDNIGHT! CELESTIAL GEAR OF PISCES! FREEZING VAPOR!" The Pisces constellation glowed through the hole in the ceiling Zeke created. Kai grabbed an ornate blaster out of the air as well as three matching cylinders. One of the cylinders was black. Another grey and the last was white.

"Exceed. This might be kind of cold," he slammed the white cylinder in a designated slot in the blaster. He aimed at the web and pulled the trigger. The blaster shot a stream of ice crystals at a very high speed. "REQUIP IRON TURTLE!" Zeke's turtle shell appeared on his back shielding him from Kai's attack, which was making the spider web frozen. Kai switched out the white cylinder with the grey one. He fired it again and it shot a powerful water blast destroying the spider web.

"Stop this fight. You can't defeat us no matter what you do."

"Oh you are fools. While you continue your worthless power struggle the sky of enlightenment shines through this blessed palace of shadows. What a truly enchanting sight. But alas you cannot comprehend such magnificent beauty. You should hold on this meaningless quarrel. We merely wish for you to leave us for now," Another hooded boy came walking out of the shadow.

"I believe not, that you Gin is incapable of persuading these utilizers of justice to leave this unholy stronghold. I shall show you out myself," He threw a small ball at each of them. They easily moved out of the way and the balls rolled out of the guildhall.

"You expect to hit us with that."

"Perhaps not. But that was not the goal. ARC OF BALANCE: EXCHANGE!" he held out his hand and spun it 180 degrees. Kai and Zeke suddenly switched place with the two balls. They looked around and the doors slammed shut behind them.

"What was that!?"

"I have no clue, but they're strong. You know where Sapphire lives right? Go get her. I'll get Silver. When we get back we'll beat those for sure."

"Got it," The two split up and Zeke made his way to Sapphire's place. He banged on the door.

"Hey! Hot stuff. I need your help. Right now!" Zeke yelled and went inside. He made his way to the bedroom.

"Hey wake up. Come on," Sapphire slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Zeke she punched him in the face and he hit the wall.

"What's wrong with you?! Can't you see I'm not wearing anything? You don't sneak up on a naked girl! Geez."

"I don't care about that right now. Put on something and go to the guildhall. There's been… let's say a hostile takeover," Zeke said turning around to give her some privacy.

"What? I'll be done in a minute," She said quickly throwing something on grabbing Zeke on her way out.

Kai was making his way to Fairy Hill. He went right in without even knocking on the door. He found Silvers room and went inside not knocking on her door either.

"Silver. Wake up. Emergency at the guildhall. Now."

"Do you realize a girl needs her beauty sleep?"

"Beauty doesn't win battles Silver," Silver got out of her bed and started putting on clothes.

"I know, but still. We girls have a certain genetic need to look pretty," She was done dressing and the two walked to the guildhall.

"Who else are coming other than us and I am assuming Jack, Zeke and Sapphire?"

"No one. It's just the five of us and Jack's being a little baby and crying in a corner or something," Silver sighed.

"Sometimes I cannot comprehend your way of thinking. Would it not be wiser if we acquired the assistance of the rest of the guild?"

"Are you saying we can't handle it?" Kai stopped and grabbed onto Silver's shoulders forcing her to look into his eyes.

"If all goes south I promise to protect you all with my life," He let go of her and continued walking.

"I'll hold you to that promise."

The four of them arrived and stood in front of me.

"Jack are you alright?" Sapphire asked kneeling down beside me.

"H-he's in there," Everyone got a bit closer at hearing what I said.

"Who is, Jack? What are you talking about?" I quivered as the image returned. That evil grin. It was so devious, like nothing I've ever seen before. Yet… familiar. I looked at my teammates.

"He's in there. The person who burned down my home!"