Chapter 27
Lok's POV
Rocks blocked the door. Montehue jumped up, I sat on the floor.
-You see, it has not been so bad- Montehue said with amusement.
-I love collapses, do not you?- I teased.
- Dangerous situations are good for the heart.
-Cherit! And Cherit ?!
-I'm here.
Cherit's head came out of my hood with a smile. I sighed with relief. I caught my tail hurt and put it in my lap with pain, I still wanted to cry.
-Then you are Lok- I nodded- Tesly told me about you when I took the information from your mission. He was right, impacted a little on the first impression- Montehue laughed and knelt in front of me- Let's look at your tail.-Montehue began to examine my tail carefully, he treated it very delicately, which I thought someone as he could not do.
-How did you know that Tesly was hiding our presence?
-I smelled the smell of Dante- Montehue let out a laugh- It's very characteristic, you already understand me. Once I asked Tesly about that I got the rest. Do you want to hear something funny?
-Clear.
-Don't imagine Dante with a puppy- Montehue laughed again.
-Yeah ... Au! - I moaned when Montehue moved my tail a little.
-Good news, it is not broken, it seems that only pain, do not move much- Montehue helped me get up- Come on, we ran out of time.
-We must reach the others.
-We will look for you later, when you have the Mijollnir hammer.
We started walking without knowing where we were going.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
Sophie and I were next to Tesly trying to calm him down, Zhalia was not too happy to have to put up with him.
-Oh no, it's horrible, I'm claustrophobic.
-The collapse is over. So behave like a man and calm down.
Zhalia said without much help. I helped Tesly to get up and I leaned on her.
-Dante, do not you think that ... Lok and Motehue ... have been there ... crushed? - Sophie asked scared.
-I'm sure they're fine-I said very sure of my answer, although in reality I had the same fear as Sophie.
-With all due respect, how do you know?- Tesly asked.
-Because my destiny is that Montehue follows me everywhere, until I'm old and gray.
-Those are the things with which a girl is identified - Zhalia joked in a better mood.
-And now we must keep moving. Come on.
We walked to a golden door and began to inspect it.
-I think I hear voices around here sir! - A guardian shouted. Tesly lamented.
-Is this part of your plan? - Zhalia asked me
-In reality- I looked at her and smiled satisfactorily- Yes.
-There are!- A group of guardians was walking in our direction. "Infidels can not escape.
-Rayfire!- With that I destroyed the door.
-They have broken the seal!
The altered guardians shouted. We went through the door and started down some stairs.
-I do not understand- Zhalia reflected- Why do not they follow us?
We arrived at a cave full of magical ice crystals.
-Because they are faithful, and this area of the temple is forbidden to them.
-But why? Is there something that scares them?
-So is. And it's stored down here.
-Oh holy heaven! We left the pan to fall into the fire-Tesly cried.
-This cave ... I cannot believe it, but it seems that ... - Sophie touched one of the walls and they all shone.
-The walls are streaked with magic- Tesly finished impressed.
-What for?- Zhalia asked.
-It is a source of power for a titan to remain active when his search engine is not.
-A wild titan? - Exclaimed Sophie scandalized.
-With so much energy that you can roam free for thousands of years.
-What kind of titan? - Tesly asked terrified.
-A very dangerous one.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
Montehue and I continued to wander the corridors of the temple, Montehue was looking for the hammer and I was looking for our friends. Despite my animal skills, I was unable to track them or even detect threats; the cold must have made me dumb, though luckily, when I lost my hat, my ears were free to hear if someone approached us. Occasionally we stopped for a moment for Montehue to examine my tail, despite having said that it was not broken, he did not seem very sure of that. After half an hour walking, Montehue thought he had found his way to the hammer.
-By here, I see a light.
Following Montehue, we came to a huge room, with golden walls and full of symbols, on the floor were stairs that led to large but shallow holes and on the walls there were identical stairs.
-I hear voices in the great hall!
A guard shouted alerting us. A group of guardians directed towards us, and by their steps I deduce that not very happy. Montehue grabbed my arm and dragged me into one of the holes.
-Quick, low. -We sat in the back hidden by shadows.
-No exit.
-We'll find it, boy.
Montehue winks at me in a very good mood. It was very different from Dante. Dante would remain calm and would already have a plan, in addition, would look for others, instead, Montehue seemed that this whole situation amused him, he was not worried about others, not even Tesly, and just thought about the hammer.
-Okey. Montehue, why is there a rivalry between you and Dante? It will not be because of that nonsense of vampires and werewolves, right?
-Of course not, the rivalry exists since we met.
-How did you meet?
-I am a devotee of the art of war, spend my youth collecting artefacts, and when I was exploring a ruin hidden in the Valley of Death, I met your mentor, Dante Vale. Since I saw him, I had two clear things: that he was a great man, and that I had to be better. We were both looking for the same artefact, and when we ran down the mountain, I did not know that Dante had given me an amulet. I guess he thought that the race would be fair. Soon I was in a precarious position, and when I thought I was lost, Dante came to my rescue, and although I had snatched the victory, gave me something much more precious. When my hand touched that amulet, my life changed. That scoundrel opened my eyes to the world of the titans. And since then I have been a seeker. I owe my life in more ways than one, the one I was about to lose, and the one I'm carrying now.
-If you appreciate it, work with it.
-Never! We are friends through the competition.
-Sure- Cherit added very convinced.
-Now we are at peace. This time I will be the one to take the prize.
The guards entered the room and investigated. Montehue leaned out a little to see the danger, a guardian turned to the direction of Montehue, but hid in time to not be seen, although they almost discovered us, when Montehue hid I accidentally stepped on a queue, and not just any, but the one that was already hurt. I covered my mouth with my hands and two of my tails to cover the scream, besides the tears accumulated in my eyes, Montehue also covered my mouth and Cherit stroked my head to calm me down. The guards went to our hiding place when a noise sounded in the temple and the guardians ran out to see what it was. Once alone Montehue took my hand and I my tails. I looked at Montehue with all the hatred I could muster at that moment, but I think it was not much, I'm sure it just showed a lot of pain. Montehue apologized a couple of times while I went back to examining my tail; Cherit was still trying to calm me by stroking my head. I was about to protest when Montehue handed me a pill and his canteen.
-What is it? - I asked, the face of Montehue changed to sadness, until I could notice the desire to cry that I had in my voice. I took the pill and drank water.
-It is an anti-inflammatory. I always carry it, Tesly is a little clumsy and I usually step on or thresh the tail with the doors a couple of times a day. I know what hurts. This will relieve you for a while.
- That's why you know how it treats?
- Exactly, they are things of the life that one finishes learning - We waited until the medicine took effect - the danger has passed. Let's move on!
Lok's POV end
Zhalia's POV
We walked through that tunnel to the end, on the way we had to endure the groans, tears and complaints of Tesly. I hate goblins, they're cowards and complain, and Tesly's pixie part was proving it. At the end of the tunnel, there were several entries; again, these guardians liked the labyrinth more than Lok. In one of the walls there were no doors, but a kind of seal made with a stone serpent. We go to her without hesitation.
-This sculpture also has magical properties.
Sophie approached the snake and ran her hand over it, the snake glowing blue and twisted around in circles until it returned to its initial position. Dante took out his Holotomo and held it as if it were a book.
-It's part of a puzzle, the key to finding Thor's hammer. But I think we're not alone. -Dante looked at the tunnel through which we had arrived.
-Your bad luck stays.
I affirmed him. In the Holotomo a map of all the tunnels of this section of the temple appeared, and running through one of them there was a red figure in the shape of an animal.
"Fenris: attack: 4, defence: 4, type: lithotitan, size: large, special abilities: attack fury"
In the Holotmo Fenris appeared in a 3D figure, then turned into a card showing Fenris as a rabid wolf in armour.
-Great.
Dante clenched his jaw. A noise behind us made us all jump.
-It's the strongest nordic monster. What are we going to do?
Tesly cried, scared to death, along with his hands and began to tremble, although this time I cannot blame him, when Fenris entered the room I also wanted to shake, but I could not afford it, I am a seeker with a reputation to maintain.
-Keep calm- Dante ordered keeping his fear at bay.
Fenris was a huge wolf, his fur was gray, he wore a Nordic armour, his front legs looked like huge hands with sharp claws and to complete his menacing appearance, he possessed a huge denture full of sharp teeth inside his drooling mouth, and a look of crazy. Fenris stood on his hind legs and moved his front legs in fists to threaten us as he roared. We all backed up, Sophie clung to the wall behind her, Fenris fixed his gaze on her with rage and roared, opening his jaw completely. Tesly kept shaking and screamed.
-Don't eat me please!
-Calm Tesly- I ordered him.
-Dante, we have to do something!
Tesly pleaded. Fenris ran towards us.
-Disperse!
At the command of Dante I used "Hiperstride" to jump to my right side, Sophie flew out, Dante used "Feetfire" and Tesly, froze in place being the goal of Fenris.
-Help!
-I got you
Dante pushed himself into a wall and flew over Tesly grabbing him from the hood and dragging him with him, preventing Fenris from putting his claws on him. Dante rolled on his back and threw Tesly in my direction.
-Zhalia, take care of him
-No problem. Bubblelift!
From my hands came a blue bubble that trapped Tesly, causing him to float aimlessly. Dante was placed in a combat position. Dante threw a "Rayfire" at Fenris leaving him dazed, Dante jumped on him by stepping on his head and landing on the other side. Fenris roared back in anger, waving his fists in the air.
-Why does not Dante use his titans? Fight Kilthane!
Kilthane appeared and thrust his sword into Fenris's belly, who seemed not to notice it much. Fenris struck Kilthane with his arm causing him to return to his amulet. I could not believe it, Kilthane was a very strong titan and it was difficult to return it to his amulet.
-You're spending your power- Dante said while dodging a blow from Fenris.
-He's right,- Sophie said. -Fenris draws his strength from the magic of this temple; you can not defeat him by attacking like this.
-March, I'll reach you.
Sophie and I hesitated a moment, but decided to follow him after sharing a look. The bubble that contained Tesly approached Sophie and she punctured it with a finger, Tesly fell to the ground and Sophie helped him up.
-You are very nice coming here.
-Eh ... Thanks.
Sophie pulled Tesly toward the exit and I followed, the last I saw was Fenris hurling himself at Dante.
Zhalia's POV end
Lok's POV
After leaving the main hall we walked to a room with a statue of a man, wearing Nordic clothes and a Viking helmet, on the pedestal of the statue was a rope tied.
-Over here I have not seen any trace of Thor's followers. They are afraid to follow us, so this must be a restricted area. - Montehue explained to me.
-We must be near the Mijollnir hammer.
-Dante! - Sophie's scream echoed through the corridors- You have to get out of there!
-Do not!
Without hesitation, we ran to our friends.
Lok's POV
Dante's POV
I was running from Fenris. Use "Fettfire" to propel me and bounce on a wall to gain distance with the titan. Fenris ran after me with much desire, after turning another corner I saw the girls waiting for me behind a door prepared to close it.
Dante's POV end
Zhalia's POV
- Come on, Dante! Hurry up!
Sophie shouted, we were both very worried.
-It is getting tired. I think he cannot use more powers anymore- lamented Sophie.
-I should help you, but I can not- I was very frustrated, I could not do anything but sit still watching.
-Zhalia is not your fault.
Dante was a few feet from the door, but Fenris was catching up to him, he stuck out his tongue and hit him in the back with it, Dante fell to the ground and rolled until he ended up on his back. Sophie screamed. Dante used "Niblefire," kicked Fenris' face and pushed himself through the door. Fenris roared angrily and ran quickly to the door. Sophie and I were already closing it, Tesly made the closing. Dante was recovering behind us. I was glad to see that he had survived.
Zhalia's POV end
Lok's POV
Montehue and I arrived to our friends guided by the commotion.
-Don't hold much time. -Dante said as he gasped for air.
-Keep the one?- Montehue asked. We got to them.
-You were not in trouble? - I asked worried.
-Yes, it's there.-Tesly pointed to the door behind them.
-What is that?
-In the old Nordic legends there is a story about Thor and a powerful dog ... -Explained Tesly, forgetting about the danger
-The dog is Fenris, did not Thor tie him with a magic rope?-Sophie continued.
-Gleinir, the rope that cannot be broken-Tesly finished.
-Our survival depends on that rope- Dante said with determination.
-There is nothing to be afraid- Montehue said, in a good mood-we will find it, Tesly and I-Montehue hit the back of Tesly, Tesly glared at him while repositioning- And we will be faster than you.
-That we'll see.
Dante looked angry. Montehue dragged Tesly to the place where we had come.
-I suspect that Gleimnir is in some hidden room. -Decided Sophie. Dante was thoughtful.
-Well, if Fenris is locked in here and he's afraid of him, the rope can not walk away- Reason-Hey! I know where it is!
-Show the way- Cherit asked.
The others did not hesitate for a second of me and followed me through the corridors until I reached the room of the statue.
-There it is.
-I pointed to the rope tied to the pedestal of the statue. Zhalia knelt in front of the knot and tried to untie it.
-I feel a strong magic aura.-Sophie extended her hand a little toward the rope. -It's really the Gleinir rope!"
Zhalia was still trying to untie the rope with great effort when a noise caught our attention.
-He has already entered- Dante declared.
-This knot could not be untied just like that- Zhalia said without stopping trying.
-Wait, we need a teacher in tricks and traps. Springer! - Springer threw herself into the knot of the rope-You have to untie it, and fast!
Fenris roars every time they were louder and closer, he addressed us quickly and was very angry.
-We have to stand here.
Dante said with conviction. Sophie did not like the idea very much, but I knew we had no escape. Fenris was already in front of us drooling with his gaping jaws and his crazy look. Springer had finally managed to untie the rope and returned to his amulet.
-With rope or without it we have it on top.
After Dante's warning, Fenris's roars sounded very angry down the hall. Zhalia and I finished untying the rope; we had one end while the other was still attached to the pedestal.
-I got it!
I sang happy until I turned around and found myself face to face with Fenris, who threw himself at me without thinking.
-Lok, the rope!
Thanks to Dante's scream I was able to react and I jumped to the side throwing the rope to Dante on the way.
-I'll send you to the kennel, with leash included.
Now Fenris had focused on Dante. Dante took advantage of Fenris's jump to pass the rope over and let it fall on his neck, still holding the end. Cherit flew over Fenris 'head distracting him as Zhalia ran to Fenris' back to catch the other end.
-Catch Me If You Can…
Fenris's movements for catching Cherit made im get entangled in the rope even more. Dante smiled satisfied and pulled the rope catching Fenris in it. Once on the floor he threw a jaw made with the rope to the nose to close its jaws. The girls tied the rope in Fenris's legs. I ran to help Dante hold Fenris. Dante and I were pulling the same side and the other girls.
-Try the rope. Throw as much as you can, "ordered Dante.
-I'm a seeker, not a dogcatcher.
Zhalia protest. I watched Fenris for a moment. Trapped, scared, trying to escape ... while still pulling I felt my breathing cut off and I lost strength in my arms and legs.
Finally Fenris shone in a purple tone and disappeared with a small explosion that threw us all to the ground. An amulet fell to the ground from the explosion.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV.
The girls and I get up exhausted.
-Yes, we got it!
Sophie sang very happy. I went to pick up Fenris's amulet. It was stone, two peaks on the sides and at the base had small gold spikes, in the middle there was a purple drop.
-Fenris kept the stone serpent's camera- I declared- That will be the next challenge.
Lok got up and approached us. He was a little pale and distracted. We headed to the place where we found the stone snake and where Fenris made his appearance. On the way I asked Lok if he was okay, he told me yes and let him be. You could tell he was not well but he did not know why. Once before the snake Sophie and Lok came up to it and watched it.
-If the stone serpent is a lock, perhaps it adopts determines form.
Suggested Lok. Behind us were the footsteps of several people running. Zhalia and I turned around to see who was approaching, to our surprise Montehue and Tesly entered the room.
-Dante! I see you have not been caught. Montehue placed his hands on his hips, I imitated him.
-Not yet. And to you so little.
-Well..., it may not be long.
Montehue pointed to the hallway he had come through and I could see an army of guardians coming towards us.
-And do you think bringing them here has been a good idea?
Montehue did not answer Zhalia's question. I did not like the idea so much, we just got rid of Fenris and we were in danger again. When we finished the mission, I would talk seriously with Montehue about the priority of the safety of the children.
-Lok, Sophie, open that door. Everyone else, we have to keep them there, in the hallway. Touch! "With that I knocked down several of the guards who were in the front line.
-Gareon! -When Gareon appeared he attacked with his laser eye and Zhalia with "Raypulse"
-That will not stop them long - Montehue said while pushing a sculpture similar to a column - Although they are more lazy than a litter of kittens - He threw the sculpture.
-Give him a hand, Calibam!- Calibam appeared at my side. -Quick, help him!
Calibam and Montehue pushed the sculpture to block the door.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
We watched the snake while the others faced the guardians; Tesly joined Sophie and me and pulled out a book. When I touched the snake it twisted.
-Hey..! Something wrong.
-Entrant at any time- Dante said very annoyed.
-We're trying- I answered a little annoyed. I turned my gaze towards the snake- Hey! Look at this- look at the tail and head of this snake. Did you do the same as me? - The snake's mouth was open and its tail was a few inches away from her.
-It looks like a lock- Cherit sang very happy- Now you think like a seeker.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
The boys were making progress, but they were not the only ones, some guardians had started to climb the sculpture.
-Slowing, fight!
Slowing picked up the guards' hoods and threw them back into the hall. Montehue and Caliban were still holding the sculpture against the entrance, which was not easy since the attacks of the guards began to break the sculpture.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
Cherit stuck the snake's tail into her mouth, but nothing happened.
-There must be something else- I said worried.
Lok's POV end
Dante's POV
The guards used "thunderous attack" to knock down the sculpture that was breaking more and more.
-When they pass will be too many. We will have to leave this room.
That would mean abandoning the mission.
I frowned at Zhalia's comment, I knew she was right but I did not like the idea.
Dante's POV end
Lok's POV
-I cannot decipher it- I said depressed.
-Wait,- Sophie jumped. -In Nordic mythology there is something similar.
-That's. It's the serpent Uroboros- Tesly affirmed looking up from his book.
-The infinite serpent- Sophie continued. I did not find out about anything-it is a snake in the form of eight, the symbol of infinity.
Cherit placed the snake in the correct position and the door opened. The guardians broke the sculpture by throwing Montehue into the air and causing Calibam to return to his amulet. Montehue got up very happy, drawing his two axes.
-Let them come close.
-The door is open! - I shouted to others
-It is our opportunity. Come on! - Sophie shouted
-Monty
Dante told Montehue very happy to continue our mission. We all enter the camera. Cherit parted the tail of the mouth and changed the shape of the snake causing the door to close giving him just enough time not to be crushed.
We were in a dark stone corridor. Dante used "Firebolt" to enlighten us and Sophie "Lightbolt." We took a moment to relax a bit, Montehue took the opportunity to ask about my tail, which I did not want him to do, I did not want Dante to know that he had hurt me, again but it was too late, everyone found out.
-What happened to you in the queue? - Dante asked me with half-open eyes.
-Nothing, quiet...
-A rock was crushed,- Montehue said to my regret. -But it's nothing.
-Yeah... -Dante said- Sure. I smiled nervously.
-Quiet, it's not that bad, I'll take care of that.
-Yes, and step on it too- Cherit commented.
-Did you really step on his tail? - Sophie asked without believing much.
-Aha. And it hurt a lot- I said in a bad mood.
-Well, it is not so much- Before the comment of Dante Montehue, before me.
-What is not for so much? It hurts like a demon; it's horrible, frightening, painful.
-Like Lok's exams." Sophie teased softly.
-In the end, if you do not have a queue, you cannot comment-Montehue finished.
-I'm sorry to interrupt- Zhalia intervened angrily-But we have a hammer to catch. And the most important. Where is the hammer?!
-This here- I affirmed
-And how do you know? Eh ... Do you have a radar for magical items? "Zhalia continued
-Do not. But if for electricity, and I can tell you that at the end of this corridor there is a large amount. Come on.
I passed through the whole world in a bad mood, between the cold, my tail, Fenris and the damned guardians was fed up with Thor and his hammer.
Lok's POV end