6 Raiding the Temple

Aaron and Austin took a step into the temple, while Andrew and Newton followed them on the roof.

Aaron stayed beside Austin primarily, like they had planned to do.

Just how the plan described, he was going to be using shadow abilities from Austin to dodge the traps and defenses littered throughout the temple.

"Stay behind me, and all will be fine. Just hold on, there are traps up ahead," said Austin, holding his heart.

He then materialized into a shadow, and as a result, Aaron did as well, becoming hidden from plain sight to most.

The traps that would normally target anybody who dares cross the temple grounds stayed offline.

Austin and Aaron crept through the temple, making as little noise as humanly possible. Well, shadow-ly possible.

Nobody except other shadows can hear Austin or Aaron speaking. They almost sounded like a ghost lurking in an old haunted mansion.

"Okay, here's the plan. There is a hallway just across the room from our position. There are two demon guardians just by the hall. You know what the thing is, though? They can spot shadows, or really just any slight movement with ease. So, we have to improvise. We will hide behind the wall to the room so that the traps don't get us, and shoot them down. However, I'd have to deactivate my shadow form, as I can't use weapons in that form. Got it?" Austin explained.

"Sure. I'll be ready to strike these idiots," said Aaron, ready to pounce.

"One...two...three!" counted Austin.

The two then quickly leaped to the wall of the room, getting out of view of any traps in the previous hall.

"MOVEMENT DETECTED," said the first demon guard.

"Now!" said Austin, deactivating his shadow form.

Austin drawed his Plasma Pistols, while Aaron drawed his Blade of Happiness.

Aaron charged to the wall, while Austin shot at one of the demon guards. Aaron then wall-jumped, and with his blade ready, he shouted…

"FOR THE GOLD-" Then Aaron cut the head of one demon guard clean off. Austin shot at the other.

Austin then went on the radio and said: "Coast is clear. There were some demon guards, but he took care of 'em."

Andrew replied with: "Nice. You really know how to take care of creatures like them.

Meanwhile, with Andrew and Newton, on the roof of the temple…

Andrew put his walkie away and continued planting explosives all around the temple.

"Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea? I mean...explosives are dangerous…" said Newton. "But, just the thought."

Andrew scoffed at Newton. "Newton, we've made it this far into the project. And we all collectively agreed to do it, so why not just push through it? Plus, I think it's an excellent idea!"

"Okay...but if you get injured, it's not my fault," said Newton.

"Preposterous! I'm immune to my own explosives!" Andrew replied, continuing to plant explosives.

"I just feel like something would happen to someone who's not immune...who knows? Maybe someone's face could get blown off! Maybe half of it, maybe all of it!" said Newton.

"...Just follow through…please.." said Andrew, continuing to walk and plant.

Back to Aaron and Austin.

Austin had reactivated his shadow form, and Aaron held on to Austin, also a shadow.

"I would think by now, where Charles is is just up ahead," said Austin.

"Wanna bet?" said Aaron, chuckling to himself.

Aaron and Austin continued to venture through the temple. Still unscaved. Until they found…

The Observatory. At least, that's what it said on the label. And that very place is where Charles, the one and only, resides.

"Oi, get down!" said Austin, pulling Aaron down to the ground.

"Huh? What's happening!?" said Aaron.

"Charles is in the observatory just ahead of us. You need to confront him personally, because I know he won't communicate with me after what happened," Austin explained.

"Yeah, but that runs the risk of me getting annihilated the second I step foot into the observatory," said Aaron.

"I'm sure he knows our presence, he knows us quite well after all. But I don't think he'd want to reason with us, for obvious reasons," said Austin. "So, it's all up to you to take him out and finish the task that we had set out to do."

"So it all comes down to me now, huh…?" Aaron said.

"Yes. Yes it does…" Austin would radio Andrew and Newton, explaining. "We are at the observatory, and Charles is just up ahead. It all comes down to Aaron to finish the task, now."

Andrew radioed back. "Alright. Good luck, Aaron!" Newton radioed back. "Be smarter than him. Do what you must."

"And Aaron, I just have to say this…" said Austin. He then put his hand on Aaron's shoulder. "We are believers in you...He's toxic, like radioactive substances...and you must do whatever it takes to defeat him. You're a natural at sword fighting, so you should be able to defeat the demons lurking inside of him. You either wreck him...or be wrecked trying. Be like thunder; heroic and brave. And always remember: we are not the enemy. We will follow you wherever you go, supporting you. Charles is a bad liar, he said he liked us and would support us no matter what, but he betrayed us. But you? You are loyal to us. You can stop him. Imagine, focus, fight...and win. Good luck, Aaron. You're gonna need it."

That motivational speech gave Aaron courage and hope. Resilience flowed through him, and he thought to himself: "I'm gonna win this!" Austin deactivated his shadow form, subsequently deactivating Aaron's.

"Thank you, Austin...I will not fail you all…" said Aaron. "I will do this, if it means getting revenge..I will do it!"

Aaron faced the staircase in the observatory where Charles was. It was finally time…

...To face him once and for all. In a battle of betrayal and revenge.

This was the finale. Aaron v.s Charles.