Chapter 26
Dante's POV
The next morning we continued our way to the temple, we walked from dawn for hours, we only found snow and more snow, no sign of the temple or the guardians. Yesterday's blizzard had passed, today it was only snowing but I had the feeling that I could go further. We were walking near a cliff and the snow did not help. We walked in a row, with me in the lead guiding them with the Holotomo, Sophie and Zhalia in the middle and Lok in the end with Cherit.
-Be careful, a bad step and you can fall down the cliff- I warned my team.
-How much have we advanced Dante? - Lok asked shaking his tails to remove the excess snow.
-Five kilometres, or maybe more.
-The snow has ruined my new boots- Zhalia grumbled.-Is there any reason we're not using our powers?
-Dante said to keep them.
Sophie replied quite kindly. The clouds covered the sky and the snowstorm worsened in a matter of seconds.
-What spell are you using now exactly?
Sophie asked angrily. Some rays illuminated the sky and thunder echoed in the wind.
-This is not one of my spells.
Zhalia answered a little alarmed. I turned around to look at my team, the ground trembled every few seconds.
-So what's going on?- Sophie asked, now equally alarmed.
-Someone is coming -I screamed on the wind-Be on your guard. Prepare for whatever.
In the distance, in front of us appeared a gigantic figure, the snow made it difficult to distinguish if it was friend or enemy. The figure advanced until it became visible, we all let out a small choked cry. In front of us appeared a giant of ice, with a jagged beard and his fingers were sharp icicles of ice.
-That counts?
Lok asked, scared to death. My team began to retreat, I kept my position and scanned the newcomer with the Holotomo.
"Ymir, attack: 6, defence: 5, type: Warrior titan, size: colossal, special abilities: summon allies."
-A giant of ice-Sophie commented.-I read about him last night. The guardians must have invoked it.
- I already feared it, it's titan Ymir. You can create an ice army to fight with him.
-What's the plan?- Lok asked determinedly.
-I'll face him in a frontal attack-in the Holotomo a map of our situation appeared- you put yourself here, here and here-mark with your finger the positions of each one in the map, in the places appeared blue dots- and try to distract him. Lok, follow his tracks to find out where it comes from.
Before we knew it, Ymir was in front of us.
-Oh wow,- Lok groaned. -He does not seem very nice.
-It is not that it does not look like it, it is that it is not
Zhalia shouted. Ymir roared, letting his icy breath freeze for a moment.
- Move! - My team went to the positions I had assigned them - Touchhot! - My attack hits the eyes of the colossal creature. Ymir stirred a little but recovered almost immediately.
-It has not worked. It's very strong- Cried Lok
-Plan B -The girls took off their backpacks and left them on the floor- Run!
Lok and I did the same. The cold made us all slower, but Lok in particular, must have been struggling with his desire to change and that delayed him.
-Lok in a hurry! Come on!
-Electric-jum!
-Anger!
From my hand came a red beam that fell right where Ymir was resting his foot, from the snow sprouted vines full of thorns that caught the leg of the giant, Ymir roared as he fell to the ground. When he fell he sent Lok flying a few meters away, falling in front of me.
- Fast, over here!
I passed by Lok and ran to Ymir, rather to where he came from. The girls followed me and immediately Lok got up and followed us too.
-What are you doing, and if there's more like him?-Zhalia asked quite angry.
-We'll run the risk; we have to follow his tracks to the temple before the snow covers them.
-Faster!
Sophie screamed when she saw that the vines were breaking. Ymir got up and spat out a current of frozen air that knocked us down. We got up with difficulty; the snow that still surrounded us disappeared showing some creatures of ice around us.
-Oh oh. This does not look good- Lok commented somewhat nervously.
-Calm down - We all kept calm and watched our enemies carefully- Okay. Prepare-After a second I put my hand to my neck and took out Calibam's amulet -Go out Calibam!
-Emerge Sabriel!
-Now Freelancer!
-Gareon! Kilthane! Quick.
Once all our titans were summoned, the battle began. Sabriel and Calibam were the first to hit and destroy Ymir's allies. Freelancer slipped and fell to the ground on his back, one of the creatures of ice jumped on him, luckily Kilthane saved him, but was attacked from behind and fell to the ground.
-We need to hit them harder- Zhalia exclaimed worried about her titan.
-I've brought a special titan for this occasion. And the time has come to use it. "I spread my coat, revealing the amulet that I had taken at home tied to my belt." Destroy them Ignatius!
Shining with violet I glide my hand across the ground raised enough snow. At the end of the snow wave appeared a huge stone ball on fire, his legs were more muffled and his arms were so bright that they glowed brightly. Ignatius spat a stream of lava at the icy creatures, melting them. Ymir did not like it so much that he defeated his allies and started approaching us in a threatening way.
-Lok, Sophie, follow your prints back to the temple, we will stay here.
-Very good.
Sophie did not protest after Lok's nod. They both left running.
-Gareon, slow it down.
Obeying his seeker, Gareon shot Ymir in the eyes with his laser gaze, but it had no effect, like my initial attack. I attacked him with Rayfire, but it did not work either and Ymir continued his way ignoring Zhalia and me.
-We do not care. Try to keep the secret of the temple safe.
At Zhalia's comment, I ran out to catch up with Ymir and prevent him from hurting the boys. When you get to Ymir's foot, jump and use a special power, "Spider Touch", some viscous blue threads came out of my hand and helped me to grab his leg and not fall.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
Sophie and I were running in the footsteps of Ymir, I was glad that Dante had sent me to run and that I was getting hot and my desire to transform disappeared. I looked back and saw Ymir following us.
- He still follows us!
-Quick!
Sophie and I continue running, now with more strength. Cherit flew in front of us when he stopped and looked at us alarmed.
-Watch out!
Sophie and I stopped in time to avoid falling over the cliff. In front of us, in the middle of the precipice, there was a huge column of ice.
-Let's see if you've studied something.
Said Sophie really funny. We both ran to opposite sides leaving a long distance between us. When Ymir reached us, he looked at us both without knowing exactly who to go to. Sophie and I attacked him together with Electricray and Lightpulse, we both aimed him in the eyes. Ymir swerved and wobbled while doing odd movements with his hands. When I noticed I saw Dante on Ymir's back.
-Dante?-Cherit muttered. -What are you doing there?
- This is not as easy as it seems.
Dante said while dodging Ymir's claws. Finally the tug fell down the cliff. Sophie and I approached the place where Ymir had fallen alarmed.
-Wait, what about Dante?- I asked, hoping that Sophie had the answer.
-It was trying to save us. It must have fallen to the precipice.
-I've told you guys- Dante's voice sounded fun. Dante finished climbing and stood in front of Sophie and me.
-Dante you're fine! - I exclaimed surprised.
-Did you have any doubt?
A rumble sounded behind us, Zhalia joined us and we all watched in amazement as the huge column of ice broke up raising a large curtain of snow.
-The ice is breaking! - Cherit exclaimed
-The giant's fall must have caused it.
When the ice finished breaking on the other end we could see the temple of Thor.
-I cannot believe it, it's there, the temple of Thor- I said full of amazement.
-It's beautiful- Sophie commented.
-Well, now that we already agree that it's wonderful. Does anyone have any idea how we can get there? - Zhalia said in her usual tone.
-Wait,- Sophie interjected thoughtfully. -I read something, something about a bridge.
-What about a bridge? - Dante asked very interested.
- I read that it united the world of the mortals with the world of the Gods.
-It's a rainbow, right? It goes out when it rains and it is sunny- Finish me.
-Yes, it is formed when the sun's rays pass through small drops of water contained in the atmosphere. I'm surprised you know that.
-Observation- I said while shrugging my shoulders
-If we could create the right conditions...
We all kept thinking about how to make a rainbow come out.
-I'm kids, I have an idea.- The four of them looked at me curiously- Dante, can you summon Ignatius?
-This can be interesting. Let's see what you have in mind- Dante redrew the amulet of Ignatius -Ignatius!
-Girls, I know that some of you must have some power that allows them to levitate or stay in the air.
I looked at the girls with big smiles, Sophie nodded.
-Okay, what do you want me to do?
I looked at Ignatius.
-Can you make it go up?
-Gravity!
Ignatius shone with a white light and began to ascend until reaching the clouds, Ignatius spat lava, the snow melted and it started to rain.
-Zhalia, if you're so kind-Dante asked with amusement
-There's nothing my Strix cannot get through. Strix!
With that the wasps crossed the clouds allowing the sunrays to illuminate the cliff and us. The rainbow bridge was created before our eyes.
-It worked! - Cherit shouted
-Did you doubt my idea , Cherit-I said with a mocking tone. Cherit did not answer, he just smiled and shrugged.
-Well! -Exclaimed Sophie
-Not bad- Zhalia said hiding her astonishment at the spectacular bridge.
-Well, now we only have one thing left to do-Dante approached the bridge-Come on.
With that we started walking on the bridge, which turned out to be very long. On the way I was asking Cherit how it was possible that Dante had gone up to Ymir and used a plant spell, he explained to me about Dante's "Arachnid Touch" power, I did not understand anything despite Cherit's explanation so that I had to go to Dante.
-Dear, how could you possibly use those powers? He believed that we could only use natural powers for each one.
-Well, there are exceptions, there are powers that can be learned, but because they are not natural for creatures like you and me, they are more complicated to learn and even impossible.
-Could you show me? - I asked excited
-First, focus on learning the essentials.
Dante smiled amused and Sophie laughed, I glared at them. We continue walking in silence for a while longer. When we were arriving something attacked Zhalia.
-What is that? - She asked as she put on his hat.- Dante!
Thank God Zhalia noticed Dante, giving him time to duck before a giant ice bird tore his head off. We all looked up at the sky, a couple of birds were flying over us when a double-bladed axe went flying and destroyed them, then it was nailed to the ice.
-That's what I call it getting rid of by the hair.
Said a hoarse and deep voice, when we turned around we saw a tall man, stocky, and a little potbellied, had grey hair and beard, like his ears and his wolf tail. He wore a red coat, big boots, a light brown sweater, gloves and wide pants. On his right shoulder he carried another axe identical to the one he had thrown.
-Montehue. What a surprise- Dante said with reluctance.
-I am also glad to see you. I've been looking for you and your friends all over the fjord. Good thing I'm wearing good boots- Montehue raised one of his boots.
-How did you find out about our mission?
-My assistant told me.
Montehue pulled away, revealing Tesly, wearing gloves, a green scarf, and a green coat.
-I ... I force myself to tell you.
-I'm sure of it- Dante laughed a little.
-Well, it seems that you and your friends have found the magical temple. It must not have been easy. Of course I would have taken less.
-I'm sorry to interrupt- Dante seemed annoyed- But we are surrounded by birds.
Before he said it, before they attacked us.
-Disperse- Dante ordered
-I'll take care- said Montehue very confident.
The birds threw themselves at us. Tesly had crouched but the birds saw it the same, one of them darted for him, grabbing him by the sleeve of his coat, started pulling, then another came and grabbed him by the scarf. Tesly was scared to death, but managed to summon a titan.
-Venadek! Help!
The titan was huge, it looked like a dinosaur, it had a long tail that ended in a scorpion sting, in its long feet it had two sharp claws and its hands were blades, its yellow eyes were like those of a crocodile and in its mouth I had snake fangs. Venadek got rid of the birds without any difficulty.
Cherit and I were running away from a bird, seeing that we could not escape, I crouched down, taking Cherit's scarf, throwing it to the ground in the process, luckily the bird only took my hat. Cherit smiled at me in gratitude.
-Ignatius attacks!
Ignatius appeared spitting lava at the birds and in a few secondsin he melted the majority. Montehue destroyed a few with his axe. The rest of the birds fled. Dante returned Ignatius to his amulet.
-Well, thank God I came.
-I do not know what we would have done without you Monty
Dante said reluctantly. Sophie helped Zhalia to get up and Tesly was recovering from what had happened.
-Let's go, I was just kidding.
-I'm sorry to interrupt- I approached the two- But the temple is there.
-True. And since we are all here we should take the hammer you do not believe-Montehue kept his axes.
-Your first Monty-Dante waved his arm.
-What kind- Montehue stepped next to us and Tesly followed him.
We all walk towards the temple. The doors opened and a man came out wearing a black cloak with a hood and a long white beard. We stopped at the end of the bridge and he approached.
-I see that you got it- His deep voice had a slight threat tone-We were waiting for you in our humble temple.
-We already see it.- Dante commented.
-We have been informed that you would arrive soon with the intention of taking a certain ... artefact.
-And if it is,-Dante answered with a menacing tone.
-For friends here.
The guard began to guide us inland.
-Do you think we should trust ourselves?- I asked.
-Of course not.-Zhalia answered sharply.
-We could not cross that door. If he lets us in, we'll follow him. -Dante whispered.
-But one you see inside ...- I whispered too.
-Anything can happen- Montehue finished.
-Good to the temple of Thor.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
The guardian moved aside leaving us to pass once we were all inside the door closed. The man led us through the corridors until we came to a circular room with multiple exits.
-If you are so kind to wait here, my lord will receive you in a moment. -The guardian left by the exit that we had before us.
-Forming a defensive perimeter- I ordered. Everyone dispersed in a circle around me. I took out the Holotomo- Holotomo you have a map of the temple based on what you see.
-Dear, this person gives off the same smell that spied on us in London- I notice Lok.
-Although you're very happy to get out of the cold- Sophie teased.
-I lost my hat less than two minutes ago and I do not feel my ears, none of the four.
-It seems the moment of jokes- Zhalia protested.
Finally the Holotomo finished scanning the temple.
-The situation is this-I pointed to the map of the Holotomo- There are two exits, if they attack us we will leave here- I started to walk towards the exit -and Lok and Sophie will cover our backs.
-I prefer to improvise- Montehue said with a big smile as he took out his axes.
-I see that we have overvalued your intelligence, Dante Vale-The leader of the guardians appeared by the exit that our guide had used.
-This temple is under the command of the Organization- A bald man with glasses and a violet coat came out from behind the guardian- And you yourself have entered your grave.
-If this grave is only for Dante, you will have to build several more for the rest- Lok protested
-I like your puppy, Vale- Murmured Monty.
Many guards entered the room shining bright blue.
-Surrender now and we will be merciful, if you do not do it, you will not live to regret it.
-What do you say? -I asked Montehue-do we give up?
-Yeah right. Oh! Wait, on Thursday I give a lecture at the museum. I can not- Montehue said mockingly.
-Oh, it hurts. Then we will fight.
With a battle cry, Montehue and I launched into battle. Our enemies did not expect that answer. Once the bald man gave the order the guardians attacked.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
Dante and Montehue went into battle.
-To be a seeker, you explore strange cultures and they always attack you. - After the little joke I got serious- Let's go there, Freelancer!
-Defend us Sabriel!
Our titans appeared wanting to fight.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
Montehue and I take care of the leader guardian and the agent of the Organization. When we approached, the guard tried to hit me in the face with a power that I call "Thunderous cut", it did not sound very good, I bent down and kicked him, fell on my back and the guard almost fell on top of me, but I put my feet on the belly and I sent it flying above me. Montehue went to attack the Organization's agent when he summoned a Jokoul. Montehue did not retreat, but attacked with more force.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
Sabriel was dodging magical attacks from the guardians and when she could knock them out, Freelancer was not as skilled and was struck by the magical fist of a guardian.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
Montehue was still trying to cut the Jokoul with his axes, but to no avail, the Titan was very fast and dodged all his attacks. Use "Feetfire" to jump on the titan and throw it to the ground.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
Tesly remained quiet until a guardian took it with him, Zhalia had to come to his rescue very reluctantly.
-I thought all the Foundation's agents were brave.
Zhalia got rid of two guards using "Unbreakable".
-We've struggled enough, let's go! - I suggested / ordered the others.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
Montehue and I were on the ground being attacked by several guards, but with two moves we got rid of them.
-It's nice to fight by your side, Dante. But we are competitors. I will take the hammer, and you do not forget it.
-I will not forget. But our friends come first
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
Zhalia was still fighting the guardians to defend Tesly. A guard escaped from her and managed to reach Tesly. He hit him in the belly with "Thunderous cut". Tesly writhed as the power spread through her body. Montehue did not like the fact that they put their hands on him.
-Tesly, iron fist!
Montehue threw himself at the guardian who now held Tesly in the air by the neck and was about to hit him again. Montehue hit the guardian so hard that he hit the central column, causing it to crack and break. The roof rumbled and the fight froze. The roof was falling on us!
-All the world, out!
We went running towards the exit that Dante had indicated us at first. Montehue stayed to help Tesly who was unconscious. A few meters away from the exit I fell to the ground after feeling a horrible pain and much desire to mourn, a huge stone had crushed one of my tails, and it hurt, a lot.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
-Dante!- Montehue's scream spun me around, holding Tesly unconscious in his arms. -Get it!-
With that Montehue threw Tesly as if it were a ball for me to catch. Luckily I calculate well and Tesly fell into my arms, I turned around and put Tesly safe.
Dantes's POV end
Lok's POV
I tried to take the stone off, but it was very heavy and the pain was driving me crazy, and if I did not release the rocks, they would bury me. Montehue approached me. And he began to push the rock to get rid of it. Between the two of us, we managed to free my precious tail.
-Come on; let's get out of here
Montehue helped me get up and half carried me to the exit with the others. But rocks buried it and we could not get through. Without thinking Montehue lifted me off the ground, in the same way that Dante had done when we met, and ran to the other exit, jumped and threw us through the door.
Lok's POV end