MLIII C1, P6- "Fire In The Mountain"

"Fire In The Mountain" is the sixth Part of "Miracula Luxia III".

It was released on 25.10.2021.

## Plot

After finally allying themselves with the Awakened, Adam and Sharla set their sights on the east gates of the Geneforge Labs.

Having recently spoken to the leader of the Obeyers, they join the armies of both sects and accompany them on their journey towards the gates. Even though their chances of succeeding are not very high, they still believe that their small force can take advantage of the Sholai's flaws and do the impossible.

Meanwhile, Donovan and his allies are already at the gates. They prepare to launch an attack on the disorganized force of Sholai that is guarding them.

Unfortunately, not everything is going to go well for both parties. An unexpected surprise from their enemies shall crush whatever hopes they had when they arrived. Piece by piece, the puzzle shall fall apart. And with it, every soldier who dared to participate in this fateful battle.

But this is not the time to give up. Even though the situation is very dire, there is always a chance to turn the tables.

*Who will win?*

## Story

It takes a few hours for our heroes to move from one town to another. Although they were assured that the roads are secure, they get in trouble as soon as they step away from town.

Some Sholai assassins emerge from the forest around them and prepare to attack.

Seeing how many of them there are, Sharla considers warning the Awakened about this unexpected threat.

"Maybe we should go back?"- She whispers to Adam- "We can't take care of them alone!"

Adam shakes his head.

"I refuse to endanger our new allies."- He says and draws his weapon- "If we want to survive this war, we must be prepared to fight our enemies like this."

He glares at the Sholai.

"So, get ready. This is the first of many arduous encounters."- He continues- "Do not be afraid. I am going to protect you from those villains."

He delivers the first blow and manages to stab one of the Sholai in the chest.

"Just keep... fighting!"- He says as he struggles to pull the blade out.

Sharla realizes that Adam is right. Risking the lives of the Awakened is a bad idea and it is better for them to face those stray groups of enemies on their own rather than ask their allies to do the dirty work for them.

She draws her spear.

"Yes, Adam. I understand. I'm no longer afraid and I'll fight those sinners with all my might."- She says- "Come on! Let's win this battle! Together!"

Suddenly, she lunges forward and plunges the spear into a Sholai's head.

As two nearby Sholai watch in horror, a thunder strikes the vile warrior.

After making sure that he will not get up, she throws him on the ground and carefully picks up her weapon.

Seeing that the rest of the warriors are preparing to avenge their fallen ally, she turns around and points her spear at them.

"You made a huge mistake."- She says- "And now, you're going to pay for it!"

Having said that, she infuses her weapon with the power of lightning and charges.

Taking them by surprise, she manages to stab one of the warriors in the chest.

Like a large lightning rod, he is soon struck by a massive lightning. The spell kills him immediately and leaves his allies more terrified and desperate and they've ever been.

They look back, hoping that the rest of their allies are doing better than them.

"Don't bother."- Sharla says- "It's pointless."

It turns out that she speaks the truth. As soon as they turn around, they see that all of their allies are dead.

Bloodied and angry, Adam emerges from the battlefield, the only survivor of this massive battle.

He wipes some blood off his face and glares at the surviving Sholai.

"So. You are telling me that this is the full extent of your power?"- He asks them and shakes his head- "My father was right. Your kind may be masters of exploration, but you are not worthy opponents."

The Sholai stare at each other. It takes them a few moments, but they finally recognize who they are fighting.

"This can't be!"- One of them says- "We thought that the two of you died in the sea! We... we saw you drown! How is this possible?!"

Adam smiles and wipes some sweat from his right eyebrow. It is clear that he is very tired, but he is doing his best to show the courage and valor common for nearly every member of the Kaos family.

"My death was... greatly exaggerated."- He says- "Do not believe the speculations, because they may not be true. Instead, try to find the truth with your own two eyes, especially when it might be too obvious."

He shakes his head.

"Maybe then, you will realize that there are flaws in your ways."- He continues- "Flaws that must be fixed if you want to win."

Having said that, he infuses his sword with light and approaches the terrified Sholai.

"If you are truly what they claim that you are, then go ahead and face me in battle, like your former allies."- He says- "Prove your worth to your wicked cause."

The Sholai stare at each other again. They realize that their chances to win are very low.

And they are getting lower with each passing second.

"This is the son of Jared Kaos! We can't do this!"- One of them yells.

"We must flee and warn the master!"- The other says.

Seemingly agreeing with their mutual plan, the two Sholai warriors attempt to flee the scene.

Sharla attempts to strike them down with her spells, but they are too fast for her.

"They're escaping!"- She yells- "Adam! Do something!"

Adam calmly puts an arrow on his bow and watches their movements, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"You are *not* going anywhere."- He mutters.

Once they inadvertently expose themselves out in the open, he realizes that this is the right moment to strike. He pulls the string of his bow and shoots the arrow towards the frontmost one...

It doesn't take long for the arrow to reach its intended target.

Soon, it strikes the fleeing Sholai in the back. It pierces his heart and forces him to fall back.

Since he is, shall we say, a little bit too overweight, the effect is very dramatic.

The Sholai behind him has no time to react. He tries to run back, but it is too late.

A few moments later, the dead Sholai collapses on his ally's right leg, crushing it in the process.

"Sharla, come on."- He says to her- "This is our chance!"

Sharla nods and quickly approaches the screaming Sholai.

To make sure that he doesn't try to run away, she stabs him in the other leg, completely immobilizing him.

"Our great leader shall avenge us!"- The Sholai yells- "Mark my words!"

Adam ignores him. Instead, he points his sword at the warrior's chest and calmly stares into his eyes.

"You could have just disobeyed your orders, but you attacked us. Just to make a name for yourself and to protect your cowardly leader."- He says to him- "I did not want this to happen, but you left us no choice."

The Sholai shakes his head.

"Your armies will not last. Once our leader gains the power of the Geneforge, he shall destroy you all!"- He yells- "Pentil is already doomed. You can't do anything!"

Sharla angrily points her spear at him.

"Tell us what you know."- She says- "Now."

The Sholai shakes his head.

"I gave my word to our leader."- He says- "Even on the brink of death, we shall always remain silent."

"I will not tell you anything!"

Sharla glares at him.

"If you don't want to speak, then I'll make you speak!"- She yells and prepares to stab him.

Just before she can succeed, however, Adam stops her.

He looks at the wounded Sholai and nods.

"Leave him alone."

Sharla looks at him, surprised.

"But Adam!"- She says- "He might know something about the labs!"

Adam shakes his head.

"Even so, I refuse to torture a person like this!"- He says- "If he wants to keep those secrets, then let him keep them! I assure you that we will find a way!"

Sharla sighs and steps back.

"As you wish."

Adam looks at the Sholai, hatred dancing in his eyes like a wild hurricane.

"Listen. I hate your kind. I despise you and I want to make you pay for what you did to all of those people."- He says- "However, you are still warriors, no matter whether you are evil or not. So, I will not kill you with my own hand."

He takes a step back.

"I shall let God himself judge you instead."

The Sholai glares at Adam and Sharla.

"What is it, you fools? Afraid to kill another man?"- He asks them- "Come on! You started this! You killed my comrades, so why don't you finish this?!"

He stares at Adam.

"Come on, son of Jared Kaos."- He mocks him- "Show us that you're worthy of your name!"

Sharla is infuriated. She draws her spear and tries to stab the Sholai again, but Adam stops her.

"Do not fall victim of your own temptations."- He says calmly- "Let the Heavens do their job."

The Sholai warrior continues to mock them for five more minutes, but they ignore him.

Finally, his wounds prove to be too much for him. He collapses on the ground and weakly looks up.

"You're... doomed."- He whispers- "Trajkov is... coming... for you... "

A few moments later, he dies and falls limp.

Adam kneels and carefully closes his eyes.

"Farewell, brother."- He says- "I wish there were another way."

He turns to Sharla.

"I hate to search the dead, but we have no choice."- He says to her- "Come on. Let us see what we can find."

Sharla nods and helps him retrieve whatever he can from the deceased Sholai's pockets.

Most of the things are useless to them, with the exception of a few healing potions (Which they decide to keep). However, there is one item that intrigues them.

It is a small piece of paper.

Adam looks at it and realizes that it is some sort of a code.

"Trajkov?"- Sharla says- "Isn't this the name of their leader?"

Adam nods.

"I think that weh should keep it."- He says- "Who knows when it will come in handy?"

As he gets up and prepares to leave, Sharla stands close to him.

"This fool mentioned Pentil. He said that it's "already doomed". "- She says to him- "For some reason, I've got a bad feeling. We might have to hurry."

Adam nods.

"The situation might be worse than we had anticipated."- He says- "If those vile warriors are allowed to come close to the town, then there is a chance that everyone inside will suffer a fate worse than death."

He takes a step forward.

"Enough stalling."- He says- "We must save those creatures!"

Sharla nods.

"Lead the way, young hero."- She says- "I'm right behind you."

The rest of the journey is mostly uneventful. With the exception of fighting a few stray goblins in the forest to the east, there no other threats left for them to eradicate. Thus, the rest of the way to the town seems like a peaceful stroll through the forest... except that they are always alert and ready for another ambush.

Soon, they finally reach the town of Pentil and step through its gates.

Once there, they realize that there is something wrong. Very wrong.

As they stare at the carnage around them, a small band of Sholai runs towards the gates, trying to leave the settlement.

"You will pay for this!"- Adam yells and attacks them.

The Sholai attempt to fight back, but are easily overpowered by their attackers. Soon, all of them lie dead on the ground below their feet.

"They're here!"- Sharla exclaims and looks at Adam with a worried expression- "Does this mean that we're too late?"

Adam sighs.

"There is only one way to find that out.'

The two of them explore the abandoned town, searching for survivors.

Instead, they find dead warriors on the streets- both Servile and Sholai. None of them show any signs of life.

Sharla approaches one of the serviles near the city hall. She notices that he is breathing.

"It's still alive!"- She says- "Adam! Over here!"

Adam runs to her and looks at the servile.

"Do not worry, my friend. We are here to help you!"- He says- "Where are the Sholai?"

The servile uses whatever strength it has left to point its finger at the city hall.

"The enemy went... in there."- It whispers- "Rydell is... in... danger."

It looks at Adam.

"Help... him."- It whispers to him- "Please."

Having said that, the servile closes its eyes, never to open them again.

Adam shakes his head and draws his weapon.

"It is clear that the serviles of Pentil are making their last stand in that hall."- He says and gets up- "Let us save them, Sharla!"

Sharla nods and helps him open the large doors that lead into the city hall.

It does not take them long. Soon, the doors open wide, granting them entry into Pentil's most sacred place.

"See, Sharla?"- Adam says and smiles- "It is always a good idea to work as a team!"

Sharla nods and smiles.

"It sure is!"- She says- "I'm glad that I came here with you!"

Adam nods.

"And it is the same for me."- He says- "Now, let us go. The people of this town need our help and I do not want to let them down."

The two of them enter the city hall and witness a large battle between Serviles and Sholai.

"Here they are!"- Adam says- "Get ready!"

Without any hesitation, they join the battle and fight the Sholai along with their new allies.

Fortunately, it seems like their sudden appearance has turned the tides of the battle. The fact that a well-known young hero has come to help them out motivates the desperate serviles and shocks their opponents.

While the Sholai are distracted, the remaining serviles assemble and slay them. One after the other, they fall down like stones on the bottom of a lake.

Soon, only a single warrior is left alive. However, he seems to be stronger than most of his allies.

Although shocked by Adam's appearance, he manages to slay a few serviles and turn his attention on an important-looking servile in the back.

"We told you that your demise is inevitable, yet you refused to believe it."- He says to him- "With or without their help, you're still going to die!"

"Master Rydell!"- One of the serviles yells- "Do not give up! We can still win this!"

Rydell shakes his head.

"As long as one of us is still standing, we're not going to give in."- He mutters and draws his weapon- "This battle ends here and now!"

Having said that, he lunges forward and tries to stab the Sholai in the abdomen. However, he fails and is promptly thrown into a nearby wall, stunning him and forcing him to fall on his knees.

"Pathetic."- The Sholai mutters as he prepares to deliver a fatal blow- "We should have never allied ourselves with any members of your kind. You're just too weak."

Rydell sees that it is too late for him and closes his eyes.

"Fine."- He says- "If that's going to save my people, go ahead. But please, spare them. They've done nothing to you!"

The Sholai shakes his head.

"Our order is clear. We must slay every living creature in this miserable town."- He says- "Starting with its leader- *you*."

Just as he is finally able to stab him, he is stopped by an angry Adam who manages to repeatedly slam his head into a wall, severely wounding him.

Even so, the man is still able to retaliate. He pushes him back and tries to stab him, albeit unsuccessfully.

The hero and the villain stare at each other for a few seconds.

"Adam Kaos! It's so good to see you! We were hunting for you and it seems like you fell right into our trap!"- The Sholai says- "Trajkov ordered us to find you dead or alive. And, as the sole survivor of this battle, I, the great general Varis, am tasked with capturing you and taking you with our leader."

He stares at him.

"So."- He says- "What's it going to be, kid?"

Adam shakes his head.

"I would rather die than to watch you kill those people."- He responds- "You and your kind are a bunch of monsters and nothing will change my mind."

He points his sword at him.

"Do your worst, *general*."

General Varis smirks.

"I thought so."- He says- "Well. It was worth a shot."

He draws his weapon and grins.

"You're at the top of our list, young one."- He says- "Once I'm done with ya, I will report to our leader and receive the massive reward that he's offering. I shall become the greatest Sholai general that has ever existed and my name shall be passed down to future generations as the brave warrior who killed the wanna-be hero who tried to-- "

Adam is tired of the madman's one-sided speech. He charges and stabs him in the heart, meeting no resistance whatsoever.

"What?!"- The general says as he falls on his knees- "How is this possible? I, the great general Varis, will not die like this!"

Adam sighs.

"I see that you are still alive, you vile fiend."- He says- "Well. Not for long."

He prepares to cast a spell.

"You only fight for power and glory, but you have never tried to understand the other side of the war. To see how much those poor creatures have suffered because of your vile actions."- He says- "I tried to reason with you, but I see that there is no other way."

He finishes the preparations. Motes of light appear in the palm of his hand.

"In order to purge this world of all abominations, I must learn to kill."- He continues- "I am not afraid! I will not back down anymore!"

A ray of light emerges from the palm of his hand.

"I have killed many of your kind and you shall be one of those who will be completely forgotten."- He finishes- "Goodbye, *general*."

The general stares at the ray in fear as it quickly incinerates him.

"Close your eyes!"- Adam yells- "I am not going to lie. This spell *will* be devastating!"

Heeding his advice, Sharla and all of the serviles cover their eyes as a blinding light illuminates the hall for a few seconds.

Once it is done, everyone looks up at witnesses the aftermath of this powerful spell.

The ray of light left a small crater in its wake. At the bottom of it lie the possessions of the unfortunate general.

As for the general himself, only a pile of black ashes remain. Nothing more and nothing less.

Adam inspects the charred remains of what was once an evil human and shakes his head.

"How unfortunate."- He says and looks back up.

Rydell looks at the ashes himself and sighs.

"Varis was an evil man."- He says- "He brought this upon himself. The Gods have punished him."

He turns to Adam.

"It's incredible that you came to save us right here and right now, hero. Your actions have managed to bring salvation to both me *and* my people. For that, I am very thankful and I will gladly help you however I can."- He says- "So. What brings you here, brave stranger?"

Adam nods.

"We heard that Pentil is in danger, so we came to assist you."- He says- "We were sent by Ellhrah. He said that we should tell you about the incoming attack on the labs' gates. If you did not already know about them, that is."

Rydell nods.

"I'm afraid that you are a little late."- He says apologetically- "Some of Ellhrah's messengers came to me a day ago. They told me that the Awakened's army is ready to go, so I ordered my soldiers to join them."

He sighs.

"Unfortunately, that was my biggest mistake."- He continues- "The absence of most of our warriors has left our humble town defenseless against a potential attack. And it wasn't long before the Sholai attacked and killed almost everyone in the city- men, women and children alike."

Sharla gasps.

"That's horrible!"- She says- "How could they be so heartless?!"

She shakes her head.

"They... they must be punished for this."- She continues- "All of them!"

Adam nods.

"Yes, Sharla. We will make them pay."- He says to her without looking back- "Once we get our hands on Trajkov, we will make him witness the deaths of all of his allies. Just like this vile general forced Rydell to watch the people of this city die."

He turns his attention back to Rydell.

"Is there anything that you can tell us about the messengers, sir?"- He asks him- "Were they friendly to you? Or were they a bit... strange?"

Rydell thinks about this for a few seconds.

"Now that you mention it, they did seem a bit suspicious."- He says- "While the first one was talking, I saw his companion analyze the hall and grin. It's like he wanted to draw his weapon and kill me on the spot, but the presence of my warriors made him change his mind in the last second."

He sighs.

"I paid little to no attention during that time. I thought that they were just a bit... mischievous. Weird."- He says- "I was wrong."

Adam sighs and shakes his head.

"It does not matter, sir."- He says- "The battle is over and you are still alive."

Rydell looks down.

"But at what cost?"- He says- "All of my people out there are dead!"

Adam sighs.

"Yes. That is unfortunate. Very unfortunate."- He says- "We wish we came here sooner. We could have saved all of you."

He shakes his head.

"But it does not matter. The good thing is that you are still alive... and I am going to keep it that way."- He says- "So. You mentioned that you sent your army to assist the Awakened at the gates. How far away are they?"

Rydell shakes his head.

"I... I'm not sure, to be honest."- He says- "Once I sent them on their way, I heard that they were attacked by Sholai. I'm not sure if any of them survived, but if they did, it's more than clear that they must be close to the gates."

Adam nods.

"I understand."- He says- "What about you? How are you feeling?"

Rydell looks down and feels a pain in his stomach. He lifts his robes and realizes that there is a fresh wound on his abdomen. A large one.

"Well."- He says calmly- "This should answer your question.

It turns out that one of the attackers manages to wound him during the assault, but he didn't pay attention. Thus, the wound became bigger and started to bleed at a more alarming rate than it normally would.

The rest of the Obeyers watch sadly as Rydell pulls his robes back and weakly sits on the ground.

"It's clear that the end of my life is near."- He says- "However, I don't want you to worry about me."

He looks at Adam.

"Go out there. Help our warriors fight the invaders."- He continues- "If Ellhrah himself sent you, then you must be someone whom I can trust with my life... and the life of my people."

Adam shakes his head.

"As much as I want to begin the attack, I cannot leave you to die like this!"- He says to him- "There must be a way I can help you out! Please, let me stay for a little longer!"

Rydell shakes his head.

"You did everything you could, my child."- He responds- "Now, it's God's turn to decide my fate."

Adam looks at Sharla for a second. His eyes meet hers. Both of their expressions are worried.

"Sharla... "- Adam mutters.

Sharla looks at Rydell and shakes her head.

Adam looks back at Rydell.

"Sir, I did not want this to happen."- He says- "However, it seems like I have no other choice in this matter."

He looks at the rest of the Obeyers.

"My friend, Sharla, is going to stay with you."- He says- "She is an experienced healer and she will help your leader out. I promise."

Sharla gasps.

"But Adam! You still need my help!"- She says- "I can't let you go out there all alone!"

Adam shakes his head.

"Sure. I do need help. However, this poor man needs it more than I do."- He says- "Do not worry about me. As soon as I reach the gates, I will fight those fools for the two of us. I will show them that our souls will never be separated. We will always be together."

Sharla takes a step forward and nods.

Overcome by her own emotions, she breaks down and hugs him.

"Please be careful!"- She says to Adam- "I don't want to lose you! Please, stay strong!"

Adam nods and smiles.

"I will, Sharla. I will."- He says- "You taught me that a person can always fight his enemies, as long as he has faith left in his soul and the support of his allies. Even when they are far away from him. So, I will keep fighting and remember that you have always got my back."

Sharla smiles back.

"I'm with you, Adam."- She says- "When you see Donovan, tell him that I miss him very much. Assure him that we'll reunite soon. It's all I ever want to do."

Adam nods.

"I promise."- He says- "I will let him know."

Having said goodbye to Sharla, he bids her and the others farewell.

"Good luck, mighty hero."- Rydell says as he leaves the hall- "May the Gods be with you!"

Now alone, Adam makes his way through a massive amount of woods to the north, hoping to find the gates before he dies from exhaustion.

"*This journey will be a hard one. There is a chance that I will grow desperate. It is even possible that I may give up and try to go back.*"- He says to himself- "*However, I will always remember what my father said to be before we were separated from each other- "**As long as there are stars in the sky above, there is still hope for you. It will always stand beside you, like a loyal ally, and give you the strength to do the right thing. Just try to reach for it and you shall witness a new horizon. A new future.**". Those worlds shall become my compass during this journey and I will proudly use them to succeed.*"

Having said that, he begins his journey, eager to reach the gates and help his allies as soon as possible.

It takes him a few days to do so. During that time, he is attacked by many wild creatures. His progress is blocked by many obstacles along the way. He feels like he is walking on a road with no end.

However, there is one thing that manages to keep him standing. An invisible force that serves as his compass and helps him see the road ahead of him. *His faith.*

After a long and arduous journey, he finally makes it near the gates.

"Wait."- He mutters- "Where is everyone?"

He looks around.

"Am I... too late?"

A few Sholai guards approach the area, seemingly unaware of his presence.

Just as the boy prepares to fight them, he is suddenly pulled back and taken behind a large wall.

He takes a good look at his surroundings. So does the person who saved him.

"Adam! It's you!"- Donovan says and pats him on the shoulder- "I'm so glad that you're still alive!"

Adam smiles.

"So am I, Donovan!"- He says and pats him back- "But how did you make it?"

Donovan looks back at the girl standing next to him and smiles.

"Let's just say that my guardian angel saved me when I needed her the most."- He says- "And I am very thankful."

The girl standing behind Donovan approaches Adam and looks at him.

It is Yu-La. And she seems to be both surprised and very thrilled to see him.

"Ivan!"- She exclaims- "Oh, it's been so long! I've been so worried about you!"

She takes a step forward and hugs him.

"Where have you been, you brave little child?"- She asks him- "I almost thought that I lost you forever!"

Donovan looks at her.

"Um. Yu-La?"- He says- "I think you've mistaken my friend for someone else."

Adam nods.

"It is true, miss. My name is not Ivan."- He says- "I am Adam. Adam Kaos."

Yu-La looks up and shakes her head.

"Nonsense. Don't pretend to be someone else!"- She says- "I know that it's you. You cannot hide it, little brother!"

Adam raises his eyebrow.

"You are not Akira, are you?"

Yu-La looks up. Her eyesight focuses for a few seconds and she finally realizes that this is not her little brother.

She falls to her knees and starts to cry.

"Who am I fooling?!"- She says- "He's gone. They took him away from me!"

Donovan kneels and hugs her.

"It's okay, Yu-La. It's okay."- He says- "Once we defeat Trajkov, we'll find your brother's corpse and make him a proper, heroic burial. I promise."

Yu-La looks up at him.

"You mean it, Donnie?"

Donovan nods.

"Of course."

Adam looks around again.

"So. Where is everyone else?"- He says- "I thought that there was a large army of Awakened and Obeyers coming to begin an assault. Am I too late?"

Donovan stands up and shakes his head.

"I'm afraid so. Sorry about that."- He responds- "Most of them died during the attack, but we managed to save a small amount of them. Then, we hid over here and waited for someone to help us out."

Yu-La stands up as well and looks at Adam. Then, she looks at Donovan.

"Is this the Adam that you were talking about?"- She asks him.

Donovan nods.

"Yes."- He says- "This is him."

Yu-La shakes her head.

"I appreciate your desire to help us out, Donnie. However, this boy is not strong enough to lead our group into battle."- She says- "I mean, look at him. He is just a little boy!"

Donovan sighs.

"It's true. Adam may not be the best person for the job. He might be young and untrained, but don't let that fool you, Yu."- He responds- "In reality, Adam is ambitious. Determined. And he is ready to fight valiantly for everyone. Adam is a capable leader and I am sure that we will win this battle with his help."

He looks at Adam and smiles.

"Right, my friend?"

Adam nods and looks at Yu-La.

"Yes, I am!"- He says excitedly- "Please, miss. Let me help you! I promise that I will fight valiantly and protect you during the attack!"

He looks down.

"I know that most people do not trust me because I am young, but please reconsider."- He continues- "I can tell that you need help right now and I am ready to provide it. So, please. Do what your heart tells you to. Do not let your true answer stay hidden in the shadows!"

Yu-La smiles.

"You may not be my brother, but you remind me so much of him."- She says- "Your positive attitude. Your desire to help everyone. It is as if the heavens brought him back to give me the strength to fight back."

She sighs.

"Very well. I can see that you're eager to fight, so I will not stop you."- She says- "We're under your command."

Adam nods and smiles.

"You will not regret it, miss."

Donovan looks at Adam.

"I suppose that you came here with a plan."- He says- "If so, we would love to hear it."

Adam looks around and nods.

"My initial plan was to storm the front and kill as many Sholai as possible before I fall in battle."- He says- "However, I can see that I am not alone anymore."

He leans back and looks at his new allies.

"Listen, everyone. Even though we are cornered like rabbits, this does not mean that it is all over. On the contrary, the real battle has yet to begin."- He says- "Due to my quick analyzation of the gates, I realize that those fools have a single weakness- the east side. So, our plan is to take them by surprise and kill as many of them as we can. Then, some of us are going to approach the gates and look for a way to open them. Once that is finally done, we go in and avoid the remaining warriors while searching for a way that leads to the highest level."

Yu-La grins.

"A scouting mission?"- She says- "Ooh. I like this already!"

Adam nods.

"So."- He says- "Are you ready, my friends?"

Everyone cheers.

Adam smiles.

"Excellent."- He says- "Then get ready. It is time for the cornered mouse to bite back."

Having said that, he leaves the relative safety of their hiding hole. Soon, the others do the same.

Quickly and quietly, they move towards the east section of the gates, unnoticed by any of the guards.

"Perfect."- Ada whispers- "Now, let us begin."

Soon, the guards see them and prepare to attack.

"Onwards, my friends!"- Adam yells- "Let us fight the tyrrany... and free our oppressed allies!"

The warriors cheer and charge, surprising and killing a large amount of the Sholai guards.

"Intruders!"- One of the guards yells- "Kill them!"

However, he is soon slain by Adam who plunges his sword deep into his chest and watches as he falls on the ground.

As more Sholai guards emerge from the nearby barracks, Adam prepares a defensive stance and protects his allies.

One after the other, the vile warriors fall down as more come to replace them.

"I guess that you were right. There are indeed many of them."- Donovan says to Yu-La- "I'm sorry for not believing you."

Yu-La smiles.

"It's okay, dear. I forgive you."- She responds- "Now that you know the truth, you finally understand how hard it will be for us."

However, her words soon prove to be false as Adam fires a massive ray of light and incinerates every Sholai warrior in the vicinity, leaving nothing but ashes behind.

"I stand corrected."- Yu-La says- "It looks like we still have a chance!"

More Sholai warriors emerge and try to attack them, but they are easily slain by the combined force of Adam and his allies.

Soon, all of the Sholai assigned to protect the gates lie dead on the ground next to them.

"It is over."- Adam says while trying to catch his breath- "We have won."

As he falls on his knees, he fails to notice the three Sholai who are preparing to attack him.

"Adam!"- Donovan yells- "Look out!"

Adam turns around and tries to defend himself, but he is pushed to the ground.

As his attackers attempt to kill him, something unexpected happens.

Just as one of the men is about to approach Adam and finish him off, an arrow flies out of the mist and strikes him on the head. He slumps to the ground, his surprised expression frozen for all eternity as he bleeds profusely.

The other two warriors look around, wondering who is trying to kill them.

They don't have the chance to do anything, though. As they prepare to attack again, each one of them is killed with a shot in the head.

Adam gets up and looks at the people who just saved him.

"Mom! Dad!"- He says, thrilled to see his parents- "I cannot believe it!"

Jared and Meggy emerge from the bushes and hug their son.

"Oh, my dearest! We've missed you so much!"- Meggy says to her son- "Are you okay? Did they hurt you? I'll make them pay *twice* if they did!"

Adam shakes his head.

"As you can see, I am doing well."- He responds and smiles- "Thanks to you, I remain unharmed."

Jared smiles and pats his son on the shoulder.

"We heard that a young hero was on his way to cleanse the gates of those ignoble warriors. And I had no doubt that it is you."- He says- "Once again, our family is reunited. They tried to break us, but they did not succeed. We have always stayed strong and, once again, justice has prevailed!"

He smiles again and sighs.

"But I am talking too much."- He says- "We still have work to do. And we must get on with it, as soon as possible."

Adam nods.

"By the way, how did you get here?"- He asks them- "I thought that you were still on the mainland!"

Jared and Meggy stare at each other. They shake their heads.

"We're ashamed to say that we most your sister while trying to find you. She was separated from us as soon as we came here to find you."- Jared says- "Ever since that happened, we have felt desperate. Insecure. Worried. Thus, we were easy victims for the enemies around us."

He sighs.

"Fortunately, there was one person who managed to save our lives."- He continues- "She is the Guardian of Water and she helped us when we needed her the most."

Jared looks at the person who has just joined them and smiles.

"Son. I want you to meet Emela."- He says- "She is our guardian angel and I am sure that she will also be yours."

Emela nervously approaches Adam and shakes his hand.

"Greetings, valiant hero. I am Emela- the Guardian of Water. Sacred protector of the Water Crystal and keeper of the peace in those lands."- She introduces herself- "Your parents told me a lot about you and I can see that you match the description that I made for you. I'm glad that we can work together and I'm looking forward to helping you complete this mission."

Adam smiles and bows to her.

"The pleasure is mine, O mighty guardian."- He responds- "I am glad that you decided to leave the safety of your temple and help my parents. For that, I will always respect you, no matter what happens next. Thank you very much."

Emela smiles.

"I heard that you're on a mission to kill the villain known as Trajkov."- She says- "This vile man came into my temple once with his warriors and threatened me, saying that my temple shall be destroyed if I don't help him out. Of course, I refused and I immediately banished them from my home. It has been months since that happened, but I felt like he was still out there, still plotting his evil schemes, undisturbed by anyone. And it seems like I was right."

Adam nods.

"Yes! I am here to slay Trajkov, free the people of Sucia Island from his tyrrany and analyze the Geneforge."- He says- "And I am not going to back down!"

Jared looks at him.

"You mentioned something about the Geneforge. An ancient pool that holds the potential of both creation and destruction within itself."- He says- "However, I cannot help but notice your desire to do something... different from analyzing it. And it really, really worries me."

Meggy nods, seemingly agreeing with Jared.

Adam shakes his head.

"Well, maybe it is true. I want to get some of the Geneforge's power for myself. To use it for good."- He says- "But I am also aware that it is very dangerous. Such a powerful device can alter your power, but it can also corrupt your mind. I think that nobody should use it, especially Trajkov!"

Jared nods.

"Very well, then. This matter has been settled."- He responds- "Just try to be careful. Standing near the Geneforge can be pretty... dangerous. In many ways."

Adam nods.

"I understand."- He says- "So. What are you planning to do?"

Emela looks at the gates and sighs.

"Actually, the only one who devised the plan to get us here is your father."- She admits- "It was thanks to him that we managed to get past Trajkov's assassins and reach this place. Now that we're here, the rest is up to the leader of this small squad."

Adam looks at the gates. He tries to open them, but soon realizes that they are not going to budge.

"Maybe they need some sort of a password?"- Jared suggests- "I remember that some gates are protected by a similar mechanism, so it is possible that this one is quite similar."

Adam remembers the code that he found on a piece of paper not too long ago. He approches the gate and looks up.

"Sholai warriors!"- He says in his most confident voice- "My name is Trajkov! Savior of mankind! Slayer of evil! I carry some important prisoners with me, so let me back in!"

A faint voice is heard from the device just above him.

"At last. Our leader has returned."- It says.

Soon, the gates open, allowing our heroes to proceed.

"Welcome, almighty leader."- The voice continues- "Your warriors await your command."

Adam thinks about what to say next. A few seconds later, he has an idea.

"Tell my warriors to move to the west. Far west."- He says- "And make sure that they stay there."

The voice is silent for a second, but it is quick to make a decision.

"As you wish, great leader."- It says- "Your warriors shall move to the west, like you want them to. The area ahead will remain unsecured, but you know best, so we shall believe in you. Just like we always have."

A few seconds later, he hears the voice telling the soldiers to the north to move their positions. He also hears a bit of grumbling, but it soon stops.

Finally, he hears a lot of footsteps that seem to grow fainter and fainter as time passes.

Soon, the halls ahead become eerily quiet. There is no one left to protect them.

"I don't know how you managed to fool the system, but you're a genius."- Emela says to Adam- "Now, let's go. This is a rare oportunity and we shouldn't waste it."

Fifteen minutes later, our heroes reach the gate that leads to the highest part of the labs- the one which houses the Geneforge.

However, there is a steel gate in their way. And they do not have the key.

As the rest of the team wonders what to do, Jared approaches it and begins to cast a spell.

"Stand back, everyone."- He says- "I know how to open this gate.

As he touches the gate, something seems to happen. Hidden mechanisms spring back to life as the massive portcullis starts to open slowly.

It takes about two minutes, but the gate finally opens. Soon, their way towards the Geneforge is completely clear.

"Incredible."- Emela says- "You never cease to amaze me, Jared."

Jared smiles.

"I always have a few extra tricks up my sleeve. Especially for situations like this one."- He says- "Opening a locked gate is child's play for me."

Adam turns around and looks at his allies.

"Well. This is it."- He says- "Get ready, everyone. We have reached our final destination. Soon, it will be time for us to fight Trajkov, so prepare well."

Having said that, he and the rest of his allies step through the gate and into the core of the complex.

There, they cross a small honeycomb of dark tunnels and emerge into a huge lab.

In the center, they see a man standing next to some sort of a book. He sees them as well and smiles.

"Oh my. It seems like we have visitors."- He says- "Have you come to see me?"

Adam takes a step forward and glares at him.

"Enough of this nonsense!"- He says- "You are Trajkov, aren't you?"

Trajkov smiles.

"The one and only."- He says- "I am glad that you finally came, Adam. I've been waiting for you."

Adam raises his eyebrow.

"Waiting for me?"- He asks- "Why so?"

Trajkov sighs.

"You see, we trapped you and your friends here because we knew that there's one person on that boat who can help us master the powers of the Geneforge."- He says- "And there you are. Standing in front of me with all your friends."

Adam shakes his head.

"If you think that I am going to help you, I think that you are deluding yourself."- He says- "I will never help you with your mad schemes. Never!"

Trajkov nods. His creepy smile is making everyone (Except Adam) feel uneasy.

"Maybe this is indeed the case. I am no fool, though. I've been expecting your response and I'm prepared to change your mind."- He says- "There is someone who really wants to see you, so how about we bring her right here?"

He looks at Yu-La and nods.

"But first."- He adds- "A little urpise for my former right-hand woman. I'm sure that she will appreciat it."

Trajkov claps his hands.

In a few moments, two guards carry what looks like a man who has gone completely feral. On closer inspection, however, the man in question does not seem to be entirely... human. Not at all, in fact.

Everyone else fails to recognize the undead man. Yu-La, on the other hand, immediately realizes who he is.

She falls on her knees and shakes her head.

"No. This cannot be."- She says- "My brother... is still here. But why? Why are you torturing him like this?"

She glares at Trajkov.

"Why won't you let him rest in peace, you madman?!"

Trajkov shakes his head.

"Ivan was... an exceptional boy. A skilled warrior who knew how to make a good move."- He says- "It would be a shame to prevent him from living his life again, so I decided to let him turn."

He smiles.

"You should thank me for that."

Yu-La continues to glare at him.

"You want me to... to thank you for this?!"- She yells- "First, you take my brother away from me. Then, you... you disrespect him by leaving him to become an undead."

She shakes her head.

"The only thing that I'll say is that you're a monster. A merciless, heartless monster."- She continues- "I would rather die than to let my brother live a miserable unlife like this one!"

Trajkov smirks.

"Well."- He says- "Why don't you?"

Then, he shoves the undead Ivan at the vulnerable Yu-La and watches as she struggles against him.

"Yu-La!"- Donovan yells- "I'll save you!"

Yu-La shakes her head.

"It's okay, Donnie. I'm fine."- She assures him- "Take care of Trajkov. He's more important than me."

Trajkov smiles.

"Now that I brought Yu-La's brother back to her, how about I reunite you with another member of your family?"- He says to Adam- "Do you feel like you can still look at her the same way you did before?"

Adam raises his eyebrow.

"Wait a minute!"- He says- "So, you mean that she... she... "

Trajkov nods and claps his hands. Soon, two more guards enter the room.

Just behind them is a short girl with beautiful, black hair and gorgeous, blue eyes. She looks very similar to Adam.

"Aki!"- Adam yells- "Aki, is it really you?!"

Akira looks up and stares at her brother. Her eyes are filled with fear.

"Adam. My dear, little brother."- She says quietly- "You are safe... "

Donovan takes a step forward and looks at the girl. He fails to recognize her.

"Adam, who is she?"- He asks his friend- "Is she... related to you?"

Adam looks at Donovan and nods. His eyes are filled with tears.

"This is her, Donovan!"- He says- "This is my sister, Akira! I have been looking for her and now, she is here!"

He turns to Akira.

"I will save you, big sister!"- He says to her- "Please, do not lose hope! Hang in there! We shall win this battle and set you free! I promise!"