Several tense moments stretched on as the Cybersquad stood frozen beneath the intense gaze of the cube-shaped man, His pixelated eyes seemed to pierce through them, examining their very essence as he repeated his question, this time with greater intensity.
"I said, Who. The Hell. Are you?"
Jackie swallowed hard, finally managing to speak. "W-We're the Cybersquad!" She stammered, then took a deep breath to steady herself. "Who are you?"
The man regarded them for a moment before slowly lowering his sword. "I'm Steve." He replied cautiously.
"Nice to meet you, Steve!" Martin said, stepping forward and offering his hand.
Steve paused for a moment before shaking Martin's hand. His serious demeanor eased a bit as a small smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "Likewise… I guess."
"Thanks again for saving us!" Jackie exclaimed, her voice brimming with appreciation. "We really appreciate it!"
Steve shrugged, attempting to downplay it. "Oh, it was nothing. But… If you don't mind me asking, what are you doing out so late?"
Inez took a deep breath before responding. "It's a long story, but we really need to get to the Farlands."
Steve's brow furrowed. "The Farlands? Why do you need to go there?"
Martin interjected. "Well, we're searching for four powerful crystals that can control the multiverse."
"And we have to find them before Hacker and the other villains do," Matt chimed in.
"If Hacker gets to them first, he'll take over the entire universe!" Inez said urgently.
"And we believe one of those crystals is hidden in the Farlands," Digit concluded.
Steve crossed his arms, lost in thought. "The Farlands, huh?" He murmured. "That's a dangerous place—strange landscapes, endless voids, and all kinds of things that defy logic. It's not a place for travelers, especially those without weapons or armor."
Martin rubbed his arm, still rattled from their earlier encounter. "Yeah… we kind of figured that out already. We barely made it through one night out here."
Steve studied them for a moment before letting out a sharp sigh. "If you're really determined to go there, you'll need better gear. You won't survive long with just your bare hands."
"So, what do we do?" Matt asked.
"It's not safe out here," Steve said decisively. "Come on, follow me."
"Where exactly are you taking us?" Stewie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There's a village not too far from here," Steve explained, pointing into the distance. "It'll be safer there, and they have plenty of resources. Besides, you all look like you could use some rest."
With a blend of curiosity and caution, the Cybersquad trailed behind Steve as they headed toward the village. During the walk, they shared stories of their adventures and the escalating danger they were confronting. Steve absorbed every detail, his shock and disbelief deepening with every word.
"Wow... I'm not sure what to say," Steve muttered. "And now... you think he's here?"
Inez nodded solemnly. "If the crystal is here, then their certainly here as well."
As they arrived in the village, the first light of dawn bathed the sky in warm hues of gold and pink. However, the beauty of the sunrise did little to conceal the devastation that lay before them.
Buildings lay in ruins, gardens trampled beyond recognition, and faint wisps of smoke still curled up from scattered fires. The village was hauntingly silent, its once lively atmosphere now a mere echo of the past.
Steve's expression darkened as he surveyed the destruction, his fist clenching in anger. "W-What the hell happened here?"
A villager, clad in a tattered brown robe, rushed toward them. His face etched with exhaustion and fear. "We were attacked, sir," he stammered, his voice trembling. "We don't know who they were, but they came out of nowhere. They raided the village and took many of our people..."
"Was it the Pillagers again?" Steve inquired, frustration lacing his tone.
The villager shook his head, his eyes wide with a blend of confusion and terror. "No, sir... these weren't Pillagers. They were... different. Metal, hulking creatures. Like something from a nightmare. They moved quickly and struck without mercy. Our Iron Golem didn't stand a chance."
Steve's expression hardened, his gaze drifting back to the smoldering ruins. "Metal creatures, huh?" he murmured, his brow furrowing in contemplation. "That's not something I've encountered around here before."
Chris stepped forward, his voice laced with fury. "There's no doubt that Hacker and the villains are behind this."
"Hacker? Villains? What do you mean?" The villager asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. He glanced at Steve, his expression shifting to one of curiosity and concern.
As Matt and the others took turns sharing their journey, the villager listened with growing intrigue. However, as they spoke, his gaze drifted to a distant patch of trees, where he spotted two unmistakable figures watching them from afar. The moment they were spotted, the figures bolted into the forest, disappearing almost instantly.
"Anyway, we really need to get to the Farlands, and fast!" Inez urged, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
"The Farlands?" The villager blinked, snapping back from his daze. "What about the Farlands?"
Jackie threw her hands up in frustration. "Seriously? Were you not paying attention?" The villager shook his head, leading her to sigh.
Stewie interjected, his voice sharp. "Forget about him. We really should get going."
"Wait… the Farlands?" The villager echoed, his face growing serious. "I hate to say it, but that's going to be a long trek—at least a week or two."
"A WEEK OR TWO?!" Digit exclaimed, flapping his wings in panic. He quickly pulled them back, wincing at the sharp pain. "We don't have that kind of time!"
Steve crossed his arms, shaking his head. "Honestly, it could take even longer than that."
The group exchanged worried looks, the gravity of the situation sinking in.
"We might be too late by then!" Matt said, urgency creeping into his voice.
"Isn't there a quicker way? Like a shortcut or something?" Peter inquired.
Steve let out a sigh. "If there is, I have no idea what it is."
The villager furrowed his brow in contemplation before his eyes brightened with a thought. "Wait a minute… I think there might be a quicker route! There's a rumor about an abandoned rail system nearby—one that supposedly goes straight to the Farlands. If we can track it down, we could make it there in just a couple of days!"
A spark of hope ignited in the group.
"Really?!" Digit exclaimed, barely able to contain his excitement.
Steve narrowed his eyes in thought. "Now that you mention it… I think I've heard about that before," he said thoughtfully.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go find it!" Matt declared enthusiastically.
The villager nodded but then hesitated. "There's just one small problem… I don't know exactly where it is," he admitted. "But I bet if we follow the sunset, we should find it eventually."
Matt looked up at the sky, furrowing his brow. "But… the sun is rising now," he pointed out.
Jackie's eyes lit up with realization. "Which means if we need to follow the sunset… we have to head west—the opposite direction!"
"Exactly!" Steve agreed, nodding in approval.
"Then we don't have a moment to lose," Inez urged. Without hesitation, the group turned and began making their way west, determination driving their every step.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Overworld, deep within the twisting tunnels of an uncharted cave, Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Chrysalis pressed on through their perilous journey.
The cavern stretched out like an endless maze of jagged rock and unsettling echoes, with each turn cloaked in darkness. As they delved deeper, increasingly hostile creatures appeared, compelling them to fight without pause. Although they grew stronger with each battle, their patience with one another began to fray.
"This shortcut is a complete mess!" Chrysalis snapped, her wings buzzing with annoyance. "If we had just followed my plan, we'd already be in the Farlands. But no, you had to drag us through this wretched cave!"
"As if your plan was any better. There's no way it would have gotten us there any quicker!" Tirek retorted, crossing his arms. "
Cozy Glow, hovering between them, rolled her eyes and forced a cheerful smile. "Oh, come on now, Hacker sent us to find the Third Crystal together, and bickering isn't going to help us find it!"
Chrysalis let out a sharp sigh, her irritation mounting. "Why did we even agree to this alliance? As soon as we get that crystal, I'll take back my rightful place as queen in my hive, and I won't have to waste another moment with you two."
Tirek crossed his arms, his face showing weary indifference. "For once, I agree. The sooner this is over, the better."
Their journey through the winding, suffocating darkness of the cave felt endless. The uneven, blocky stone walls twisted in every direction, providing no clear path ahead. Shadows danced ominously from distant lava pools, further distorting their surroundings.
"We've been stumbling around in this cursed cave for what feels like forever!" Chrysalis snapped, her wings buzzing in frustration. "This is intolerable!"
Tirek scowled, rubbing his temples. "Unless you have a map hidden under that chitin of yours, complaining isn't going to get us out any faster."
Cozy Glow, always the cheerful planner, flitted ahead, trying to lift their spirits. "Come on, let's not turn against each other. If we band together and put our heads together, we'll figure a way out eventually!"
Chrysalis rolled her eyes, letting out an annoyed sigh. "Oh, please, spare us from your feeble attempts at comfort!"
"Indeed, your relentless optimism is becoming more irritating than uplifting." Tirek chimed in, nodding in agreement.
As they moved further into the cavern, their footsteps echoed against the cold stone, the heavy silence only interrupted by the distant drip of water.
Suddenly, they entered a vast chamber illuminated by an eerie, pulsating glow. The walls sparkled with veins of luminescent moss, casting faint orange hues throughout the space.
At the center of the chamber stood a massive stone statue, its cubed form twisted and gnarled, as if time had distorted its features. Embedded in its chest was a yellow crystal, its cubed surface faintly pulsing with energy, exuding an aura of immense power.
Cozy Glow's wings fluttered with excitement. "Ooh! Look at that! This has to be where the crystal is!"
Chrysalis's lips curled into a smirk, her eyes shining with anticipation. She stepped forward, cautiously extending a hoof toward the crystal.
The moment she touched it, a jolt of raw energy surged through the air, shaking the chamber. Cracks splintered across the statue's surface as blocks and debris tumbled down.
With a deafening rumble, the stone crumbled away, revealing a figure levitating amidst the swirling remnants. A dense, inky fog seeped from his form, filling the chamber like a creeping storm. His eyes, twin beacons of icy white light, locked onto them with an unreadable intensity.
His voice, deep and commanding, resonated through the cavern like a phantom whisper woven with power.
"Who dares to wake me from my slumber?"