“I know it is hard to wield two artifacts, but it is not an impossible task, lads,” Shambala said.“Sensei, have you done this before, and how certain are you about it?” Vladimir was skeptical about using two artifacts after being told what happened with one the last time he used it.“No, I have not tried it before, but I have shown those who cared to learn the art, and they are still normal up to this very day. One person is Stark, Krystal's father,” Shambala replied.This response got the team even more scared, as they were now skeptical about taking such a risk, but Shambala assured them that what they only needed was a strong will to be able to wield two artifacts, and that was it.“Are the rumors about the after-effects true?” Riley asked.“What after-effect is she talking about?” Justin, who almost peed in his pants, asked“Is there no other way we can do this without having to wield two artifacts, Sensei?” Grover asked, expressing how faded up he is about this ‘two artifact thi
Krystal then asked Shambala, “When will the training start, Sensei?” “I will give you a week to prepare and brace yourselves for what is going to come to you,” Shambala replied.“That is so kind of you, Sensei,” Krystal added.“Oh, I will also take you guys to different crypts to find new artifacts to add to the one you guys are already using,” Shambala added.“What kind of Crypts sensei?" Justin asked.“They are ones with good and strong artifacts, so your powers would very much match those of the Øré members,” Shambala replied."Okay, Sensei,” Justin said.“Now I want you lads to choose who would and who would stay back to protect the city while we are gone,” Shambala told them.“I thought we were all going?” Grover questioned."No, lad, we cannot risk the safety of the city over the exploration of crypts, can we now?” Shambala asked.“Of course not, Sensei,” Krystal retorted.“Good, I will take my leave now for a few important things, which will also take a week. Make sure to do a
[A Week Later]The nominated members were all packed and ready to go.“Are you guys sure Mr. Shambala is still coming back?” Riley asked, seeming unsettled because it was getting longer now."Relax, I am sure he is close.” Vladimir, who has been close to her during Shambala, comforts her with those words.“Do you think he got attacked, captured, or eaten by a beast?” Grover asked with a grin."Grover, man, we do not need that negativity right now, okay?” Krystal said.“Come on, lads, have you guys already forgotten who whooped your asses some weeks ago? Do you guys think any of those things I mentioned can befall him?” Grover asked again after making his point."Well, you have a point there, but what about starving and becoming weak when those things happened? Remember, we do not know if he went with food or water. Even money,” Justin replied.“My thoughts are that if he could do all of those for us, he could source food and, if needed, hunt. We do not know if his journey took him thr
Immediately, they walked out of the city, stepping into the morning sun just after the gates of the city.The guild were talking and laughing when Shambala stopped."Stop, lads,” Shambala commanded.Turning to face him, the guild thought he had changed his mind or something.“Take down your bags, lads,” Shambala instructed.The boys did so a bit confused as to why he would ask them to do so, knowing fully well they just stepped out of the city and could not camp there.“Bring them here,” Shambala added.They took it to where he was standing; he brought out a little space storage-type item, but to their amusement, everything just kept going in without getting full.“What is that?” Grover asked curiously. “It is a rare item specially designed to relieve travelers of their burden,” Shambala said as he brought out three long rulers about the length of each of the boys.“Thank you for relieving our burdens, Sensei,” Krystal appreciated.Shambala smiled.“These rare items were a gift from
The meeting on the target stuff sparked up a lot of questions, but Shambala said he would not entertain any more questions about changing the time on the ruler.“I am not taking any more questions, lads. Like I said and will repeat, you lads know it is important for your training. Your bodies are too weak for what is ahead of you; you gas out easily during fights. So I have to get your bodies very strong by whatever means necessary,” Shambala stated.“Here is a dagger for your defense as you go through the forest,” Shambala added.“What for? We do not need it, Sensei. We have our artifacts,” Grover retorted.“About that, give it to me,” Shambala instructed them, pointing to a bag before them and prompting them to drop their artifacts into it.“Is he serious right now?” Vladimir asked, looking at Krystal.“Just do it, guys; I am sure we will be fine,” Krystal replied.“The animals in the forest are not that dangerous; some will even run at just seeing you guys approach them,” Shambala
Every step taken by the guild members was laborious.They sweated all over, as the heat of the sun was very scorching.They rested a bit as they began contemplating where to find water.“I am so thirsty, I could drink a river right now,” Grover groaned.“I would just fall into it and drown because this heat is too much,” Krystal added. “This journey is suicide. I would not wish it on any of my prisoners back at the district command prisons,” Vladimir said as he rested on a tree.“A few more steps, and we are in the forest,” Krystal said.“Stay alert guys, we cannot lose our lives here,” Grover spoke, knowing that if they got attacked with this sort of weight, it would be over."Plus, we have to go through this forest stealthily to avoid drawing unnecessary attention,” Krystal said.“Come on guys, we might find water as we navigate the jungle,” Krystal added.They started moving again. stepping into the forest, Grover's eyes were skimming through the forest as if he had misplaced some
As the team waited for the supposed boar to be seen, it attacked.The grunt got louder.“Must be a big boar; more meat to round,” Grover said, spinning his dagger.At this point, the team's mind was on getting the boar, and they forgot that they were not as mobile as they should be to attack any animal. The thought of food clouded their minds from the heavy rulers behind them.A pig-like beast came out at them.“What!?” Grover screamed, as he was too shocked. He had never seen such a beast before.The rest were not so shocked because they had seen the Pigaus before.“That is a damn Pigaus,” Krystal said.“It should be a workover,” Grover added.“But this ruler's will be a problem,” Krystal said.The Pigaus dashing close to them attacked the closest, Krystal, hitting him to the ground."Guys, get this shit off me!” Krystal shouted as he was struggling to keep the beast from snatching his head off.The beast had slapped his dagger out of his hand and reached as he stretched to get it b
“Yes!” Grover shouted.“It worked,” Vladimir said as he wiped off the blood on his face from the beast.“This beast tested us to be candid,” Krystal, who finally got to where the rest were, said as he was panting from the breaking of trees.“This beast tossed you guys around,” Grover said mockingly as he laughed.“Guess who got stepped on?” Vladimir said this as both Krystal and he laughed at Grover.“Nice one, real good,” Grover commented as he felt what Vladimir said.“Did you guys notice how hard it was to kill that normal beast?” Krystal asked.“I mean, see how exhausted we are. For a beast, I know even the least member of my garrison as a district commander could kill in at least four moves,” Vladimir responded.“I have never seen a thing like that before,” Grover said.“Yet you devised a means to kill it. Grandmaster planner,” Vladimir complimented him.“You do not have Pigaus where you are from, especially with the great walls around towns and villages; it cannot get in even if