8 Sacred Stone: The Hidden Tower Unfolds

Chapter 8

Sacred Stone:

The Hidden Tower Unfolds

"Ok, we only have one shot, so let's not waste this," Nephena said.

The announcer hands the Sacred Stone to her. The party finally recovered days after the last battle. Maigashi tightened a layer of bandages over his right arm.

"My body still feels the strain from that attack."

"You should refrain from using your Rainaga unless the situation gets dire." Bow suggested.

"I can only use it once a day. So I'll be sure to make it count."

The party waits across the street for their ride.

"Lance stood up for you guys, so we'll have your back all the way." Blade assured.

"We could use all the help we can get." Alistor agreed. "Thanks, guys."

Axe arrives down the block, driving in a rental vehicle with Lance seated in the passenger side. The team wasted no time as they drove off to the Minra Gardens. Passing by a row of flower fields, Nephena took a moment to reflect, staring off into the horizon.

"We'll settle the score somehow, don't worry."

The team arrives at the gardens as Axe is pulled over.

"It's about time you showed up."

Jakota and his crew emerged from behind the rocks. Seiyaru slowly brings Nyoma out, still as a doll with a calm look on her face.

"Hey? Where is your Captain?" Maigashi asked.

"The stone?" Seiyaru demanded.

Nephena slowly walks up to make the exchange. Both sides stood on the side, watching one another's movements.

"Hand her over first!"

"No! The stone first, then you get the girl."

She slowly pulls out the Sacred Stone from her pocket, so Seiyaru brought Nyoma close. Nyoma makes a suspicious smile as a blade slipped from under her robe. Alistor immediately takes notice and charges in.

"It's a trap!"

Seiyaru let go of Nyoma, taking the stone off her hands. Nyoma then attempts to lunge her weapon at Nephena, but Alistor intercepts, taking a direct stab through his side. Her head immediately falls off.

"It's a puppet! You bastards!"

Maigashi and Lance attempt to jump in but get intercepted by Jakota and his crew. Alistor lays on the floor helpless, blood pouring out of him.

"Alistor, are you ok!" Nephena cried.

Axe rushes in to pull Alistor out from the scene as Seiyaru takes off. Jakota and the rest remained.

"It's ok…We should have known better."

"Don't worry! You take it easy for now." Lance said.

Axe carries Alistor back into the car as Maigashi and the rest face Jakota and his crew.

"Hang on, dude! I'll get you back to the hospital."

Axe leaves off with the car, Noo snickers while Bassa gave back a smug look.

"Well, this is a great start." Maigashi sarcastically said.

"With one of your team players injured, your chances for victory just slimmed." Jakota pestered.

Lance steps into the fight.

"You guys will pay for this."

"No! You and Nephena go after Seiyaru," Maigashi advised. "Leave these stooges to us. Bow! Blade! Get over here."

"Fine! If ya say so."

Lance and Nephena didn't hesitate to leave off as the other guys stumbled. Instead, they pointed fingers at one another.

"You mean us?" Blade asked.

"I'm just the technical support guy. We can barely fight." Bow cried.

Maigashi knocks them both over the head. The two continue to fumble until they come to their senses, yet shaking in their pants.

"I know you've both been in a few street fights in the past. I just need your back for this fight."

Bow took a moment to update the team.

"I had the chance to analyze the camera we got the other day. The secret to Noo's blinding light lies in the use of optical lenses. I suspect his coat is filled with many cameras."

"Oh yeah, we've already seen how they work together. That Bassa guy is just a huge lug." Blade snapped.

Bow pulls out a set of energy quills while Blade readied a long pole.

"Leave Jakota to me; the other guys should be nothing special. Just your common street thugs."

"Are you guys done rambling?" Jakota muttered. "We don't have all day."

The three charges right in to begin. Bow aimed at Noo as Blade went for Bassa. Maigashi clashed with Jakota as the fight starts.

"Mozart Arrows!"

Bow fired his quills, but Noo and Bassa quickly swapped places. Then, Blade comes to a halt as Noo blinds him with a light. Bow's quills bounced off Bassa then he receives a sucker punch. Bow and Blade are sent rolling across the grass.

"You got your asses handed in less than a minute. What the hell was that, guys."

Maigashi receives a kick from Jakota. He gets sent rolling back as Bow and Blade took a moment to rub their heads.

"Ok, we didn't see that coming." Blade admitted.

"These guys have a set team strategy in place. So it's nearly hopeless to breakthrough."

Doubt begins to cross Maigashi with Jakota staring at them. Noo and Bassa continue chuckling.

"I don't want to resort to the Rainaga this early."

The party quickly got back up for round two; the fight continues. Meanwhile, Lance and Nephena pursue Seiyaru's trail through a lush forest.

"Just where could he be leading us?"

"We'll soon find out." Nephena said."

The two arrive at the entrance of a graveyard, and the scene cuts back to Maigashi's battle. Bow and Blade are sent flying once more as Maigashi struggles to hold the team together.

"Come on! Get your heads together."

"Your team doesn't stand a chance." Jakota mocked. "Why keep on fighting anyway? What's your motivational drive?"

The party gets back up for more.

"A gut feeling, I suppose. Although, to be fair, I had a criminal past just like you, but I can sense something holding you. Something that you want to forget. It's evident in your eyes!"

"You should know by now. Victory is the only thing that matters."

Jakota begins charging forward as Noo and Bassa followed behind. However, Maigashi quickly drops a smoke sphere, causing the team to lose sight of them.

"I was saving these for the right time. Thanks for the gift, Auroa…."

The party takes cover behind a set of stones where they begin planning a different approach.

"A direct approach isn't going to work on these guys. If only we had a way to disrupt their teamwork somehow." Blade nodded.

Maigashi recalls overhearing Team Surinami secretly in the hallway.

"The others rely on cheap surprise tactics to cheat their way. Jakota is the only one that fights with honor. I think I got it."

The smoke quickly clears as the three emerged from behind the stones. Jakota, Noo, and Bassa stand below them.

"Neh heh! Do you give up yet?" Noo snickered.

"Duh yeah! Give up!" Bassa laughed.

Maigashi improvised, pulling out a tiny flier from Korola at a distance.

"You guys must be pure suckers, huh? Getting the short end of the stick while the Captain takes all the glory?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Noo pestered.

He continues making things up.

"Well, haven't you guys heard of the treasure on this island? This whole tournament and that Sacred Stone was just a setup to get what everyone was really after. All the riches one can ask for."

The two members begin fumbling.

"Duh, what?"

"Why did nobody told us about this?"

Noo turns his attention towards Jakota.

"I have no idea what he's talking about. I could care less for any fortune. We have a mission. Now let's finish them with the delta formation."

Noo and Bassa quickly turned their backs.

"They must be taking us for fools, Bassa. Using us as chumps, I'm not stupid to fall for the short end."

"Duh yeah! Me not stupid!"

The two mindlessly rushed at the party as Jakota lost control of the battle.

"No, wait!"

Bassa attempts to take a swing at Bow, but a smoke sphere quickly concealed him. Blade delivers a direct hit to his rib with his pole. Bone cracks are heard as he falls over like a dead fish.

"Duaaahhh!!! My riiiiibs!"

The smoke clears, revealing his face down with his ass up. Noo immediately hesitates as Bow appeared from behind.

"Mozart Arrow!"

The energy quills hit Noo's jacket triggering a chain reaction. He quickly catches on fire as flashes are set off.

"Hot! Hot! Hot!"

Jakota stood clueless as Noo rolled across the dirt in a humiliating fashion. Cameras and film fly out as Noo removed his oversized coat.

"This fight isn't worth it! I'm out of here!"

"Duh, wait for me!"

The two abandon Jakota.

"Gutless cowards…"

Somewhere on the edge of a cliffside…

"The stone as promised."

Seiyaru hands over the stone to Kazuma while Nyoma struggles in her bind. Then, he places the rock over the pedestal.

"Now sing your chant!"

Nyoma begins singing a chant making the stone violently vibrate. Geysers of water gushed out as a light shined within the ocean depths. A white tower emerged from the sea within moments, catching everyone's attention.

"The Crescent Tower! As described in the legend."

A great bridge stands before them to enter.

"What should we do with this girl?" Seiyaru asked.

"We no longer have further need for her. So go somewhere and dispose of her if you must."

Kazuma and the Captain proceed into the tower. Returning to the battle, Jakota takes his final stand against the three.

"Victory is all that matters. Failure is not an option."

An aura builds around Jakota's body, with a pair of wings forming behind. Bow and Blade took the defense as he rushes in.

"Victory Kick!"

Bow gets knocked out.

"Victory Punch!"

Blade gets sent flying in the air.

"Victory Blast!"

Maigashi attempts to fire back but gets overwhelmed by his energy. The team struggles to pull themselves back up. Jakota's speed picks up as the two fumbled with their weapon.

"Man, he's fast. I can't even get a lock." Maigashi said.

Blade makes a swing with his pole but ends up whacking Bow over. Jakota sweep kicks him across the grass. Maigashi attempts to fire his lightning attacks, but he quickly dodged.

"What?"

Maigashi receives a knockout punch, dropping to the floor as Bow and Blade jumped back.

"Gahh! Not good! Not good!"

The two take cover behind a boulder, but it quickly crumbles from the force of his punch. They run back to Maigashi's position, shaking him.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

Bows start to slap him across the face as Blade attempts to stall the fight. Maigashi continues to remain out cold while a memory begins to play back in his mind.

"Come on! Let's try this." Yuka teased.

"Really? You won't ever see me doing that."

Maigashi and Yuka are watching a wrestling match on T.V in her hotel room. Yuka pulls him up from the bed.

"Come at me!"

"You can't be serious…."

She lunges herself on him without warning causing him to fall right over. The two begin to wrestle across the bed. She gets his neck locked in a grapple.

"Is that really all you got?"

Maigashi quickly turns the table as her head fell back on the pillow. He starts to make his advance towards her.

"BOMBER!"

Yuka elbows him across the face by surprise, knocking him out cold. His body falls flat over her chest. Her face blushed for a brief moment before moving him off.

"Are you ok?"

He slowly regains consciousness moments later. An ice pack is over his head as he places a couple of tissues over his nose to stop the bleeding.

"I never saw this side of you…What the heck was that? That hurts…"

Yuka briefly flexed her arm.

"That was my signature Bomber! My counter for any close confrontation. I can show you how it's done."

"Doubt I'll ever need to use that."

The sound of the room phone rings from the side as he goes to answer.

"Alistor? You want to meet up where? At the cargo bay…fine."

He takes his leave.

"Where do you have to go?" Yuka wondered.

"Those dweebs need me to help investigate that cargo ship with them for some reason. You can show me that move later tonight. I'll be back."

He leaves through the door as the memory comes to an end. The scene returns to the battle with Bow and Blade tuckered out. Jakota then pulls back as Maigashi attempts an uppercut.

"About time you're awake." Blade said.

"How have you guys been holding?"

Jakota showed no sign of fatigue.

"We've been trying to figure a way to slow him down, but his fighting skills are beyond our league." Bow admitted.

"I might have an idea."

Maigashi steps forward.

"Come on! Hit me with your best shot! Right here in the kisser."

"What? Are you crazy?" Bow jumped.

Maigashi leaves himself open for an attack as Jakota didn't hesitate to rush in. But then, he closes his eyes to catch a drift of the breeze.

"The wind….it actually feels nice today. Yuka… I hope you're faring well."

Jakota makes the final swing as he braced for impact. The punch directly lands on his face, yet he stood his ground.

"The battles over…."

He suddenly grabs hold of Jakota by the arm.

"What?"

"BLACK BOMBER!!!"

Sparks fly across as he elbows Jakota hard on the face bringing the battle to an end. Jakota's wings and aura fade away.

"Didn't see that one coming…Damn…"

Jakota falls flat on his back with his nose bleeding. He took a moment to stare up at the clouds passing.

"She gave my life direction, and everything was clear. I nearly forgot what I was fighting for."

"What are you rambling on about now?"

The three walk over to Jakota's side.

"I was not strong enough at one point…."

The scene shifts to another flashback. A small boy and girl are seen playing by the garden side.

"Nyoma and I used to be childhood friends."

The two are seen playing in the sandbox with other kids building a sandcastle. A teddy bear rests in the corner.

"We both eventually made a promise. To one day leave this island when we were much older. To run away and see the world, but sadly that day would never come."

The scene transitions forward in time.

"Nyoma was part of the upper class and bound by tradition; we eventually were not allowed to see one another. Finally, however, the inevitable was just on the horizon. After all…life was based on chance.

A storm builds while people are seen running for shelter. Then, a typhoon makes its way towards the Crescent Moon, destroying many homes and buildings.

"The storm took everything away I held dear that day. My family, my home, and my friends. All gone within a single night. Orphaned at a young age, my chance of survival was low. So I just sat and waited for death to come."

Jakota sat back on the rocks by the shores. Staring straight at the clouds as a man in pink approached from behind.

"It seems you've met an unfortunate fate, boy. If you want another chance, you'll come with me."

The young boy leaves off with Kazuma, bringing the memory to an end. The scene transitions back to Jakota staring straight at the clouds.

"I have failed the mission… I'm no longer of any use. So kill me if you must." Jakota said.

Maigashi pulls out his dagger, hesitating for a moment. Then, Bow and Blade turn away; a piercing sound is heard.

"No! I won't be the one to kill you." He nodded. "If you want to throw your life away, then it's your choice."

His dagger is seen lunged into the ground. Just inches away from Jakota's face.

"But why?"

"You reminded me of an old friend I used to know. After all, you're an exceptional fighter, and life shouldn't be based on chance. It's best to move forward and live it without any regrets."

A smile slips from Jakota as he closed his eyes.

"To move forward…live without any regrets. Heh…"

Jakota loses consciousness on the floor. Bow and Blade both fall over on the grass.

"I don't think we can go on much further…."

"Yeah." Blade nodded. "We're completely tuckered out."

Maigashi pulls his weapon out from the ground.

"You guys have done enough. Go and take him back to Axe. I'll handle the rest from here."

And so the two leave, carrying Jakota's body on their shoulders. Maigashi continues his way to the tower. Lance and Nephena take cover behind the entrance of a cemetery as Noo and Bassa approached.

"Hey, Seiyaru! Have they been holding out on us about a treasure? Where's the cash!" Noo demands.

They stare straight at the Crescent Tower fixed in the background.

"So Jakota… has failed…."

"Hey! Are you even listening?"

Noo gets blasted by a beam of ice. His body is knocked back on a tombstone as he lies back, slowly dying. Bassa quickly cowers in the corner.

"Damn you…."

"Boo hoo hoo! Seiyaru! Duh…Why did you do that for?"

Seiyaru hoists him up in the air.

"You're a complete idiot!"

"Duuuaahhhh!!!"

He fires an energy blast killing Bassa in a split second. Lance and Nephena froze in place, shocked.

"Come on out! I know you've been waiting." He grunted.

The two slowly step their way out to confront him.

"You monster… Those two were your teammates." She muttered.

"They were nothing more than a hindrance."

A spark quickly lit within her.

"Psychic Fire!"

Nephena starts the opening attack with Lance charging alongside her. Seiyaru quickly absorbs the flame within his shell.

"The power! I can feel it burning inside."

Lance catches Seiyaru off guard as he closed in with his weapon.

"Drummers Solo!"

Seiyaru's body begins turning to stone as Lance delivers a barrage of strikes with his nunchucks. Then, finally, he shatters through his stone shell, taking him by surprise.

"What kind of power is this?"

"And now for the glamorous finish!"

Lance puts the last ounce of his strength into his attack breaking every part of his body. Finally, a core gets exposed, shattering right before his eyes. Seiyaru crashes on the floor as Nephena jumps excitedly.

"Did we really do it?"

"I think so…" Lance slapped.

Seiyaru's body rests on the floor, completely decimated, while smoke covered the ground. Life quickly returns to him as his body regenerated from a new core.

"My earth body was not strong enough to withstand whatever that was. You'll pay dearly for that."

The two are surprised as Seiyaru emerged utterly unharmed. After that, however, Seiyaru's shell turns a different color.

"You channel fire, I see…And I sense a wind presence in your drummer's move. Yes… I'll absorb that damage."

Two elemental cores appear side by side on his shell.

"My wind and fire form should be enough to end this."

He begins concentrating his energy on one colossal attack.

"Who is this guy?" Lance jumped.

"Run!" Nephena shouted.

The two ran off from the scene as Seiyaru unleashed a wave of flames. The fire quickly spreads across the graveyard.

"You won't escape from me."

Seiyaru begins pursuit against them while they run through the fog of smoke. Finally, they spot a guiding hand on the side.

"Nyoma…is that really you?" She asked.

"Follow me quickly…."

The two follow her into an underground passage as they arrive in a room filled with some supplies. An underground spring rests in the background.

"So, how did you escape?" Nephena wondered.

"I was able to get away when those two came along, luckily."

They took a moment to rest up.

"So, where are we anyway?"

"This is an underground bunker we prepared back in the day. Hidden behind the fake stones, we used this place for disastrous times such as storms."

Booming sounds are heard shaking from above.

"We can't hide in here forever, and my power won't be back till another whole hour," Lance explained. "If only there were a way we could trap him."

"Yeah…" Nephena muttered.

Nyoma recalls something.

"There might be one way, but it involves us back in the opening. We can take him by surprise."

"Well, we're ready for anything," Nephena said.

Moments later…

"Where could those meddlesome brats be? Sigh…"

Seiyaru continues to search under every stone, destroying any set of trees in his path. Then, finally, he makes his way back to the upper grounds.

"I'm tired of playing hide and seek… I'll burn this entire island if I have to."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the forest, Maigashi continues his path towards the Crescent Tower in hopes of catching up with the rest. However, he soon hears a sound coming from the bushes behind.

"Jakota?"

"Let me help your team out. I want to repay the favor." He insisted.

The two continue forward to the tower.

"So, did those guys make it back fine?"

"Yes, they made it back to your friend Axe," Jakota assured. "It was unfair of Seiyaru to injure your other friend earlier, so I've decided to sub in his place."

Alistor is seen resting at the bedside while Bow and Blade get patched up.

"Well… I'm glad you could be on our side."

"Live with no regrets like you said. I will confront with Nyoma."

Returning to the cemetery…

"Ok! We're in position." Lance said.

Nyoma positions herself in the open as she walks towards Seiyaru's position. Lance and Nephena took cover above as they watch Seiyaru waltz back and forth by the large gravestone.

"Over here!" Nyoma waved.

She directs Seiyaru's attention towards her.

"I nearly forgot about you. Very well, I'll make this quick then."

Seiyaru took a few steps forward but suddenly felt a paralyzing bind.

"What? My body….it can't move."

"You fell right into our trap."

A sealing paper was right below his feet as he attempts to struggle. His eyes skimmed across for the others. Lance and Nephena came pouncing down from above.

"Harmona!"

Nephena's energy blade impacts Seiyaru's core as Lance aimed for the one on his left. His two elemental cores cracked within moments.

"It's over now." Nephena pointed.

Seiyaru was brought down to his knees, frozen in place.

"Heh heh heh…times like these calls for desperate measures."

"What are you saying?" Nyoma wondered.

Seiyaru ignites himself, forcing Lance and Nephena to hesitate. The wind quickly begins to build his flames for a big attack.

"Iron Core Explosion!!!"

The two attempt to fall back but, Seiyaru sacrificed his damaged cores before they could. Nyoma gets caught within the force of the explosion. Smoke and debris filled the air as the three lays on the floor, barely conscious.

"No…It can't end this way." Nephena muttered.

Seiyaru's body emerged from the smoke. His body reverted to its original blue color.

"How it's been so long since I last used that technique. It cost me quite a bit but no matter. I can easily make that up by taking your bodies. I'll start with you."

He reached out to grab Nephena.

"Noooo!!!!"

A blast of lightning quickly hits Seiyaru on the arm.

"Oh… it's you again."

"Sorry for the late notice." Maigashi pestered. "I haven't even used the Rainaga yet, so maybe you'd like to be the one I test against."

Seiyaru hesitates for a brief moment thinking to himself.

"This puts me at a type disadvantage. If I still had my earth body, things would play out differently. Retreating is probably the best course of action for now."

Jakota emerged from right behind, to Seiyaru's surprise. He steps forward to confront him.

"Jakota…you dare betray us?"

Maigashi readies for battle, but Jakota halts him.

"Let me handle him from here. You need to save your power against the Captain."

He checks over at what remains of his teammates. Noo's body against the gravestone and the debris left from Bassa's body.

"They were my friends…."

He fires an attack though Seiyaru swerved to the side. Jakota rushes in as spike cannons fire out from the back of Seiyaru's shell.

"They no longer had a purpose. You should realize your place by now."

Spike cannons continue crashing down. Jakota takes damage, yet he refused to back down on his next attack. Seiyaru fires an energy attack as Jakota makes a massive leap in the air.

"I'm more than just a pawn."

He takes a full-powered dive at Seiyaru.

"Victory Crash!"

"What?"

Jakota delivers a crushing blow to Seiyaru's head. Then, he continues with a barrage of assaults.

"Victory Flash!"

He delivers an uppercut, launching Seiyaru midair. Seiyaru then desperately shields himself from the series of quick punches but was soon left open as Jakota got behind.

"How annoying…"

Seiyaru is impacted by Jakota's Victory Blast, causing his shell to be destroyed as light blinds everything below. Nothing was left of Seiyaru's body as the battle quickly comes to an end. Maigashi goes to help the rest back on their feet.

"So it's finally over, I guess…." Lance said.

Nephena takes one last look in the sky, thinking back about her father.

"It's not over yet. We still have to reclaim the stone in Kazuma's hand."

The team stares off at the Crescent Tower strong on the horizon. Kazuma and the Captain's face are pictured above.