Chapter 8: Ethan's Determination
The echoes of war reached the heart of Shinobu. From afar, the massive explosions and the rising smoke filled the people with fear and curiosity. A growing crowd gathered near the main base, anxiously trying to understand what was happening.
A soldier stepped forward, raising his voice to calm the masses.
"Please, everyone, remain calm. We haven't received any new orders yet. Rest assured, our team is doing everything they can to ensure your safety."
In the crowd, a young boy named Morgan stood close to his mother. He tugged on her sleeve and asked, "Mom, are we in trouble?"
His mother, smiling gently, reassured him, "No, honey, everything will be fine."
The scene shifts back to the battlefield, where chaos reigned. The unknown assailant's tentacles tore through the air, targeting the soldiers mercilessly. One soldier, consumed by fear, turned to flee, but a tentacle caught him, ready to strike him down.
Suddenly, Aqua appeared, his blade slicing cleanly through the tentacle.
"Targeting the weak ones, huh?" Aqua challenged.
The unknown figure, unfazed, replied with an arrogant grin, "You misunderstand. You're just as weak as them." With that, the battle between Aqua and the mysterious enemy began.
Meanwhile, Goldie raced toward Ethan and Alyssa, urgency in his voice.
"Ethan, you need to move now!"
Ethan frowned, reluctant. "Do you really think I'm needed here? You've got this under control."
Goldie grabbed him firmly by the shoulder. "Ethan, this is no longer a simple mission—it's war. Right now, we don't need brains; we need a sword. You must go to the heart of Shinobu."
Ethan hesitated before finally nodding. "You're sure about this?"
Goldie's gaze was steady. "In the absence of Reynolds, only his student can lead us out of this darkness."
At that moment, Peter arrived, carrying the injured Scarlet and Fiery. He handed them to Ethan's team.
"Take them and retreat to safety," Peter ordered.
With that, Ethan, Alyssa, Scarlet, Fiery, and the remaining soldiers withdrew, heading toward the safety of the main base.
As they moved, Ethan's mind churned with unanswered questions.
He glanced at Alyssa and muttered, "Doesn't this all feel strange to you?"
Alyssa raised an eyebrow. "Strange how?"
Ethan explained, "We've always known there are only five elements, and now, suddenly, a sixth appears—alive and capable of killing. Dr. Reynolds discovered this anomaly and was captured for it. Doesn't that feel deliberate to you?"
Alyssa nodded thoughtfully. "It does. But who would be behind it?"
Scarlet, weak but attentive, interrupted, "So you're saying some big organization is targeting us? Or… could it be aliens?"
Ethan shook his head. "I don't know for sure, but I suspect this might have something to do with the World Order. They're the only ones with enough resources and power to orchestrate something of this scale."
Alyssa frowned. "Why would they do this?"
Scarlet answered grimly, "Because they've always wanted control over Shinobu. The World Order sees this place as the perfect stronghold for their elites. Zimbraya-sensei refused to let that happen. He built Shinobu as a sanctuary for those who genuinely needed help, not as a playground for VIPs."
Alyssa's eyes widened. "So… this is their revenge? They're trying to destroy us because Zimbraya-sensei refused to bow to them?"
Ethan nodded solemnly. "That's one possibility. If not them, then we could truly be facing an unknown alien force."
Scarlet chuckled weakly, lightening the tense mood. "Aliens? Really?"
Ethan smirked as the group shared a rare moment of levity amidst the chaos.
The scene cuts back to the heart of the battlefield. Peter, Aqua, and Goldie stood shoulder to shoulder, their injuries barely holding them back as they faced the unknown enemy.
Peter gave a sharp command. "Goldie, Aqua—this ends now. We're taking him down together."
The two nodded in silent agreement, determination etched on their faces.
The unknown figure smirked. "So, the pebbles want to challenge the mountain. I was hoping for more of a fight. Let's make this interesting."
His laughter echoed ominously as Peter, Aqua, and Goldie charged at him with everything they had.
End of Chapter 8