The cave seemed to be endless as it went deeper and deeper. The air was getting thicker and hotter as they went, as well. Soon, even the torches started dimming at how thick the air was.

“This is very far underground…” Nya said, wearily. Cole sighed, agreeing with his soon to be sister-in-law.

“Yeah, about that, Kai are you okay?”

“Huh?” Kai, who seemed very sleepy, said, startled, his voice echoed throughout the cavern and up the cave walls. “Y-yeah, why?”

“You seem to be falling asleep there.” Nya stated, a worried expression spreading throughout her face. She shifted in her position against the cold, damp rock to look at Cole. “I think we need a rest. Can you make a ledge or something?”

Cole wanted to smack himself in the face. Why didn’t he think of that three hours ago? He nodded and used his abilities to connect with the earth, feeling the ground, the earth around him. He felt the way it moved, the way it breathed as he grabbed onto it with his mind, pulling gently, tugging at the earth and a small ledge below them started to appear. The trio was able to land and take a breath for the first time in what felt like forever.

“I got an idea.” Kai said. The others looked at him confused as he pulled out one of the unlit torches he had brought with. He quickly lit it and threw it down into what seemed to be endless darkness, only for it to bounce off of a… roof?

“Woah, what’s that?” Cole asked.

“Only one way to find out!” Nya stated, and she jumped down into the cavern, landing with a thud. Kai and Cole exchanged a glance before jumping in after them.

The group slowly made their way to the bottom of the underground structure, swiftly jumping from one place to the next, their soft footsteps barely audible. They made it to the bottom, and Cole gasped in awe as he looked up at the giant temple in front of them. It was entirely made of stone and dirt.

Cole felt deeply connected to this cave. It was as though… as though it was his destiny to be here. He took a step forward, only to be stopped by Kai. “We don’t know what’s in there!” Kai stated. “It could be dangerous!”

Cole smiled and rested a hand on Kai’s cheek. “Don’t worry, my little flame. I will be okay. If I don’t come out within an hour, you may come looking for me.” He then kissed Kai passionately, and reluctantly, he separated from him, looking into his handsome eyes.

“Be safe…” He said, a quiet understanding washing over him. He knew that Cole needed to go, and Cole knew that he’d be safe. Nya came up.

“What if you need back up?” She asked. “Then what?”

“I’ll call out for you guys.” Cole explained. “The cave walls are thick, and sure to echo anything I yell out to you.” the two nodded.

“Well, be safe.” Nya said, giving Cole a hug shortly after Kai and him ended their embrace.

“I will. You too.” He said. He then took a deep breath, shoving down his nerves that were slowly rising up from inside. He walked into the large doorway, the smell of earth and dirt radiating off every corner of the place.

The door shut behind him. He panicked, turning around and the others were banging on the door yelling out for him. The cold stone doors were smooth, yet unmovable. “Guys, don’t worry! I’ll find a way out!” Cole called. “There is most definitely another door or a window I can use to get out somewhere in here.”

“Please, hurry!” Cole heard Kai’s soft voice from the other side of the door, clearly full of worry and tears.

“I will.” he promised. He turned around and allowed his instincts to guide him. The walls seemed stable enough in most places, but dust and debris dropped from every corner of the ancient temple. The room was hardly visible at first, but as he took a few steps forward, suddenly, torches were lit. The torches made a path up some stairs, and Cole followed.

They lead a winding and twisted path up several flights of stairs, all the way to the top of the temple. There was a room circularly shaped, with a dome overhead, all made of stone. There were torches lighting up all around the dome, and in the centre, there was a podium with a blade on it. The blade was an elegant sword, made of stone and iron, and the handle had a glint of gold and lapis azul, and on the centre of the central ridge of the double-bladed sword said “土の要素を持つ者だけがこの刃を扱うことができる” meaning “Only the one with the element of earth may wield this blade”.

This blade drew Cole in as he gently picked it up, only to be thrown against one of the pillars holding the ceiling up. He got up with a groan of pain as a spirit appeared above the blade, still on the podium that was now sinking into the ground. A pressure-plate trap. Of course. How did he not see it before-hand?

“Mortal!” the spirit said, it’s voice echoed across the cavern. “If you wish to wield this blade of earth, prove to me you are worthy!!” Kai and Nya were suddenly lifted into sight in some sort of orb. “Defeat the earth Golem using only your brute force, earning the blade, or watch your friends die in molten magma, and you soon follow.”

Cole’s heart sank. It wasn’t just a friend in there. That was Kai. his lover. The man he wanted to marry. A lump formed in his throat at the thought of losing him. ‘No, you have to stay strong…’ Cole told himself. ‘For him…’

Cole took a deep breath and looked the spirit straight into its dull, empty eyes. “I’ll do it. Anything for Kai and his sister.”

The spirit thought for a moment. “Very well then, mortal. Let us see if you are worthy…”

Right then and there, a giant golem made of earth and stone rose from the ground….

Meanwhile, Zane had just untied the others. Jay was freaking out, and Lloyd was trying to calm him. Lloyd sighed, getting a headache from this.

“Look, I don’t know about you, but I find this to be VERY BAD.” Jay yelled.

“Yes, I know!” Lloyd snapped back. “We need to find where they went. But first, let's get back to the monastery and inform Sensei about this… perhaps he’ll know what to do…”

Zane nodded. “I agree. Let’s hurry back and regroup.”