GODAN GEARLOCK: Godan & The Water Goddess Stone

With a mix of urgency and caution, Godan and Jomie worked together to dig out the crumbling stone wall. Marta stood behind them, keeping watch, ready to alert them if the dark creature returned.

Fortunately, it wasn't too difficult to free the object, as the stone in that section was brittle.

"Got it!" Jomie exclaimed, proudly holding up the five-pointed object with sharp edges.

With the key in their possession, Godan, Marta, and Jomie decided to leave the ruins immediately. Relief mingled with fear as they quickened their pace, unwilling to linger in the eerie place any longer.

Dusty winds and biting cold battered them, but they didn't dare stop. They knew the dark creature might still be lurking in the shadows.

"Don't look back! Marta whispered, though her voice trembled slightly.

Godan gripped the Star Key tightly in his pocket. The object was cold to the touch, shaped like a star with intricate carvings along its surface. It seemed to radiate a faint aura, filling him with both fascination and unease.

Once they left the outskirts of Somara, the atmosphere grew quieter. The Waste City had no guards patrolling its borders. Few people ever ventured beyond it, and those who did usually chose not to return.

Most sought a better life in cleaner, more prosperous cities—except for traders or important figures who traveled in and out for diplomatic purposes.

"We just need to follow this broken asphalt," Jomie said, pointing at the map they had received from Grandma Miru. "Our next stop is the Black Market, but we'll need to pass through Amexan first."

Godan and Marta nodded. The harsh life in the Waste City had only strengthened their resolve. If even Boss Rocko and the town elders believed in the legend of the Water Goddess Stone, they were certain the stone was real—and they would find it.

* * * * *

After the cracked asphalt ended, they found themselves walking along a rocky path, surrounded by barren land and a few dead trees that stood eerily. The night sky added to the tense atmosphere, with the dim moon barely visible through the haze.

Their smooth journey didn't last long. The sound of scraping and shuffling echoed from up ahead. From the shadows emerged five grown men, each wielding makeshift weapons—wooden sticks, small knives, even a rusty chain.

They were petty bandits, lazy thugs who made their living by robbing others. Usually, they fled when confronted by anyone stronger. Their faces and bodies were equally disheveled, reflecting their unkempt and miserable lives.

"Well, look who's here!" one of them barked in a gruff voice. He was a large man with narrow, suspicious eyes.

"Oh! I know you," another sneered. "The scavenger kids from Somara, right? What are you carrying?"

Godan stepped forward, trying to mask his nervousness. "We're just passing through. We don't have anything on us, just a few supplies for the journey."

The bandit grinned, revealing his yellowed teeth. "Supplies for the journey? That's perfect. We're feeling a bit hungry ourselves."

"We don't want any trouble," Marta said, her voice steady but firm. "These supplies are barely enough for the three of us."

"But we're hungry," another bandit mocked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "And we don't like little kids acting tough."

One of the bandits moved closer to Jomie, reaching for his bag. But Jomie swiftly stepped back, clutching his bag tightly.

Godan felt his blood boil. He knew they wouldn't be able to get out of this situation without a fight. These men were lazy fools who only knew how to prey on the weak.

"You're not getting anything from us!" Godan said firmly.

"Oh, so you want to fight?" the large man taunted, laughing harshly.

Without warning, one of the bandits swung his stick at Godan. But Godan dodged the attack, quickly grabbing a rock from the ground and hurling it at the man's face. The rock hit him squarely, making him stumble back, clutching his bleeding nose.

The bandit staggered, stunned by the sudden blow. Panic flashed across his face as blood dripped down.

"Ah! What the—my nose! Damn it!"

"Marta, Jomie, run!" Godan shouted.

* * * * *

The bandits weren't about to let them leave so easily. Three of them chased after Marta and Jomie, while the rest surrounded Godan.

Marta who was already accustomed to facing danger at the factory, quickly pulled out her folding knife. With swift and sudden movements, she slashed the arm of one of the bandits who tried to grab her. The man cried out in pain, the wound deep and bleeding profusely.

"Ah! Damn it, my arm! Ugh!"

"..." Marta stayed silent.

When it came to people like this, she could handle them. But monsters? That was a whole different story.

Jomie, though slower, used his bag as a weapon, swinging it at another bandit's head and knocking him to the ground.

Inside his bag were several thick glass bottles filled with medicine. Acting on instinct, Jomie swung it hard, hoping the glass bottles wouldn't break. However, in a moment of distraction, another bandit managed to snatch the map from his hands.

"Godan! Marta!" Jomie shouted from nearby, trying to warn them.

Godan, that still fighting the large man, heard the shout and quickly realized the grave danger they would face if the map was lost.

He summoned all his courage and strength, launching a brutal attack on the sluggish large man before sprinting toward the bandit holding the map.

With a swift, precise move, Godan snatched the map back and joined Jomie and Marta. Three bandit fell, groaning in pain from their wounds.

Meanwhile, the two remaining bandits, however, weren't giving up. One of them charged at Godan, landing a heavy blow on his shoulder and knocking him to the ground.

Godan grimaced, struggling to get up as the pain radiated through his body.

"You've got guts, kid!" one of the bandits yelles, raising his weapon for another strike.

Before he could strike again. Marta and Jomie rushed to help, kicking and punching the bandit who had thrown another punch at Godan. Working together, they managed to take down one more bandit.

The wooden stick that had been used to intimidate the kids was now turned against him, leaving a bruise on his back and a cut on his temple.

The last remaining bandit hesitated, clearly startled to see that the kids were tougher and more agile than he had anticipated. "You'll pay for this!" he growled before retreating, his injured companions limping after him, their defeated figures disappearing into the shadows.

* * * * *

Panting heavily, Godan clutched his bruised shoulder, his breaths sharp and uneven. Marta and Jomie looked just as exhausted, but despite their fatigue, they had successfully protected the Star Key and the map.

"Let's hope this thing didn't crack…" Godan muttered, glancing at the Star Key. "Are you two alright?"

Marta and Jomie nodded, though their concern for Godan was evident in their eyes. The three of them decided to take a brief rest before continuing their long journey ahead.

They trudged on for another two kilometers, their steps heavy but determined, until they stumbled upon an abandoned house. Deciding it was the safest option for the night, they settled inside, hoping the place would offer enough shelter until daylight. Marta swiftly unpacked some water and dry bread, sharing it with the others to stave off their hunger.