If there are ever any questions about the storyline, feel free to ask. I hope I'm not making things too confusing...
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        He didn't understand why Ignia's words were suddenly so trustworthy, but there was no time to complain. There was at least evidence to back up the treacherous pristess, and if they didn't hurry, Lanox was doomed. In truth, the El Search Party was not ready to take on Scar and his forces, but they had to do something to stop the destruction that the volcano would cause. None of them, other than Ignia who had stayed behind, could stop a volcano from erupting.

        "They'll sense us coming before we get there. It'll be risky, but I think we should split up," Aisha announced as the group neared the base of the volcano. She had taken charge since Elsword wasn't fit for the job at the moment. If it weren't for the possibility that Elesis could change her mind, (y/n) would have hoad him stay behind with Ykuei.

        Elsword was actively participating in their rescue mission, but anyone could tell just by looking at him that he wasn't really there. His eyes seemed unfocused and he had been ignoring any question pertaining to his well-being. "You shouldn't worry about him. He can be dealt with after you not die," Zhu said as he waited for them. The fox had gone ahead of them and sniffed out the entry way to Scar's hideout.

        "According to my calculations, we have approximately twenty minutes to save Artea, the earth priestess, and still have enough to time for her to stop the volcano's eruption process entirely," Eve informed. "That's not enough time! We'd have to plow through everyone in our way including Scar's generals to make that time. Not to mention we don't even know where Artea is being held," Lu poited out. She was right, but if all they were going to do was bulldoze their way through, (y/n) was sure he could easily help do so.

        "We should let (y/n) go ahead of us. Zhu is here and on our side for now. It's best that we use him hile we can. There's no time to argue about this, so who is fast enough to go with him?" Aisha said. (Y/n) was a little surprised that she'd nominated him, but it made sense. (Y/n) had gained the El Search Party's recognition back when they were in Sander. "I'll go. Me and Ain should be able to keep up. It should only take the three of us to get in, get Artea, and get out," Ara said.

        No one objected Ara's choice and they were almost near Zhu who stood at the entrance of Scar's volcanic hideout. "We'll go as far as we can and the three of you will locate Artea. I wish you all luck. Lanox is depending on us to succeed," Aisha confirmed. With those words, (y/n) didn't hesitate to go to Zhu hoping the fox would simply take him right to Artea. Zhu was likely better at differentiating souls and could find Artea's general location.

        Zhu either thought the same thing, or intended to do things himself to begin with since the fox waited for (y/n) to sit on his back. "Wait for me!" Ara called. She didn't hesitate to join (y/n) and wrapped an arm around his waist so that she didn't fall. Given the situation, (y/n) didn't have time to protest, but he didn't think he would have even done so otherwise.

        "Ain, will you be able to keep up?" Ara asked. Ain nodded giving them all the confirmation they needed. Within seconds, they were already headed towards Artea. Zhu had already began searching for her, and with (y/n) watching for any enemies, they were on a set course from there on out. The only problem was the sheer amount of unknown factors in their situation.

        They were practically running blindly into enemy territory. The best they could do was hope things were in their favor. Just before Zhu could leave the tunnel they had found into the side of the volcano, he stopped dead in his tracks and turned around using his tails to shield (y/n) and Ara from something they hadn't noticed. Seconds later, a sudden blast was heard and the heat near them picked up greatly.

        "I hate it when this happens," Zhu growled as the heat died down. He refered to explosion that had been set there as a trap. (Y/n) didn't remember having any encounters with explosions, but he wasn't so sure about Zhu. "There's no time to waste. Keep moving," Ain reminded them. Their angelic comrade had been behind them and remained unharmed. "Right. Let's go," (y/n) said to which Zhu immediately complied.

        "She isn't far. I can tell. Eun can sense her energy from here," Ara commented as they kept going. Ain was close enough to snipe any fire elementals that got too close. Most fled from Zhu's path and those that didn't move suffered the consequences. Ara even attacked a few of them herself using her spear to quickly cut the throats of any that Zhu or Ain missed. Their support was much appriciated since (y/n) was focusing on Artea's location.

        "Zhu, someone is coming. It's one of the commanders for sure," (y/n) announced as a soul crossed his sight. It was of greater intensity than the low level enemies that they rushed past and seemed all too familiar. "You three go ahead. I will purge the area and buy you all time," Ain said as he took out a group of enemies before they could attack with their flames.

        "Zhu, can you get us past without wasting any time?" Ara asked. Zhu huffed in annoyance before picking up speed just as Jin came into view. "Of course it would be her," (y/n) hissed. If she so much as grazed him with that weapon of hers, he'd find it very hard to keep going without fighting back. She seemed to be considering her options and decided not to stand in Zhu's way. Thanks to Ain, she was unable to follow them.

        "Just ten minutes left. We might not make it," Ara muttered. "We have to. My mother is likely outside keeping the others occupied. I didn't sense her soul anywhere in here. She's just around the corner here and, I can ask Illipia for help if we can't immediately get to her. I'm sure she knows what to do," (y/n) said. "Don't you think you're relying on that goddess way too much?" Ara asked as Zhu drifted around a corner leading to an open area.

        In the center of this makeshift room was Artea, but she was sealed away in a crystal-like barrier that was reinforced with chains. She was in the air and just below her stood General Zhen. (Y/n) had to hold on tightly to Zhu's fur to keep himself from falling off as Zhu stopped all too quickly. "Impossible. Your soul isn't...!" Zhu said. He was right. Her soul wasn't visible at all, yet there she was standing there and waiting.

        "Did you really think I wouldn't be here guarding Artea? I didn't expect to be visited by my son though that is quite the surprise," General Zhen spoke. "Less than ten minutes. We have to do something," Ara reminded. He knew that already, but if his mother decided to kill them right then and there, they wouldn't be able to do anything about it. Her power was unusually great, and Zhu was being way to cautious in contrast to his usual nonchalance.

        "If you stop us, this enture city will be destroyed along with us. That isn't what you want right? You want me to stay with you," (y/n) said as he pulled Ara's hand off of him and dismounted Zhu. He kept his gaze on General Zhen and stayed near Zhu just in case she tried to attack.  "If I go with you, will you let them save her?" (y/n) said. He wasn't really supposed to say that aloud, but he was stressed by his time limit and the lives depending on his success.

         In response, General Zhen smiled at him. "You wouldn't actually do that to save people you don't know. You can say whatever you want, but I still have to do my job in order to get what I want from Scar," she said. She wasn't currently the mother (y/n) knew. Otherwise she would have given in to his offer with ease. "Then you leave me no choice..." (y/n) said. Zhu had been in control of him last time he faught his mother.

        They only had less than ten minutes to save Artea. According to Ykuei, he wasn't supposed to die, so he could pull of something crazy and hope it worked. "Zhu, I need you're help right now. Can you hear me?" (y/n) thought. Didn't answer but there was no time to ask again. If Zhu was going to cooperate, the fox would take action when (y/n) did. All he could do was hope Zhu went along with the plan he thought of. Ara must have noticed something was going on since she dismounted Zhu and readied her spear for battle.

        It was approximately fifteen meters from his current location to General Zhen. Artea was a couple of feet behind her and un the air. If (y/n) could just get to the seal, he could free her. "Surely you don't intend to fight me. There isn't much time for that," General Zhen said with a sly smile. As if on cue, he ground shook as the volcano they were in became even deadlier.

        "We'll do whatever we must," (y/n) said as he sprang forward. His mother hadn't seemed to catch in yet which was good for his plan. She didn't move and only held out a hand to him preparing to fire. Ara was not behind him, so he was okay with leaving her on the ground. Before he'd even gotten two meters away, he jumped into the air, but he purposely came up short.

        General Zhen saw this and aimed for him much to his surprise. "Zhu now!" (y/n) yelped. For a moment, he felt a bit of dread as he briefly saw his mother's attack form in a dark purple color. The moment Zhu disappeared into his conciousness and reappeared again below him, (y/n) forgot about General Zhen's attack and used Zhu to leap across the remaining distance to Artea's seal prison. The moment he shattered the seal, he heard a whimper from Zhu, a fox who never ever got hurt enough to make it known.
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If any of you were wondering, the volcano had already been turned into a hideout beforehand, so there were no unsafe flows of magma anywhere. The volcanic eruption would still wipe out everything in amd around it once it took place. Until next time you awesome readers!