UNIFIED W

Chapter 23: The Maze Of Truth, part 2

A few hours before the finals, the desert stretched endlessly across Prov Island, heat rippling in waves beneath the brutal sun.

Heat pressed down as Draven and Archer struggled to hydrate, every step bringing them closer to the meeting place Void had mentioned before their mission.

"Are we there yet?"

"Shut up and just walk."

"Are we there yet?"

"If I hear your voice one more time, I promise you lose that tongue."

"Yeah... yeah... but seriously, are we there yet?"

"Goddammit, Draven."

In the midst of their argument, they spotted an old temple rising from the desert.

Draven collapsed into the shade and dumped the last of his water over his head as Void and the others came into view.

Void shot Draven a sharp look, then turned and walked toward the temple gate.

"Let's get inside the temple."

Draven raised an eyebrow, wondering what that was all about, then turned to one of the others.

"Hey, magma boy. What's up with him?"

"You jerk, my name's Dex, and it's your fault he's in a bad mood."

Draven pointed at himself, his face clouded with confusion.

"Me? How's it my fault? I just got here."

As the Pillars stepped inside, they finally understood why Taro had sent them to a temple in the middle of nowhere.

During the Great Clan War, the old temple served as a base for the earth clan.

The other bases had been wiped out, but the temple held strong, thanks to the thick stone only the Earth Clan knew how to use.

A wave of cool air hit them as soon as they stepped deeper into the temple.

Draven let out a low whistle, eyes scanning the ancient stone walls.

Archer took a deep breath, finally able to relax.

The walls and ceilings of the temple were covered in paintings.

They depicted the four world guardians, along with the history of the world and the Earth Clan.

The size and colors were just right, making the paintings easy to understand at a glance.

Draven made his way to the temple's center, where it was coolest, and tried to take a nap.

But before he could fall asleep, Void appeared next to him, and the rest of the members gathered around him soon after.

"Can't a guy get some peace?"

Void dropped his hooded cape back and pulled off his mask. His sharp, fierce eyes instantly demanded silence from the room.

"Mission report."

"Uh... yeah, I'll let you handle this one, Archer."

Archer flinched, shooting Draven a glare.

'You idiot, don't say my name.'

Archer cleared his throat, then turned to Void with a serious expression on his face.

"Ahem... ahem. Sir, we didn't retrieve the target."

"How come you guys didn't retrieve him?"

Archer paused for a moment, then continued his report.

"We got into a big fight in Fire Clan territory. There were too many of the king's royal guard, so we didn't hold back and killed many of them."

Void took a deep breath, his fists unclenching slowly as he forced himself to stay calm.

His jaw tightened, but he kept his voice steady.

"It doesn't matter how many you've killed. Kai not being with you is the real problem."

Archer and Draven exchanged a quick glance before Archer turned his gaze back to Void.

"Sir... he was, uh, one of the people who... died because of my attack."

Suddenly, Void's eyes widened, his face twisted with rage as veins bulged across his body.

He grabbed Archer by the neck and slammed him to the ground.

"Do you even realize what you lost?"

Draven got to his feet and let out a sharp yell.

"Let him go, Boss!"

Void's eyes widened as the weight of what he had done hit him. He pulled back slowly, his whole body beginning to tremble.

Suddenly, a tear rolled down Void's cheek as he apologized to Archer.

"I apologize, Archer. I lost control of my emotions. It won't happen again. If you can find it in your heart, I ask for your forgiveness."

Draven stepped forward, keeping his tone firm yet respectful as he addressed their leader.

"What's going on with you, boss? Why are you so obsessed with someone who's just an outcast?"

"You don't get it, Draven. That outcast is the key to everything, and we've just lost our only hope."

Void crossed his arms, exhaled slowly, and turned his gaze forward, cold and distant once more.

"There is an alternative, but we'll have to wait a long time for the next person in line after Kai."

Draven raised an eyebrow, not sure what Void meant by that last part.

But Void didn't elaborate further and simply continued speaking.

"In the meantime, we must reclaim the two legendary weapons that remain."

Draven rolled his eyes, keeping his thoughts to himself.

Agent 5, one of the Pillars, went down to the temple's basement and returned carrying two heavy bags.

"Suit up. We've got a job to do."

They suited up in bodysuit armor built for their powers, designed to deflect enemy attacks, then pulled on their masks and short hooded cloaks.

The mask was pitch black, wrapping fully around their face and part of their head.

After they suited up, Void stepped forward, his tone sharp and commanding.

"Our mission is to recover the two missing legendary weapons. Taro's intel warns the arena will be heavily guarded, making this mission deadly."

Void paused briefly before continuing.

"When we enter the arena, Agent 5 will cover us from the air. The three of you should keep your bodysuits on but take off your masks."

Archer raised his weapon.

"What about our weapons?"

"There are only a few entry points. Take the third one. A man working with us will guard it."

"What will you do, boss?"

"That brat with the Fire Clan's weapon is mine. No one else touches him."

"Once you receive the signal, enter the maze, retrieve the Ancestors' Rage, then retreat immediately."

"You have your orders, now go."

The Pillars disappeared as soon as Void finished speaking, leaving him standing alone in the dim light of the temple, his jaw clenched and eyes burning with determination.