Chapter 22
Lok's POV
We walked through the hall through a corridor of armour. Each of the armours held a dangerous weapon. The armour was quite scary and smelled of rust and decay. I kept looking at the armour full of insecurity when the deadly weapons gleamed with a pale green light, flew through the air and surrounded us.
-Is it the Organization? - Sophie cried- How could they have arrived before us?
Dante shook his head, reached into one of the pockets of the raincoat.
-I think these are more dangerous. It is the inner circle of the Knights of Arc!-Dante raised his hand holding Calibam's amulet.-Use the titans, do not confront them directly.
We all nod and we get our titans to play; I invoke Freelancer, Sophie Sabriel and Zhalia Kilthane. Our titans went into battle. The fight was good at first, Freelancer was the first to return, returning in a stream of light.
- There has to be an easier way!
Sophie screamed, looking at all the weapons. Unexpectedly Sophie launched a "Breakerspell" towards two swords. Both stopped for a moment, then attacked us.
-I think you've made it worse!
I exclaimed as I fled from a short sword.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
Lok was right, it seemed that Sophie's attack had upset all the weapons and they were paying with us. A spear was cornered me, when I could not go back any more I grabbed the spear by the handle and tried to make it back, however the spear made to fly and threw me a few meters, I rolled on the ground and landed on my haunches.
Lok was not having better luck than me; the weapon that had been chasing them before had cornered him and Cherit. Lok's whiskers began to emit small sparks as he moved away from his enemy. Lok managed to escape using "Electric-jump", he threw himself to one side just as the gun lurched forward. Lok made a forced landing crashing into armour, disarming it. The sword he was fighting against fell to the ground.
The noise distracts us all; due to our distraction Kilthane was removed and returned to his amulet, just as Sabriel was stabbed in the back by a sword. I ran to the centre of the room.
-Regroup!
-Nothing works! Any ideas? - Sophie asked.
I used the handle of a sword to swing and kick the helmet of an armour causing the single mallet to fall to the ground.
-Only one- I answered with a lot of conviction- points to the armours, not to the arms.
-The source of the spell is the armour, so ... "Breakspell."
An orange beam sprang from Sophie's hand hitting armour, deriving it. A sword fell to the ground.
-Very well, Sophie. Keep going!
Sophie nodded and sent more bursts of the same power to more armour. I helped a little with some Touchhot. Lok was a little lost and did not notice two swords attacking him from behind. Luckily for him, Zhalia did. She pushed him out of the way, making the swords dig into the ground.
-Sophie is the magic expert, let her take care!
Zhalia ordered him. Lok nodded and pulled away. It did not take long to destroy all the armour and their respective weapons were on the ground motionless.
-Yes, we did it- sang Sophie- Yes, in ... team...
I ran to catch Sophie when she collapsed before she fell to the ground.
-Sophie! - Lok approached very worried.
-She has used the powers very quickly and the poor one is exhausted- Cherit explained to Lok while I was reviewing Sophie.
-The Organization! - Zhalia shouted- we have to escape with the ring.
Zhalia grabbed one of the spears from the ground and ran with Lok towards the ring. She broke the glass that protected the ring with the handle of the spear and Lok took the ring.
-Wait!
Try to stop them, but it was too late, the ring was already in Lok's possession and with that his curse.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
As soon as I took the ring I felt a horrible pain all over my body. I saw a fat man, dressed in white, and with a scar on one eye, I saw Dante and a group of Redcaps. I saw my father, stretched out his hands handing me something, I tried to reach him but something dragged me away from him causing him to fall into a hole. I saw the fat man again, this time I was not alone, I was surrounded by a group of agents of the Organization. He raised a hand that began to glow with a strange power. I fell back down a hole with a scream, this time I was in the armour room, in the real world, I was on the floor and the ring a few inches away from me.
Lok's POV end
Third person
The agents of the Organization heard the cry of Lok.
-What was that? - Asked a witch
-It's our prey. Move!
He ordered Defoe and ran towards the team, followed by his agents.
Third person end
Dante's POV
-We must find a way to contain the ring. It has a curse - I heard the agents approaching - And we have to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Organization.
-How are we going to escape carrying her? - Zhalia said.
-And how do you want us to avoid being caught? What are we going to do?! - Lok asked, already recovered from the curse of the ring.
-Lok, there's no time! We have to do something. And quickly!
Cherit shouted as she looked at the ring, which floated in the air with a green light.
Zhalia and I started talking about the different ways of dealing with the situation. Sophie was still unconscious and despite Lok's insistence that he was okay, I knew he was not, or not at all at least. Nobody recovers so quickly from a curse. Lok and Cherit went to investigate a little more the room where we were. After a while Zhalia and I heard how they dragged a tile and we looked in the direction of Lok.
-I think I've found another way out!
Zhalia approached Lok and confirmed that what he said was true. She approached the door through which we had entered.
-Then we do not need this one.
-What are you going to do?
Lok asked innocently. The response was quick and very clear. Zhalia used it unlawfully against the roof and knocked it down, blocking the door with a pile of stones.
Carefully I picked Sophie up and carried her to the team. Zhalia enjoyed having blocked the door, however, Lok and Chetir covered their ears not very happy with noise.
-Zhalia, take the ring.- Without thinking, Zhalia took the ring.
-Careful, that ring could shatter your brains,- Lok warned.
A light similar to the one that had enveloped Lok enveloped her, Zhalia cried out in pain like Lok, but unlike him, he did not fall. While the ring tried to seize his mind Zhalia managed to use a spell.
-Cage mental!
Just use it the light that enveloped it disappeared and Zhalia showed the ring on her finger with a big smile.
- Impressive, that spell is not seen every day. Come on, we'll go behind!
We ran to the exit that Lok had discovered.
Dante's POV end
Third person
The Organization came to the door of the room, and took an unpleasant surprise when he discovered that a pile of stones blocked it. Defoe clenched his jaw very hard.
-This is not going to stop me.
-Sir, do you want us to dig?-An agent asked innocently.
-Get out of the way!- He parted the lapels of his jacket a little, revealing perfectly his amulet hanging from his neck. -Kreutalk!- The manta-ray titan appeared next to his search engine waiting for orders-acid attack!
Kreutallk obeyed his master, clenched his fists and spat out a stream of nuclear green liquid that destroyed the rocks.
- Move!
Defoe ordered to his agents. His men ran into the room and searched it, but all they found were a pile of shattered armour and weapons on the ground. There was no trace of the ring or the Huntik team.
-Sir, the ring has disappeared.- Defoe quietly entered the room. -And there's no sign of the Foundation either.
-How could it be that Dante Vale has escaped us?
Third person end
Lok's POV
We had managed to outwit the Organization and reach a safe place. Dante had left Sophie on the floor and had commissioned Cherit and me to watch her and make sure she was okay at all times, while Dante and Zhalia talked about the ring, the Organization and the way out of here.
Sophie started waking up babbling things.
-If ... we got it, Dante ...- Sophie opened her eyes.
-Sophie, you're fine!
I sang excited, I was happy that Sophie was fine, but she was not happy to see me. As soon as her eyes opened completely she looked at me a little disappointed and pushed me away from her. I lowered my ears to his contempt, I'm sure he wanted to see Dante, since it was his name that he mentioned.
-What's going on?- Sophie asked, standing up.
-We were waiting for you "Bella sleeping" - Zhalia commented from the back of the room where we were, with her arms crossed.
-Sounds that you've woken up- said Cherit removing the bad mood.
-That's the Arc ring? - Sophie asked ignoring everyone and approaching the ring that was on a stone table. She put a hand to the ring without touching it.-Something is not right, I can feel it. It is cursed!
-We cannot do anything with the ring like that. Do you know of any spells Sophie can help us? "Dante asked.
-Yeah- Sophie nodded- Well ... maybe. I've read a lot about curses, but it's the first time I've seen a real one.
-And it will not be the last- Dante said enthusiastically.
-Come Sophie, calm, you'll get it- I said to Sophie with a big smile, I put my arm around her shoulders- you're the best at this.
-Well, I'll try.
Sophie took my arm off with a little discomfort, rolled my eyes and ignored it. Sophie closed her eyes and took the ring in her hands.
Lok's POV end
Sophie's POV
When I took the ring I saw some images in my mind. As a child calling my parents, Zhalia attacking me with a lot of hate, Dante fighting, Sabriel, his sword broke, and then his amulet making it disappears forever. Suddenly I heard Lok's voice over the images "Sophie, come back with us". I opened my eyes and managed to overlap the images and shout the name of power.
- Undertaker!
The ring shone brightly making us cover our eyes, the light was orange and no longer transmitted evil. The ring fell on the table making the light disappear. I collapsed on the table where the ring was.
-It works! - Lok exclaimed
-Yes- I said exhausted- But only for 30 minutes. Then the curse will be stronger than my magic.
-At least we have 30 minutes more- Dante put a hand on my shoulder- Well done- I smiled at Dante's congratulations.
Sophie's POV end
Third person
The Organization had been looking for the Huntik team for a while. Defoe had been waiting in the gentlemen's room while his team searched. Several agents and Grier came running. Grier approached his superior, straightened his back and placed himself in a military position, including the salute.
-Sir, we have not been able to find them- Grier informed.
-It does not matter; we have each and every one of the departures of the catacombs guarded. We will find them as soon as they leave.
Grier nodded.
-You've heard it, separate and cover all exits.
-Yes sir- the agents answered at the same time.
Third person end
Dante's POV
I took out the Holotomo and placed it on the table, I ran a finger along one of the engraved lines making it glow with the characteristic green colour of the Holotomo light.
-Seekers, we have a mission called: Ring Joan of Arc-the Holotomo opened and showed a card with the image of the armour room- Our goal is to move the arc ring away from the Organization and hide it in a safe place in the foundation Huntik.
Take the Holotomo card, and a 3-D hologram of our location appeared, along with the roads to be taken, our representations and those of the Organization.
-Notre Dame is a safe place of the Huntik Foundation- Sophie said thoughtfully- We could take him there, right?
-But look- Lok said discouraged leaning on the table, dropping his head in his hands while looking at the map-had not seen so many agents since the day of the parade of the armed forces. We cannot dodge them- Lok sat up.
-Right- Confirm me making Lok more depressed- But if we separate it will be easier and with the Holotomo we will have more opportunities to avoid them.
-I see,-Lok seemed to cheer up. -We'll go where there are fewer agents. Who will wear the ring?
-Fortunately my costume game has several rings- Zhalia intervened calmly giving me four rings identical to Joan of Arc -I've modified them with a spell and now we have three false ones.
I rubbed their rings on the boys.
-Great, now we have one each. The Organization will not know who to follow.
-But if they captured one of us, their magic can extract information from our brain- Sophie explained worriedly.
-Exact. So nobody will know who has the real ring, except me.
With that we observe the Holotmo and choose the paths that each one would follow. Once divided, I took my path, wishing that my team, especially my students, would do well. I summoned Slowing, who rested on my shoulder, to help me. I heard the voices of some French agents.
-None member of the Foundation would be stupid enough to go out here.
-I would not be so sure.
The second agent pointed at me with his finger.
- Dante Vale! - Both agents gasped at the same time.
I walked towards them with my hands in my pockets.
-You are French members of the Organization. It seems that Defoe has recruited you here.
-And what else does it matter?
-I give you the opportunity to surrender; you do not know what awaits you-I walked towards my next corridor ignoring the agents.
-Ridicule, Jokoul!
The titan was humanoid in shape, had horns and long blue night hair that came out of his chest, feet and back, wore loincloths, wore a necklace and a golden belt. It reminded me of a troll. Another agent invoked a Redcap. I stretched out my arm and Slowing flew towards the suits, took out Calibam's amulet and summoned it.
-Let's get this over with.
Calibam dealt with the titans and I with the agents. I caught an agent by surprise and I carried him on my shoulder. Calibam split Redcap in half. An agent with silver hair counterattacked with a Raypulse, I dodged jumping backwards, and causing the beam to hit the ground, when the dust dissipated I ran to the agent who had just found me and knocked him down with a punch in the jaw. The Jokoul had hidden in one of the tombs, removed the arm and caught Calibam's foot throwing him to the ground. The Jokoul jumped on Calibam's back.
-Slowing!
Before my call, Slowing flew at the enemy, knocking him down and plunging his claws into his chest, causing him to return to his amulet. The last agent did not really want to fight, so I gave him a stupid kick in the stomach pushing him against a wall. With a big smile, I took out the ring and showed it to him.
- Do you still want this?
-No, the truth is that no- the agent answered quickly with a trembling voice.
-Then go and tell your friends that I have it.
With that, I left the agents behind and left on my way.
Dante's POV end