Indistructo landed on the ground with force. His powerful landing carved a crater that was encrusted with flames. He looked around and found his fellow Guardians devouring the remains of a buffalo not so far from him. They all gawked at him as curiosity unraveled their minds.

"Was it indispensable for you to scorch the ground?" Inquired Kuhn Lau.

Nicholas rolled his eyes and turned his focus towards Yung Fu.

"Really, Yung Fu, you had to train without me, didn't you? "

Yung Fu ascended to his feet and pottered towards the campfire. He grabbed a kettle and poured water inside his mug. After that, he took a sip and addressed him.

"I did that because you needed plenty of time to rest. Also, you still have to recover from your injuries, remember."

"I am Indistructo, a mighty warrior. Resting is for the weak. Last I checked, I ain't weak?"

Yung Fu lowered his brows in bafflement.

"Oh really, you were rendered unconscious by a single lightning bolt."

He clenched his fist and lunged forward, "As I said, only weaklings have time to rest!"

"My, you have a bad temper today. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?" Inquired Kuhn Lau with his arms crossed.

"Have you come up with a plan of attack?" Inquired Indistructo while Yung Fu took another sip.

"We don't have a plan as of late. However, right now, we're seething our qi's so that our bodies may gain some resistance to one of Slicer's lightning attacks."

"I agree. That was unlike any other lightning bolt I've seen," said Viper.

She then continued to elaborate on her statement. "Since we Utopians have a body of steel, an earthly lightning bolt cannot incite damage to us, regardless of its force. However, Slicer's lightning bolt proved to be one of a kind. After all, it knocked you out for merely two weeks. The next strike won't be so noble."

Kuhn Lau continued where she left off, "What I've realized about many of us is that our qi levels are weak. Therefore, because of that, this explains why Slicer was able to dispose of us easily. His qi is somewhat greater than ours."

"So what you're trying to say is that the weaker an individual's qi is, the weaker their physical condition will be?" Pete Inquired.

"Mmm-hmm!" Agreed, Kuhn Lau.

"Sounds reasonable enough," said Indistructo.

"Then let us proceed with our training," said Kuhn Lau.

*************

As three months withered, the Guardians improved gradually with their training, becoming physically and spiritually more powerful.

Meanwhile, Pete accomplished all of his objectives. Nevertheless, the latter could dig a sixty-five feet deep well using his bare hands. He then drew water from the well using buckets. He acquired a variety of skills as well. More importantly, he lost a significant amount of weight. Although his potbelly was still there, it had much decreased. His sense of self-worth also significantly increased.

Singapore

When the Guardians reached the Sihuyean, Pete and Viper were reenergized and filled with joy. They were finally back in the modern era, which facilitated their way of life, as opposed to the jungle, which had no electricity, a roof, and some comfort. In addition, it was difficult enough that no warm water was available for them to use. It was just a chilly river infested with creepy critters at certain times.

She softly took a whiff through her nose and raised her hands with praise.

"The modern world, how have we forsaken you? You truly have been a blessing in our lives.."

Without turning to face her, Kuhn Lau placed his hand under his eyebrows and sighed with disappointment.

"Do not forget, comfort will cost you your strength."

She narrowed her brows with contempt. Soon after, she took a deep breath and smiled. Like the drama queen she is, she gestured her hand into that of a serpent's and mocked him, "Oh darling, don't be such a drag. You as well, have fallen victim to this trap. Now if you can excuse me, I have a bath to indulge in."

She wrapped her arm around Yung Fu's elbow.

"Come now, handsome, show me where I can bathe."

Yung Fu's cheeks fluttered red, and blood trickled from his left nasal passage.

"Not so fast. Don't you dare think of anything dirty!"

"Uhmm...uh...no...You must be mistaken. I wasn't thinking of anything dirty." He grinned guiltily as he looked to the side while whistling.

She pulled him towards the corridors while Ace was speechless. He placed his hand on Indistructo's left shoulder and commented.

"She's a feisty one."

"You have no idea."

"And I like that."

************

At the North Hall

Before engaging in combat, Kuhn Lau and Pete bowed respectfully to one another while standing atop a mattress.

Soon after, Pete swiveled and used a spinning kick, to which Kuhn Lau retaliated by blocking the attack with the surface of his palm. He used a spinning kick again, but this time Kuhn Lau dodged the blow by moving beneath his passing leg. Then Kuhn Lau gave Pete a roundhouse kick. Pete, though, had already stopped the assault. And as soon as he did, Kuhn Lau's kick struck, sending him into a fit of agony.

"Damn, his leg is painful," reflected Pete.

Pete then attempted to kick him beneath the chin. Kuhn Lau maneuvered a series of somersaults in opposition to the assault. Pete lost patience and launched another assault, trying to hit him on the bridge of his nose this time. In reaction, Kuhn Lau sidestepped the assault and seized his wrist. In addition, he pierced his opponent's flesh with his fingers while his wrist was in his hands.

When his fingers went through his wrist, blood began to leak out. Anguish spread like a virus in his body while Kuhn Lau held onto the side of his neck.
He was merciful enough to avoid sticking his eagle-like claws through his throat. The latter winced once more and attempted to flee from his tragedy.

Pete used the Buddha's palm to strike Kuhn Lau. The attack sent Kuhn Lau in a string of spaghetti legs. Pete knocked him off his heels with a low, spinning sweep kick.

He then pointed at him after that.

"Do you surrender?"

Kuhn Lau grinned admiringly. But he refused to give in to his predicament. As a result, he pushed Pete to the ground and choked him with a gogoplata. His legs were so close to his neck that they strangled him.

"No, Pete, do you surrender?" He tapped him on his thigh, signaling his defeat him. Pete rose to his feet and cupped his neck.

"What the hell was that?"

"That was a gogoplata foot choke. I used it to secure my victory while you backed me into a corner. Imagine you defeating your teacher. That would be a shame on my account."

Pete pointed at him. "I tell you this, Kuhn Lau, one day, I will surpass you and Yung Fu." Kuhn Lau smiled with delight.

"Oh, is that a challenge?"

Yung Fu entered the hall with a gold staff. Kuhn Lau turned to him and inquired.

"Did you help Vanessa with her bath?" Yung Fu rolled his eyes and tossed the staff to him. He grabbed the staff and admired the embossing prints that stretched beyond its furthermost regions.

"I remember you once telling me how much you loved yin shou gun. I realized that I had a staff back at the Sihuyean. And because of that, I bestow this staff to you."

With a smile, Kuhn Lau bowed his head and said, "Xie'xie' ni."

Pete's phone began buzzing from his right pocket. He delved his hand into his pocket and took out the device. He then placed the device on his right ear.

"Hello."

"Hi Pete, do you remember me?"

He raised his right brow in confusion.

"No, I don't. Who are you?"

"It's your old pal, Peterson, General Peterson."

"Peterson, old pal, is that you?" He inquired with excitement.

While delicately pushing the mug's corners between his lips, Peterson drank from the coffee.

"Yes, of course. Do you still remember when you told me about your talisman?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?" After taking a sip, he placed the mug aside and continued.

"After conducting my research, I discovered information about its importance. Do you still have it?"

"Umm... he-he no."

"Why? You said that it is important to you?"

"Look, man, I just don't have it, ok."

"Please care to tell me how you lost it."

"Well, you see...uh.. here's the thing. Some guy called Slicer took it from me,"
He stuttered.

Peterson spewed coffee out of his mouth after hearing those ominous words. He then coughed persistently.

"He what? Oh no, he didn't, damn it, Peter!"

"Wait, how do you know Slicer?"

Peterson drank from the mug again. Then, he set it aside after taking a gulp.

"Here's the thing Slicer nearly killed one of my most trusted soldiers. And to add, if he has all the talismans, doesn't that mean he will set Death Wrath free from the Dark Realm?"

"Yeah, about that, there is nothing to worry about."

He took another sip and inquired with intrigue. "And why is that?"

"It turns out that the talismans work only under our authority." He exhaled heavily as a grin gleamed across his mouth.

"Thank goodness."

After that, Peterson held his wrist high and looked over his watch.

"Tell you what? I'll pay you a visit within an hour or two."

"Cool with me. But I got one question. How are you going to find me?"

He fixed the collar of his coat and continued, "Oh, don't worry about that. Just expect me soon enough."

He dropped the call and logged onto his GPS. The GPS materialized his (Pete's) coordinates.

"There we are. It looks like he's downtown, just twenty minutes away."

"Oh, really?" said Max, who sat across the table, whirling his fork through a stack of waffles covered in chocolate dew.

A bit of the chocolate dew spilled onto the plate as he skewed through the other end of the pancake.

"Really? That sounds interesting."

He prepared the knife to chop the piece with the fork. When he did that, he chewed the cut-off piece into his mouth. He swallowed and used a saviet to clean his lips.

"So what did he say?" Max inquired once more.

"Nothing much. Just good news. I'll fill you in along the way."

**********

Two hours later, at the Sihuyean, a black Austin Martin Vulcan was parked in front of the main gate. Two gatekeepers held both doors of the gates and opened them. The car drove inside and parked in the first Courtyard. The Courtyard itself resembled that of an original parking lot, though the only difference was the design of the floor. The ground was composed of plastered bricks.

Peterson and Max exited the vehicle and stepped inside the Sihuyean's interior. They strolled through the grounds of the inner Courtyard. The Courtyard's external design was exceptional. It consisted of two paths that crossed each other to form a crucifix. Outside the crucifix were four little grassy areas, one of which had a fountain. A river of white pebble stones was placed along the edges of the pathway to enhance its features.

The six Guardians stepped back while Peterson approached Yung Fu. The two shook hands as Peterson said, "Master Yung Fu, it is an honor to meet you in person."

They shook hands.

"Pete told us that you'd visit. We are pleased to have you here."

"Tell us, General, what brings you here?" Inquired Kuhn Lau.

"I have brought one of my trusted soldiers, Max. He is a meta-human and more than capable of taking Slicer down."

"What kind of powers does he have?" Viper inquired.

"Magnokenisis. Since Slicer is made of dark metal, having Max on your side will be to your advantage."

Ace was jaw-dropped; his eyes were opened, having discovered a revelation he didn't consider entirely. He reminisced of a time when his scythe collided with Slicer's blade.

"That explains why our weapons repelled," he exclaimed.

"Look, my scythe is made of
dark metal, and so is Slicer. When we last faced him, my scythe collided with his blade. When that happened, they created some shockwave that repelled us apart!"

The others were still confused. Fortunately for Ace, Pete was there to reinforce his statement since he saw proof of this firsthand.

"Guys! What Ace is trying to say is that the only thing that can damage dark metal is another dark metal. For instance, when you were unconscious, I took his scythe and stabbed Slicer in the shoulder. Wouldn't you know, the scythe penetrated him!"

Kuhn Lau's eyes were also opened; he told his side of the story.

"That explains why I nearly fractured my femur when I kicked him back in Oklahoma."

Yung Fu then centered his attention on Peterson and spoke.

"Even if Max were to help us, wouldn't that put you in a compromise? After all, some of us might not get out of this alive."

"I have faith in him," answered Peterson.

"Then I do not take any responsibility for whatever may happen to him."

*************

The beautiful sky was then covered in a grayish pigment. The sun's rays couldn't shine through because the clouds suddenly integrated. A streak of lightning soared over the gloomy sky, igniting a thunderstorm.

A squadron of scout spacecraft appeared from the depths of the ozone layer, bursting into the troposphere with ravenous fury. After that, mayhem broke out when the fleet of scout ships entered the city's perimeters.

The people stood up inside the city, bearing testimony to the terror awaiting them. With breathtaking speed, a windstorm swept through the city, blowing everything out of sight as frightened residents swarmed the area. They hurried out in search of safety from the terrorist extraterrestrials.

Meanwhile, Slicer set down his scout ship before the city's highest structure's facade. As he descended from the aircraft, he kept his gaze locked on the building's roof.

The fleet of scout ships, meanwhile, made separate trips across the city. Many troops jumped out of the scout ships and used ropes hanging from them to make their way down the streets.

The group of troopers separated into different blocks and abducted many citizens. They used coercion to succeed in their ill attempts, poising their kinetic rifles at them.

"Freeze hands in the air!"

One of them said. The troopers transported their hostages to the building wherein their commander was.

Meanwhile, Slicer rapidly moved to the building's roof and surveyed the metropolis. He reached out his hand toward the gloomy, dark sky. He did this while closing his eyes and connecting to the dark clouds. He suddenly opened his eyes and reached for the closest structure with his hand. He summoned forth an ultimate super bolt of lightning.

The entire structure was reduced to ruins by the lightning strike. The lightning bolt kept moving through the city's foundation until it struck a particularly delicate area. It was able to change the city's tectonic plates with more than a billion volts. This resulted in the harrowing of the ground in every city block.

To Be Continued
Fun Fact:

Did you know that in Greek mythology, an owl represents wisdom? Since Kuhn Lau's talisman has an owl on it, this reinforces that he is the wisest of the six Guardians.