The Adventures of Mighty Zander

“End me? Ha ha ha ha! Come now! I am a god who stands over you weaklings,” Aerolios taunted, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Zander glared defiantly, a fire igniting within him. “You talk like you’re invincible. Even a god can be slain.” Focusing intensely, he summoned an army of clones. Soon, there were hundreds of them, each armed with an array of weapons: spears, axes, swords, and maces.

With a unified roar, the clones charged forward, their collective energy pulsating through the air. Despite his injuries, Aerolios reacted swiftly, wielding his daggers with deadly precision. His right arm severed, he could only throw five daggers, managing to take down six clones before the horde closed in.

The clones surrounded Aerolios, a relentless wall of attackers pressing in from every angle. They unleashed a flurry of strikes, creating a cacophony of clashing metal and anguished cries. Zander felt a surge of hope as the god was forced to defend against a constant barrage. This is it! We can overwhelm him!

But Aerolios was no ordinary foe. He raised his left arm, and the ground trembled beneath him. Towering rock spikes erupted from the earth like vengeful claws, piercing through the multitude of clones with savage ferocity. One by one, the clones were impaled or shattered, their forms dissipating in bursts of shimmering smoke.

Zander stood in awe of Aerolios's display of power, his heart racing with a mix of fear and determination. Gritting his teeth, he felt the sting of pain from Aerolios's severed arm. The pressure was on him now. He had to act decisively. With a swift motion, he channeled his power into the earth around him. Rocks and debris began to rise, swirling in a chaotic dance.

“Replica!” Zander shouted, morphing into a mirror image of Aerolios.

A hint of surprise flashed in Aerolios's eyes. “Oh, you can mimic me.”

With a fierce cry, Zander unfurled his wings and seized Aerolios, propelling them both high into the sky, above the clouds. The world below shrank as they soared, adrenaline coursing through Zander's veins. Mid-air, they engaged in a fierce battle. Aerolios unleashed hundreds of lightning bolts, the air crackling with energy.

Zander nimbly wove through them, dodging with instinct and determination. Closing the distance, he landed a solid punch to Aerolios's face. The impact sent a jolt through his body, but Aerolios shrugged it off, his eyes narrowing as he retaliated with a flurry of daggers flying toward Zander.

Summoning a powerful gust of wind, Zander sent the daggers hurtling back. Yet Aerolios had anticipated this move. Just as Zander realized Aerolios had vanished, he felt a sharp pain—Aerolios had reappeared behind him, stabbing him in the back. Pain shot through Zander, but he couldn't give in.

With instinct kicking in, Zander retaliated with a swift backhand, following it up with a flurry of punches. He managed to land a few hits, adrenaline driving him forward. However, Aerolios quickly caught one of Zander's fists and ignited it with fire, searing Zander's skin and radiating pain throughout his body.

With a powerful punch, Aerolios sent Zander crashing down. The world spun as he plummeted, a whirlwind of fear and determination battling within him.

As Zander lay on the ground, gasping for breath, he felt the impact of Aerolios crashing down on his chest. Blood spilled from his lips as he struggled to speak. The ground around them shattered from the impact, sending debris flying in every direction.

“You copy me, but you’re still losing. You can’t defeat me; I’m a god—better than you and that punk Tiger,” Aerolios sneered, his voice filled with disdain.

Just as Aerolios finished his taunt, water surged up from beneath him, pooling around their feet. Seizing the opportunity, Zander summoned a crackling bolt of lightning that arced down into the water. The two elements combined, sending a jolt of electricity surging through Aerolios.

Aerolios convulsed, his body shaking uncontrollably as the shock coursed through him, momentarily incapacitating the god. Zander felt the electricity surge through him as well, pain jolting through his body. Yet, fueled by sheer willpower, he managed to lift Aerolios's leg off his chest. Summoning all his strength, Zander dashed toward Leo.

“We... have to... get away,” Zander gasped, breath labored, as he returned to form.

But Aerolios halted Zander in his tracks, a cold smile forming beneath his crow mask. “You are strong for a mortal. But in the end, a god like myself proves that we are superior. We are the rulers of the earth, the masters of fate! Now die, rodents!” He summoned a massive ball of fire, ready to end Zander.

Thick smoke suddenly enveloped the lush green field.

“What the—” Aerolios muttered, confusion flickering across his face. He quickly summoned wind to blow the smoke away. As it cleared, his eyes widened in shock. Zander and Leo had vanished.

“Arg! They're gone!” Aerolios growled in frustration, clenching his fists. He glared up at the sky. “I’ll have to report to Mercury.”

With a powerful flap of his wings, Aerolios ascended into the sky, disappearing into the cloud

In a state of unconsciousness, Zander lay there, surrounded by a black void. Memories began to flicker in his mind, bringing a sense of comfort amidst the chaos.

He walked through jungles, feeling the soft earth beneath his feet, until he saw a mountain towering in the distance. Upon climbing it, he discovered a huge dojo and walked inside.

“Um, who are... you?” the master asked, his brow furrowed with suspicion.

Zander didn’t respond. Instead, he walked straight into the kitchen, rummaging through cabinets and devouring everything in sight.

“Stop eating my damn food! Agh! You—asshole!” The master’s patience snapped, and with a swift kick, Zander was tossed out of the dojo. He stumbled to his feet, dazed, as the master stood in the doorway, arms crossed, glaring at him. “Now, who the hell are you? And why are you here? Also, why did you eat my food?”

“I was hungry, sir,” Zander said simply, avoiding eye contact.

The master raised an eyebrow. “So you couldn’t use good manners and just ask for it? You’ve got terrible manners. How old are you?”

“I’m 23 days old, sir,” Zander replied, completely serious.

The master blinked, clearly confused. “T-Twenty-three days? You can’t be! You look like you’re at least 15!”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Zander said, bowing his head slightly. “For eating your food without asking.”

The master sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. “Okay, fine. Do you even have a home to go to?”

“I do,” Zander said, frowning. “But I keep forgetting how to get there again.”

"Okay, you're just a lost child. Do you at least remember where you were born?" the master asked, arms crossed.

Zander nodded. "I was born in a tree. The trunk was gray, and it had golden leaves. I was just a branch at first, but after days went by, I became human."

The master squinted at him, clearly skeptical. "Oh, I see... YOU'RE LYING!"

"I'm not, sir! You can go see it. It's on a mountain, full of flowers, animals, and fruits."

The master's expression shifted slightly, as if something clicked. "Are you talking about the mountain of the Three Symbols?"

Zander tilted his head, curious. "What are those symbols, sir?"

"The three symbols represent hope, strength, and bravery," the master explained, his tone softening.

Zander thought for a moment. "I didn’t see any symbols like that on the mountain, but... maybe they’re there, just hidden."

The master regarded him with newfound respect. "That mountain is sacred. Few people know of its true nature. If you really came from there, then you might be something... different."

"I'm different?" Zander asked, a hint of confusion in his voice.

The master nodded, stepping aside and gesturing for him to enter. "Come inside. Maybe I can explain."

Zander awoke, groggy and disoriented, under the shadow of a large temple. Bandages wrapped tightly around his body dulled the pain from his wounds. He shifted slightly and saw Leo lying on a makeshift bed of leaves and cloth, also covered in bandages, his breathing steady but labored. Zander sat up slowly, every movement protesting against his aches.

As he turned his head, a woman approached. Dressed in light clothing made of leaves, her presence was calming and serene. She gently placed her hand on his shoulder, her touch soft yet reassuring.

"Relax, you're hurt," she said softly, her voice like a gentle breeze.

Zander blinked, still trying to clear the haze from his mind. "Who are you?"

"I'm your caretaker," she replied. "You were injured very badly."

"Really? Can you bring me my clothes... the orange ones?" Zander asked, wincing as he shifted slightly.

The woman nodded and disappeared briefly, returning moments later with his orange clothes. She handed them to him, and Zander immediately reached into the folds, pulling out a small pouch.

"I'm surprised you're not gone," he said, his voice quiet but grateful.

"What is that for?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.

Zander opened the pouch, revealing fine purple powder inside. He handed it to her. "Can you sprinkle a little on my wounds?"

"Um, sure," she replied hesitantly, taking the pouch from him. She carefully sprinkled the powder over Zander Bandage wounds. The wounds quickly healed and sat up.

“Are you okay, little one?” a soft voice asked. Zander turned to find a woman approaching him, her movements graceful and gentle, concern etched on her face.

“Yeah, I’m fine. What is this place?” he replied, glancing around the serene temple adorned with intricate carvings and lush greenery. The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers, and the sounds of nature wrapped around him like a warm embrace.

“You’re under the Great Lands of Waterfalls. This is the temple,” she explained, her voice soothing.

“The Great Lands of Waterfalls…” Zander echoed, a flicker of recognition sparking in his mind. “Wait a minute, I drank from the rivers,” he murmured under his breath, the pieces falling into place.

“Um, miss, how long were we knocked out for?” he asked, looking up at her with curiosity.

“For about eight hours,” she replied, her tone calm and reassuring.

“Oh, that means we didn’t die from the water,” he said, relief washing over him like a cool breeze. “I can feel my body growing stronger.” in his mind

“How were we brought here?” Zander inquired, his curiosity piqued.

“By the Guardians of the Great Lands of Waterfalls. They carried you here. The leader asked me to care for you until you both awoke,” she explained gently.

“May I speak to your leader? I have a few questions,” Zander requested earnestly, determination flickering in his eyes.

“Yes, you may,” she replied with a gentle nod, her demeanor warm and inviting.

Zander dressed back in his monk clothes, feeling the familiar fabric comfort him. It grounded him, reminding him of his purpose. As he approached the temple's exit, he paused and turned back to the woman. “Could you please heal my friend with that purple powder?” he asked, hope glimmering in his voice.

The woman nodded in agreement. “Of course. I’ll take care of him.”

With that, Zander stepped outside, greeted by a breathtaking panorama of a new world. The lush landscape stretched endlessly before him, dotted with vibrant colors and the sounds of life.