Trapping the Golden Orb

Bram then said, "Wow, the golden orb almost got you, Gen. I know you were concentrating, but you need to pay more attention to your surroundings.", but Gen was looking in the direction the golden orb went and didn't answer him.

Bram then said, "Hey, Gen, what are you looking at? Did you hear what I said?"

Gen then turned to Bram and said, "I think I figured out how to get the golden orb."

"What? Have you figured out how to get it? What's the way?"

"I have to imitate it."

"Imitate it? But you were doing it before, Gen, and you said you didn't feel anything."

"That's because I was imitating it in the wrong way."

"What do you mean?"

"Before, I was just imitating the orb's movements, just like I did with the bronze orbs and the silver orbs, but the right way to catch it is to mimic its movements while following it very closely."

"And how do you know that? You were clueless until a few moments ago."

"I figured it out because of the golden orb."

"Hm? Because of the golden orb?"

"Yes. When the golden orb passed by me just now, I felt the feeling of the right path coming from it, but when it moved away, the feeling also went away. So I figure the right path is in the golden orb."

"Hm, got it."

"Well, I'll try to approach the golden orb and see if I can feel the sensation again.", and then Gen started to go towards the golden orb, but Bram held him back and said, "Wait a minute, Gen. The golden orb isn't that easy to reach. If it were, people wouldn't have had to lay siege to it."

"That's true, but what should I do then?"

"I'll help you get it."

"You'll help me? Why are you going to do that? We're done exchanging information. You don't owe me anything."

"Don't say that, Gen. After this conversation, we can consider ourselves friends."

"Well, if you weren't one of the five great demons, this could have happened.

"Don't talk like that, Gen. I already told you that not all members of the five demons are like those two. How about you give me a chance?"

"Hm, okay. I can give you a chance, but to do that, you have to be honest with me. Why are you going to help me?"

"Would you believe it's out of altruism?"

"Don't insult me. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"Oh, okay. The reason I'm helping you is that I want to understand how to get the golden orb."

"Got it. You want to understand so you can try to get it before me."

"No. That's not my intention, and even if it was, the most I could do is steal the orb from you after you get it."

"So that's your goal! Steal the orb from me after I get it."

"No! That was just an example of what it would be possible to do. I would never steal anyone's orb."

"I see, but why did you say that's the only option? It's not that hard to get a sense of the right path. I'm sure you could do it."

"I think I could do it too, but the problem is that I missed too many lessons. I won't be able to feel anything on this attempt."

"Hm? What do you mean you missed a lot of lessons?"

"It's like I told you before, Gen. The orbs are for teaching you to sense the right way. However, unlike your group, Gen, all the other groups took the orbs by force."

"Oh, that's right. Since they all took the orbs by force, in theory, no one but me can sense the right path."

"Exactly, Gen. That's why even if I understand how to take the orb, I won't be able to take it now."

"Hm, okay. You can help me then. Come on."

"Hold on, Gen."

"What?"

"The golden orb has very unpredictable movements, just the two of us might not be enough to corner it for you to get close to it."

"Got it, but what's your point?"

"I saw that you came here with two other people. How about asking for their help?"

"Hm. Okay. I'll go talk to them."

Gen then walked over to Alex and Kimi, and when he got close, Alex asked, "How's it going, Gen? Have you made any progress?"

And Gen said, "I think so, but I will need your help to be sure."

"No problem. What will you need my help with?"

Gen was about to speak, but Bram cut him off and said, "I need you two to work with me to trap the golden orb so Gen can get close to it."

Alex and Kimi then looked at the man who had spoken, and then they both got startled. Kimi then stepped in front of Alex and said, "You! What are you doing here?!"

And Bram said, "Easy. I'm helping Gen."

Kimi then looked at Gen, who said, "That's right. He's helping me."

Kimi then said, "Gen, you shouldn't trust him. The five great demons are sneaky, and they don't do anything by chance."

And Bram said, "Hey. Easy there. You have to stop judging our group by the behavior of some of the members."

"There's no way that someone who hangs around with people like that is a good guy."

Alex then said, "That's right! I bet he's waiting for an opportunity to take advantage of you, Gen."

Gen then said, "Calm down, guys. I already talked to him. We have an agreement. Everything is under control."

And Bram said, "Yeah. I have no reason to betray Gen."

Kimi then said, "Do you trust him, Gen?"

And Gen said, "No."

Bram then said, "What do you mean, Gen?!"

And Gen said, ignoring him, "But he has no benefit to gain by betraying me."

Kimi then looked at Alex, and he then said, "Fine. If you are willing to work with him, Gen, you really should have everything under control. We'll help you."

And Gen said, "Thanks."

Bram then said, "Wow. I can't remember the last time I was treated this badly."

And Kimi said, "You must have a bad memory then. Because I'm sure people are bad-mouthing your group every day."

"Well, I can't deny it, but let's change the subject. Let me explain to you how we are going to surround the orb for Gen."

Gen then said, "Okay. You can go on."

And Bram said, "Okay, listen up, we're going to do this ...", and then Bram explained to them how they were going to surround the golden orb.

After he had finished explaining, Bram said, "Did you guys understand?"

And Gen said, "Yes.", and Alex and Kimi nodded.

Bram then said, "Good. Then we can go whenever you want, Gen."

And Gen said, "Okay, let's go at once then."

Bram then said, "Okay, follow me.", and then the four of them started toward the golden orb.

They walked for a while, and then they saw the golden orb in the distance.

Bram then said, "There it is. Let's get a little closer, and then we'll start to fence it as we planned before."

And Gen said, "Okay.", and then they kept going toward the golden orb.

After a while, they got pretty close to it, and Bram then said, "Here is good. Let's get started.", and then everyone split up, each going to a corner.

Bram, Alex, and Kimi each went to one side of the orb, and Gen went directly toward the orb. He was getting closer and closer to it until, at one point, the orb started to move and distanced itself from him.

Gen then shouted, "Alex, it's coming toward you."

And Alex said, "I saw it. You can leave it to me."

Alex then waited for the orb to approach and, when it was very close, moved towards it. The orb then seemed to have sensed Alex's presence and then changed direction to evade him. However, as it turned away from Alex, the orb ran into Kimi, who also ran towards it. 

This caused the orb to change direction again, but in the direction that the orb decided to go, Bram was waiting for it, and so he started to run towards him as well.

The orb then stopped momentarily to decide its next move, and that was more than enough for Gen to get to it.

Gen then said, "I got to it.", and then thought, 'Let's see if I was really right.'