The Quest - Book 1 Ch. 32
By Eliad Sholomovich

GENIE FORT , PLANE OF AIR

Ryu just finished explaining their plan. "You guys all understand?" Ryu asked. They all nodded. Chunli and the two youths hid in the cornersof the cell hidden from the anyone who came through the door's view.

Ryu kneeled to one knee and held his chest. He groaned in pain "Guard ! Help!" Ryu shouted in a voice full of pain. In a few seconds a guard came rushing towards the cell.

"Whats the matter?" He asked in concern. His master specificly told him to take care of these mortals and to keep them from harm for now. Disobeying his order was suicide.

Ryu groaned and bent over. He spoke in a hoarse tone "Help me I can't breath" Ryu choked. The guard quickly opened the cell door He rushed to Ryu's side. He chanted some runes and Ryu was covered with a white aura.

"Is everything alright Now?" The guard asked.Ryu smiled to himself "Oh yes everything is A O.k" Ryu said. Then Chunli chopped the guard from behind.

The guard fell uncontious. Ryu took his keys and locked the guard inside the cell. He left him lying in the shadows.

The group fled threw the corridor. They searched for their weapons for a few minutes. Ryu found the room but unfortunatly before they could take them the guards found them as well. "Sieze them in Gyrotron's name" One of them shouted.

Ryu and the others entered stance One of them slashed at Ryu. Ryu dodged and grabbed his wrist. He punched his face and kneed his abdomen. Then Ryu flipped the guard over his shoulder.

The flying guard slammed into a guard that approcahed Ryu from behind.Meanwhile a guard tried to grab Chunli. She sidestepped and swept his feet. The guard fell flat on his face and growled in frustration.

He lunged trying to tackle Chunli. Chunli grinned and nailed him with a Tensou Kyaku.The guard fell backwards.

Chunli then felt a stinging pain in her back as a sword whistled behind her and slashed her back.She cried in surprise and pain. She spun around a nailed the guard with a roundhouse.The guard slammed into the wall and fell uncontious from the force of the kick.

Mel faced two guards. He dodged their attacks and blocked all their swipes. Then when they lunged in frustration he jumped high and they crashed into eachother. He raised a fist.

Then he heard a cry from behind him. He turned to see a guard on his face his back scorched and smoking. He saw Ryu with his hands cupped.

"Mel keep your guard arrogance is the first step towards defeat" Ryu said and turned around and kicked a surprised guards chest.

Mel nodded and cursed "What was I thinking? I feel like such an idiot." Mel thought to himself. Then he saw Mariko attacking a guard with a barrage of kicks and punches.

He noticed a guard raise his sword. He shouted Mariko "LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU" Mariko ducked and the sword sliced the other guard instead. She smiled at Mel as she Ice-kicked the other guard.

Chunli and Ryu stood back to back surrounded by six guards. Ryu whispered "When I tell you jump as far away as possible". Chunli nodded. The guard kept their distance. "Aren't so tough now are we?" a guard mocked. Ryu cupped his hands in his impassive face.

"Shinkuu..." He whispered the guards lunged forward. Blue energy surrounded Ryu. The guards laughed you can't hit all of us loser". Ryu yelled "Now" and Chunli jumped backwards over the guards.

The guards ignored the gesture. Ryu jumped into the air."Ha even your little friends abandoned you fool" Ryu started spinning in place. The guards felt a strange strong force pull them towards Ryu. They tried to resist but were sucked into the vortex of kicks.

Ryu landed and around him the guards lay uncontious. He wiped his forehead. "Lets go I bet others will be here soon" They all followed Ryu threw a corridor. They reached a single large door. It was covered with gold and two large Genies guarded it.

"No one passes to Lord Gyrotron without an invitation." One said. Chunli smiled wickedly "Oh really let me show you my invitation.

The guard looked at her and waited. She quickly jumped between the guards and spread her feet nailing them both in the head. They fell limp.

Mel looked at her "Was that neccesary to build up his hopes like that?". Chunli shrugged its better than to have him be ready. Sometimes even the good guys gotta be bad" Chunli said.

Ryu pushed the door open. It opened easily and banged on the wall. Ryu and his group stepped into a large throneroom. Before them sat a Tall figure in Viking clothes with a horned helmet.

"Who dares Approach me unannounced" The figure shouted. Ryu looked at him and spoke "Listen Gyrotron we need the key of air. Can we get it without conflict?"

Gyrotron laughed "Over my dead body" Ryu mumbled "I was afraid you'd say that" They all entered stance and Gyrotron raised a large white bladed Axe.

MEANWHILE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TEMPLE.

Ken and his friends stood before the beast. It growled and swung a pincher at Cammy. Cammy ducked and dove into the water. She rose to the surface only to be grabbed by a green vine.

It raised her into the air. The Beast opened its mouth. "G..GUY Help its gonna eat me" Cammy screamed.

Ken jumped high and cut the vine with his sword. Cammy fell and plunged into the cold water. The beast turned to Ken and swung its Vine wrapping around Ken's arm.

Ken cut it off again. Both vines grew out of the stumps. Ken growled "This isn't working" Guy lept high and landed on the creatures back.He tried to stab it but the carapace was too thick and nothing happened.

The beast swung its pincher almost squashing Guy that jumped backwards. Dan lept this time aiming at the pincher. His sword bounced off the carapace.

Dan was hit by the pincher and flung off. Ken jumped forward. He aimed his sword towards the huge green eye. The beast immeadiatly raised its pinchers in defense.

Ken grinned and shouted "Aim for the eye" The four surrounded the beast and attacked randomly. The beast was confused and tried to fend them all off. It swung one pincher at Guy and one at Ken. Then it swung its vine's at Cammy. Cammy's leg was wrapped.

Ken shouted "Dan, do it now" Dan stabbed the beast's eyes. It let go of the SFers throwing them in random direction. Ken slammed into a tree and Cammy and Guy plunged into the cold waters.

Dan was stuck. His sword sank so deep that it wouldn't budge out. The beast growled and hit Dan he remained holding the sword. "It lifted both Pinchers aiming to squash the human that blinded it.

"Dan let go now" Cammy shouted. Dan complied. Dan dove into the water. The blind beast hit itself with its Pinchers. It smashed itself and fell limp.

It fell into the water. The water level rose drastically and the waters started swirling like a whirlwind. threatening to drown them all. Dan and Guy grabbed some tree. Ken grabbed a rock. Cammy grabbed a branch but it snapped since the beast's weight pulled her back.

She was covered by the cold water. Only her hands were out of the water desperatly trying to grab on something. Ken grabbed her wrist. "Cammy hold on I got ya" Ken said.

Cammy saw Ken's grip starting to slip from the strain of the combined weight. "Ken let go" Ken refused I ain't giving up on ya Cammy" Cammy faught and pulled her arm out of his grip.

Ken desperatly tried to grab her again but failed. She was pulled underwater and sank into the cold blue waters. "Cammy, NO!!!!!!" Ken shouted in horror and anger.

The waters calmed down a few minutes later. Ken searched for her body frantically to try to save her but failed to find it.

Guy put a hand on his shoulder and sighed "There is no use we'll never find her here". Ken hated to admit it but Guy was right. tears fell down Ken's cheeks. He saluted to the water "R.I.P Cammy I hope wherever you are its some place better than this"

They kept on walking heads down in sadness and depression at their friend's demise.

They walked for a few minutes until they reached a Beach of Bluish ice. They walked upon it and slipped. They stuck their swords in the ice to help them keep their balance.

A few minutes later they reached a part ot the beach with a huge crystal in the middle.

They looked around and saw that they were surrounded by noting but dark blue water.The ice behind them cracked and sank leaving them trapped on the small isle.

Ken touched the water with his finger and immeadiatly took it out. "Wow thats cold alright"

The crystal cracked. The three men turned to see it totally shatter. And there stood a blue-skinned woman with blond hair. She had glowing blue eyes. And was wearing only a very thin two piece made of leather.

"Why have you entered my realm of water?" She asked in anger. Ken gulped "We need the key of Ice" She laughed "Foolish humans you can't defeat Scotia the queen of Water. Soon you shall join your little friend I killed"

The three entered stance and Ken shouted "YOU MURDEROUS B**CH I''LL RIP YOU APART" Scotia grinned "Go ahead and try pathetic human"

She then laughed and Ken lunged in anger.