Fatheema accepted the bracelet and turned it over in her hands, "How do I use it?"
"Press the small button whenever it's close to an item you want to store—right here, on the octagonal symbol. The object will be pulled into the hidden dimensional space inside the bracelet. As you store it, give it a unique name. That's its identification code. If you want to retrieve it later, activate the bracelet by pressing the button twice quickly, then say the item's code name." Akane demonstrated by storing and retrieving several objects she had collected.
"All right. I'll give it a try." Fatheema began gathering useful equipment. She collected a machete, a hammer, an axe, a tactical knife, a handsaw, a climbing axe, several metal containers, bottles, cups, parachute cloth, rope, and various other tools. One after another, they vanished into the dimensional bracelet. "Wow! This bracelet is amazing! It makes everything so much easier! I can even store my kusarigama, my Arnis baton, and my bow!" She jumped excitedly with a huge smile on her face.
"You'll going to camping? You collect strange things. hee hee hee! By the way, now you can throw away that ugly backpack now, Fatty. You won't need it anymore." Akane grinned.
"No way! This backpack was a birthday present from my dad. I'll never throw it away."
Besides... It looks good on me."
"Okay, okay. You can keep it. Oh, and we'd better look for some armor. We'll need it in case we run into more hostile creatures."
The three of them continued searching through the spirit laboratory.
After they were satisfied with what they had found, Akane walked over to the spider monster, "Hey, Bald Spider! Where are you hiding the Power Orbs? Why aren't there any here?
"I don't have any. They all belong to Her Majesty, Queen Hanako. We only receive energy supplied by her." The spider monster shook his head nervously.
"Hmph.
That skinny devil is unbelievably greedy.
She wants everything for herself." Akane growled in frustration. She had risked so much just to obtain a single Power Orb inside that enormous dome, yet she still hadn't succeeded. "So where does she keep them? You should know."
"Hmm... There are some inside the Dome Chamber...and inside Her Majesty Hanako's private chamber. But don't ask me to go there. I'm too scared." The spider monster answered with obvious fear.
"Akane...What do you mean? What are you really looking for?"
Fatheema asked. Until now, she had assumed Akane was another victim who had become lost while searching for her friends.
"Uh... Well... Fatty...I'm sorry.
"The truth is... I came here looking for a Power Orb. I actually found one before...But Hanako's followers were guarding it. I got injured while trying to take it and barely escaped. That's how I ended up in that cursed flower room."
"I see... I thought you'd been kidnapped like me. Anyway...Let's get out of here. But if we leave through the front entrance... Won't that be dangerous?" Fatheema wanted to leave as quickly as possible and continue searching for her friends.
"I think it'll be fine. I can disguise myself again. But there might be an even better way. Hey! Bald Spider! Besides the front entrance, is there another exit?"
"Uh..."
"There is... I usually use a side passage...The spider monster answered hesitantly.
"Then show us. And don't even think about leading us into a trap. I know your type." Akane shoved the spider monster and his two Dalmatian servants forward, forcing them to lead the way while remaining alert for any possible ambush.
The spider creature led them to the far end of the room. He slid a small cabinet aside. Hidden behind it was a control panel with a button and a lever. He pressed the button.
Part of the wall slowly lifted like a curtain, revealing a large concealed door.
Pulling the lever downward caused the door to swing open.
Beyond it stretched a long stone tunnel.
Glowing crystals embedded along the walls illuminated the passageway.
The group walked through the tunnel. Eventually, they reached a spacious cavern filled with stalactites and stalagmites. A sloping path descended toward what appeared to be an underground river.
"This is the exit I was talking about.You can continue from here. I'm not going with you troublemakers!" The spider monster turned and fled back toward the laboratory, followed closely by his two Dalmatian servants.
"Hey! Bald Spider! Where do you think you're going?!" Akane shouted, ready to chase after him.
"Forget it, Akane. Let him go. He's probably just running back to his lab. Let's focus on what's important." Fatheema stopped Akane by the arm. "Come on. Let's head down. There's a river.
I think we should rest there for a while."
The three of them followed the descending path until they reached the underground river.
They washed themselves, cleaned off the dirt from their journey, and filled their containers with fresh drinking water.
"Fatty... I'm sorry. The truth is, I'm here searching for something called a Power Orb.
I think this is where we part ways. I have to get one. My friends and me need it. I have to find a way to steal one from Hanako's storage." Akane had already decided to return and continue the mission she had failed before.
"Akane... Didn't the spider monster say it's heavily guarded? How are you planning to get one?" Fatheema asked as she gently swung her feet in the cool river.
"I'll wait for the right opportunity. When their guard is down... I'll sneak in and steal it." Akane answered confidently with her hands resting on her hips.
"So... What exactly is a Power Orb? What does it look like? And why is it so important?
Why would you risk your life for it? You could be captured... Or even killed." Fatheema's curiosity continued to grow. Whatever this Power Orb was, it had to be incredibly valuable if Akane was willing to risk everything for it.
"You don't understand how important Power Orbs are. They usually look like glowing spheres in different colors. They're one of the primary energy sources in the Oblivion World. Each color has its own special properties. They form naturally because of environmental conditions. We need them to survive. They help us grow crops for food... and they provide energy for many other things."
"Hmm... I think I've seen something like that before. I even destroyed one inside Hanako's Dome Chamber." Fatheema suddenly remembered the first room where she had been dragged after encountering the terrifying black creatures and the black smoke serpent.
"What?! Where?Do you remember where it was, Fatty?" Akane's eyes lit up with excitement. Maybe there was an easier chance to obtain a Power Orb after all.
"But... I smashed it with my baton. I didn't know it was important" Fatheema feel regret.
"Don't worry. It won't stay broken. Power Orbs regenerate. They repair themselves. Come on! Let's go find it!" Akane excited.
" If we go back right now, Hanako's people will definitely be guarding it. You only need one, right?" Fatheema asked.
Akane nodded.
"I know another place where we might find one. Come with me." Fatheema said, "Oh, right. Little girl.You've been awfully quiet. What's your name again? You're not mute, are you?"
"Hmm... My name is Nyx Merry. But you can just call me Nyx." The little girl answered softly, her face flushed with shyness.
***