Chapter 8: The Blades in the Wind

"As they were moving to reach the next obstacle, they were met with another challenge ahead of them." The Narrator said.

"Well it looks like we got another guardian blocking our way again." Zion Kishima remarked.

"Standing in front of them was a female guardian with white hair, silver eyes, with wind surrounding her, holding two blades and giving off a cold, menacing, glaring stare towards the heroes." The Narrator stated.

"You're right on that one, ninja." Zino said as he was stroking his hair.

"That one over there is the second of the five guardians of the Aethereal Dreamstone Crystal, Windblade." Zino remarked as he pointed out Windblade's physical appearance.

"But be careful guys, Windblade over here is a much stronger opponent to defeat compared to Manastura." Zino continued.

"Flattery will not get you anywhere, human." Windblade smirked as she charges towards Creo and his group.

"She uses her wind abilities to push Creo and his group and sends them falling down towards a cliff." The Narrator exclaimed.

"Not bad, she's got my attention." Athena smirked and proceeded to create an ice bridge using her cryokinetic powers, to save her friends from falling down.

"Phew, if I didn't have my ice powers, we would have become goners." Athena said after rescuing her friends.

"This guardian is indeed difficult, one wrong move and we might be gone for good." Creo stated as he tries getting up.

"Had enough, mortals?" Windblade smirked as she saw Creo and his group.

"Now this guardian is more of a tricky challenge. But I believe she has just met her match." Athena declared as she prepared her fighting stance.

"And so Athena and Windblade start to charge at one another, and both of them draw their blades, Windblade proceeds to unleash her wind abilities to distract her." The Narrator said.

"The power of the wind is quite strong, I'll give you that." Athena said respectfully.

"I'll take that as a sign of respect." Windblade smirked as she was being respected.

"Athena and Windblade continue clashing blades until Athena decides to freeze Windblade using her ice powers." The Narrator stated.

"Windblade is struggling to break free from Athena's ice trap, Athena waits for what she'll do next." The Narrator stated.

"You know, I'm going to admit one thing about you, guardian of the Aethereal Dreamstone Crystal." Athena said as she watched Windblade struggling.

"If we had been born in the same place, same era and same level, we would have become the best of friends." Athena smiled.

"Windblade was surprised and taken aback after hearing what Athena had just said, but she could not help but smile." The Narrator said.

"I could say the same for you, Athena of Eldoria." Windblade smiled back at her.

"Athena proceeds to unfreeze Windblade and she proceeds to whisper something to Athena." The Narrator continued.

"You've proven to be quite the opponent, I hope to meet you again someday, but for now I'll let you and your friends pass." Windblade whispered to Athena.

"Athena could not help but smile and whisper something back to Windblade." The Narrator said.

"Thank you again, my friend." Athena whispered.

"Athena called out Creo and the others and told them that they could pass and waved her hand goodbye to Windblade and Windblade could not help but smile." The Narrator said.

"Safe travels to you, kind adventurers." Windblade said as she waved goodbye to them.

"As Athena and the others continued walking, Athena could not help but smile as she had found herself an equal in power and a newly found friend, hoping to meet her again someday." The Narrator replied.

"Well, only three guardians left before we can get the Aethereal Dreamstone Crystal." Creo replied.

"Yes, you're right on that one Your Majesty, and as you have observed from Athena's confrontation, Windblade was not easy as we initially thought, she and Athena are quite equal in power." Zino remarked.

"She earned my respect as a fighter, I'm hoping to meet her again someday." Athena replied as she smiled.

"Meanwhile Rook and the other Pawn soldiers were able to move again after the ice had melted and went on to do repairs on their steampunk warship." The Narrator said.

"The Pawn leader and his men came to aid them in their repairs before they eventually were given a message from the other officers." The Narrator said in suspense.

"Sir, I believe you're going to have to read this message, it was sent for you by Superior Bishop and Superior Knight." The Pawn leader told Rook as they handed out the letter to him.

"Rook took the letter and proceeded to read the letter." The Narrator said.

In the letter, this is what it contained:

Dear Rook,

"It has been quite sometime that we have sent you a letter like this but we have been receiving reports about your progress and I hope you're not wasting the various resources that the C.H.E.S.S. organization has to offer. Rest assured you we will continue to provide resources but failure to fulfill your mission, you will be given a time out and sent back to C.H.E.S.S. headquarters."

Sincerely,

N and B.

"Rook could not help but let out his frustrations and anger, he blames himself for not doing quite a good job in dealing with King Creo and his guild." The Narrator said.

"Alright listen men, once we're done with the repairs of the warship, our main objective is to get the crystal first before King Creo and his guild are able to get their hands on it first we need to wait for the perfect opportunity, the perfect timing in order for us to strike without them even noticing!" Rook remarked.

"Now help me out with the repairs on the ship, it ain't going to start repairing by itself!" Rook angrily said as he went to repair the ship.

"The Pawn soldiers decided to help him out and went on to give him pieces and gears in order to repair and fix their steampunk warship." The Narrator declared.

"Meanwhile back on Creo's group, they were able to navigate themselves out of the jungle and eventually found the mountain they were looking for." The Narrator said.

"There's the mountain with an eye-carved shape! It's the exact one that we've been looking for." Creo exclaimed.

"Indeed it is, now all we have to do is climb and go get the crystal." Zino remarked.

"All of them decided to climb the humongous, steep and old mountain." The Narrator said.