Chapter Eighteen: Nova Burn
Mission: Storm Chaser
As they stepped inside the cave, the temperature dropped, the air growing cool and heavy with the scent of damp earth and ancient stone. The walls glistened faintly, the rough surfaces of the rock embedded with mineral deposits that sparkled like stars trapped within the stone. Shadows danced along the cave’s natural formations, giving the cavern a mysterious, almost otherworldly feel.
The cave sloped downward, leading deeper into its labyrinthine passages. Before long, the trio reached a wider chamber where the path split into three. The intel from their field agent had been precise, and they knew which tunnel to take.
Yozora, his voice calm and authoritative, broke the silence. “We’re at the three-way split. From here, T, you take the lead. Your eyes are the best for spotting traps. If you see any tangos, wait for my order before taking them out.”
T.LAC nodded, his expression serious as he moved ahead, eyes sharp, scanning the path for any signs of danger.
Mara, trailing behind Yozora, sighed with a whiny voice, clearly bored. “Zora, we’ve been moving through this chamber for like forty-five minutes. Why aren’t we there yet? I’m starving! Let’s get pizza from Warco’s when we’re done,” she added with a giggle, looking over at T.LAC, trying to lighten the mood.
T.LAC glanced over at her and raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet. “Shhh, Mara,” he whispered, his voice soft but firm. “Zora, I’ve got eyes on four tangos up ahead, near the end of the chamber.”
Yozora’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. “Copy that, T. Use Time Distortion Arrows to slow them down. Once they’re caught, I’ll take them out.”
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With a steady hand, T.LAC drew his bow, Raimu: Sharanga, and fired two Dilation Arrows. They struck the cave floor between the four enemies. The tangos, noticing the arrows, instinctively jumped backward, but they were already too late. The air around them warped, and time slowed down, trapping them in a distorted bubble where every movement became sluggish and drawn out.
Yozora whispered the name of his weapon, Raimu: Star Gazer, as it materialized in his hand. “Form One: Harvest,” he murmured.
With a single, sweeping strike, Yozora swung his scythe, cutting through the air in one fluid motion. The trapped tangos disintegrated into dust, their bodies vanishing as if they had never existed.
“All tangos down,” Yozora said coldly, his eyes scanning the area. “Form up on me.”
As they regrouped, they reached the end of the chamber. The ceiling rose high above them, forming a massive natural dome. The area was vast, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly off the stone. Standing between them and the portal was a sea of enemies—at least a thousand tangos, heavily armed and ready to defend the gate at all costs.
T.LAC whistled, his tone sarcastic as he looked at the overwhelming number of enemies. “So, Zora, how do you want to handle this small situation?” he asked, chuckling as Mara, perched on his shoulders, leaned her elbows on his head and smiled playfully.
Yozora’s expression remained stoic, unfazed by the odds. “T, stay in Kakusu and use Dilation Arrows throughout the battlefield to slow them down. After that, open fire with Crimson Arrows and provide cover.”
T.LAC grinned, popping another piece of gum into his mouth. “You got it, my guy,” he said with a smirk.
“Mara,” Yozora continued, turning to her, “fly above and stay cloaked in Kakusu until I give the signal to go Nova. We’ll need your full power when the time comes.”
Mara, still playing with T.LAC’s hair, giggled. “T, when we get back, I’m so washing your hair. I’ve been telling you to wash it more often, and you never listen!”
T.LAC sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, you got it, Mara. We’ll do hair care later. Let’s focus on not dying first, okay?”
With their plan in place, the three of them activated Kakusu, their bodies fading from sight as they became invisible to the naked eye. The battle ahead was daunting, but they had fought against worse odds before. Together, as a team, they moved silently into position, ready to strike down the enemy forces and complete the mission.
The Eye of the Sahara was about to witness a storm unlike any it had ever seen.