~Chapter 5- The Orbs~

Aero introduced everyone to Nega after their great escape, saying they might not have gotten out in time if not for his help. The young Ranuulan explained that he had something that should be able to increase their strength and help them defeat King Zantii, and everyone agreed to check it out. He led them through an area surrounded by wilted trees to the northeast of the Khalm.

Valr skeptically asked," What do you have that will make us more powerful?"

Nega levitated through the air besides Valr and replied, "It's hard to explain. You'll see them soon!"

Valr glided back to Aero and Jirro and whispered, "It's weird seeing someone else who can fly. I've only known me and my mom to be able to."

"He's strong too!" Aero added.

Gweneva tapped Iggy on the shoulder, "Do you know how everyone in the woods is doing?"

"It looked like most of them escaped Zantii's attack, but we're not sure where they are now," Iggy said solemnly. The two were equally worried about their people.

"What about Zantii? Where is he?" Aero asked.

"His army headed towards the Link Temple," Jirro said, "He might be trying to attack the Lands of Ralosia."

Nega whipped his head back, "The Lands of Ralosia? That place is real?"

Aero nodded, "Yeah, my cousin and I are from there."

"Ah, that explains why you're so funny-looking."

Aero smirked, "Oh, I'm the funny-looking one?"

Nega smirked right back, "Yeah, just like me."

Nega brought the group to a cave that was supposedly close to the plantation he used to work on. As they entered it, each of them flourished their hands and created Focus lights of varying colors. Red, blue, purple, yellow, and green light illuminated their way. They found a sizable boulder in the cave. Nega dug his hands under it, lifted it over his head, and tossed it aside, revealing a pathway behind it.

As they headed down the pathway Valr grew anxious. He trifled through his bag and pulled out a full-face white mask, the same mask he wore at the tournament last year. The mask had several tendrils sprouted from it, all of them wriggling vigorously.

Jirro looked at the peculiar mask, "What's it doing?"

Valr observed the mask, "It acts like this whenever it resonates with something nearby... It never acted this crazy before though."

The group turned a corner and discovered the source of the mask's odd response. Lying on the ground were about a dozen luminescent black orbs. Nega levitated over them and took one in his hand.

"This is called a power orb. When I was a kid, I collected a lot of these. If you crush them in your hand-"

Valr spoke up, "-they'll boost your strength for a little while."

Nega raised his eyebrow, "You know how they work?"

Valr trifled through his bag once more and pulled out the luminescent white orb he carried. Besides the color, it was identical to the ones within the cave. Nega's eyes widened, "Where did you get that?"

"The Lands of Ralosia."

Nega nodded as if he had come to a great realization, "Of course! I was never able to find a white power orb because they can only be found there."

The six carried out the power orbs from the cave. They were partially transparent, with a misty black covering them.

Jirro looked at Valr and Nega, "The two of you have used these before, right? Do you think it'd be enough to beat Zantii?"

Valr leaned against the cave's entrance and shrugged, "Hard to say. It was a while ago when I used them, and I never faced Zantii personally."

Aero perked up, "I should test one out then."

"Why you?"

"I fought Zantii back in the woods."

"What? Really?" Jirro stammered.

"Gweneva and I did. We lost pretty bad, and afterward he sent us to the Khalm," Aero explained.

Gweneva shrugged her shoulders and three spider-like arms sprouted from her back, "Zantii actually tore off one of my extra arms."

Valr looked at his friend with a panicked expression, "Are you okay!?"

"It hurt pretty bad at first, but I'm alright now. If I was going to lose a limb, glad it was that one. I wish I was a Regenek and could just grow it back though," Gweneva said. She shrugged again, and her spider-like arms withdrew back into her body.

Jirro folded his arms and looked to his cousin, "We definitely need more information on these orbs before we charge off into battle with them. Aero should test one out."

Everyone else nodded in agreement, and Aero took one of the black power orbs in hand. He crushed it. A vibrant light was secreted from it and surrounded his body in a red aura. He was filled with adrenaline, as if he could run endlessly at unimaginable speeds.

"Go on. Let's see what you can do," Jirro pressed him.

Aero flexed his arm and punched into the air, and radiant red Focus Burst erupted from his hand into the sky. He punched the air again and again, releasing more into the sky. The air reverberated around him each time.

But as quickly as that power coursed through him, it left him. The aura surrounding him disappeared, and he became calm.

"Well? How did it feel?" Gweneva asked, her hands knitted behind her head.

Aero paused for a moment, observing his own body. He punched the air again, and another red burst of light erupted his fist, one that was less bright and powerful.

Aero sighed, "Honestly, I don't think it'd help all that much... It made me stronger, but not by that much. It didn't last very long either, so I can't help but feel like it wouldn't do much good. Especially while Zantii is using that sword."

Valr raked his hands through his brown hair, "I heard the effects of the power orb decreases the more powerful the person that uses it is. We've gotten a lot stronger lately. Maybe those orbs can't do much for us anymore?"

Jirro threw his hands up and laid back on the ground, "Well that's disappointing..."

While everyone had been talking, Nega was biting his fingernails, clearly in deep thought. He finally spoke, "I heard of another purpose for these orbs."

Jirro sat up from the ground, "Let's hear it."

Nega began, "Well, there was this legend. A long time ago, the God Ranuulo and the Goddess Ralosia wanted to become one. They believed they'd become incomprehensibly powerful and be able to bring everlasting peace to the world. They discovered the power orbs. When a white and black one was brought together, it created a merging orb. But when they tried to merge into a single being, the orb shattered. In order for two beings to become one, their ideals and virtues had to be in balance with one another. But I've read stories about merged warriors who were able to turn the tide of wars."

Everyone sat with the information Nega gave before Jirro spoke up, "Might as well see if it works, right?"

Nega took one of his black power orbs and Valr's white one in each of his hands and pressed them together, expecting something to happen. It seemed as if it was all a fable until the two orbs began to glow and transfigure themselves into one another. Their forms swirled around each other until they created a single orb.

Nega began to laugh giddily, "It's real!"

Aero walked up to touch the orb, but Nega frantically put it out of his reach, "Careful Aero! If we both touch this at the same time, we might merge together."

"Oh, sorry!"

Jirro asked, "According to those stories you read, how long do the people stay merged together?"

"It lasts as long as the orb is intact. If it gets damaged, then the merged being will split."

Jirro folded his arms, "So, we only get to try this once then?"

"Unless we can find another white power orb," Nega said as he took a small satchel and slid the merging orb into it. He put it around his neck for safekeeping.

Valr laughed, "It took me years to find one. I doubt we could find another."

Jirro tapped his foot on the ground, "We can't waste it then...If we're using those orbs, we need to pick the best two people. Two that are in balance with each other."

"We better find a pair soon," Iggy remarked, "Before we go after Zantii, we'll have to get through General Edi's blockade at the Link Temple. We'll need help to get past that."

Jirro tapped his foot again and looked at the group. He smiled, "I'm not sure if we will."

Iggy squinted his eyes, "You do realize we'd be going up against an army, right?"

"Look at how easily we broke them out of the Khalm on our own. Whether you realize it or not, the six of us are some of the strongest warriors in the world."

"I was thinking the same thing - we can get through on our own!" Aero added exuberantly, "If Jirro has a plan, I'm in!"

Nega gave a cross look, "Why do you trust him so much?"

Aero smiled, "He broke us out of the Khalm? Why wouldn't I trust him?"

The others were quiet for a moment. Valr nodded in agreement, as did Nega. It took Gweneva and Iggy a moment, but even they admitted they had a shot. With that, the six headed west towards the Link Temple, the link between the Lands of Ralosia and Ranuulo.