The Adventures of Mighty Zander

As the group walked, they entered a vast field of golden wheat, the sun casting a warm glow over the swaying stalks.

“This is beautiful,” the little girl whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.

“It truly is,” Yí Yù agreed, a soft smile crossing his face as he gazed at the shimmering sea of grain.

After a moment of silence, Zander broke the quiet. “So, priest, what is your name? And what were you before all this?”

Yí Yù slowed his steps, a somber shadow crossing his features. “I am Yí Yù,” he said quietly. “I was the priest of my village. My mother passed from an illness no one could cure. In his grief, my father became a priest and discovered a magical powder that could heal any wound.” His voice faltered, memories washing over him like the wind through the wheat.

Zander tilted his head, curious. “What happened to him?”

Yí Yù's expression darkened. “He was killed by fox bandits. They demanded money, and when he refused, they... they took his life. I was just a powerless child, spared only because of my age.” He sighed, a weight in his chest. “In his honor, I became the new priest, dedicating myself to his healing ways. I still hear his voice in the rustle of the leaves, urging me to help those in need.”

Zander studied him, admiration growing in his heart. “You seem like a kind old guy.”

Yí Yù chuckled gently. “Heh, I’m only forty! Still plenty of life left in me,” he replied, a playful glint in his eyes.

Zander asked, “So, do you know where the mountain Heart and Soul is?”

Yí Yù nodded, his gaze shifting to the horizon. “Yes, it lies to the west of here. We shouldn’t be too far from it.”

As Yí Yù finished speaking, the ground trembled. The once-gentle sway of the wheat field turned violent. Zander quickly stepped in front of Yí Yù and the little girl, motioning for them to stay back.

Suddenly, the wheat twisted and merged, forming a towering creature of golden stalks, its eyes glowing with a menacing amber light. Yí Yù and the little girl stood frozen in fear, but Zander’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Summoning his sword from his hand, Zander charged at the creature. They clashed fiercely, and with a swift strike, Zander chopped off its right arm. But the monster quickly regrows it, slamming Zander to the ground.

“Expand!” Zander shouted, and his sword extended, piercing the monster’s chest. Zander twisted the sword, slicing the monster in half, but it quickly regrew. The creature grabbed him, tossing him far. Zander swiftly recovered and rushed back toward the monster, undeterred. He leaped high into the air, aiming to slice the monster down the middle. However, the wheat creature blocked his attack. Zander pushed harder and managed to slice through the monster's center. Yet, just like before, it reattached itself seamlessly.

Yí Yù watched, thinking, "This monster keeps regrowing every time Zander slices it. There must be a trick to this fight."

Zander sliced off the monster’s legs and chopped its head, but it quickly regrows, now launching a barrage of strikes. Zander dodged them effortlessly, but frustration grew.

"This is getting annoying," he muttered to himself. "No matter how many times I cut its limbs, it just won’t go down."

The little girl noticed roots beneath the monster’s feet and quickly turned to Yí Yù.

“There are roots under the monster’s feet," she whispered urgently. "Maybe that’s how Zander can defeat it.”

Yí Yù called out to Zander, his voice urgent but clear, "Zander! The roots—under its feet! Cut them, that might be the key!"

Zander nodded, taking the hint as he shifted his focus to the ground beneath the creature. The wheat monster throws punches at Zander; he dodges them all until he is under the wheat monster. Zander shouted, "Expand!" as his sword lengthened, piercing through the monster’s chest. With a powerful thrust, the blade sent the creature soaring upward, lifting it off its feet.

Zander watched as the roots stretched beneath the monster. With swift, precise movements, he slashed through them, cutting the roots into countless pieces in an instant. The wheat monster dissolved, scattering into thousands of wheat seeds that rained down to the ground, transforming the field around them.

Zander sighed with relief and said, "Finally. Now we can get back on track." Yí Yù and the little girl cheered for Zander's victory, their spirits lifted. They continued their quest until they reached the base of the mountain, pondering how to ascend.

"I have an idea," Zander said, squatting down.

“Hop on my back, and we can make our way up!” Zander urged, his tone encouraging.

“Are you sure, Zander? We can stay down here. This is your mission,” the girl replied hesitantly.

“Nah, come on! We’re doing this together!” Zander insisted with a grin, eager to include them in the adventure.

High above, in a realm shrouded in mystery, Mercury peered down at Zander, Yí Yù, and the little girl as they climbed the Mountain of Heart and Mind. He raised a glass filled with a radiant golden liquid, savoring its richness as he spoke.

“Oh, look,” he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Someone did survive.” His gaze fell on the little girl with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue. “And Yí Yù, you damn traitor!”

From the shadows, a towering figure emerged, standing an impressive seven feet tall. Clad in magnificent red and white armor, she approached mercury.

“Majesty,” Venus replied, bowing slightly.

“Oh, Venus! How are the troops? Is the training going well?” Mercury inquired, his tone casual yet authoritative.

“Yes, your majesty. Everything is progressing smoothly,” Venus confirmed. “How was the feast, by the way?”

“Oh, it was amazing!” Mercury exclaimed, a smile crossing his lips. “Except for Leonidrax— that guy can eat a lot! The food was almost gone before anyone else had a chance to take a bite.” He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.

“That's great to hear,” Venus said, her curiosity piqued. “Say, majesty, who are you watching?”

Mercury glanced down with a hint of disdain. “Just some lowly beings who should be dead,” he replied, his voice dripping with contempt. “They’ve somehow managed to survive.. “Also, that gray boy—I'm curious about him too. And what about Yí Yù?” Venus asked, his interest growing.

Mercury’s expression darkened. “Yí Yù... he was an old servant of my father. A skilled healer, using that magical purple powder to mend our troops. But when my father was wounded in battle and needed him most, Yí Yù vanished without a trace, never to be seen again. And the gray boy… I don't know”.

“I want all three of them dead. Venus, go release him,” Mercury commanded, a determined glint in his eyes.

“Who?” she asked, curious.

“The tiger. Send him down to the mountain,” he specified.

Venus hesitated, then began to walk away, glancing back. “But he won’t agree to this.”

“Tell him I’ll grant his freedom in exchange for killing all three of them down there,” Mercury replied firmly.

With a resigned nod, Venus stepped into a vast cell filled with chains, her heart heavy with the task ahead.

In the dim light of the cell, a huge white tiger stood out from the shadows. Blood stained its mouth, and its sharp claws glinted in the dark, ready for a fight. The fierce look in its eyes showed a strong desire for freedom and the wild instincts of a hunter.

Venus approached the imposing tiger, her voice steady. “Tiger, Lord Mercury requires your skills.” She began unlocking the heavy chains around his wrists and neck, her movements careful and deliberate. As she finished unlocking the chains, Venus fastened a golden magical necklace around the tiger's neck. The collar pulsed with power, ready to shock him if he stepped out of line. The tiger stood tall, towering over Venus, his eyes burning with anger.

“We need you to eliminate three mortals: a boy with gray skin, a little girl, and a priest,” she explained, her voice firm. “You’ll be sent down from the top of the Mountain of Heart and Soul. In exchange, Lord Mercury will grant you your freedom. Are you ready, Leo Tiger?”