Scene 1: The Ritual Begins

(Ashen Hollows – Altar of Dust)

The Altar of Dust stood in the heart of the clearing, its ancient stone platform carved with runes that glowed faintly under the crimson sky. The Heart of Old Brass rested at its center, pulsing with golden light, its warmth spreading through the cracked earth like a heartbeat. Dust swirled gently around the altar, as if drawn to its power.

Aanya knelt before the platform, her hands tracing the glowing runes, her crescent pendant shimmering with a soft blue-green hue. "The ritual's starting," she said, her voice steady but urgent. "I need to chant the bindings to cleanse the Ashral's corruption."

Kente stood beside her, his third eye glowing in rhythm with the Heart's pulse. He felt its energy flowing through him, guiding his senses toward the unseen threads of juju in the air. "How long?" he asked, his tone calm but tense.

Aanya's silver eyes flicked to him. "A few minutes. Keep watch."

Zuri gripped his spear, his red eyes scanning the swirling dust around them. Orange flames flickered along his hands, ready to ignite. "I don't like this quiet," he muttered. "It's too still."

The air grew colder, the dust thickening into a heavy shroud. Kente's third eye flared, a sharp vision cutting through his mind: WanLaden and the Watchmen, their shadows stretching closer, their intent deadly.

"They're here," Kente said, his voice low and urgent. "We're out of time."

Scene 2: The Watchmen's Ambush

(Ashen Hollows – Altar of Dust)

The dust parted like a curtain, revealing the Watchmen in all their menace. WanLaden led them, his dreadlocks swaying, his metal arm gleaming ominously in the dim light. Adam, Falther, Dethugo, and Layefa flanked him, their eyes glinting with hunger.

WanLaden's voice was a low growl, cutting through the silence. "You've caused enough trouble, children. Hand over the Heart, or I'll take it from your corpses."

Kente's third eye burned brighter, his hand tightening around the Heart. "Not happening," he said, his tone unyielding.

Zuri stepped forward, flames roaring along his spear. "Inca Predator: Flame Spear!" he roared, thrusting his weapon forward. A lance of orange fire shot toward WanLaden, searing the air with its heat.

WanLaden raised his metal arm, its surface glowing with energy. "Inca Predator: Light Shield!" A barrier of white light flared, deflecting the flames effortlessly. The fire scattered into embers, hissing as they hit the ground.

Layefa's tribal marks pulsed red, her smile cruel. "Let's break them."

She locked eyes with Zuri, her hypnotic gaze sinking into his mind. Zuri's flames faltered, his spear trembling in his grip as his vision blurred.

Aanya's hands moved swiftly, tracing a rune in the air. "Inca Prey: Mind Ward!" A shimmering barrier of blue-green light enveloped Zuri, snapping him free of Layefa's hold. He gasped, shaking his head to clear the fog.

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Falther stepped forward, his hands weaving shadows. "Inca Predator: Illusory Web!" The air warped, and the clearing twisted into a nightmare—shadowy figures with glowing eyes lunged from the dust, their forms flickering with menace.

Kente's third eye cut through the illusion, his juju energy flaring instinctively. A pulse of blue light rippled from his hand, shattering the false images. The shadows dissolved, leaving only the Watchmen standing.

But Dethugo was already moving, burrowing into the ground with a faint rumble. He erupted beneath Aanya, his knives spinning in a deadly arc. "Inca Predator: Poisonous Impalement!" Poisonous blades shot toward her, their edges glinting with venom.

Aanya reacted instantly, her pendant flaring. "Inca Prey: Rune Shield!" A glowing barrier of runes snapped into place, deflecting the knives. They clattered to the ground, hissing with poison.

Adam smirked, his clones shimmering into existence beside him. "Inca Predator: Manpower!" Two identical copies of himself lunged forward, their swords flashing as they attacked Kente.

Kente dodged, his third eye tracking their movements. A burst of blue energy surged from his hand, striking one clone and forcing it to dissolve. But the real Adam darted in, his blade slicing toward Kente's arm.

Scene 3: Outmatched

(Ashen Hollows – Altar of Dust)

Kente twisted away, but the blade grazed his shoulder, drawing a thin line of blood. His third eye flared, and a wave of juju energy pushed Adam back, but the Watchmen pressed their assault.

WanLaden teleported behind Aanya, his metal arm glowing with power. "Inca Predator: Light Lance!" A beam of white light shot toward her, its heat scorching the air.

Aanya dove aside, the beam grazing her arm, leaving a burn. She gritted her teeth, her runes flickering as she struggled to maintain the ritual. "I can't stop!" she shouted. "Keep them off me!"

Zuri charged at WanLaden, his spear blazing. "Inca Predator: Fire Strike!" His fiery thrust aimed for WanLaden's chest, but the Watchman vanished in a flash, reappearing beside Zuri. WanLaden's metal arm lashed out, sending Zuri crashing into the dust with a heavy thud.

Kente's third eye burned with desperation. He couldn't win—not against WanLaden, not against all of them. They were too strong, their power overwhelming.

Scene 4: The Heart's Desperate Burst

(Ashen Hollows – Altar of Dust)

The Heart of Old Brass pulsed wildly in Kente's hand, its golden light flaring through his third eye. Without a word, a radiant burst of energy erupted from the orb, flooding the clearing in a blinding wave. The Watchmen staggered, shielding their eyes as the light seared through their attacks.

Layefa hissed, her tribal marks dimming. Falther's illusions shattered, and Dethugo's knives fell mid-air. Even WanLaden paused, his metal arm sparking under the Heart's power.

Aanya seized the moment, her hands tracing a final rune. "Inca Prey: Warp Gate!" A shimmering portal opened beneath the altar, its edges crackling with energy.

"Go!" Aanya shouted, her voice strained as she grabbed the Heart from the platform.

Kente pulled Zuri to his feet, and the trio leapt into the portal just as WanLaden lunged, his metal arm slashing through the air where they'd been. The portal snapped shut, leaving the Watchmen in the dust-choked clearing.

Scene 5: A Temporary Haven

(Unknown Location – Hidden Cave)

The trio landed hard in a dark cave, the portal fading behind them. The air was cool and damp, the walls glistening with moisture. A faint glow from the Heart illuminated their surroundings, revealing jagged stalactites hanging above.

Zuri groaned, clutching his side where WanLaden had struck him. "That… was too close," he muttered, his voice hoarse.

Aanya's arm trembled, the burn from WanLaden's attack raw and red. "The ritual… it's not finished," she said, her breath shaky. "We need to try again."

Kente's third eye dimmed, his shoulder stinging from Adam's blade. He held the Heart tightly, its warmth grounding him. "We will," he said, his voice firm despite the pain. "But we need a plan. WanLaden… he's too strong."

The cave was silent, save for the drip of water echoing in the dark. Outside, the Watchmen hunted, and the Rift stirred closer.