“Thank you for rescuing Vlux.” said Brek.

“Well, uh... it was Dungii who found and caught her,” said Ang.

“But it was you who pushed forward and helped fight off the Koru-Ation. Kiliyi thought it was reckless, but she is proud of you. Vlux is very important to us. She created the diversionary team and kept the Koru from finding Brexcen for many years.”

“She was the founder of that team?”

“Yes, she’s considered one of the best sensory manipulators ever. She trained most of the team herself, including my parents.”

“So, what happened to the team?”

“I wasn’t there so I don’t know the details. All they told me was that the Koru got a new weapon that could dispel our most elaborate illusions. Most of the diversionary team got captured, or worse, so Vlux agreed to go with them if they let the rest of the team return home.”

“Your parents didn’t come back?”

“No, the Koru captured them. That’s something we have in common. We’re both searching for our family. Honestly, I thought mine were dead until a moment ago.”

“What changed?”

“My parents were in charge of maintaining, and changing the entrance incantation. When Thramuny told us that the Koru knew about the whale song. I knew my parents were the only ones who could have given them that information.”

“Is that where we’re going now?”

“Yes, since my parents left I have been in charge of maintaining the incantation. We need to see if we can alter it enough that the Koru won’t be able to get in.”

They swam lower to the base of the city size bubble. All along the edges, Ang could see the massive coral structure, like a tree supporting the bubble. Its expansive branches surrounding the lower half. A platform floated above the base, on which sat a large instrument. It had many pipes, strings, pedals, and fine engravings etched into it. Ang couldn't figure out how one would operate such a contraption.

“By playing this instrument I can change the incantation. Can you keep a lookout while I perform,” said Brek.

“Sure thing.” responded Ang. Dungii, Kiliyi, and Ang posted themselves just above the platform as Brek swam to the instrument and began to expertly play the complex device. He used his mouth, hands, feet, and created several clear tendrils that could reach other parts of the instrument.

As Ang watched, he suddenly felt a dull pressure.

“MMUUURRRPPP!!!”

He swam from under the mushroom, and his body trembled with dread as the armored giants descended.

“We’re too late! The Koru, they’re here.”

Long thin tendrils reached up and ensnared the monsters. “Ang! I can restrain them, and suppress their auras, you have to defeat them,” hollered Brek from below.

Ang’s mind scrambled. He remembered how Kiliyi burned them before. Hastily he drew a fire rune with tracer light; upon activation the rune produced a brief glow.

“Ang quickly! You must destroy them, I cannot hold for long,” plead Brek.

Heart pounding out of his chest unsure what to do, until he felt a spider crawl onto his shoulder. Vision narrowing, he could only see the six monsters. Activating tracer light on eight fingers, with blinding speed wove his runes; forming large icicles, he pierced their twisted black bodies. The monsters ceased to struggle and sunk. He missed one, but Dungii, balling up the ends of his tail, beat the monster with immense force. Forming dents and deep cracks in the armor, until it stopped moving. Ang watched the knights slowly sink and burn away. The Imdrina within them, dissolving the body. As the final armored monster sunk Ang could barely see, through the cracks, something like clay.

“That was impressive.” Ang turned to see Brek swimming up to him, his smile ever present. “Backlogging multiple water runes, you must be the son of The Spider. I managed to change the incantation; it will take time for them to figure out the new one. We have to destroy the ones that got through. This’ll work. Dungii can quickly fly us through the city, I can restrain the enemy, Ang you finish them off. Kiliyi you do your thing.” Kiliyi nodded and crawled away. “You ready, Ang.”

“I’m ready.”

“Dungii?” asked Brek.

“Murp!”

Dungii swam through the city. From around some spires, four Black Knights emerged. Brek’s tendrils reached out to ensnare them before their auras could take effect. Ang confidently wove his runes and took them out.

“Excellent, we keep this up we’ll be able to force them out of here,” said Brek enthusiastically.

Ang looked above and saw the Black Knights pouring through the smashed the platinum gate. He appreciated Brek’s optimism, but the odds were not in their favor. Dungii rushed a pair of armored knights.

“Dungii wait!” yelled Ang. As Dungii slammed one knight and sideswiped the other with his tail. Brek subdued both of them with his tendrils. However, many more knights swarmed them, Ang felt the crushing sensation.

“No, not again.” He fought against the force. Brek lay prone. Dungii struggled to move. Ang flexed his muscles, and blew into the ocarina. He played a turbulent song that caused the water to swirl around them, dispersing the knights, but more set upon them. A shimmering cloth encircled the trio. Brek hastily got to his feet and restored his composure.

“This cloak is the Ardin Cascade, they’re here,” said Brek.

“Who’s here?”

“The diversionary team.”

From behind the veil they heard voices yelling, and armor breaking. Once the veil lifted, the wrecked bodies of the monsters fell and dissolved.

“Excellent, we found you. We just passed Kiliyi, she pointed us in this direction,” said a monotone female pixie holding the cloak Cascade high enough to cover half her face. Her long hair created a black cape behind her.

“Sir Brek, you can’t take any chances. You’re the only one who knows how to play Crescendo,” said a gruff, dark male pixie. Several markings covered his bulky arms, and he held a long stick at least five times his height.

“What an intriguing specimen. If we survive this, I would love to get a blood sample. Or would it be a sap sample? What is in this thing? Can I just snip off a tiny piece?” Said an inquisitive female pixie. She had curly red hair, markings on her cheeks, and slung on her back, an hourglass-shaped handle with two glass balls stuck on the ends.

“Leave it alone Aletha.” Sternly said a small bald male pixie. Toned arms crossed, his body covered in many tiny, yet detailed swirls. On his back, a large dark metallic grey umbrella.

“Brek, you should go to the stem. Bassinee and Vlux are there with everyone.” Said a soft-spoken male with a long dark ponytail. His body, covered in looping lines and geometric shapes. On his hip hung an obsidian sickle.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t go back. If we don’t make a stand now, Brexcen is lost. Clo-Whu can teach another I’m sure,” said Brek.

“On this I agree with Brek. It’s better if he stays with us. Who is this dwarf and beast, can they fight?” Said the pixie holding the cloak.

“This is Angdraoni, he’s Lysyntri’s son, and a capable caster. And this is Dungii, he’s fast, strong, and reliable.”

“He’s fascinating,” said Aletha.

“You’re the son of the Spider? It’s good to meet you, names Haxx, your mother has saved my life more than I care to count,” said the gruff pixie.

“More are coming, brace yourselves,” said the small male as he opened his umbrella, forming a shield between them and the knights.

“Gron! point Phalanx this way,” yelled Vlux from below. Gron pointed his shield down, as Vlux swung a wooden rapier. Innumerable thorns flew up and pierced the oncoming knights. Gron’s shield, Phalanx protecting the party. The knights became immobile. Vlux swung again, detonating the embedded thorns, defeating the first wave.

“I see you have Splinter back, who are your friends?” asked the obsidian wielder.

“Thanks for keeping Splinter safe Rux, this is Thramuny and Eio. I just seem to pick them up on my way elsewhere. They said they wanted to help, and right now we can use all of it. Is this the new defense team?”

“Indeed, it is,” said Brek. “It’s good to see you again Thramuny, Eio.”

“It’s good to see you, I am ready to melee,” said Thramuny. Eio surged with power, next to her.

“Isu cast your veil,” said Vlux

“On it,” Isu threw up her cloak. Just like its name, it gently cascaded around them.

“Here’s the strategy,” deliberated Vlux. “My sword Splinter will take a while to grow more thorns. Rux I assume you’ve used Sluice’s ability. The two of us will remain in the rear behind Isu’s cloak and recharge our weapons. Melee combat is suicide against these things. Gron you will take the vanguard with Phalanx. Dungii I’ll need you right behind him. Haxx, Aletha, you two can fight at long range with your Ardin’s, behind Dungii’s barrier. Brek, Bassinee informed me of your abilities, you’ll be with them, be prepared to use your markings and fight mid range if the enemy gets too close. Thramuny, can you please give us a quick summary of yours and Eio’s abilities?”

“Certainly, spells are woven into my mane and locked in with these beads. I can use it like a switch and scuffle at a distance. Eio is a Strober, he specializes in electric attacks, but the element alters with his color. He also has near flawless camouflage.”

“So what I hear is you’re a mid range fighter, and Eio is a long range scout. Perfect, you’ll be in the rear with me and will serve the same function as Brek, take them out before they get close. Eio since you can go invisible, we need you as a scout. Pick off what knights you can without getting detected. You can report new threats to Brek or myself, we can interpret for you.”

“Eio and I are soulmated, we can communicate directly with one another from afar,” said Thramuny. “Also, I am familiar with their magic and resistant to it. That’s why they used that bead to weaken me. Where I come from, life is a constant fight.”

“Well, nevermind, that’s a lot better. Ang do you remember how to use this.” Vlux takes the tome off her back and passes it to Ang.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Good, just focus, give it the right commands and it pretty much works itself. You’ll be with Haxx and Aletha using the tome for long range attacks. Kiliyi is also preparing her attack; she’ll give the signal once she’s ready. In the meantime, we stay in formation and fight from a distance. Rux and I will release our attacks when we can. Everyone ready?”

Aletha, with glee, swam through Dungii’s veil, followed by Haxx. Upon entering the space, Aletha began inspecting every centimeter of Dungii, as Haxx looked to Ang and asked.

“What’s your Ardin called? Every Ardin has a name; it pays homage to those who sacrifice themselves to give it power.”

Ang looked at the tome and blurted the first thing that came to mind. “Home.”

“A tome called Home, I like it. This here is Boa, one of the eight Ardin of Brexcen. It can move like a snake, good for constricting,” said Haxx.

“Eight? but I only count six here,” said Ang.

“Technically, I’m one of the Ardin wielders. The instrument I was playing Crescendo, is an Ardin,” said Brek. “The last one is with Bassinee, the pen Quill. It’s what we use to apply our markings.”

“You wanna see mine,” said Aletha. “This is Binary. It’s conjoined orbs allow me to use coloring and meld the effects in the center. It’s extremely versatile. What can Home do?”

“It can uh... home in on targets,” said Ang with a nervous grin.

“Hmm… well it’s a book, so it must contain vast amounts of knowledge. I would theorize that Home could cast any spell that’s written in it,” said Aletha.

“Everyone in position here they come,” shouted Vlux.

Ang anxiously glanced over at Brek next to him, who gave him a reassuring smile that made his belly flutter. He shyly glanced down, then quickly turned his attention to the oncoming wave of Black Knights. They moved together as a unit. The rear concealed behind the cloak, Dungii and crew in the middle, the front guarded by Gron with Phalanx. Ang watched as Haxx activated Boa.

“Slither,” the staff began moving, “strike.” The staff flew off into the swarm one by one it constricted and destroyed the knights. They tried to grab it, but Boa being too slick, snapped off fingers, crushed limbs, and popped off heads. Ang then turned his attention to Aletha, as she prepared Binary.

“Ice knife,” one orb creates thin ice daggers. “Cyclone,” Binary spins rapidly, “assault.” Binary becomes a razor sharp mini tornado and moves into the swarm. Few by few slicing the knight’s to bits, as they tried to escape its deadly pull.

Ang felt Brek’s hand on his shoulder. “You’re up Ang,” he said.

He swallowed hard and held up Home. “Ascend” Home rose above his hand, Uh... target, target, target, target, target, target.”

“Ang, I think you can just say attack. Ardins are smarter than you think,” interrupted Brek.

“Oh… uh, attack.” Home flew into the swarm and began bashing into the knights. It’s attacks ineffective. He had to find a way to contribute. Though landing an attack at this distance would be difficult, he started to rune weave. As he drew he noticed Home stopped attacking, opened and began channeling. Realizing what Aletha meant by, ‘it can cast any spell that’s written in it,’ he drew several ice shard runes in the air, channeling them through Home. Taking out several knights at once. He feverishly drew runes. Now he could keep up with Haxx, and Aletha. but it was not enough. However, the swarm steadily advanced.

“Eio says there is a group on the left.” said Thramuny.

“I think Sluice has charged up enough,” said Rux. “Let me handle them.” Rux came out of the cloak. The knights emerged from behind the spires. He swung sluice and a dark flare erupted from the blade. The flare disabled the knights it passed over but missed a few.

“I’ll take them,” Thramuny said as she tagged out Rux.

“I’ll assist you,” said Brek. He reached out countless long tendrils and ensnared the remaining knights. Thramuny wiped her hair around and slicing them in half. Once they finished, they quickly caught up with the group. The team fought to keep the swarm at bay, but were losing ground. Then a faint red spark flew past them.

“That’s the signal! Everyone evasive maneuvers. Oncoming, Kil Cannon,” warned Brek.

“What’s a Kil Cannon?” Ang asked. Brek pointed up to a group of floating spires. Spun between them was a massive spider web with innumerable runes on it. Even from a distance, Ang could make out Kiliyi’s red fire rune. Kiliyi activated her Kil Cannon, sending a legion of red fireballs into the oncoming knights. The fire rapidly spread through their ranks. Once started, they could not extinguish it. They burned away, as the defense team let out a triumphant shout. With renewed vigor, they pushed the swarm back through the platinum gates. Once outside the entire army of knights surrounded them. Vlux came out of the cloak and spun Splinter, sending a volley of thorns in all directions. With a reverse spin, she detonated the thorns. Destroying many knights but there were countless more closing in. The pressure building, they could no longer move. Until a colossal shark appeared from above. Devouring knights in droves. Missing a fin it thrashed about wildly.

“It’s like the sharks from my homeland,” said Thramuny.

“Is everything super-sized where you come from,” asked Isu?

“Affirmative.”

Gron raised Phalanx to defend from the shark, but as the shark got closer it shrank, revealing the form of a brawny, furry, dwarf with a long beard and missing his left leg.

“Uncle Paouni!” exclaimed Ang as he swam into his Uncles thigh size arms.

“Ang! It’s good to see you, we don’t have time where’s your father’s axe?”

“It’s right here,” he quickly fetches Hue and removes the sheath.

“Ang, the key to using Hue is to tell it who you are, now watch. I AM PAOUNI USGRAT!” He gave the axe a broad swing. Causing a violent storm to engulf the surrounding enemies. Lifting the axe straight up, he launched the storm and the rest of the enemies out of Brexcen. The team cried with joy at their miraculous victory. Ang held his uncle tight; he finally found his family. Pao gripped Ang in a bear hug, their embrace lasted, a moment but to Ang it could have been hours.

“Paouni, thank you, that was incredible,” said Brek.

“It’s my brother who’s incredible, but thanks,” said Paouni.

“Nonetheless, we would’ve been doomed were it not for your timely intervention,” said Brek. “However, I fear we’re not in the clear. I can use Crescendo to change the location of the entrance point of Brexcen, but I’ll need time. The Koru are probably still out there trying to get in. I apologize to ask this of you, but we will need a diversionary team. Those who volunteer please raise your hand.” With no hesitation, everyone raises their hand. Brek almost lost his composure at the sight of their camaraderie, even though they’d just met.

“I will escort you back,” said Isu.

“Thank you, best of luck to all of you, please come back safe,” said Brek as he swam off under Isu’s cloak.

“If it’s alright with Dungii. Everyone grab on and let’s charge,” said Vlux.

“MURP MURP!”

The team grabbed hold of Dungii, who swam at breakneck speed until they breached the surface. Just as Brek had predicted, the mighty Koru fleet was waiting for them.