Yaxoc's Adventure: Act 5

It was 3:35 PM. The squad trudged through a desolate forest with towering trees that cast an eerie, unbroken shadow over the ground. There were no sounds of rustling leaves, chirping birds, or scurrying critters—only the sound of their footsteps crunching against brittle grass.

"The Gem of Justice is located in this forest," Cherrystone announced, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "The only forest that actually doesn't have animals."

Yaxoc raised a brow. "Why so?"

"Because animals die the moment they step into this forest," Cherrystone answered, her tone grim but matter-of-fact.

Yaxoc snorted. "So why didn't you die? You're an animal."

Cherrystone turned to him with an unamused expression. "Hybrids work differently, dumbass. I'm part animal, part human. Immune to whatever it is that kills the others."

"Lucky you."

As they walked further, a faint yellow glow shimmered ahead. The group stopped, their eyes fixated on the light.

"Is that it?" Yaxoc asked, squinting.

Cherrystone nodded. "That's the Gem of Justice."

Without waiting, Yaxoc darted forward, his wings twitching with excitement. "Finally!" he shouted, reaching for the gem.

"Wait!" Moonlight called out, grabbing Yaxoc by the collar. "Not so fast. We need to check for a guardian first."

Yaxoc groaned. "Oh, come on! Do we really have to?"

"It's standard protocol," Moonlight replied, scanning the area with a cautious gaze.

Yaxocara, ever the bold one, rolled her eyes. "Ugh, can we get this over with already? There's no enemy, no guardian. You're just paranoid." She strode confidently toward the gem.

"Yaxocara, wait—" Moonlight started, but it was too late.

The moment Yaxocara reached for the gem, it began to glow brighter and then moved. It floated into the air, zipping away at an unnatural speed.

"What the—?!" Yaxocara yelled, glaring at the flying gem. "Oh hell you don't!" Without hesitation, she took off after it.

Yaxoc watched in disbelief. "The gem flies now?! That's just great!" He spread his wings and chased after her.

Moonlight sighed, shaking her head. "Why are they always like this?"

Cherrystone chuckled, clutching her staff. "They're entertaining, if nothing else. Let's go."

The two followed after the chaotic duo, weaving through the maze-like forest.

After several exhausting minutes, the gem came to a stop in a small clearing. Standing beside it was an imposing figure—a man dressed in cowboy attire. His star-shaped hat tilted slightly, his boots firmly planted on the ground. The glow of the Gem of Justice illuminated his smug smirk.

"Huh? Who the hell are you?!" Yaxocara demanded, catching up first.

The cowboy turned his gaze to her, squinting slightly. "Wait a minute... Did Yaxoc just turn feminine?"

"Hah!? Do you want me to beat you up?!" Yaxocara snapped, clenching her fists.

Yaxoc and the others arrived shortly after. Upon seeing the cowboy, Yaxoc groaned. "Oh, great. It's that Z+ Savior."

The cowboy tipped his hat. "Well, well, if it isn't Yaxoc and his merry band of troublemakers."

Yaxoc narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here, Cowboy? And why do you have the gem?"

The cowboy shrugged casually. "What do you think? Came here to collect it, of course. And while I'm at it, I plan to gather the rest."

Cherrystone stepped forward, her eyes fixed on him. "Listen, Cowboy, we need that gem."

"Do you now?" the cowboy replied, his tone dripping with mockery. "And why's that, sweetheart?"

"Because we need to fuse them together," Cherrystone said firmly.

The cowboy's smirk widened. He pulled out a revolver from his holster and aimed it at her. "How about no, sweetie?"

Moonlight, Yaxoc, and Yaxocara instinctively stepped closer to Cherrystone, their glares fixed on the cowboy.

"Hey, Cowboy!" Yaxoc shouted, his wings flaring. "Don't be a smartass. Hand over the gem! Just because you're a Z+ Ranged Savior doesn't mean you're unstoppable. Wanna know why? You're physically weak!"

The cowboy's smirk faltered. His grip on the revolver tightened. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," Yaxoc taunted, crossing his arms. "Do you want to prove me wrong?"

The cowboy's eyes glinted with anger. "Careful what you wish for, angel boy."

Before they could clash, Moonlight stepped between them, raising her hand. "Enough. We don't want to resort to violence. Just hand over the gem before things escalate."

The cowboy laughed, spinning his hat playfully. "Oh, I'll hand it over, alright—on one condition."

"What do you want?" Moonlight asked, her voice calm but wary.

The cowboy's smirk turned sleazy. "Some photos. Yours, specifically."

The group froze in stunned silence.

"Is this guy serious?" Cherrystone muttered.

"No way he just said that out loud," Yaxoc added, his face contorted in disbelief.

"What the hell is wrong with this creep?" Yaxocara growled.

Moonlight sighed, her expression unreadable. Without hesitation, she pulled out a few photos and handed them over.

The cowboy's eyes gleamed as he looked through them. "Impressive. You've got talent, missy." He chuckled darkly. "But unfortunately for you…" He laughed louder, clutching the gem tightly. "You've just fallen into my trap!"

In a flash, the cowboy turned and bolted, the Gem of Justice glowing in his hand.

"Damn YOU!" Yaxoc yelled, launching himself after the fleeing cowboy.

"Hey! Let me beat his ass first!" Yaxocara shouted, sprinting alongside Yaxoc.

Cherrystone and Moonlight watched them run off, their expressions a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"Are they siblings or something?" Cherrystone asked, tilting her head.

Moonlight shook her head. "No, Yaxocara's an alternate universe version of Yaxoc. Apparently, she's bisexual."

"Fascinating," Cherrystone replied dryly. "So, do we go after them?"

Moonlight nodded, her star magic beginning to glow faintly. "Yeah, but carefully. I know this cowboy. He's not as dumb as he seems."

The cowboy ran through the forest with surprising speed, his hat staying perfectly in place despite the frantic motion. Yaxoc and Yaxocara were hot on his trail, their shouts echoing through the trees.

"You can't outrun me, Cowboy!" Yaxoc shouted, flapping his wings to gain speed.

"Outrun you? I'm just getting warmed up!" the cowboy called back, laughing.

Yaxocara gritted her teeth. "When I catch you, I'm gonna make sure you regret this!"

As the chase continued, the forest began to shift. The trees seemed to close in, their trunks twisting unnaturally. The once-clear path became a labyrinth of roots and vines.

"Damn it!" Yaxoc growled. "He's using the gem to manipulate the forest!"

Moonlight and Cherrystone caught up just in time to see the forest transform.

"This is bad," Moonlight said, summoning her star magic to create a faint glowing pathway. "Stick close to the light. It'll keep the illusions at bay."

Cherrystone nodded, gripping her staff tightly. "Let's end this quickly."

The forest's eerie maze gave way to a rocky clearing, where a jagged mountain loomed in the distance. The glow of the Gem of Justice flickered at its peak as the cowboy scrambled up its steep surface.

"There he is!" Yaxoc yelled, pointing toward the figure climbing frantically up the rocks.

"I'll be the one to get him!" Yaxocara declared, her crimson demonic essence igniting like fire around her. In an instant, she launched herself forward, her movements leaving scorch marks on the ground.

"Not a chance!" Yaxoc snapped, unfurling his angelic wings. He surged into the air, his radiant aura trailing behind him.

"Be careful!" Moonlight called out, her voice edged with concern.

The cowboy glanced over his shoulder, his face pale as he saw the two figures closing in on him. His hat teetered precariously on his head as he climbed faster, muttering under his breath.

"Shit! No, no, no, no, no!" he shouted, his panic mounting. As he fumbled with his footing, the Gem of Justice slipped from his grasp and tumbled downward.

"After you!" Yaxoc yelled triumphantly, diving toward the falling gem with precision.

Meanwhile, Yaxocara grinned menacingly as she neared the cowboy. "Aha! It's time to beat you up, Cowboy!"

The cowboy froze mid-climb, turning to face her with wide eyes. His hands shot up in surrender. "Uh, wait! Hold on! Can't we do this another way? I mean, you're... interested in me, right?"

Yaxocara paused, her expression twisting into confusion. "What?"

"You heard me!" the cowboy said nervously, sweat dripping down his face.

The confusion on Yaxocara's face quickly turned to fury. "Hell no! Why the hell would I want someone like you?"

The cowboy gulped, his voice shaking. "You're not gonna... kick me, are you?"

Yaxocara's eyes flared crimson. "Hell yeah, I am!" She delivered a ferocious kick to his gut, sending him hurtling off the mountain with a scream. "Get your romance-ass out of here!"

As the cowboy's cry faded into the distance, Yaxoc snatched the Gem of Justice mid-air and landed gracefully at the mountain's base. He looked up at Yaxocara, who was still glaring at the spot where the cowboy had been moments ago.

"Wow," Yaxoc said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Didn't think you'd be so harsh about romance."

Yaxocara huffed, crossing her arms. "I don't have time for stupid crap like that."

"Makes sense," Yaxoc replied with a shrug. "I hate romance too."

Moonlight and Cherrystone caught up, watching as Yaxocara descended from the mountain. Her fiery aura had cooled, though her annoyance lingered.

"Well," she said bluntly, brushing dust off her hands. "I dealt with that dumbass. What's next?"

Cherrystone stepped forward, holding her staff. "Now that we have the Gem of Justice," she began, pausing to take a deep breath, "our next goal is the Gem of Perseverance. It's located three hours away from here."

"Three hours?" Yaxoc groaned, rubbing his temples.

"Hold on," Moonlight interrupted. "We'll need shelter first. It's getting late, and it's too dangerous to keep moving in the dark."

Cherrystone nodded. "Agreed. Let's find a place to stay for the night before heading out in the morning."

Yaxoc and Yaxocara exchanged a look, both of them sighing in resignation.

"Fine," Yaxoc muttered, sliding the Gem of Justice into his satchel.

Yaxocara stretched, her wings twitching. "Better make it a good shelter. I'm not sleeping on the ground again."

As the group ventured deeper into the forest, the oppressive silence returned. Shadows danced along the tree trunks, and the faint glow of the gem in Yaxoc's satchel provided the only light.

Moonlight led the way, her star magic creating a faint guiding glow ahead of them. "Keep an eye out for caves or any signs of an abandoned structure. We'll take whatever we can get."

Yaxoc looked at her skeptically. "Do you really think we'll find anything in this dead forest?"

"Positive thinking, Yaxoc," Cherrystone said, though even her tone sounded unsure.

The group pressed on, the tension in the air thick as the shadows grew longer. Somewhere in the distance, a faint hum echoed through the trees.

"Hey," Yaxocara said suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "Do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Yaxoc asked, stopping in his tracks.

"That hum," she replied, pointing toward a dense thicket to their left.

The group fell silent, listening closely. Sure enough, a low, steady vibration emanated from beyond the trees.

"Could be a cave," Moonlight suggested, her voice calm but alert.

"Or another trap," Cherrystone countered, gripping her staff tightly.

"Only one way to find out," Yaxoc said, unfurling his wings. "Let's check it out."

The oppressive forest buzzed with tension as the group approached the source of the mysterious hum. Moonlight held her staff tightly, her sharp eyes scanning for traps. Yaxoc walked slightly ahead, his hand resting on the Gem of Justice in his satchel, while Yaxocara trailed just behind him, her fiery aura flickering faintly in the darkness.

Suddenly, without warning, a blur shot from the shadows, aiming directly for Yaxoc's satchel.

"Not today!" Yaxoc yelled, reacting in an instant. He spun on his heel, delivering a devastating manji kick that sent the attacker skidding backward.

"You again!?" Yaxoc bellowed as the figure recovered. The attacker stepped into the faint light, revealing the familiar face of Lucius.

"What the hell is he doing now!?" Yaxocara shouted, her voice echoing through the forest as her essence flared.

Lucius straightened, his dark cloak billowing around him. His eyes were wild with desperation, his gaze locked on the satchel. "You're not keeping that gem! It's mine!"

Moonlight and Cherrystone immediately got into defensive stances, their postures rigid with tension.

Cherrystone grimaced. "If he's going to keep coming after the gems, it's too dangerous to stay here. We need to retreat. Everyone, fall back!"

She didn't wait for a response, grabbing Moonlight's arm and bolting into the trees.

"I'll distract this bum—" Yaxoc began, stepping forward, but he was cut off by Yaxocara, who grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Hell you won't!" she shouted, her crimson eyes glaring at him. "Listen to her for once! Move it!"

Yaxoc hesitated but ultimately relented, following as Yaxocara dashed after the others.

Lucius staggered, groaning from the pain of Yaxoc's kick but refusing to give up. He straightened, shaking off the blow, and watched as the group fled deeper into the forest.

"They won't escape," he growled, preparing to lunge after them.

But before he could move, a chilling voice sliced through the silence.

"Ice Technique: Ice Spikes."

The tone was calm yet deadly, and it carried an air of undeniable authority.

Before Lucius could react, jagged ice spikes erupted from the ground, striking his shoulders and legs. He let out a roar of pain, stumbling as frost spread across his cloak and limbs.

"Damn you!" Lucius snarled, his voice filled with rage. He twisted his head, scanning the forest with narrowed eyes. "Show yourself!"

The sound of footsteps echoed, measured and deliberate. A figure emerged from the shadows, their presence radiating an aura of cold authority.

The newcomer wore a pristine white robe that seemed to glow faintly in the darkness. An owl mask obscured their face, revealing only a pair of crimson-red eyes that burned with intensity. Their brown hair, streaked with bacon-like texture, fell loosely around their shoulders.

"Well, you look vulnerable now," the figure said, their tone almost mocking. "My name is Sukorian, King of Techniques."

Lucius's glare hardened. "Bastard... I'll kill you!"

The frost encasing his body began to crack and melt as he summoned his dark energy. In a burst of raw power, he lunged toward Sukorian, his hands glowing with a sinister black light.

Sukorian didn't flinch. As Lucius closed the gap, Sukorian shifted his stance and delivered a single, precise blow to Lucius's chest.

The impact was explosive, sending Lucius hurtling backward. He crashed into a massive tree, the force splintering its trunk.

"Try to attack me again and see what happens," Sukorian warned, his voice low and threatening.

Lucius groaned, slumping to the ground. His breathing was labored, and the pain from Sukorian's strike left him trembling. But his pride refused to let him yield.

"Damn you..." he spat, glaring at Sukorian with venomous hatred.

Sukorian tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes glowing ominously beneath his mask. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But persistence without strategy? That's just stupidity."

Lucius growled, his fingers twitching as he prepared to teleport. "This isn't over."

With a sharp crack, he vanished into the shadows.

As the forest fell silent, Sukorian let out a quiet scoff. "Brat," he muttered, his voice laced with disdain.

He stood still for a moment, scanning the area to ensure Lucius was truly gone. Once satisfied, he turned and disappeared into the shadows, his presence fading as quickly as it had arrived.