ROTU: Chapter Forty-Eight

Jalena and the rest of the warriors exited the portal to the destination in silence and spread stealthily throughout the area, using the cover of the trees and the edge of the mountains to mask their arrival. She looked to the sky and invoked Relasu to see the energy patterns of her comrades' ships.

We need to get further into the mountains, said Shamira as she surveyed the dawning sky. We are too exposed here.

I agree, said Jalena.

The Stelarions reformed their portal, and the troops moved to a position closer to Machu Picchu, along the river.

Jalena, you are well positioned from what we can see up here, Brogan reported from his place in the sky. From what Tau explained about their scaly features and large frames, I would say it is the Drakéis that are marching your way now along the Urubamba. It will not be long before they spot you. Their numbers seem endless.

There are warriors among the fleet of soldiers that look similar to the Stelarions, Valora said. They are hidden beneath cloaks.

It's likely the Dark Magi, Jalena said.

The Cinak are moving in small groups, Hoshi said. They are very fast.

We've experienced them firsthand in Costa Rica, Shamira said.

Their masses are greater than what we have expected, said Lorcan. Ralian must have had many more fleets than what he sent to Alsar.

Defeating Alsar was not his priority, explained Jalena. He used some to appease Drasúl but meant for most of his warriors to serve in his planned war against Tau.

We're coming down,Brogan said. We will return to the ships when it is time to launch the shield.

Flashes of light appeared as the warriors teleported near Jalena and Shamira.

Elindrel appeared at Jalena's side in a flash, dressed in warrior attire with a glowing, jeweled spearing rod resting across his back. "My team waits at the edge of the river. They will remain hidden until the enemies are near." He looked at their surroundings. "Not even Drasúl's power could detect us."

"You are the wild card here, Elindrel. Although you are modest, I know you have great power that has yet to be unveiled."

"I and my team have proven ourselves worthy of it, or the Earth would not have granted us her secrets."

"Had I been on this planet longer, I would have been honored to have learned from you."

Elindrel smiled. "As it is my honor. Perhaps you will settle for fighting together for now and then meet again to share knowledge in the future."

Jalena chuckled. "With pleasure."

"The fairies have enchanted the area and altered the dimensional bounds to account for the severity of the Earth elements so that those living nearby will remain unaware of what is transpiring. Their spells should last for as long as needed."

Jalena nodded.

Valora described the cloaked warriors to Elindrel.

"What should we expect from them?" asked Jalena.

"As Tau said, the Dark Magi were once Key hunters, but if Drasúl felt that they could kill you, he would have sent them all to Egypt to wait for you. He must suspect that you are too powerful for them."

He squinted as he gazed at the gathering troops ahead of them. "They fight by magical means, so the Glisayas and Stelarions are best to face them in opposition, although I am sure the light warriors would be able to detect and match the frequency of their magic quickly."

Jalena saw a bird take flight from a nearby tree. Her eyes lit up as she reached for its energy. The bird allowed her to view through its eyes as it flew. Jalena observed the troops ahead through its eyes.

I do not sense Drasúl here, she told Shamira.

I am sure he is formulating his plan. He may already be in Egypt.

Can we show the Avehkal that we've come across the galaxy to say hello again already? Jarek asked. We've got unfinished business with these guys, my… eh, ops list is maxed, if you know what I mean, and you know how I get when I have to hold back all this amazing skill.

Jalena smiled as her eyes lit up. A rush of freedom accompanied by the urge to fight for what she loved most filled her as a large number of Avehkal appeared on top of the hills before them. They're all yours, Jarek.

A look of delight appeared on Jarek's face as his eyes lit up. Lorcan's face matched Jarek's as the halo within their eyes swirled with fiery light, and flame markings formed across their faces. Fire appeared across their fingertips. Shamira's and Valora's haloes lit with green light as glowing leaf and thorn markings surfaced on their skin. Danika and Brogan disappeared from view as they activated Danika's charisma. Hoshi observed the patterns of the enemy as her halo lit up in yellow and the double cross formed over her face.

Jalena straightened her arms at her side and grasped the hilt of both her and Gyan's gladaés as they formed within each palm. She looked down in surprise as the swords started moving toward each other automatically as if a strong magnetic force was pulling them. She relaxed her grip, and the two gladaés smashed together before her, molding into one large sword. Their violet and gold light blended and ran along the blade's edge as a gold and violet flame pulsed in the middle. The new gladaé displayed a unique design that merged the hilt of Gyan's and Jalena's separate swords. A rush of heightened energy moved through her as her fingers grasped the hilt. Despite the blended frame of the two, its weight was that of one.

The Avehkal and other enemies began running toward the large Lumaña army that filled the valleys and the sides of the hills before them. The two parties collided with a large cry arising from the Avehkal as the warriors disappeared in flashes of light, teleporting at different points within the fight.

Rays of light from Lumaña ships lit up the sky as they appeared out of thin air and attacked unsuspecting Avehkal.

"Ralian!" an Avehkal warrior voiced from the system in Ralian's ship atop Machu Picchu. "Your brother is here! They knew we were gathering!"

Ralian's eyes looked at the ground in alarm as the Earth trembled. He narrowed his gaze as he noted the dark clouds gathering above them and the blue rays of the Lumaña ships attacking his incoming ships. He and his companions hurriedly entered his ship and shot into the sky.

The Glisayan warriors appeared over the battlefield in midair, some on the backs of dragons and others using their own wings to fly. Fire shot from the mouths of the dragons as they dove toward their enemies.

Jalena swung her gladaé around with a greater force than she had ever felt before. The fire within the blade extended beyond her reach and cut through multiple Avehkal at once. She teleported from one point to another within the crowd as the Lumaña took control of the front lines. She made her way toward the back of the formation of soldiers to take on the Drakéis. They grunted and roared as Shamira's blade found them alongside Jalena's.

The master warriors moved together in synchronicity, the actions of one complimenting and enhancing those of the other without a need to put a voice to their moves. With the speed of Lorcan's charisma and the use of Relasu, their strikes met their target with ease. With Hoshi's enhanced sight, distant attacks from the Avehkal were easily dodged.

Jalena extended her hand and sent the large humanoid creatures stumbling into each other with Tarak's charisma. Hoshi mirrored Jalena's moves, manipulating their weapons to injure their own comrades. The masters worked together to create a divide between the Drakéis and Avehkal.

Elindrel's eyes lit with bright green light as he flew into the air. The winds in the area began to whip violently as Soosian appeared with a pop by Elindrel, her eyes lighting up with a yellow glow. Anstar rose into the air by her side. A fiery red glow appeared in his eyes as the clouds funneled above the soldiers.

Thin tornadoes dropped over the Cinak as they swarmed the hills to gain the upper ground. Anstar snapped his fingers, and fire ignited within the spiraling winds. Avehkal ships failing to dodge the tornadoes and Cinak running into the mountains disappeared as they were tossed by the flaming funnels.

Bolistan stood at the bank of the Urubamba, his eyes alight with blue. He nodded to Gildan, who stood beside him with his hands stretched before him. The green of Gildan's eyes brightened as the ground began to shake violently.

Who is doing that?Lorcan asked as he and the other warriors attempted to maintain their footing. Brogan?

Not me.

It's Gildan, Jalena replied.

Brogan's halo swirled with green as leaf and thorn markings appeared on his face. He steadied the ground around the warriors as Gildan's magic shook the Earth harder and formed large fissures within the ground.

More Cinak and Drakéis fell into the crevices along the edge of the battlefield as they attempted to escape the swirling fire above them. Water shot up through the crevices like geysers at Bolistan's command.

The trees swayed as Valora's charisma activated, working in sync with Gildan's power. Their roots and branches spread out wide through the fissures that now decorated the battlefield as a result of Gildan's magic. The branches grabbed at their enemies and locked around them to form random prisons along the tree line.

Jalena reached for Elindrel telepathically. I can protect the light warriors, but I do not have enough power in my shielding ability to help the others from Elemental dangers, she said as she formed shields around each of the warriors.

Elindrel flicked his wrist. A green glowing line of protection spread the length of the battlefield around allies within the vicinity of the fiery wind and rushing water. His green shield expanded, lifted comrades into the air, and floated them safely to a different piece of the land if the ground cracked beneath them.

Elindrel looked to the clouds as green lightning formed in his palms. His eyes brightened as he lifted his hands and released the bolts into the sky and down through the clouds, striking a large majority of the Cinak to the ground.

Wow, Jarek said. This guy is unbelievable.

Glad he is on our side, Hoshi agreed as she watched Elindrel's actions in awe.

The Dark Magi quickly gathered together, speaking incantations that penetrated Elindrel's shields.

Elindrel gazed down over the Magi with a look of fury when many of the Lumaña dropped to their death as they encountered the Magi's magic. The rod on his back lit up as brightly as his gaze and lifted from his back. He grabbed it from the air and directed a large blast of lightning blast downward over the Magi.

Surviving Magi scattered in every direction.

From his place in the sky, Ralian

The Glisayan troops and animals native to the area and beyond swarmed the valley as the Avehkal, Cinak, and Drakéis continued to move forward. A large group of Pumas flew down the mountainside and attacked as condors, along with birds of various sizes, dove into the troops from above. The warrior fairies of Strenkarlia moved in a blur throughout the enemy troops, sabotaging straps and weapons, and using their magic to confuse enemies.

Jalena glanced down at her side in surprise as a large puma ran alongside her, attacking any who neared her. Thinking of Eclipse, she whispered the spell to activate the dragon's fire. A portion of the power spread through the energy of the animals to enhance the protective magic of the fairies, lighting their fur with a yellow glow.

The Dark Magi moved in unison to attack the wall of Stelarions and Glisayas that quickly formed to separate them from the rest of their allies.

Jalena! Jarek yelled as his movements slowed. Drasúl!

Jarek's vision took over Jalena's mind with such force that she stopped moving.

Drasúl appeared in her mind as if he was standing before her. He stood below the surface of the ground, chanting a spell with the power of Darkone that opened the portals to the lower dimensions.

Jalena's vision expanded. Animals of the planet swarmed the borders of each portal, baring their teeth and snarling as they waited to protect their home from the darker species awaiting to rush into the Earth's surface dimension.

The vision disappeared as an Avehkal's arrow reached her, and she teleported out of its path.

We don't have much time, Jalena, Jarek warned.

Then we leave now.

Jalena teleported next to Tau. "We must leave you to go activate the shield before the Earth is overrun by dark energy," she said. "Drasúl is about to open the Portal of Vaknondé."

He nodded and held up his staff. The glow of its stone signaled the pilots that it was time.

Lenias and nearby Stelarions gathered to open a portal to the outer atmospheres as the Elemental guardians created a swirling barrier of water, fire, and dirt around them.

Elindrel appeared beside Jalena. I will create a barrier between the Stelarion portal to the outer atmospheres and the others so the masters have a clear exit point, but I will not be able to hold it for long.

Jalena nodded in gratitude. She grabbed Elindrel's shoulder and brought her forehead to his.

He grinned. We will clean up here.

Thank you for everything, Elindrel. My heart says we will meet again. She returned his smile, then turned back to Tau and nodded.

The Stelarions lifted their staffs into the air. An enormous rip outlined in amber light formed in the sky after several moments.

Elindrel's eyes glowed brightly. His voice deepened as he spoke words whose vibration was felt through the depths of Jalena's being. Shapes of sacred geometry and alchemic symbols appeared in glowing light across the sky as the master warriors teleported to their ships and rose back into the air.

Let's light this planet up, Jarek said with excitement.

Give it all you got,said Shamira.

Remember the power that you are and do not waiver, Jalena added as an energy that had little to do with the dragon's blaze spread through her. Her eyes glowed brighter as she thought of each of the masters.

Go! Elindrel shouted as the Dark Magi began to attack his shield.

Nyhra appeared at Jalena's and Shamira's side as a nearby Stelarion spoke the incantation to open the portal into Egypt. Tau, Oba, and Surion stood ready next to the portal.

From his place in the sky, Ralian spotted Tau along with the others. His ship dove and shot rays directly at Elindrel.

Jalena lifted her hands and used Tarak's charisma to yank Ralian off course. The ship spun and then turned back to attack again after it steadied.

Elindrel's eyes narrowed in concentration as he kept his hands extended at the shields in the air.

Jalena! Shamira warned. We have to go.

As Jalena stepped through the portal with the others, Ralian's shot met its mark, and Elindrel dropped to the ground. The shield protecting the portal to the outer atmosphere vanished just as the warriors cleared the opening and flew out into space. Dozens of Avehkal ships shot after the warriors, with more Lumaña ships following.

"Shut the portal!" Lenias yelled as he retracted his staff. The Stelarions lowered their staffs, and the split in the sky mended.

Jalena turned back to Elindrel as her own portal began to close.

He will be okay, Jalena-ka," Tau reassured.

Her senses spiked. Jalena, Nyhra, and Shamira teleported, and the others instinctively dove out of the way as Ralian's ship flew sideways through the portal just before it sealed completely.

Sand whipped around the group.

"Ralian," Tau said with spite as he watched the ship disappear into the night sky. "He will be back."

It is too quiet,Shamira told Jalena as she looked around.

Jalena sharply surveyed their dark surroundings as the dirt settled. She shielded her eyes as she looked up at the pyramid. "Remain alert. Drasúl and his allies are near."

***