Kaya, Honey, Vivi, Zala, Conis and Ashivra headed into the cave.
"Was it okay we left Rose General and Super Tortoise out there?" Vivi asked.
"Should we go back and get them?" Conis asked.
"I think it is fine," Zala replied as she walked ahead. "They will defend our exit route," she added.
They all nodded. "I can feel it getting colder here," Ashivra said as her flame flickered.
"It must be just the cave and its unique geology," Kaya remarked.
"Yes, there were some caves in Alabasta which felt cold," Vivi agreed.
"That is interesting," Ashivra said as she held a sword.
"Where did you get that?" Kaya asked as she looked at the sword.
"I picked it up," Ashivra replied.
"You should have asked Ben for a weapon," Vivi responded.
"I thought I should not bother him with that," Ashivra remarked.
"When we get back we will get you something," she added.
"I can see something ahead," Zala said.
They walked ahead and into the massive, circular chamber. In the center there was atop a weathered stone altar. On top of the altar was an amulet which had a cobalt-blue gemstone at its center. It had a golden frame.
Standing directly behind it was a towering statue. At that moment the statue broke and a guardian appeared. It had a white spherical torso with two mechanical arms. It had a red neck that was long and cable-like. The head looked like a bird with a large beak. On top of their heads and hands they possessed orange coloured gemstone-like hemispheres.
"We have seen that before," Vivi said.
"Those guardians," Zala commented.
"You have fought them before?" Ashivra asked.
"Yes, when we were looking for orbs before, we had encountered things like that," Kaya replied.
"We still have one of them on the Miss Love Geese," Zala said.
The Guardian fired concentrated beams of blue energy from its glowing eyes. The beams tore through the air.
"Move," Zala said as she dived to the right. Vivi went to the left. Ashirva took to the sky. Mikita and Conis jumped back.
The ground melted where the girls had stood.
"He is not friendly," Ashivra remarked.
The Guardian moved towards Zala. It swiped his long neck at her like a massive club.
"Paper Art," Zala said as she relaxed her body and twisting it. She flowed like a sheet of paper caught in a breeze and evaded the neck. "That was close," Zala added with a smirk on her face.
"Neo Beam," Vivi said as the sword glowed dark purple. A dark purple projection was fired and hit the Guardian on the side. The beam damaged its mechanical core and left a big dent.
"Angel HyperBeam," Kaya followed up as she shot a golden light from her mouth. The light beam travelled through the cave and hit the Guardian. There was an explosion and a black smoke cloud appeared.
The Guardian opened its maw and a swirling vortex of wind began to form deep in its throat.
"Liquid Bomb," Honey said as she created a large red ball of liquid with both her hands. It became huge and she threw it. The ball hurled towards the Guardian. The red ball hit him and exploded. The explosion was large and violent and Guardian was sent flying through the air and crashed onto the ground.
"Stinger Falcon Strike," Zala said as she jumped into the air. She kept her feet together. She turned it into one long spike and spun. She then went down and impaled the Guardian`s core. She pierced the metal body. Zala then jumped back.
The Guardian then snapped its massive jaws down towards Zala once more.
"Inferno Strike," Conis said as she channelled the intense heat into the tip of the javelin. She thrusted it forward and released a scorching blast of flames. It hit Guardian on the face who was thrusted back.
Zala smiled as the force of the attack pushed Guardian away. "Thanks," Zala remarked.
"Let's end this," Vivi said. "Neo Horizon," Vivi said as her sword glowed dark purple. She raised it above her head, and it started to gather energy. A large ball of swirling dark light started to form at the tip of her blade. Then, the ball fired a massive beam at the Guardian. It tore through the air.
"Angel Heaven`s Arrow," Kaya said as she formed a large white arrow-shaped projection of celestial energy. She hurled it at high speed toward the Guardian. The projectile whistled as it accelerated.
"Thermal Impale," Conis said as she thrust the Heat Javelin into the ground and caused it to erupt in a pillar of intense heat directly beneath the Guardian.
All three attacks combined. The Neo Horizon beam and the Heaven's Arrow pierced through the Guardian's chest at the same moment the Thermal Impale engulfed its lower body in flames. There was a massive blinding explosion that shook the entire cave system. A massive black cloud formed.
"Did we get him?" Ashivra asked.
As the smoke cleared, they saw Guardian was completely destroyed. He was reduced to nothing but scorched rubble and grey dust scattered across the cavern floor.
"We got him," Zala said.
"I did not do much," Honey said as she sighed.
Kaya flew to the altar and picked up the Second Life Gem Fruit. "We got it," Kaya said. "Vivi you can hold it," she added as gave it to Vivi.
"Why me?" Vivi said.
"Ben would like his princess to give it to him," Zala commented.
"Yes," Honey said. They all giggled. Vivi pouted.
"Let's go," Kaya remarked. They all walked outside the cave.
Perched atop of the cave Scratchman Apoo stood there as he looked at Vivi`s hand. "That belongs to me," Apoo said. "Bop," Apoo added as he turned his forearm into glowing strings and plucked them with a sharp, violent snap.
He released a concentrated sound wave that rippled through the air. The wave struck Vivi, Honey, Kaya, Zala, Ashivra and Conis directly on them. The blunt-force impact was so sudden and powerful that they dropped to the ground.
"He is back," Kaya said as she dropped to the ground. She panted.
"It is loud," Zala added as she tried to get up.
"Where is he?" Conis asked.
Vivi dropped the Life Gem from the attack and it tumbled forward. "The Life Gem," she said.
Apoo leaped from the rock and landed gracefully. He quickly snatched the Life Gem. "Thanks for doing the heavy lifting. I'll be sure to play a tribute to your failure at the next show," he said.
"Give that back," Vivi shouted.
At that moment, Rose General came. "Iron Tonfa," Rose General said as she spawned a tonfa from its hands and lunged at an Apoo.
Apoo dodged the attack and jumped back. "You again," Apoo said as he narrowed his eyes. "Well, I have gotten what I want," he added as he started to sprint away.
"Wait," Ashivra said as she tried to take fly.
"No," Vivi quickly said. "We still don't know his attack," Vivi said as she got up. She could feel some pain in her body.
"Vivi is right, it is foolish to go after him right now," Zala said.
"We need to tell Ben about this," Conis added as she got up.
Meanwhile, Helsing looked from her vantage point. "So he has taken the Second Life Gem," she said. "Lytton will be interested in him," she added. She then looked at the girls who were already up. "You all are part of his crew," she remarked. There was a smile on her face.
On the island of Granu, King Cello stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows. He watched his reflection mirrored in the glass. Behind him, the heavy doors creaked open.
Cal entered the room and he bowed his head. "My King, I have urgent news regarding the Treasure War. The Second Life Gem has been found and taken," he said.
"Was it by the same people?" Cello asked.
"No, it was a different group," Cal replied.
"Okay, only the group who gives all 5 Life Gems will be rewarded," Cello remarked as he looked outside the window.
Smoker leaning against the far wall was covered in a thick shroud of cigar smoke. He pushed himself forward. He let out a long exhale. "This is exactly what I warned you about, Cello. The more you let this 'War' continue, the more these rats will scramble for the cheese," he said.
"And yet, you are still here," Cello remarked as he turned his head slightly.
"I'm not chasing them across the island one by one. I'll wait right here and capture them all at once when they come for the final prize," he said.
Just then, a Marine scout rushed into the hall. He was out of breath. He snapped a salute toward Smoker. "Reporting, sir! We've received word from the field. Both Jerry and Wanze have been defeated," he reported.
Smoker's eyes narrowed as he bit down on his cigars. "Defeated? Those two weren't pushovers," he said.
"Only the best will get the reward," Cello said as he looked at his Kingdom.