H10 Trial of the Sacred Tribe

Book Cover

**Trial of the Sacred Tribe**, Book 10 of The Golden Age of Adventures series, was published in September 2016. It is the English language edition of the original Chinese comic, **群兽乱斗**, which was published in November 2015.

## Synopsis

AIMING FOR THE TOP! UNCOVERING THE MYSTERY OF THE FORBIDDEN ORB!

The Ancient Mariner fights desperately to keep the Sky Demon at bay – but will the marine monarch’s mightiest efforts be enough to keep the villain from seizing even more power? Meanwhile, Alex and his allies get a major boost, as the world’s most legendary adventures prepare to return to duty in full force!

## Cast

* Alex
* Lulu
* Yujiro
* Jones
* Masinga
* Robert
* Akhazane

## Plot

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

### Chapter 1: Taking Charge

Akhator deals massive damage to Hank. Hank is now in the operation room. He blames himself for not being able to protect the Mermaids' Forbidden Orb. Butler dashes into the room. Yujiro tells Alex and the others that he and Butler have brought the president of the World Adventure Union: Robert.

The president, from a WAU boat to the Mothership, runs at lightning speed, with no rain water touching him and hi grandson Darwin holding onto his shoulder. He has been informed of the current ordeal, and made Akhator's crimes known worldwide. He tells Yanasha, in Mermaid tongue, that the injured Mermaids are under care.

The next move is going to Africa, the location of the last Forbidden Orb and the protector of the Sacred Ground, Masinga.

### Chapter 2: The Last Orb

In the Pacific Ocean, Jackal follows two Shark Riders to find Akhator's base. The Shark Riders explode due to the self-destruct device implanted by thier boss. The boss didn't want them to be followed. At the North Pole, Akhator wonders why he can't sense the last Orb. He thinks it is because of "him".

The adventurers arrrive at the Sacred Elephant Village. Masinga suddenly appears. He, Robert and Jones do their poses. The ground behind them rises, forming the Pillars of Mother Earth, which is where the chosen ones will be tested. Atop the pillars is the last Forbidden Orb, held in a bizarre hand. It says the unworthy ones are forbidden to touch it.

Alex, Lulu, Jones, Robert, Yujiro and Sakura heard it. two weeks ago, The Orb told Masinga and the Guardians of the Sacred Ground that the Sky Demon is on the move. The Guardians must protect it and the chosen ones will assemble here.

### Chapter 3: Rhino Sumo

There are three pillars each with a trial. Masinga tells Marie to not be involved, but she denies. Lulu tells her she has gotten stronger. If she stays, then she'll cook her fried rice. Marie and her maids cheer her from behind. Robert, with Darwin, and Jones go up the right pillar. Yujiro and Sakura goes up the left. Alex and Lulu will go up the middle.

The right pillar has a rhinoceros named Shirozai. The baboon on his back, Rouji, says to push Shirozai off the pillar to complete the trial. Shirozai charges. Robert, with his immense strength, holds Shirozai's horn and lifts him to the edge. It is clear that the trial is completed.

On the middle pillar is the Elephant Twins, Tutu and Zuzu. Zuzu dislikes violence, so he has perpared a puzzle on a slab written in Swahili. "A man wants to pass under the bridge, but his cargo is 1 cm higher the opening under the bridge. How can the man pass without throwing away any of his cargo?" Lulu answers the man destroyed the top of the bridge, which is the wrong answer. Now, the only option is to defeat the elephants. Marie is angered that they are attacking Lulu. Masinga demands she stay out.

(The answer was the man filled the boat with water until it went down by 1 cm.)

### Chapter 4: Double Trouble

Lulu tells Marie to trust her. She also wants to be an adventurer like her, so she must stay out so that she can prove herself. Marie calms down and let's Lulu fight. Alex has thought of a way to beat the elephants. They are twice the size of normal elephants, so Lulu has to go into her cat form to scare them. To the elephants, Lulu will be seen as mouse. Lulu transforms and scares the elephants. Alex ties his rope to a rock and tree. Tutu and Zuzu trip by the rope. The trial is completed!

### Chapter 5: Termite Terror

On the left pillar, Argus, a gorrila, gets ready to punch Yujiro. Yujiro readies his katana. He manages to cut Argus' shoulder, but Argus had punched him greatly. An African grey parrot lands on Argus' shoulder and translates his words. He asks Yujiro if he looks down on him, since he hesitated. Yujiro meant no disrescpect. Argus' punches was not aimed to kill, so how could he kill someone who does not wish to harm him? Argus approves Yujiro of being a wise warrior with foresight, not a brash fool.

Everyone gathers at the termite mound, the final test. Boubu, an ostrich, will be the test proctor. To find the way out, follow her eggs and take them along. Once again, Masinga insists Marie must not follow. Lulu tells her she wants to do her part to save the world in a cutesy way.

In the mound, Lulu accidentally steps on a termite, causing the whole termite army to attack. Everyone goes up via Jones' rope ladder. Robert attacks the termites, but they are undeterred. Alex throws his bug repellents. As Robert went up, Jones seals the opening with his rope. They move forward. They find four pathways, each has an egg.

### Chapter 6: From the Stars

Jones lets Alex solve the puzzle to see how much he has improved. Alex has an idea after Lulu spins one of the eggs. He tells everyone to spin the eggs. Everyone's, except Yujiro's, stayed spinning. Hard-boiled eggs keep spinning because it's solid inside. Raw eggs topple, so Alex wagered Boubu's egg wouldn't be solid inside. Everyone proceeds while the termites chase them. Once they exit, the termites retreated.

The pillar the last Forbidden Orb is on descends. It transports everyone into its world. The one speaking is a being who looks similar to Akhator. He tells everyone he is his brother, Akhazane. The hand holding the Orb is the only part of him left in the world, which protects the Orb from Akhator. He had also transferred his spirit and personality into it. He begins to tell a story.

6000 years ago in Asia, a giant spaceship landed in the forest. Akhazane asked Akhator why they have come on this planet.

### Chapter 7: Into the Past

2.6 million of Earth's solar revolutions ago, Akhator was forced to land here due to his ship malfunctioning. Fortunately, Earth had a lot of A-23X Ore. They were of low quality, but Akhator had no choice to repair his ship. To ease the process of transporting large amounts, he transformed the dinosaurs and brainwashed the cavemen. Akhator resided here for more than ten years. Because of this, he found Earth's secret.

He removed his suit, and nothing happened. Physical structure and intelligence-wise, Akhator and Akhazane's race are the apex predators of the universe, but are deathly vulnerable to UV radiation, which causes them to dissolve. This low tolerance to UV radiation is because they evolved and live in darkness. After some time, Akhator became less afraid of the sun. He has brought the Forbidden Orbs along, known as the Star Seeds. A Star Seed is created from a planet's energy. When Akhator and Akhazane's people overcome their weakness, they'll be capable of conquering the universe.

They found out Akhator's base was destroyed, so they made a new one in the North Pole and started their experiments on animals and plants. Over time, Akhazane also withstood the sun's rays and blended into human societies, collecting hair, skin and blood samples. He discovered other beings besides humans. Not all of them were friendly, but still made comrades. He was surprised by humans' short life expectancy, while other beings live up to thousand years and his people live up to 30 billion years. Yet they still remain optimistic generation after generation. Akhazane grew a liking to the Earthlings, but...

Akhator planned to destroy the Earthlings. In particular, humans were evolving at a fearful pace: from using stones two million years ago, to using metals in a brief time. Akhator predicted the humans will surpass his people's technology. He will preserve a few specimens in cages and cryogenic suspension. Once completed, they will be disposed.

And so, Ragnarok began. One by one, Akhazane saw his friends die. This filled with sorrow and regret. He was a soldier, so he was used to killing enemies, but never those who are his friends. He took one of the Seeds and blasted Akhator's right hand and torso.

### Chapter 8: To Inherit the Light

Akhator used another Seed to blast Akhazane, but only his right hand holding a Seed remained. The Earthlings used this opportunity to attack him. Akhazane transferred his mind into his hand and fell into suspended animation. Two weeks ago, he felt the other Star Seeds' energy, and was awakened. He immediately erected a barrier to prevent Akhator from sensing it. The tests are to prove if the chosen ones are able to defeat Akhator.

Only Akhazane's people can use the Star Seeds, so he collected pulse rate, cell activity and DNA. After analysing, the suitable person to transfer his cells to is Alex, who matches by 60%. After the transfer, Alex will also have part of Akhazane's memories. If the fusion fails, Akhazane's cells will devour Alex's body. He will die when they reach the heart. Alex accepts that risk. The chosen ones have potential because the Star Seeds were sealed in places few can enter. Alex has encountered all three of them.

Everyone is sent back to the reality. Alex holds his hand out so that Akhazane's cells can enter. After that, he faints due to exhaustion. Akhazane, in his final moments, tells the defenders of the Earth to save their beautiful planet. Alex has sensed Akhator sensing the Star Seed.

## Trivia

* Darwin is a main character in another X-Venture series: Primal Power.
* Sally, an adventurer debuting in season 2, makes a cameo when Robert said he has made Akhator's crimes known worldwide.
* The reason for Akhator's old base being in ruins is in Dinosaur Kingdom 2 (J07 Battle of the Cryptic Ruins). The A-23X Ore also appears.
* People who have encountered a Star Seed are able to defeat Akhator, but Sakura is young child, who most definitely isn't capable.