The quintet advanced cautiously through the collapsed space, the sound of pulverised skulls underfoot created a chilling tune to their journey. Hao, Mentos, Acadian, Euphy, and Symphy moved through the oppressive crunch, joined intermittently by the hum of the Sword Fishes. Deeper and deeper they delved into the bowels of the conclave, the atmosphere was heavy with a tang of old metal.
“What is this place?”
Unexpectedly, Hao's Vibe Sense rippled with recognition. The conclave wasn't merely an architectural feat, it was a colossal ossuary. The chamber was the remains of a titanic creature, akin to a prehistoric leviathan. A ribcage of epic proportions stretched above, its vertebrae formed an eerie cathedral. A menacing skull then loomed over them with empty ocular cavities as huge as caves. Its once mighty limbs were now skeletal and they looked infinite in their reach.
“I never knew something like this existed within the Conclave.” Mentos was dumbstruck, moreover, his mouth was hanging loosely from his head.
Each member of the group absorbed the ghastly truth in their own way. Mentos, intrigue glimmering through his shock, hand hovering over the Shark Skimmer's hilt, primed for surprise danger. Hao's face was a canvas of awe, his admiration evident even without eyes. Acadian, Euphy, and Symphy, while not fully understanding, felt the tense ambience and stayed near their human companions.
"This isn't our escape route," Mentos later remarked, the chamber amplified his words with an ominous echo. "Let's hope those Centzors don't corner us on our exit. Let's sweep the area fast and move." His words hung in the air, mirroring a foreboding prophecy. He really just wanted to get out of there.
Eventually, they reached the heart of the chamber, dwarfed by the monstrous skull. The gigantic bones, marred with deep scratches, whispered tales of violence.
"Mentos, what's your take?" Hao’s words were hushed while he tapped a massive tibia. THUD! The bone responded with a deep, echoing sound, as solid and steadfast as ancient stone.
While circling an unusually large femur, Mentos considered Hao's question. He whipped out an S-Catalogue from his toolkit and began examining the bones. As the device beeped, Mentos's brows knitted in contemplation. "As I suspected," A touch of reverence was in his tone.
Hao joined him, curiosity stirred. "What's the discovery?"
With his focus anchored to the scanning device. Mentos explained, "This beast, or its remnants, is a Tokyo. Could be a Floor Boss or Overlord of a Tokyo Palace."
"No way!" Hao's disbelief echoed around the chamber. "So, we're standing on a Tokyo...?” It took him a while for this revelation to soak in.
Mentos conveyed, “Judging by its colossal scale, it likely hailed from a 15th Floor or higher, from an ancient Palace Break in Portal Bay."
Tokyos were gigantic beasts who were core spawns of Inverse, and they were rulers of Palace Dungeons scattered around Crossblades' dark corners; each Palace mirrored a unique city. Ancient Palace Breaks were catastrophic events where a Palace's Tokyo, either Floor Boss or Overlord, broke free and wreaked havoc on Optimum. Such remnants were an unusual find.
“I can’t believe we’re actually here studying a Tokyo’s remains.” Every fibre in Hao’s being was vibrating at the same frequency of excitement. “I’ve dreamt of entering a Palace Dungeon for a long time now.”
Identifying, Hao’s bright features, Mentos warned him, “I wouldn’t dream of such a thing. Tokyo Palaces are aligned with hell itself. Only the bravest and most skilful Blade Masters are equipped to traverse there and even if they do make it inside, there’s no guarantee of them making it back outside. What makes you think you have what it takes to take on a Tokyo Palace?”
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Hao cracked a smile while gesturing to his posterior, “Why do you think I’m trying so hard to unsheathe Judgment Day? When it’s unlocked I will become an unstable force that can easily subdue the Overload of a bloody Tokyo Palace.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” Mentos wasn’t as optimistic about Hao’s ideals. “That cursed sword just might absorb you instead, then where will we be.”
Hao waved off his concerns, “You’re too negative Mentos. I’m going over here to check something.”
As the group explored further, Mentos stayed back, gathering samples. Acadian was close by him, sniffing at a skull curiously. Hao, on the other hand, utilized Night Tamer and teleported atop a bone ridge.
After he stepped out of the dark noise, his Vibe Seeker ability became active, offering a superior view of the skeletal structure. He scrutinised the network of decay, each bone was akin to a forgotten monument. The atomic waves radiating from the hollowed-out inside beat in an odd rhythm, their ghostly echoes visible only to Hao's enhanced senses. It was like a siren's song, enticing him into the bone labyrinth's depths.
Euphy and Symphy, the elated Sword Fishes, stayed near, their inquisitive gazes were flickering about meanwhile their bodies glided gracefully through the heavy air. They appeared drawn to Hao and their bond with him became deeper with every passing moment. It was an odd, yet comforting camaraderie in this realm of shadows and bones.
"Huh…?" Hao stopped abruptly after he skipped over a set of protruding bones. His focus was drawn to an old, rusted blade, firmly lodged into a calcified ganglion, a nerve hub of the skeletal titan. The blade seemed like a relic from a battle lost to time, a mute witness to the leviathan's final hour. The rusted metal bore the wounds of countless years, its edge blunted by time, yet still resonating an uncanny presence.
From the depths below, Mentos' voice echoed, "Vee, spotted anything unusual?"
With careful hands, Hao reached for the rusted blade's handle. The icy metal felt rough and steadfast, contrasting with his Vibe Edge's smooth grip. Gathering his strength, he gave a tug. The blade held firm, deeply rooted into the hardened ganglion. "Crikey, it's stuck tight," Hao grunted while his muscles protested against the obstinate relic.
With a victorious yell, he finally dislodged the blade. His call was met with excited whistles from Euphy and Symphy, their flapping fins stirred up a cloud of dust. The sight was oddly endearing, moreover, their simple joy was infectious.
But triumph was short-lived. The rusted blade began disintegrating to dust within Hao's grip, the merciless march of time was finally claiming it. Afterwards, the skeletal structure began to tremble, the bones started vibrating as if in protest.
“Woah, steady!” Hao's footing quickly gave way and he started to plummet. In the process of falling, his hand instinctively reached for his Vibe Edge to trigger Night Tamer, but before he could do so, Euphy and Symphy swooped in and caught him with their soft grasper.
Below, Mentos was packing away his samples when the ground beneath him began to shake. He spun just in time to see Hao, suspended between Euphy and Symphy, descending towards him. Acadian stood nearby with his gaze fixed on the disintegrating structure.
Mentos shouted, "Vee, what on earth did you do? I know this didn’t just occur randomly." Worry was creasing his face.
“I only pulled out a sword.” Responded Hao.
Rumble!
The chamber was spiralling into chaos. The once formidable structure was now collapsing, bone fragments were raining down like lethal hail. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"We need to scarper before we get buried," Hao’s senses were scanning their surroundings as he urged them to retreat from the chamber. Thus they commenced their quick withdrawal, dodging fallen debris along the way.
“Holly heck, that one almost crushed me!” Hollered Mentos.
While fleeing, everyone had to be on point with their evasive manoeuvres, otherwise, they risked becoming flattened. Yet, amidst the chaos, Hao’s Vibe Sense resonated with an unknown presence beneath the pile of bone dust behind him.
“Hmm… there’s something valuable there? I have to have it!” With an electrifying shock of determination coursing through his legs, he spun around and started dashing back towards the crumbling structure.
“Vee! What the hell mate!?” Mentos was shocked out of his mind seeing the stunt Hao was pulling.
“Go on without me, Mentos! I’ll catch up.” He told his friend.
Hence, Mentos, Acadian, and the Sword Fishes made for the chamber’s exit. Worry furrowed Mentos' brow as he stole one last glance over his shoulder. The Sword Fishes, too, seemed hesitant, they wanted to go back to assist Hao in whatever was keeping him behind. But with a firm command from Mentos, they reluctantly pressed on.