H12 Defenders of the Earth

Book cover

**Defenders of the Earth**, Book 12 of The Golden Age of Adventures series, was published in January 2017. It is the English language edition of the original Chinese comic, **地球的斗士**, which was published in March 2016.

## Synopsis

AIMING FOR THE TOP! TO SAVE THE WORLD!

Akhator has declared war on Earth – and the Earth is losing! To reverse the situation, all adventurers mobilise and push back Akhator’s forces. But in response, Akhator unleashes his ultimate attack to wipe out all life on the planet. How will Alex and the other adventurers save the Earth from certain doom?

## Cast

* Alex
* Lulu
* Azure Princess - Marie Wright
* Jackal
* Akhator
* Hank

## Plot

***Spoiler warning!** Plot and/or ending details follow.*

### Chapter 1: On the Frontlines

Akhator's fortress flies above Moscow, Russia. Akhator uses the Star Seeds to shoot two lasers, causing massive explosions. The surviving Global Alliance for Humanity soldiers are killed by his forces.

His forces have also invaded the Tengu city. Honda solves a puzzle to open a bunker. The chief hides in there and puts Honda in charge. Yujiro, Masinga and the Sacred Guardians arrive via Fuji Tower. Yujiro orders everyone to set prejudices aside and fight together.

In Athens, Greece, a Minotaur saves two soldiers from a falling building. The chief tells Goken he cannot turn down a request from a good friend. He transforms and fights alongside the other Minotaurs, Purple Haze, Goken, Ming Kong, Octopus and others.

Back at Moscow, the Alliance corporal tells the commander the adventurers are ignoring the ban. Jones, with his rope, ties a tank beetle. He lets his team attack. Onigiri Maru decapitates it. Yayoi covers a reptilian beast's sight with herb dust. Dolph explodes it with his bombs. The commander tells the corporal to kill all who defy the Alliance. The squad leader sees one of Jones' team members, Jabba, with a wolf beast. He shoots...

### Chapter 2: Unstoppable

...the wolf in its forehead, giving Jabba a chance to give it a taste of his stinky breath. He orders half of those who can still move in squad 8 to evacuate the injured. The rest will aid the adventurers.

At the Mexican border, Alex and the group stand atop the Nazca monkey. Alex sticks his drills and uses the Star Seed's energy. Bo runs back down its arm as it puts its hand on its head. Alex concludes it is too big for him to defeat with the Seed. Unfortunate news: the Nazca spider has awakened, and the condor is still causing havoc up front.

The Global Alliance has arrived, and fires their missiles. The condor destroys all of them with its Ibyon death rays. As Alex and the group are finding survivors, the monkey charges up its death rays. Alex tries to use Whirl of the Mad King. Something in the air catches its attention. It's the Odette, transporting Robert's special cargo, the largest in the whole of Wright Industries. The condor release its death rays. Team Cygnus weapons master, Wanda, readies the counter measure.

### Chapter 3: Back in Action

Wanda fires the missiles, destroying the death rays. The condor immediately recharges, but Wanda won't reload in time. Marie Wright tells Hank it is his move. Hank orders to take the ship up full throttle. The whale had submarine armour applied, so the rockets take it up into the air and destroys the condor. But the whale falling back into sea causes a tsunami. Alex uses the Star Seed and the ocean current control device to calm it. The Odette disengages the cargo. The monkey attacks it. As it charges its rays, the cargo opens and the Saraswati Colossus slices it.

### Chapter 4: Adventurers, Assemble!

"A 20 cm red crab and a 15 cm black crab are racing. Who will win?" Ashwin struggles to find the answer. The Nazca spider holds Saraswati's hands. It releases its death rays, but Alex, held by Jackal, deflects it with the Star Seed. Axe tells Ashwin the answer is the black crab. Ashwin taps the black crab button, and Saraswati slices the spider, but the upper body can still move. It is surrounded by the Yapaca Tribe, who attack its right leg. From a plane, Robert jumps down and smashes the spider.

After that, Alex explains to Robert on how the Star Seeds can be destroyed. Robert tells smith to update on the current situation. Masinga has settled the chaos in the Tengu city. Now, he, the Sacred Guardians and the Tengus engage the enemies in Eastern China. In Tibet, a cloaked scaly person dealt with all the enemies. They took a beetle head and left. Enemies in Athens have been wiped out. Aligon leads the fight in Egypt. In Australia, Team White Wolf supported the rookie adventurers ordered by Robert. It is not going well at Moscow. The enemies seem endless.

Robert calls all adventurers in areas where the enemies are eliminated to head towards Moscow. In his fortress, Akhator is angered that the Nazca titans and 80% of his troops are wiped out.

### Chapter 5: Race Against Time

The fortress divides into two ice warriors, leaving the core in the air. Akhator shoots the Star Seeds' energy into the air. Eveyone from the Mexican border soothly sail and fly across the sea towards Moscow. The Mermaids use their song to eliminate the Shark Riders. In the distance, they see that Akhator has opened a wormhole for a meteor to strike Earth.

Dr. Gigi estimates the meteor will strike in five hours. Even with their fastest speed, they'll only arrive in eight hours. Alex plans to use the Star Seed to enhance Fly High's speed, as Akhator had done with his vehicle. Axe objects, as it will kill him. Robert lets Alex do so, and he must also bring someone along. Alex picks Jackal, as he has worked with him more than anybody else in the room.

Outside, Alex activates the Star Seed, and flies off as swift as the wind. Robert orders all airborne adventurers to keep up with Fly High. Alex tells Lulu to come out of her hiding place. She hid there to get away from Marie, but Alex planned to take her along too. Alex thanks Lulu and Jackal for coming with him to save the Earth.

### Chapter 6: Invasion

Fly High enters the fray. Jones tells Alex the fortress core is harder than diamonds. Not even Dolph's bombs can destroy them. Alex uses the Star Seed to show a vulnerable spot. Everybody fires at it, making an opening. Fly High enters, but everyone else flies away because one of the ice warriors blocks it. Alex, Lulu, Jackal and Akhator meet face-to-face. Akhator attacks without using the Star Seeds. Alex thinks the wormhole will close if he does.

### Chapter 7: Get Your Paws Off the Earth!

The team has gotten Akhator away from the Star Seeds. Alex's plan is to have Jackal and Lulu distract Akhator while he goes towards the Star Seeds. They begin the plan. Akhator puts his feet under the floor, releasing spikes. As Alex is close to the Star Seeds, a spike stabs his tummy. He vomits blood on the Star Seeds. He remembers Akhazane's hand shape-shifitng, meaning Akhator used his feet to form the spikes.

Akhator grabs the last Star Seed. He feels the other Seeds' energy decreasing. Stained with Ibyon blood, Alex uses Akhazane's cells to control them. Lulu, this time in her older humanoid form but with a cat appearance, rips Akhator's right arm and punches him to the meteor with juggernaut force. Alex begins to close the wormhole.

### Chapter 8: To Adventure and Beyond!

Alex closes the wormhole, leaving Akhator light years away from Earth. The Star Seeds' insides are destroyed. Jones, Octopus and others save Alex, Lulu and Jackal as the fortress core collapses. The adventurers from sea have arrived. The Saraswati Colossus destroys the ice warriors.

One week later, the World Adventure Union and adventurers are held responsible for the recent ordeal. The Global Alliance for Humanity demands they be abolished, but the King's Army of India stood in defence, as well as millions around the world. The Alliance is forced to withdraw their call and tolerate the Union's continued existence. Now, adventurers can't cross international borders freely. They must register in advance and report to a country's WAU headquarters before embarking on an adventure there. Committing crimes means disqualification. The war came to be known as the Akhator War.

Dr. Gigi and Bubu return to Cactus Crossing. The Union agrees to keep the Minotaurs' location a secret. Purple Haze officially disbands. Yujiro is elected the new Tengu chief, but declines as he had settled in Robert's estate. Sakura now attends at Darwins school. Goken continues searching for the ultimate chocolate. Masinga and the Guardians of the Sacred Ground rst since they don't have to protect the Star Seed anymore. Yanasha gives Hank an important item. Jones' students increase.

Marie orders Wanda to fire at Fly High because Lulu is inside. A pilot orders them to turn around as they are nearing the English border. If Alex turns, Marie will kill him. He activates the turbo boosters, boosting into the beyond.

### Post-Credit Scene

At the Malayan WAU headquarters, Robert and Smith have come to visit a man. Who is revealed to be Fenrir, he apologises for not helping in the Akhator War. Robert tells him he did the right thing. The advantage would've shifted to Akhator. He also tells him he suspects Lulu to be under the same curse as him.

## X-Venture Continuity

### In the Series

* The squad leader of squad 8 appears again in H19 Pursuit of the Daemon Hunters as one of Jones' students. His name is Delmar.
* The moment with Hank and Yanasha is important in season 3. The item is a horn from a water controlling being known Pelagius.

### In Other Series

* Akhator's right arm is important in these two X-Venture series: Exobot Academy and Terran Defenders. In the final book of Exobot Academy (N12 Elemental Endgame), Matthew finds it in a tube and takes it with him. In Terran Defenders season 2, it merges with his right arm.

## Trivia

* Chapter 4 and 8's titles are obviously references to famous quotes: "Avengers, assemble!" (The Avengers) and "To infinity and beyond!" (Toy Story).