"Over here!" Heat yelled, standing in front of a wide garden of rocks. Lightnight and Sipore were racing to his side.
"Finally," Lightnight said softly. The whisper was laced with relief.
They drew closer to Heat's position.
The confusion barged in when they saw the landscape in front of them. Their legs slowed down and stood still as they scanned the field.
"This is it?" Lightnight said, her voice hinting sarcasm. "Wow, you're really helpful."
"Heat, we've been searching for hours," Sipore whispered a complaint. "Even with my psychic abilities, I can't sense their energy."
A confident grin flashed from Heat's face. "Come on, trust me," he said.
He moved closer to the "garden," and his wing reached out. He felt his wing pushing against something, but nothing was there. It was like touching a wall made of thick air.
"It's like invisible glass," Heat thought.
He concentrated his Yaclifa ebatix and saw what was invisible to others. "Just as I thought. It's tsatume," he said. His voice was low and focused.
Sipore and Lightnight were caught off guard. "Tsatume… is it an illusion effect?" Sipore asked.
He looked puzzled, unsure how he should phrase the question.
"Yeah, it's a barrier that covers the entrance of their hideout. Their tsatume created an illusion around their barrier. That's why it's invisible to you and not me," Heat made an effort trying to spell it out.
As the picture became clear, Sipore activated his psychic powers. The barrier earned his full attention. He canceled out the tsatume, putting an end to the illusion.
Lightnight held up her hand and said, "It's time we save my brother."
Lightning particles charged around her legs. Her legs kicked the barrier. One kick followed another, the lightning waves shocking faster. The barrier showed its weakness. Her legs shouted in rage. Cracks began to develop.
The barrier gave a final breath, breaking down like a brick wall. It shattered like crying glass.
Her legs took a breath. The lightning faded away, afraid of causing more unnecessary pain.
A wide mouth opened for them.
A cave was glaring down at them.
The rising sun turned the dark entrance welcoming.
"That's a good way to start the day," Heat thought, bracing himself for the danger ahead.
The three xtros entered the depth of the cave. Darkness stayed with them. A cold chill made their bodies shiver.
The cave grew colder. The darkness thickened. Heat's feathers lit red. Red flames scared away the darkness.
The light showed them what lay within the cave. Lightnight's brother, King Lobafi, lay down on the cave floor. His body was weak. His throat called out for water, his stomach empty. His consciousness walked away.
Tosuba and Phalotu were glowing bright. Energy was coming out from King Lobafi. The Nogazu duo were absorbing the energy.
"Leave him alone!" Lightnight thundered.
Her legs bounced with anger, determined to strike them dead. Lightning clenched in her raging fists.
Tosuba and Phalotu turned their attention to her. They saw the lightning attack coming. They stood still, without moving a muscle, not paralyzed with fear.
Roars of fury came out from the lightning punch. Tosuba blocked it with her psychic wave. Energy beams were launched at Lightnight. Lightnight pounced, helping her dodge the beams.
The Nogazu duo noticed Heat's presence. Their teeth gritted together. Their blood boiled hot.
"What is he doing here?" Phalotu thought. His eyes locked onto Heat, his mind flashing back to his fight with Heat in the Dragon Kingdom and how he felt after losing to him.
"I will make you pay," he declared, his eyes blazing in rage.
"It looks like he wants to fight me," Heat said, his voice confident, mixed with excitement. "Sipore, I need you to heal him." His wing pointed out to King Lobafi.
Heat added, "While Lightnight is fighting Tosuba, your job is to take care of him."
Sipore looked after King Lobafi's health. He activated a healing ebatix, concentrating all his focus on his patient.
Heat attacked Phalotu. His wings were as quick as sound. With his element of strength, his wings' powerful slam shook the earth.
He smashed the ground apart. Phalotu countered with his ebatix. He teleported effortlessly, helping him avoid Heat's attack.
"I can't believe he's doing this," Heat said.
Phalotu grabbed Heat's wing with a tight grip. "Are you having trouble?" he smirked, clearly enjoying himself.
He cast a binding spell on Heat. A slash to the chest followed.
Heat dropped to the ground, weakening as blood poured out. Meanwhile, Lightnight was facing her opponent.
Tosuba summoned her might. Lightnight focused her lightning particles and blasted Tosuba.
The barrier appeared and shielded Tosuba. Lightnight continued firing the lightning, trying so hard to break the barrier.
"Enough!" she grew impatient and charged right toward Tosuba. A punch was delivered at the barrier.
A crack was born. Many punches followed as cracks spread wider. The barrier exploded into countless shards.
Behind the barrier, Tosuba charged enough energy for her attack. She had an energy ball prepared in her hand. She pointed at Lightnight and said, "You've been entertaining, but the show is over."
She threw it at Lightnight. Lightnight felt her strength being consumed. The ball gleamed as the energy from Lightnight charged it.
"I'm… losing… my stamina," she whispered. Her tone was barely audible as she spoke.
BOOM!
The ball went off like a grenade, shouting out loud, announcing its victory. The cave was shaking.
A "tiny" earthquake caused by the explosion was… "enough."
Lightnight collapsed on the ground. Injuries weren't the only thing covering her body. Defeat wrapped her body.
Tosuba and Phalotu fled out of the cave, leaving behind Heat, Lightnight, Sipore, and King Lobafi.
"Oh no. This is bad," Sipore thought. The cave growled harder.
The roof collapsed. Rocks slammed violently against the ground.